Do you have any advice on a good Preschool Curriculum for Homeschooling?

I plan on homeschooling and want to start soon with a preschool curriculum. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Public Comments

1. Preschool is pretty basic - the alphabet, counting, reading books, easy arts and crafts - it is mostly a socialization process to teach children how to behave and get along with others, to prepare them for school. Scheduled playtimes, taking turns, following directions in a classroom setting. Pretty basic stuff. My son loves it. (I am not homeschooling.)

   I did look into it a while back; just do a search on amazon.com for "homeschool preschool" and you will get a list of books that may help you or give you ideas. You can often get a new or newish book from their used listings for less than half the new price, plus 3.99 shipping. I usually only get used if they are in "very good" or "like new" condition.



2. Games and fun are the best thing to do for preschoolers. Dramatic play. Going to neighborhood places and discussing what the fireman, policeman, dentist, postal worker, grocer and others do for the community. Reading good books. Counting rocks and marbles. Talking about trees, bugs, animals and examining them. Look at leaves and flower and point out their differences or similarities.

   Preschoolers do not need a pen/pencil curriculum. They need Mom and Dad to spend time with them and teach them one on one. They need Mom and Dad to measure things with them, read them books, sing them songs, play with puzzles with them, dance and do finger plays. They just need to learn by play.



3. You need to think about how early learning fits in with your long term goals for your child. In my opinion it's way too soon to be pushing literacy, but reading books and learning about their paginess and pictures might be fun.

   Everything at this age should be play based. We read to ds on demand because he likes it.

   About the age of 2 children start to be able to think about how other people are thinking and are able to understand concepts like "I like pizza but you like cabbage". This awareness of other minds is worth cultivating as it is the basis of sympathy and consideration.

   Make sure you have lots of fun. It's the secret of effective learning.

   We love art galleries, not so much for the art but for the space and enviroment. And the cafe at the Whitworth is great.

   Good luck from a Pre-HE Mummy in England.



4. I really love Kumon workbooks (you can get them at just about any bookstore) and Rod and Staff preschool A B C series.

   http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RS&Category_Code=21a_G-P

   There is a free online curriculum called Letter of the Week

   http://www.letteroftheweek.com

   But you really only need a formal curriculum if you want one. My daughter asks to do school, so I do a few workbook pages with her everday. But children learn just as much from playing, doing crafts, and helping their parents cook, do chores, run errands, etc.

   Here's a list of fun, educational games:

   http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/preschool-educational-games.html



5. Do a search online for homeschool preschool. Lots of ideas and suggestions and products come up. I think Sonlight has something structured set up if you want something super structured. I don't personally know a single homeschooling parent who has done a structured preschool with their kids. It's just been about having fun, showing them things, talking about things as they come up, giving them lots of fun things to do...


6. No curriculum needed, take them to the library for story hour, get some coloring books, read out loud to them, find a play group, play games, watch DVDs like the Magic School Bus, Veggie Tales, Sesame Street (the older ones), print sheets of the Internet for free.

   Get some computer software like Jump start, and Reader Rabbit.

   All of these may be available at your local library.

   If you would like a curriculum try the complete curriculum's for pre-schoolers , and Kindergartners at Sam's Clubs, or Barnes and Noble they will run between $5.00 and $20.00 depending on what you like.

   Here are some good web sites:

   These sites do require a $20.00 yearly fee to have full use of all their printable materials, but it is well worth it.

   You can check them out for free, but it is a lot of curriculum in one place.

   http://www.enchantedlearning.com/

   http://www.abcteach.com/

   Free computer software; just pay a nominal fee for shipping.

   http://www.planetcdrom.com/free-homeschool/

   Educational games.

   http://www.educationallearninggames.com/educational-board-games.asp

   Astronomy

   http://www.kidsastronomy.com/

   Mr. Donn's history site - unit studies.

   http://members.aol.com/donnandlee/

   Free Audio Books.

   http://www.free-books.org/

   Free weekly tips, worksheets,lesson plans, resources , and curriculum.

   http://www.homeschoolfreestuff...

   http://about.com/education/

   http://www.freeworksheets.com/

   http://teacher.scholastic.com/

   http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/ets/Wwwsites.htm

   http://www.lethsd.ab.ca/mmh/games/top100.htm

   http://www.ala.org/gwstemplate.cfm?section=greatwebsites&template=/cfapps/gws/default.cfm

   http://www.starfall.com/

   http://www.homeschoolblessings.com/

   http://www.oldfashionededucation.com/

   Math:

   http://www.tlsbooks.com/mathworksheets.h...

   http://www.mathsisfun.com/worksheets/ind...

   http://www.coolmath4kids.com/

   http://www.rainforestmaths.com/

   Geography

   http://www.dltk-kids.com/world

   http://www.dltk-kids.com

   http://www.dltk-kids.com/color.........

   http://www.weeklyreader.com/kids/games/geography.asp

   http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/usaquiz.html

   http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/

   Typing-keyboarding

   http://www.auntlee.com/easytyp.........

   http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

   Grade Level Core Knowledge site.

   http://www.coreknowledge.org/CK/resrcs/lessons/6.htm

   Other:

   http://www.funbrain.com/

   http://www.brainpopjr.com/

   http://www.iknowthat.com/

   http://www.kidzone.ws/

   http://kidsites.com/

   http://www.spellingtime.com/

   http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/coolchild.html

   http://www.internet4classrooms.com/month2month.htm

   http://www.extremescience.com/

   http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/games/games_main.html

   http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/menu_jeux.html

   http://parenting.leehansen.com/kids/kidstuff.htm

   http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/index.html

   http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/

   http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/index.html

   http://www.lethsd.ab.ca/mmh/games/top100.htm

   http://www.nsa.gov/kids/

   http://www.surfnetkids.com/

   http://4kids.org/games/



7. Books a million and barnes and noble carry very nice books that help teach letters, numbers, shapes, and the basic stuff. The books are around twenty dollars but last all year. Another book that is very effective is teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons. It doesnt take but like 20 min. a day and it works really well.


8. Abeka. It is a wonderful curriculum.


9. You should start with the basics i.e. alphabet and sounds, numbers, counting, shapes, etc. If you have a dollar store in your area, they will have pre-k books. If you are looking for a curriculum to follow I would try A Beka or Rod and Staff.