Preschool II

From Life Take 1
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2003-2004: This year we will start preparing our child for what will be expected of them in the coming years. Workbooks are now a part of our daily lessons and school is no longer an option based upon our child's desires. However, our day is still limited to 30 minutes unless more is requested by the child.

We will be using the following items:

SL Core PK (this time with the workbooks except for DEL Book 4 which was too difficult and I am saving for Core K)

Janet Fitt's Comprehensive PK Schedule (uses Core SL with other materials she has added in to supplement -- most are listed below)

SL K LA (I found the lack of instruction on blending hard to overcome. While the activities were fun and my son was grasping the idea, he was not fully understanding it at all. The activity sheets were easy for him and the optional workbooks are NECESSARY -- I found this out after trying the program for 9 weeks getting no where. He learnt more in 1 week from the workbooks than the whole 9 weeks without them.)

HWT (Great for hands on manipulatives -- I highly recommend the new preschool program available through their website. My son however found the two line theory confusing and did not like the letter shapes.)

Reading Made Easy (We tried this but it intimidated my son because his reading was included in the teacher's manual (everything is in the one book). This is a great program and I personally loved it. It was prefered over 100 EX Lessons by Rainbow Resource Center and I have to agree with their recommendation. We will be trying something else now.)

Phonics Songs

Ready, Set, Go for the Code (the optional workbooks for SL K LA)

MCP Phonics K (My son's favorite workbook. Very colorful with lots and lots of great information for those learning letter sounds!)

Singapore Earlybird Math 1A & 1B

Manipulatives: Pattern Blocks, Attribute Blocks, Linking Cubes, Counting Bears, Cuisenaire Rods

World & US Maps

Hundreds Chart

Cuisenaire Alphabet Book

Visual Perceptual Skill Building 1

Building Thinking Skills - Primary

Lots of art supplies

A Bear Called Paddington

Children's Book of Faith, Children's Book of Family and Home, Children's Book of Heroes, Children's Book of America

The Science Encyclopedia

20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury (My son loved this -- some are absolutely hysterical!!)

Ian and The Green Leafy Obstacle

Usborne Pocket Scientist Books -- Red and Blue (Internet Linked)

Pattern Block Cards from SL and Pattern Block Animals

Usborne Starting To Measure Workbook

Big Book of Beatrix Potter

The Story of Me

Snake Stories From Africa

In hindsight, I plan to add the following items for my upcoming children when they reach this level:

Saxon Math K
Come Look With Me: American Indian Art; Come Look With Me: Art In Early America
Complete Book of Arts & Crafts

Can You Find Me? Preschool

Fitness at Home

Teacher Resources I used for the year are:

What Your Kindergartner needs to know

Ruth Beechick's 3 R's

From Playpen To Podium (used from birth on)

Homeschool Easy Records