How we teach our preschoolers in our homeschool is yet another favourite question topic of discussion whenever I mention I homeschool all our children. Henson says I should compile a list of FAQs! And guess what? I did!
RELATED POST: Homeschool FAQs
At the recent annual Homeschool Fair 2007, while I was showing the Student of the Word* curriculum, of which we use for our Bible study, many came up to check how we teach our younger children. So here is the detailed answer.
UPDATE: It is with sadness that I discovered that Student of the Word no longer exists.
The Focus For Our Children
The simple answer is – I teach them according to the goals we have set up for them – namely to know, to love and to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
So that means we do concentrate a fair bit on the Bible. Then comes the 3Rs – Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. The rest (science, history, etc) are bonus stuff we do if mama has the energy and time to do them.
Which Curriculum?
Do I follow a set curriculum? No, I don’t. However, I must say that on lazy days, I wish I did! Because then I wouldn’t have to crack my head so hard to get the materials I need and the do up a scope and sequence!
I would, therefore, say that generally, while a formal curriculum is not necessary, it is helpful – very helpful! – for those who are clueless about what to do and how to do it. And also, for those who are not very self-disciplined.
Why?
A set curriculum saves time and energy. You don’t reinvent the wheel. And when you are feeling lazy, all you have to do is open up the teacher’s guide and follow it.
Bible
Bible is covered first. What do I use for Bible at this age? I wrote a very detailed post about this and all the materials we used in Doing Devotionals with the Children.
A free alternative is to download pages from Calvary Chapel Colouring Pages but the pictures are not as nice, in our opinion!)
English
I like the workbooks put out by Rod and Staff’s Preschool – ABC Series. There are 6 workbooks and 1 reader. Great stuff! After we finish that, we proceed to the workbooks available at Popular bookstore. There are loads of stuff to choose from.
Teaching Phonics is a challenge for me since I didn’t learn it in school! That’s when the tapes (cassettes or VCDs) come in handy. I use Christ-Centered Curriculum‘s Phonics programme. They are different from the other phonic programmes out there because it uses parts of the Bible in their programme.
Eg. A is not for apple but for Adam and B is not for bear or banana but the Bible! They even have scripture verses for the child to memorise that goes with the letters! The downside of this programme – it is heavy going when I have older children to watch over. So I have modified it a fair bit.
I also use the letters and blends learnt for our Copywork. This way the children are practising their handwriting plus getting bible verses into their hearts and minds.
Once they can read on their own, they would be given easy readers and encouraged to read on their own. Then we are basically home free!
Read-alouds
I used to think that once the child is able to read, I won’t have to read to them anymore! But reading aloud is actually still much needed even when they are older.
A few benefits of reading aloud to competent readers – they get to hear how words sound! Obviously, we need to read with expression and the right pronunciation. They also get to practice their auditory skills.
My children tend to be visual learners. It is, therefore, a challenge for them to sit and listen to someone read a story. They keep wanting to read the story for themselves! But it is important for them to learn how to listen, absorb and process information through their ears, not just their eyes. So we practice this every day by having mama read to them a short time each day.
Let me confess though – it is not my favourite thing to do, especially when I am 8 months pregnant and tend to get breathless when I read aloud. Yawn!
Related Post: 8 Reasons Why I Still Do Read-Alouds to My Children
Maths
I use Rod & Staff’s Mathematics 1 for my 5 and almost 4-year-old and like it because it is very simple and repetitive. My children need to have a certain amount of repetition to retain their information.
The 5-year-old does 2 pages of the workbook daily and largely on his own while the almost 4-year-old does just 1 page with me. Once they have mastered the concept for the unit, I cut down on the amount of repetition they need.
Again, I supplement with workbooks from Popular for a change and to keep up with our local requirements.
Chinese
Ah! This is one area we have to have a tutor come in. Once they are 5 years old, they start tuition with the same tutor who teaches our older children. Before then, I teach them using flashcards so that they can at least recognise and know what common objects around the house are in Chinese.
Investing in a tutor out has its advantages in that I don’t get stressed by my weakest subject. But the cost does add up when you have 3 children taking lessons twice a week! The other benefit of having the tutor come to my house is that I don’t have to lug everyone to a tuition centre and spend time waiting for each of them to finish.
Life Skills
That’s just the academics. What is also important is for them to learn what is known as Life Skills.
They learn how to live with each other’s idiosyncrasies, help with household chores (make their beds, pack the house, sort and fold their own laundry, set and clear the table before and after meals, respectively), play independently and creatively when mama is busy. And then we also go for outdoor play at the playground when the weather permits.
And that sums up our “curriculum” for our pre-schoolers. It is still mostly free and easy with lots of time for free play. Yet they begin to learn to follow the structure and routine of formal education, making it less painful to transition to the primary school level.
Related Post: Teaching Our Toddlers