Because of the uniqueness of our journey through medical school and residency, we will not be spending more that 3 years living in one location. We have always wanted to homeschool our children, at least through the elementary years, and this part of our journey is perfect for that. So this last spring I began looking for a preschool curriculum that would give us just enough routine and focus to begin the learning/reading process.
As for curriculum, I am looking for something very specific. I need all the supplies to be sent to my door. I don't want to be making trips to the store for pipe cleaners and googly eyes if I can avoid it. I also want something fun! This will be our first experience with homeschooling and I want something that will peek Jonathan and Hope's interest and keep them motivated to learn. I want something experience, conversation, and literacy heavy. Mother Goose Time curriculum is all those things. Before you continue, I need to tell you that I don't sell subscriptions! Haha. At this point in an article I always click off because I realize that the "author" is actually a "sales person!" Not me! But I do get the curriculum for free with the stipulation that I share with you all what we're up to every week. I am so glad to be writing this blog and to be sharing what my kiddos are learning (and let's be real, what I am learning too)!
One of the biggest things I struggle with, as a mother, is routine. I appreciate routine, and I certainly have the "Big Bones" picture of everyday that are set in stone. Mealtime and bedtimes are always at set times in this home. Everything else is pretty much up for negotiation around here. When you begin homeschooling, however, you need to maintain a strict routine! Because this was only our first week, I'm still trying to figure it all out. Here is the routine we maintained (or attempted to maintain) this week. I am a bullet point kind of lady, so this routine is, and always will be, bullet pointed!
-Breakfast
-Get ready for the day
-Circle Time: Calendar, letter and numbers of the week, songs and topic for the day (in California we skip the weather because it is literally ALWAYS the same here)
-Community Challenge: A time in our day that we discuss the topic of the day and sing a song about it. Sometime there will be a little activity we do as a group in this one.
-Read a story: I try to read at least ONE book to both of them everyday (besides bedtime books). MGT (Mother Goose Time) comes with a couple books and a list of suggested books for the month.
-Leave the house: gym, trampoline park, playdate, church, etc.
-Lunch: Lunch out or in
-Nap
-Math: Number and shape work
-Literacy: Work with letters and writing
-Creative Corner: Art Project of some kind related to the topic of the day/week
-Closing/Reflection: We talk about what we learned and end with a song
-Free Time
-Dinner
-Bedtime
As things are right now, I would love to get literacy and math time in the morning. I will be working all of that this month. Every schedule certainly needs adjustment and a little tweaking, and I would really like to get those things in the morning because I know my children are at their best in the morning.
I'm excited to begin this journey! And I know my kids are excited too. Every night before bed, we ask the kids what their favorite part of the day was... Last night, Jonathan said, "I liked doing school!" 😍
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