Here are my specific questions:
- What phonics program do you prefer and why?
- What educational philosophy book/resource would you recommend?
- What websites or other resources do you use for creative activity and craft ideas?
- In your experience, what type of activities do you think are the most effective for 3-4 year olds?
4 comments:
Great questions! I am asking the same ones and I look forward to reading the responses of more seasoned mothers:).
This may be a little long.
1. I like the book Teaching your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. It is very easy and covers all the basics for phonics.
2. My educational approach is a cross between Classical Education and the Charlotte Mason approach. The book "The Well-Trained Mind" is an excellent resource both for encouraging you to go forward with the home education of your child as well as providing tremendous resources to use in teaching. You can find it on e-bay for a much better bargain than any bookstore. The Charlotte Mason approach is a hands on-learning approach that focuses on teaching kids the practical lessons they need and getting them out to nature to learn with what surrounds them.
3. I look at different websites every time I'm looking for something, so no specific favorites.
4. Activities that are most affective for preschoolers -- begin working on music appreciation, writing with pencils, coloring in the lines, and cutting with scissors. Any kind of craft time is usually successful. Also, now is the perfect time to begin verse memorization and any kind of catechism/doctrinal teaching -- I especially like Kids4Truth. Of course, you want to continue reading with her and expand what you are teaching her to do around the house. Preschoolers love to help clean, and there are many things you can do around the house to begin Chloe's education.
Alicia, I obviously have no experience here, but just wondered if you have looked at Veritas Press as a possible resource? Alia uses their curriculum and swears by it, but I don't specifically remember what she thought of the phonics in it.
i really love what the people at sonlight have done to bring together the best in children's literature & history, science & math to make learning so fun & natural. i recommend their lists for the best-of-the best read alouds for 2 year olds through 12th grade. i am fascinated by "spalding: the writing road to reading" & the idea that virtually every child can learn to read fluently & for meaning if taught in a systematic way the rules of our language. reading aloud daily to your 3-4 year old is the best way to increase i.q. & expand their world (see notes about sonlight curriculum above). a company has put out a series of 4 books called "developing the early learner" which are excellent for pre-reading skills also i.q. boosters--good for ages closer to 4 but some 3s can do. (got that tip from sonlight to) usborne has fantastic books (sonlight uses them alot) to increase all kinds of areas of knowledge (here we go with read alouds again). lots of good things in the "handwriting without tears" program for learning hand rhythms & songs. those would be good with 3 year olds.
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