Archive for April, 2009

• Finally Believing

  Date: 2009.04.30 | Category: Twins | Response: 0

  For the past four years, people have been telling me that I have beautiful girls.  I have been slow to believe them.

  All babies are cute, cuddly and adorable.  I’ve never seen an Ugly Baby.   A baby reminds me just how great the miracle of life is.  And when I hold that tiny bundle of joy, I only see the beautiful handiwork of our Creator.

  As the baby grows and develops, we get a glimpse of their personality. We compare their pictures to the old photos of their ancestors, and we get a glimpse of what they might look like in high school.  Yet, toddlers are awkward in every way: physically and verbally stumbling over themselves and others.  Their innate awkwardness  endears them to the human race, and perhaps that is why they continue to survive even after the most untimely tantrum.  After all, each of us has our awkward moments.

  Preschoolers  begin to master the language and experiment with all the syllables.  They continue to show sheer joy at the simplest life discoveries.  Their zest for life infects every member of the family and the neighborhood rejoices with each new breakthrough.

  Today, however, I had a new revelation.  I saw my girls in a new light, the light of the AWANA Awards Day. Thirty children lined up on stage, under the brilliant lights,  sang, danced, and performed.  Not one of the preschoolers were ugly.  Not one reminded me of Quasimodo.  No one was dirty, unkempt, or embarrassing.   But I finally saw what everyone else has been seeing.

  My girls are beautiful.  Perhaps, the most beautiful children I’ve ever seen.

• A successful school day

  Date: 2009.04.22 | Category: Preschool | Response: 0

  730 breakfast

  800 Bible time, prayer, free play and get dressed

  920 started school time with kids completely dressed (including hair fixed, socks, shoes, teeth brushed!).  For 2  hours we did the following

  • Read a story
  • Practiced writing our first and last name in Script
  • Introduced place value
  • Played an M&M math game
  • Reviewed Days of the Week
  • Read 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cobbins
  • Played outside

  1120 ate lunch

  1145 chores

  1200 Psychology: discussed emotions using the Bear puzzle by Melissa and Doug

  Later today: Science Movie, Art project.  Global Studies will have to wait.

• Preschool basic framework

  Date: 2009.04.08 | Category: Preschool | Response: 2

  After a lot of thought and personal curriculum development, I checked out a book from the public library.  I was so happy with it that I found a copy for less than $5 on Amazon.com.

  I’ll be using Preschool Connections by Sarah Felstiner for my basic framework for the 2009-2010 school year.  The text includes art, discovery, games, story time (with featured picture books), dramatic play, snacks, songs, nursery rhymes, and flannel board. I will most likely change February’s theme from Dragons to America. The author includes additional themes, such as Me, family, food, weather, homes, animals, earth, oceans, sky, transportation, and jobs.  I decided not to reinvent the wheel.  Why should I, since it’s not for a class assignment?!?!

  For supplementary materials, I will be surfing through Preschool Rainbow and DLTKkids.com.  Starfall.com has some great pre-reading activities and my mother-in-law gave me some educational CD-ROM’s.  Meanwhile,  the twins are working through some of the “Everything Preschool” workbook pages.

  Now for your input via the comment section!  I need some insight on Math and Science Curriculum.  I’m investigating Kindergarten curriculum. I’d appreciate any suggestions on educational videos on any topic. We often use videos during our down time for the day.