This coming homeschool year I will be homeschooling another preschooler. I’m a little teary-eyed thinking about the fact that my seventh (and youngest) child is ready and eager to start some academic work. I am excited to share my preschool homeschool curriculum choices with you but first I need to point out a few important things.
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Important Things to Consider Before Picking Preschool Curriculum
You may still be debating whether to put your child in a formal preschool or keep them home. If so, you might find this article that I wrote helpful. Click on over to read, “Is (Formal) Preschool the Best Option for my Child?” to learn some of the benefits of keeping your child home during the preschool years.
I’m pretty sure that it’s the tendency of every homeschool mom to jump right into researching and choosing curriculum. Before you make your preschool homeschool curriculum choices, though, you need to answer these two important questions. Find out what they are in the article, “Important Questions to Ask Before Purchasing Preschool Curriculum.”
Once you have determined your philosophy on early education and where your child is developmentally, then you can begin looking into curriculum that best meets your goals and your child’s abilities. If you are wondering what you should teach your child during the preschool years and what you should do during those hours at home then check out these two articles here and here.
Here is my preschool blog post series for easy reference:
- Is (Formal) Preschool the Best Option for My Child?
- Important Questions to Ask Before Purchasing Preschool Curriculum
- Help! What Should I Teach My Preschooler?
- Preschool at Home: What Do I Do?
Preschool Curriculum Choices
While I am a huge fan of letting little ones learn through play and exploration, I also recognize that some kids are ready for more structured learning. I like to have a few things on hand just in case a child expresses interest in learning pre-reading and basic math skills. My go-to curriculum has always been Rod and Staff preschool workbooks.
My 4 year old blew through the Rod and Staff workbooks when he was 3 years old. He is currently able to sit still for longer periods of time, listens intently, is able to trace lines and can sit at a table and color for 15 minutes at a time. He is also very enthusiastic about learning and doing school work like his older siblings. I figured it was time to look into some other preschool curriculum options for him.
Language Arts
For phonics, we are going with All About Reading and using their pre-reading level. I’m a huge fan of Spell to Write and Read but with everything going on in our life right now, I needed a curriculum that was open-and-go for me and possibly another family member who may be helping with preschool. All About Reading: Pre-reading fit my family’s needs during this season of homeschooling.
I will be using the Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten Read-Aloud Set and the Kindergarten Read-Aloud Set as a guide for good literature to read aloud to my preschooler. I will not be purchasing these sets. I just use them as inspiration for what I can pull off of our own bookshelves or find at the library.
Math
I love teaching math concepts using manipulatives and other hands-on activities. After 16 years of homeschooling, I’ve gathered quite a collection of math manipulatives. But my 4 year old also loves workbooks so I went ahead and purchased him the Memoria Press Numbers Coloring Book and the Memoria Press Numbers and Colors Workbook. They will make a great addition to our hands-on math lessons.
Keeping it Short and Sweet
When it comes to homeschooling a preschooler, I like to keep it short and sweet. I only bring out the workbooks and manipulatives if they ask to use them and keep the lessons to 15 minutes or less. If they show signs of frustration then we put the formal learning away and go back to playing.
I believe there are great benefits to letting a preschooler be a kid. Running, climbing, jumping, and playing outdoors all contribute to important brain and muscle development needed for higher academics. Imaginative play and exploration develops creative minds.
If your child has no interest in preschool work, don’t worry. Let them play and leave the formal learning until later. Trust me. It will be okay
Other Homeschool Curriculum Choices
Check out my other homeschool curriculum choices for 10th grade, 8th grade, 4th & 6th grade and 1st grade. And make sure to visit my homeschool curriculum page for help with choosing curriculum.
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