Ok I am new here, and never thought I would be posting on a board such as this. I personally would NEVER do home schooling, my hat is off to you women. I REALLY need my time away from my kids. I also have a hard time teaching them stuff in a structured fashion. I can do the unschooling method (read a little about it on here), but not a sit down and write letters sort of schooling.
That aside, I put my 4 year old daughter into preschool, and then long story short the teacher is now teaching Kindergarten. Now all the preschools are full, and so me and two of the other moms are planning on doing a joy school.
Yesterday was my first day, and it did not go well. I planned a lot of things for the kids to do, but still had time to kill at the end. I was literally laying on the couch closing my eyes before the other moms got there. I was exhausted and wanted those kids to leave. And they were only there for 2 hours!?
The kids were good, but I have a hard time explaining things well enough for kids to understand and I don't always have the patience I need. Especially with my daughter and her 2 year old sister.
How much time should I allow them for each subject. How much time towards play, reading, etc. We as of yet to decide on a set curriculum, due to the fact that we thought the preschool teacher would give us her lesson plans. Now we find she isn't so I feel like I am a fish out of water right now.
Take a deep breath...I agree with you, it is harder schooling other people's kids! Are you the only mom doing it, or will you be changing off with them? It may be good to do it all together for a while so that you each only have to do a certain part. Maybe have one person do art, one do story time and maybe some beginning writing, and another do number/math readiness? If you all plan a week together, you can come up with some themes to help you all - color, shapes, holidays, seasons. Also, be aware that teaching a small group of kids takes a lot less time than teaching a large group. Leave things open ended to some extent so that they can do more if they want. Like if you have them doing some patterns that they can keep creating their own out of clay, foam shapes, beads, or what ever. After you count, let them play with the counting blocks. After you read them a story have them act it out and maybe draw a picture of their favorite part. Things like that will give them time to do stuff without you having to lead it all. And if personality says that they need to do a lot of things, do a few teaching activities, with play in between. Just be sure that clean up is part of their play time so you don't get exhausted. And really, don't expect it to take the same amount of time that they had in preschool - 10, 12, or 15 kids spend a lot of time cleaning up, getting in seats or circles, washing hands, going to the bathroom, putting on and off coats after outside time...lots of time killers that teach them how to stand in line and do what the teacher says, (important skill for school) but not really learning the stuff that it sounds like you want them doing. Be sure to build in free play time in what ever you do, and a fair amount of it. All of that is learning too.
You know what, I love homeschooling my DS, but would HATE having to teach someone else' kid. So my hat goes off to you. :)
I agree with the previous poster about leaving all activities open ended so that the kids can just kind of go ahead with them at will.
And I also agree with the play. They are preschool age, so there isn't a lot of sit-down work needed (possibly none yet). Lots of play to stimulate their active and curious minds.
And lots of story-time. If your voice gives out (LOL), then you can switch it up with children's audio books that can be playing in the background while they play.
And outdoor time (weather-permitting, of course). Lots and lots of outdoor play/exploration.
My hat's off to you too...I love teaching my own kids, but other people's kids can be another ball game entirely! I hope that you parents are "co-oping" your little preschool, and sharing in the work as well as the fun.
I enjoy some of Trish Kuffner's books, including Picture Book Activities and The Preschooler's Busy Book. You could also look at some homeschool preschool curricula like Sonlight, Before Five in a Row, My Father's World, or Winter Promise. We have several daycare providers here who use some of these materials with the littles ones they care for in their homes. Oh, and I can't forget Letter of the Week.
Searching the internet will probably give you more ideas than you could possibly use...but finding things that have worked for either daycare providers or preschool teachers could at least give you some ideas.
Here are some other links that might give you some ideas as well...they're in my favorites but I haven't needed them in a while myself!
I know you're finding this stressful, but I'm glad you and the other parents are recognizing the need for "real preschool" and just letting your little ones be little. Hopefully you'll find the right balance, and be able to enjoy interacting with all of the kids.
Homeschooling mom to Kaitlyn (12) and Kristopher (7) ~^~ EP 3/95 and M/C 4/01 ~^~ My baby sister died from Group B Strep. Your baby doesn't have to! http://www.thejessecause.org
Well I for 1 LOVE children, even other people's but I can see how anyone would be overwhelmed!
MOST schools of ANY type have a LOT of downtime! WE just don't know that. If a teacher tried to teach ALL the time, especially the little ones, it's all backfire very quickly!
You will get a LOT of advice from the other Momma's around here, I've never done FORMAL schooling before at that age! (although I'm gonna have to soon)
If you're gonna do a co-op type thing then you all need to figure out what your roles & strengths & weaknesses are & PLAY to them! And remember it takes TIME, plenty of time, it takes patience & time to do it right child! or however that ditty goes, lol!
