Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Toddler Class & Preschool - Spring 2010

I have been meaning to update our curriculum sidebar links since the new year - hopefully I will get it done over the next couple weeks.

Oh what to do with 2 little ones? I don't know, but I hope I have it figured out before our next little one comes along in July!!! Well, maybe I don't feel completely clueless, but today has been a "drive mom crazy" day for my 2 little girls - I caught them yanking down some blinds and they run away gigling when I came to stop them. Then I caught them dumping out flour and again they ran off giggling about being caught. My 3 year old decided to try punching me in the eye when I took away a cord that goes to our treadmill, oh so lovely. During N's club time (when I'm working with seven 6-9 year olds) they pulled out all the blocks, wooden train set, board books, puzzles, and cushions from the couch, and then begged for cookies. Then when I took them outside to burn off some energy they spent the whole time racing off (giggling again) to our neighbors stairs/deck where they noisily climbed up and down and ran away from my impatient attempts to catch them or lecture them into listening - my neighbor works a late shift. After I settled them into the sand box and they somewhat quietly played (don't throw sand - don't put sand in her hair - keep the sand in teh sandbox) they spent their bathtime (all of 5 minutes)kicking each other and dumping water out of the tub. Oy! Just another day!!


Thankfully most days are like today. As for our current plans, I don't think we have changed much from our Fall 2009 plans, but maybe we have??? I'm still working on being flexible, and don't commit to any "programs" or "plans" or "curriculum."

I do NOT get to pick the books we are reading anymore - these 2 girls have their favorites and we read them at least 2 or 3 times a day. Its always nice when they change things up with a new title. Here are some of their favorites right now:

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

The Ear Book by Al Perkins

The Hair Book by Graham Tether (couldn't find a picture)

Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree and Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

The Little Red Hen

Ten Tiny Fairies

Mother Goose

My Big Book

Let's Learn Portuguese Picture Dictionary

We do the "preschool" type subjects (colors, numbers, etc.) while we are reading or through the everyday things we do. For example, while we read Ten Tiny Fairies we talk about the colors of the fairies or when they pick out their clothes in the morning (and again at lunch time and then at snack time and for bed - lol) I'll tell them what color they are wearing or how many buttons I am buttoning. When I make pancakes we count how many I pour on the griddle. O counts the bread when she puts it into the toaster.

Books like My Big Book and the Portuguese Picture Dictionary are great for building vocabulary, because there are so many pictures and so many things to talk about. We talk about colors, and how many are there, and what is happening, and we pretend to eat pictures of yummy food (and sometimes farm animals too).

Often while I am working with my older kids these 2 girls join in how they can - during math they color on their own white boards or play with the math blocks. When we are working on picture narrations or copywork, they color at the table with us.

And when they get tired of hanging with us they will pull out their own activites from a nearby closet or head to their bedroom to play with their kitchen or baby dolls.

And of course they go on our nature study walks and other field trips. They are fascinated with animals right now so trips to Farm Country or a park are very exciting for them. They are expert bird watchers - at our feeder on our back porch, at parks, or driving around.
Even though we have plenty of up and downs, and crazy days like today, this age is so much fun. It is exciting to see them so excited about learning.

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