I started searching for a preschool for Ava over the summer, but no place was sticking out to me. I wanted her to start socializing in a group setting and start learning to listen to adults other than Eric & me. Most were either too expensive, during odd hours (for Stella's nap schedule), too far away, and the list goes on. Just nothing that was catching my eye. Plus, I was lacking the ambition to send my girl away for preschool... soon enough she will be in real school and the corruption begins! lol. Unless I homeschool her...which is becoming a strong possibility with all the nonsense in schools nowadays... levy's failing, bullying, guns & knives, music & sports removed...blah blah blah. I still wanted to do something with her, though. Her little mind is taking in so much right now and I wanted to take advantage of that. Anyway, I got online, did some searching, and am now dedicated to homeschooling my preschooler! :) If you want to call it that. It really just feels like playing with my toddler, and that's pretty much exactly what it is! I made a "school board" that we focus a little bit of time on in the morning after breakfast. On it, I post a letter of the week, number of the week, sight word of the week (which really has become the sight word of the month...lol), and some other things. I fill in the rest of our morning with development stuff...arts and crafts, fine motor, gross motor, dramatic play, storytime, science exploration, and math - just any combination of these things. We have fun with it and enjoy every second! :-)
This was taken when we first started preschool. The ocean was the theme this week. Ava liked making the blue dolphin and carries it around everywhere - still! I think its missing a googly eye though now. :) That blank spot under the weather header is now where we stick her memory verse. I couldnt decide how I wanted to put it on here, but now I just print it and sticky-tack it to the board.The dry erase board below the blank spot on the left is now Ava's Sticker Chart. She gets a sticker everyday - either under the happy face column or the sad face column. The stickers are for behavior (no yelling or being disrespectful, no hitting, using manners, listening, etc) and not for school performance. No way would I judge her learning - she gets an A for effort everyday! :-) But when she sprouts the devil horns I remind her that she doesn't want to get a sad face sticker... usually works! I mean, who wants a sad face sticker? :) I was thinking about starting a sticker chart that reinforces positive behavior - when she uses manners or is extraordinarily kind, she can give her chart a sticker. She thrives on stickers... thank God for stickers. :)
A "How many fish in the ocean?" game to go with the ocean theme.
Our alphabet tree! Ava takes pleasure in putting up a new letter at the end of each week.
I loved this activity. She actually picked out the different picture on her own every time. I was proud. :)
Shaving cream time!!
She was a little apprehensive to get messy to begin with... once I demonstrated how fun it was, she dove right in. "Look mommy, we have marshmallow fingers!!" :)
Stringing mini ziti noodles on pipe cleaners to make our bracelets. Telling you... preschool is a blast ;)
Our cool bracelets
Fall sensory bin. Ava really got into this one. She could see and feel those leaves up close and personal :)
