Starting again

Well, the holidays sorta came and went and so did my planning a preschool curriculum. I actually have felt very discouraged. Luckily, there is no way I can give up, because I can't afford to pay for the preschools out here. The one I like the most is $360 to $600 a month (Depending on how many days a week the child attends). That is a pretty normal amount to pay here in grand ole' California. Not to mention I have two kids. I would be paying rent to a preschool. Most of the preschools are also daycare centers. I would rather home-school. I really have no money though.

So I have decided to start over... sorta. I think I feel the most discouraged because I need my preschool up and running now. So I spend time trying to quickly implement things, but they don't always go over so well. Emma knows all her letters, upper and lowercase (there are a few that are tricky for her in lowercase). She can write most of them, and she knows most of their sounds (there are a few tricky ones). She can spell first her name. But she refuses to use lowercase letters. To her they are completely interchangeable and she sees no reason why she needs to use one or the other at any given time. She asks how to spell words, so she can write people letters. She counts to 20 and she always wants to count on past twenty, so I need to start 10's skip counting. I did a little, but then I ended up counting all the way to 100. I get so excited to teach her everything, that I go too fast. I'm learning I need to slow down, and try to recognize the steps needed to achieve a full understanding of a topic. Anyhow, that said... I have come up with a new plan.

A Montessori classroom is set up from ages 3 to 6. So the tools used for these ages should be good for kindergarten as well as preschool. I have decided I need some time to develop a really good program for my kiddos. So I am giving myself until the beginning of September to really start a full fledged school program. (Most things are taught in a standard kindergarten anyway, so I think Emma will pick things up quickly and progress fast through the program. While Evan will be starting right at age 3 and probably take a while to get concepts, many will probably have to be taught over and over-which I do wonder if that is somewhat a waste of time, considering he won't remember it :)- It will be interesting to see how each child responds to the same program.) So each month (6 months total) I will focus on one part of my school and develop it and gather materials needed. Here is the plan:

Pre-Time (still in February) Give a little time to thinking about the current program and next 6 months. Finalize the plan, look at money, find out more about programs I might want my children enrolled in, find homeschooling groups and more resources, make a socializing plan, learn a bit more about the Montessori style, and other styles, do some reading.

Month 1. Memorization (Classical Conversations)/Scriptures/Spiritual Education/Service/spiritual music & memorizing scripture

Month 2. Math/Sensorial

Month 3. English/Language/Books/Spanish

Month 4. Science/Biology/Physics/Cosmic

Month 5. Music/Art/Dance and Physical Education

Month 6. Practical Life/The Prepared Environment/Scheduling

Okay so that is the planning part... In the meantime my kids still need something.... so what should I do.... Here is the school plan for right now...

Discipline and Parenting? I need to somehow teach my children obedience and work. I have had quit a time trying to find something that works with my children... Wow, I have tried some of the tactics in books, to find that they backfire in a horrible way. Especially, the famous Love and Logic... it is NOT for Evan... Emma is okay with it... but Evan really struggles with having lots of choices... and he will tell me he isn't being "sweet" right now... I think parenting books assume kids always want to please you. Evan tells me "Mommy, I want to hit the dog. Can I please hit the dog with this stick?" (or whatever)... he is so sweet he tells me his bad intentions first... I just laugh inside... what do I say to this very sweet boy who just wants to hit the dog? Oh, boy!

Spend time learning to love and enjoy each others company. Build bonds of love

Implement Schedules at some degree, gradually adding (learn to get up before the kids and get ready) Daily welcome with day of the week and date, Have FHE, scriptures, and prayers always.

Play with the kids, get into their world… while there, teach basic manners, how a toy is generally used, and how to put it away when done. Add physical activity each day. Do some crafty stuff, sing together, listen to music and dance, experience things... go places, taste foods, smell flowers, listen to birds, notice things. Learn to be together and find interest in the world around us. That way when it comes time to learn "nomenclature" we already have developed an interest in the things we will be learning about.

Observation, start writing down observations of each child’s progress and doings in our home, become aware of what they are doing and how they are growing. Also, just start to record the events of the day. n this way, I can start to learn to make records of our progress as a group and of each individual.

Include them in cleaning, cooking, and other household needs. Start maintaining each of these home needs, so there is something for the children to be included in.

Reading Time start reading for longer and longer periods each day

Gently work on writing letters and numbers, and start adding words to Emma’s knowledge base. By labeling pictures she has drawn, writing letters, etc… nothing formal, learning new words by trying to do things she wants to do (like write Grandma a letter. Which, by the way, she is determined that grandma is spelled granmo and that it is silly to spell it any other way, it makes sense to her... since we always use "ah" for the o sound, and we don't always enunciate the "d").

Piano Time and music, just fun...

Times of the day with different activity and noise levels, notice how everyone responds to time and activity levels, and modify learning times, outside times, eating times, reading times, and other times accordingly

Learn church classroom appropriateness and safety precautions in the world

Play with friends

My Personal Goals:

1. Spiritual Standing. Set my own heart in order, so I can set a personal course for heaven, as well as be an example to the children, be prepared to receive revelation for my many responsibilities, and prepare to be a more full participating member of the kingdom of God.. By self reflection, repenting, studying gospel materials, praying, fasting, and getting my heart right with the Lord.

2. Start developing my own love of learning… starting with piano and Spanish. Find observable, by the children, time to learn... I want to love to learn again, and show the children that I love the learn.

3. Try to learn to be consistent with things in my life.

4. Develop a better attitude in general in life. Be more aware of my reactions to things. Use more positive words in difficult situations. Use more positive words in general. Bless the woman who came up with " Kiss my owie, Mommy", what a gentle and sweet way to respond to a child's tears. I want to find more of these gentle, kind responses to use in my daily speech with my children. But I also want to speak and act better with other adults while on the phone and in person, so that my general demeanor is sincerely positive and full of faith, hope, and charity. As well as, exemplify peaceful, good behavior in all interactions and guide them to do the same. (Children are like mirrors of my own flaws, they can teach me what I need to change in order to have an exemplary attitude. Sometimes I can't tell what message I'm sending, but when my attitude and words come out of Emma's mouth, I can tell whether it was bad or good thing for me to have said.)

5. I also really need to get it into my head that I do not intend to teach the way the school system does... With the teacher telling information to the student and expecting the student to relay that information by testing. I don't have to use this model... It's just the one I am used to. I fall so easily into the trap of not letting them discover things on their own. I cannot spend my time telling them about all the great things "I" know. I am a guide, to help them discover the world. They should not need to look to me for praise, reward, or punishment... they should find their own drive for learning and feel proud of themselves for their accomplishments... I don't want them to need me in order to learn. I help get it started and then I disappear into the walls and let the real learning take place. I observe. I also want to get into their little imaginary worlds and learn with them there. I can find a lot of teaching opportunities in these moments, just by having my little stuffed animal or whatever toy character act in a good way or respond in a way that I would like the children to. Stuffed animals are a great learning tool, the kids love to pretend and they will do anything for my stuffed animal character. (Even laundry! They did this morning!)

Well... there you have it... I will try to post each month with my ideas on each topic and the progress I am making.