Though we have simplified our Learning Time during our newborn transition, the boys and I are still having a blast doing preschool at home. I love watching them learn and thinking of ways to (secretly) weave it into our days. I try to follow their curiosity and to plant seeds within their developing minds and bodies. They are little sponges who learn something new about the world around them everyday, whether we plan it or not!
Dominic has really caught on to reading phonetically in these past few weeks. We are going through a reading program that we love, called All About Reading. Since Dominic is still young, I try to listen to him read for about 10-15 minutes a day. We usually only finish one or two lessons a week, which is wonderful, because it is hard work for him and I do not want reading to become a chore. I have been reading aloud to him since birth to encourage a love of books, and I am not about to ruin that now! That being said, I am so excited for this little bookworm to experience literacy-- and there is something very special about hearing your child read to you!
This is a photo of my proud little boy who finished his first Level 1 reader.
In addition to reading, we love our Kindergarden Math curriculum, which we work on for about 15-minutes three-times a week. This program has been fantastic. Dominic is learning so much through the use of manipulatives and repetition. Almost every activity is oral and conceptual, which is perfect for young ones who have not mastered the fine-motor skills of handwriting.
My only other focus these days is to keep reading-aloud to the boys.
I believe that listening to stories daily builds their vocabulary and imaginations to prepare them for a lifetime of learning. We mostly read picture books, though Dominic is starting to transition into being able to listen attentively to chapter books as well. We have enjoyed a couple of the Winnie the Pooh classics, as well as Charlotte's Web in the past few months while the little ones are napping. We also recently discovered audiobooks at our library, and this has been wonderful during car drives.
I hope to resume our Little Saints program very soon, but for now my library trips are limited, and it is a little easier to simply grab a couple of stacks of various books rather than try to work in a weekly theme.
As you can see I am definitely not a "Pinterest" mom who enjoys coming up with beautiful art projects and extravagant "sensory" activities. Spending my days with my boys however is something that I sincerely enjoy and playing a part of the foundational work for their future education is an honor. We will likely be doing Kindergarden with Dominic at home next year as well, and although there are many factors contributing to our narrowing in on this decision, the most important reason is that learning together is FUN and that I love having that sweet boy home with me!
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