Preschool home school 1

TLE wearing a collar which she insisted was a necklace. Yes it is disturbing. No it has nothing to do with the entry below. Again.

In light of The Little Empress’ recent assessment, The Hubs ™ and I have been reconsidering TLE’s schooling options. Interestingly, even though I’d said I didn’t want to home preschool, it looks like I am going to be doing so anyway. I do still intend on sending her to the co-op preschool but we’ve decided that I’m also going to be working with her more closely at home to help with her language challenges. Since her play based school is doing very well for her, I’m trying to figure out how to best emulate her school day at home. For now, she’ll still be going to school and I’ll be providing her a more structured afternoon. When she’s no longer attending school when she turns three, we’ll start the half-day structured preschool at home. (At least I have six months or so to prepare!!)

What I’m finding out is that preschool isn’t all fun and games. I mean, it is for the kids. My goal is for her to never view our home “preschool” as “work” — it will all be play based. But the thought that goes in to planning these days and activities… phew!! I honestly never realized the amount of planning that goes in to making a school day for a preschooler. It is a lot of work!  Right now, I’m trying to determine themes for the various months and then plan activities around it, concentrating on ways to stimulate language.

I have a newfound respect for teachers, both conventional and homeschoolers. I knew that the work involved in homeschooling was pretty intense but just dipping my toe in the water for preschool lesson plans has me pretty nervous about whether or not I’d homeschool without the support of the school district or a charter academy. On a positive note, this curriculum creation process is definitely giving me first hand experience on the benefits of homeschooling as well as its downfalls. Yes, there’s a lot of work involved in not just the planning but the execution of the plan. I also am realizing that all of this is tailored specifically for TLE: her particular learning style, her needs. She will never get the same sort of attention in a conventional classroom. It just isn’t possible. Definitely food for thought in the years to come.