Our preschool plans for Fall 2013

In my last post, I outlined broad objectives I'd like to hit with each of my children for this preschool year. I figure it's a good idea to start with a bit of purpose, and choose curriculum around that, rather than the other way 'round.

Here's more specifics on what we are preparing to do:

Johnny (4.5 years, preschool)

Bible:

• Use the Rod & Staff "Bible Stories To Read" to guide us through 60 Bible stories. 
• We'll read the story and color the corresponding picture in the Bible Pictures to Color book. I have a coloring book for Vivienne, too, so she can also participate here.
• For memory verses, we may do the ones listed in the Bible Stories to read, or I might do the ones from ABC Jesus Loves Me year 3. Most of those go along with the Hide 'Em in Your Heart CDs which we already have and enjoy.
• Bible songs will probably come from the Wee Sing Bible Songs CD. Perhaps I can get some of them to line up with the Bible stories we're reading.
• I also plan to incorporate our Betty Lukens flannelgraph to help illustrate the Bible story we're discussing.

I'm not sure the pace we'll take, so I'm just going to start out doing it and figure out the pacing later. I'm working on a spreadsheet to help myself line up topics/verses/etc.

My Father's World Preschool

I bought the 3-5 year old set last fall, but we only got out the materials on occasion. I'd like to be more deliberate with using the toys in this set, as well as the activity cards. The 72 cards really have some great developmental activities for this age group.

Why this curriculum? To develop thinking skills, fine motor skills, phonics and math concepts while using toys.

Rod & Staff preschool workbooks

I bought the Rod & Staff preschool workbook pack (we have A through F) and I'd like to start with the first four, simultaneously: "Adventures with Books;" "Bible Stories to Read" along with "Bible Pictures to Color;" and "Counting With Numbers."

Why this curriculum? I like the simple progression of skills in these workbooks, and I think they'd be helpful tools without overwhelming us.

Developing the Early Learner workbook series

I'd like to slowly work our way through these workbooks. These are a different sort of concept -- they aren't teaching numbers and letters and such. Rather, these books are designed to help develop left-right tracking (important when learning to read and write!), eye-hand coordination, motor skills, visual strength, auditory and thinking skills.

Why this curriculum? These are all important skills for young children to develop!



Literature:

I'd like to try some stories and activities within Before Five in a Row, Five in a Row, and Peak with Books. Part of me wonders if we'll actually like doing the activities, but I do want to give it a try. At the very least, the children's books that go along with these curricula are awesome, so we'll read some great books while we're at it.

Why this curriculum? I like the book selections. The activity ideas could be some that we implement, or they could inspire us to come up with our own. I don't have expectations here for how many activities, if any, we'll complete per story book.



Handwriting:

I want to teach correct letter and number formation, since Johnny likes writing words but his style is all wonky. I don't want bad habits to become too ingrained, so that's why I'd like to address it now. We'll use Handwriting Without Tears materials.

I have their preschool workbook (but not the teacher's manual...and now I'm wondering if we'll be missing some things). We'll use the roll-a-dough activity, slate chalkboard, stamp & see screen, and I'll make cardstock templates of their wooden letter pieces from the kindergarten teacher's manual (I think that's where I saw it).

Why this curriculum? I love the multi-sensory approach here. Also, HWT is lefty-friendly, and my son is absolutely a lefty.

Other items we might add in at some point:

• Kumon Maze workbook (quite likely, as Johnny likes mazes!)
• Happy Phonics games
• Mathematical Reasoning Beginning Pre-K 
• Activities from My First Super Science Kit
• ...?

For Vivie, at 2.5 and in 'tot school'

She'll be tagging along and joining us when she wants, and doing her own thing when she doesn't. Resources I have specifically for her include:

• I Can Color Toddler Big Skills for Little Hands
• I Can Cut Toddler Big Skills for Little Hands
• Let's Get Ready 3-5 Years (Gakken Workbooks)
• Rod & Staff "About Three" workbook series (but she's not ready yet for this one)
• The My Father's World preschool 2-3 year old set, (earlier I said minus the Wedgits...but I had some Amazon gift card money so I decided to order these and the cards)

I'd like to start with the MFW toys and the I Can Color book. Some of the other things can wait awhile. I also have plenty of 'educational games' for both kids that we'll incorporate somehow.

As far as scheduling...wow I have no idea. I don't want to spend too much time in one day on school stuff. I'm thinking perhaps we can start with roughly three days per week and go from there. While the weather cooperates, I want to spend plenty of time at the park and generally outside.

I'd like to also have plenty of time for play dates, library time, and other fun outings.

I want to avoid overthinking all of these activities and schedules and routines at such. Analysis is paralysis, ya know? So with this general idea of what we'd like to use and what I'd like to accomplish, I'm just going to jump in.

I'll probably start with the Bible activities and once we get into a groove with that, add some of the workbook things and so on.