Preschool: Introduction (A Warm Welcome)

So you may or may not have read my debates within the past few months about preschool and whether or not Lorelei was going to go to public school or stay home this year. If you're curious and have yet to read the debates click here for the first debate and here for part 2.

Okay, now that we're ready I'll let you in on what we did for our first day of preschool. Remember we are all moms with the best of intentions and are learning the ropes so be kind. To introduce the kiddos to preschool we let them play for about five minutes so they could get their wiggles out before we sat them down. After a few minutes the kids were more than ready to sit down and paint! 

We got out a banner I put together out of a roll of paper I got off of our easel from home. I simply wrote out the word "Preschool" to introduce them to our upcoming (nine week) lesson plan on letters. We talked about the letters on the banner and associated them with their names. (Our goal is for the kids to learn at their own pace and get the individual attention they need while having a nurturing learning environment.) They picked their letters and paint colors and got to painting.

Lorelei: I swear she enjoyed the painting more than this photo is showing. Too funny, she saw the camera aim her way and she blanked. I was impressed with her painting skills and happy she enjoyed the time with others.

Zeke (Momma from A Beautiful Life): Had a wonderful time mixing the colors! He also knows a lot of letter sounds. I was very impressed.

"E" (Momma from A Day's Journal): Was very polite and painted within the lines. She could also write her name which was very impressive.

The girls stayed the longest. Here they are finishing up the banner. Our goal is to put it up during each class so the kids understand the difference between a play date and school. Let's cross our fingers. 

Recess after snacks (Sheri provided yummy snacks which included peanut butter crackers. Lorelei immediately asked me for some for her house). The kids played Ring Around the Rosie among other games.

It wasn't easy to get all three of kids with their people. I cut out the people and clothes before hand from construction paper. Jenn brought the "google" eyes and the kids decorated. "E" quite enjoyed the activity while I was impressed with Zeke adding the shorts in for the letter A and Lorelei really loves her creative outfits doesn't she.

We have a plan for next week and we will be starting with the theme "Sky" and will introduce the letters A, B, and C with individual associations. We would also like to get a book in next week! Wish us luck. Overall though I think it was a wonderful success. The kids told us their favorite parts, other things they want to learn later and their little brothers and sisters played nicely!

If you have any other ideas or thoughts please share!

Nap Time Debate: Homeschooling vs. Public Schools

Swimming, sand, hot sunny days and Popsicles dripping down finger tips. Camping and S'mores all fun summer activities filled with joy and laughter come to an end and the school year vastly approaches. Summer is at it's half way mark and all I can think about is where to send my daughter to school.

She is still working on potty training, though we took her to her first preschool open house back in February or March. Excitement isn't even an accurate description for how Lorelei feels when we walk by the preschool and stop to play on some of the equipment (shhhh, don't tell). She is working hard on potty training, but doesn't seem to have the knack for it as she'd rather be playing right along with her sister, which doesn't quite add up to being ready for preschool.

The girls and I sit together to do endless craft projects, learning letters in work books and cutting out shapes and making puzzles. We do so many learning activities in this house; I even add in learning when we're going for walks or on the beach just by simply asking questions or pointing objects out.

All of this has made me wonder what is best for Lorelei and Hannah in the near future. What is going to be best for my girls? Does homeschooling or Public Schools have the best structure and learning environment for them to flourish and grow?

Homeschooling leaves so many doors open and seems to me to be a much more nurturing environment. It's my responsibility how the day goes and what they have learned by the end of the week. How they view learning and what they learn would be completely up to me. I can send them to summer camp or Library functions or decide to start a homeschooling group for parents and children or I can join a group.

Sending my daughters to a public school offers daily peer interaction and possibilities of ever lasting friendships. Learning from and trusting an adult other than a parent. There are things a public school offers that I simply can't. Learning how to get along with a teacher or peer on a daily basis and coping with their environment; if that may be the case. Odds are in the many years of schooling the children will come across a teacher or peer they just don't understand or get along with.

A child learns to thrive outside the home and learn how to follow their given schedule and earn grades and be admired and seen by peers. It can teach them how to handle a bully or even an assignment they'd rather not participate in.

On the other hand children may feel stifled and left behind their peers if they stay home with their mommy. They may feel uncomfortable in such a fast and structured environment in school.

Are these things I want my children subjected to? Just because it is the norm to attend public school and to learn how to thrive or survive doesn't mean my children need to be subjected to that type of lifestyle. Just as much as keeping my kids home "sounds" like the more nurturing option doesn't mean I need to keep them home with me. After all it takes a village right?

I have so many different arguments on this subject I can't simply decide. Not yet anyway. I'm not sure if I'm the right teacher for my children or have what it takes to guide them into living a happy and fulfilling life as adults. The last thing I want is to look back and think I made selfish decisions. I chose to send them to public school so I didn't have to feel the pressure of their education on my shoulders or I kept them at home with me because I wanted to nurture them and keep them close..too close for their liking.

Expect to see more on this subject in the future as I simply don't have a "winner" for this debate. Both schooling styles seem to be viable solutions to raising children. I hope I can make the right decisions for my children as the years go by. Any advice or opinions, please share!

For some homeschooling information go to http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com. Don't be afraid to look into it yourself. Google it!

For Homeschooling vs. Public Schools Part 2 please click here.