Missy (Pink Fortitude)

[sarab]

Hey!

I have a quick question for you. In another post, you were asking about homeschooling (how is that going?). Was it you who mentioned doing homeschooling/preschool for your kids? What age did you start and what curriculum did you use? I am searching for a prepackaged curriculum for my 4 year old. He is not really into the school stuff (unlike his older brother). He turns 5 in June, but I am not sending him to K next year. I will start him when he is 6. My oldest started this year, but he turned 6 in Sept. I would feel awful sending a child who is just turning 5. I think the state standards expect way too much out of some of these kids. I know I would be setting my son up for failure if I send him too early. Although, my oldest son (Tyler, who is in K now), would have excelled at K at the age of 3. He is way beyond what they are doing in K now. I feel sorry for Bradley because he is "normal" and I don't want him to be compared to his older brother.

Anyway, I need to work extra hard with Bradley, but I need the right supplies to do it.

Please, anybody feel free to respond with any ideas on where to find a good, prepackaged preschool program.

Thanks!!!!

Sara

 

[lorren05]

Hey Sara,
Have you ever heard of Abeka Video school?
http://www.abeka.com/
I actually did this program when i was in school-and it is excellent!I am planning on using this when my kids are ready for school.It is very thorough and is known to challenge kids-you should check it out!

 

[sarab]

Oh, thanks...I will check out that website!

Sara

 

[pink_fortitude]

Hey, Sara! Here is a link to the homeschool discussion
http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?..._id=339195&mesg_id=339195&listing_type=search

We are going to start homeschooling next year; we were going to start after Christmas this year but we REALLY like the DS's teacher this year. DD does well pretty much wherever she is so we figured one more year can't hurt. We are most likely going to do a combination of a few things, but our main curriculum will be Abeka because it is Christian based.

I did do preschool with my kids, but I think I mentioned it in another link... not sure which one. I didn't use any real curriculum, just read a lot to them and bought some hooked on phonics workbooks. Whenever we would learn a letter's sound, I had the kids draw pictures of things that started with that sound or had that sound in it - we even made up our own words with that sound and tried to spell them phonetically! (that was fun, kids can be so creative!) It was VERY important to me that the kids learned phonics because most of the Indiana schools use the "whole word" approach, which I absolutely detest. I would do math problems throughout the day, without MAKING it look like I was doing math homework, like - "if we cut 12 pieces of meatloaf for dinner and you and DB have two pieces, how many will be left for me and daddy do you think?" and things like that. I tried to make it practical and applicable, and I don't really like spending too much time in workbooks because they are so zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I know EXACTLY what you mean about being able to send one earlier and having to wait to send another to school - our youngest I would have to wait a full year to send him to K and his b-day is in March. He just isn't as mature as other kids his age. Every kid is unique and special. DD gets things so quickly and easily; all she has to do is read a paragraph about kinetic energy and she will be able to tell you all about it, but DS needs to SEE how the energy is transfered, to feel it. He gets so bored in school because all they do is read, write, read, write, worksheets... they don't experience and that is, IMO, the best learning tool.

Wow! This is long, sorry bout that. I hope that I was able to help out a little, at least. How is school going for you?

Missy

 

[sarab]

Hey!

Thanks for the reply. I hate worksheets also. I bought my oldest a workbook from Wal-Mart and he loved it! He wanted to do page after page. I would have to "make" him stop! Brad, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with it. I have to bribe him to sit down to write his name, count, etc. Tyler's teacher sends home a ton of worksheets so Bradley is going to have to learn to do them at some point. (how sad is that?)

As far as phonics and sight words (whole word), Tyler's school does both. I think it is good for children to learn both ways. Some words can't be decoded phonetically. And, some people learn better through phonics while others prefer the whole word approach. Does your school teach 4 block? All the schools in this area seem to be going to that. It is a pretty neat little system.

School for myself is crazy. I am thinking about taking some time off until all of my kids are in school. Then I will finish my degree. I just have no interest right now. I want to focus on my children while they are young since they grow up so fast .

Speaking of children, I must feed them and get going. Tyler's class has a "fall" party (not halloween...although my mil made spider cupcakes and I bought halloween treat bags for trail mix) today and I volunteered to help. I can't wait!

Sara

 

[pink_fortitude]

What is 4 block? I have never heard of it... is it anything like block scheduling?

I was going to go to school after Logan was old enough, but I really don't think that I can. I said that I would do it after the kids were all old enough, but the older they get the more interesting they get and I don't want to miss that! Yesterday, I took Layne to go and see Flyboys and on the car ride there and back (I purposefully chose a theater far away so I could get him to talk to me) we had the greatest conversations about his friends, smoking, how he feels about his brother and sister... I swear, hearing him talk makes me believe that there is nothing in the world that matters as long as those babies are under my care. I blinked and he became the man who is becoming such a bright young man with a solid, yet somewhat naive, head on his shoulders. How did it happen? Anyways, I don't know how on Earth I would find time between all of their activities.

Why doesn't your school celebrate Halloween? Our school is in the stix, so everything is still pretty much like it was in the 60's as far as holidays and Christian days go. How was the party? We always come home with tummy aches because we eat so much yummy stuff! I still can't figure out why my daughter has such bad teeth... just kidding!

Hey, how is that baby girl of yours? How old is she now? She is close to the same age as Logan, isn't she? He is 30 months. And every cell a spoiled rotten cutie. Do your sons spoil our youngest? How do you stop it? They are willing to give him whatever he wants WHENEVER he wants it. It is cute, but I don't want him to believe that the world will bend over for him whenever he wants something, but of course with his charm it probably will!

ttyl
Missy

 

[sarab]

Missy,

4 Block is a way to teach reading/writing. The 4 blocks are guided reading, self-selected reading, writing, and working with words. Look it up on google. It is really neat.

I am not sure why Tyler's school does not celebrate halloween as it is. I am guessing because of certain religions. I guess some people think halloween is a devil's holiday??? All I can say to that is "Whatever". Every year, I see the excitement of my children dressing up as some kind of character and getting candy. They love it! And so do I! It has nothing to do with the devil...IMO!

Kylee is growing fast. She will be 2 right after xmas. She is turning into a little stinker, but she is still a doll!

I know what you mean about growing up too soon. Tyler woke up this morning with his first loose tooth. I just got chills. I am not ready for him to start loosing teeth.....

What were you going to school for? I really want to quit until all my kids are in school. That way, I can do my work when they are in school and maybe even sub a little bit for experience. I go to St. Mary-of-the-Woods college in Terre Haute. Ever heard of it? It is distance learning so I do all my classes at home. I either get up at the crack of dawn to do my work or stay up until midnight. It is grueling at this point. I drive Tyler to school so I have to get up early (regardless of homework), pack lunch, make breakfast (I hate giving them cereal every morning...I try to make hot things as well), get 3 kids dressed, brushed, etc, and out the door before 8am. I used to be able to sleep in in the mornings when I stayed up late to do homework. This has been an adjustment, which I am still trying to get used to!

Talk Later!
Sara