Tips on Homeschooling Preschoolers...

Sorry that I have been MIA.
Things are very busy here, as we are finishing up the last few weeks of our school year and plan for the next.
I found this little list while cleaning up files on my computer. Hope it encourages someone.

Tips for Homeschooling Preschoolers
by Margaret Doskey

#1 Get thee to a parenting class! The most important thing is to raise our children in the “nurture and admonition of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I highly recommend the materials from Family Ministries- “Child Training Tips” by Reb Bradley comes in book, tapes, or video-terrific resource.

#2 Train him to sit still, quiet and unoccupied. Other words, self-control.

#3 Read aloud, Read aloud, Read aloud! “Honey for a Child’s Heart” by Gladys Hunt. And as an aside, television & video, being a passive medium has been proven to impair language skills, limit it severely!

#4 Talk,, Talk, Talk! Explain what you are doing, tell how God made everything, count, sing, ask questions, use proper English.

#5 Mom & Dad- Pray, Read & Pray! Various homeschool books:

"When You Rise Up" by R.C. Sproul, Jr.

“Home Grown Kids” by Raymond Moore

“Homeschooling, the Right Choice” by Chris Klicka

“ For the Children’s Sake” Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

“ What’s a Daughter to Do?” tape by Doug Phillips of Vision forum

“ Homeschooling with a Meek & Quiet Spirit” by Terri Maxwell

“ Dumbing Us Down; the hidden curriculum behind compulsive education” by John T. Gatto

“ Clergy in the Classroom” by David Noeble

#7 Teach her to read in little bits (5 min.) at a time, knowing the alphabet is not necessary and some say actually causes confusion… Ask, “do you want to take a nap now, or do some reading practice?” “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” by Engelmann & Haddox & Bruner

#8 Math, count, observe. Cuisenaire Rods along with the activity cards.

#9 Writing Readiness- Ready Writer workbook

#10 “Doing School” Rod & Staff Preschool workbooks

#11 Memorize, memorize, memorize! Kids this age are sponges (how quick do they memorize commercial jingles?). Put it to music and they will learn it. Scripture tapes (Steve Green), Catechism (Judy Rogers), Science, history, French & Latin vocabulary. Play the same Scripture CD over and over at Bedtime for a month. Record a tape of things you want her to learn (birth date, address, family mantra, etc.), use it as a timer for an activity.