Home Schooling Lessons for a four-year-old?

[Anonymous]

I just started a new nanny position with a 4 yr old and a newborn. The MB intends to homeschool the 4 yr old girl until high school. What, if anything, should I be doing to start the home-schooling preK program (and does such a thing even exist?). Obviously interested in starting the reading and math programs but will take anything!

[Anonymous]

This is the book to teach reading that I recommended in your other thread - http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985

For counting, there are a lot of great options with just things around the house, like measuring items for baking. But if you want a workbook, my 3.5 yo likes this - http://www.amazon.com/Book-Numbers-1-30-Kumon-Workbooks/dp/4774307033/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438091708&sr=1-1&keywords=kumon+workbooks+preschool
KUMON's tracing work book is also nice if your charge is still working on pencil grip and control

There are also some great Montessori at Home activities - sorting, pouring water for meals, place setting. Some ideas are here - https://www.pinterest.com/debchitwood/montessori-friendly-home/

[Anonymous]

I like the jumps and brain quest workbooks. Sometimes you can get them cheaper at Costco.

[Anonymous]

This is free - http://www.jumpstart.com/teachers/curriculum/grade-based/preschool-curriculum

They're having a 15% off sale on preschool supplies - http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Default.aspx?src=logo

[Anonymous]

We homeschool and second the "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" book. Boring at first but boy does it work!

There are so many free resources online for reading and math like: mathworksheetland.com too and color by number worksheets which might be fun/educational for her.

Lastly with younger kids homeschooling the challenge is really filling the day. There's only so much academics and free play you can do. Field trips, organized activities and joining a local homeschool group will be invaluable to you.

[Anonymous]

How much outside learning time is this child getting? Do you know about the weekends?

[Anonymous]

I am teacher and I use the website, teacherspayteachers.com

You can look things up grade level.

I think for true homeschooling it needs to be more than workbooks.

Start with the book 'Playful Parenting'. A lot of great early learning things for younger kids.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Great suggestions.

[Anonymous]

My homeschooling friends use "Classical Conversations" starting at age 4. Honestly, I am kind of surprised that someone would outsource all of this to a nanny and not either hire someone with experience or give you specific instructions on what to do. My friends that do this are heavily invested in it, take their kids and teach at a co-op, spend a ton of time reading and prepping for lessons, and go to conventions and workshops where they learn more about the teaching techniques and purchase materials.
Also, what they always say they like about it is that they get to spend the best part of the day with their kids. Those morning hours when they are awake and interested in learning, instead of just the dinner/bath/bedtime rush. And they get to go down whatever rabbit hole their kids are interested in, instead of keeping up with an imposed curriculum or the other students in the class. So if their kids loved learning about the titanic, they can spend several weeks checking out every book in the library, doing science experiments with ice bergs, writing a story from the point of view of a passenger, making a dinner they would have served on the boat, etc. I think it's cool, and I completely understand their decision. But I am kind of scratching my head on why your employers aren't giving you any direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My homeschooling friends use "Classical Conversations" starting at age 4. Honestly, I am kind of surprised that someone would outsource all of this to a nanny and not either hire someone with experience or give you specific instructions on what to do. My friends that do this are heavily invested in it, take their kids and teach at a co-op, spend a ton of time reading and prepping for lessons, and go to conventions and workshops where they learn more about the teaching techniques and purchase materials.
Also, what they always say they like about it is that they get to spend the best part of the day with their kids. Those morning hours when they are awake and interested in learning, instead of just the dinner/bath/bedtime rush. And they get to go down whatever rabbit hole their kids are interested in, instead of keeping up with an imposed curriculum or the other students in the class. So if their kids loved learning about the titanic, they can spend several weeks checking out every book in the library, doing science experiments with ice bergs, writing a story from the point of view of a passenger, making a dinner they would have served on the boat, etc. I think it's cool, and I completely understand their decision. But I am kind of scratching my head on why your employers aren't giving you any direction.

OP here. Their child is just four and they haven't started any kind of homeschooling yet. I was the one who was interested in preschool curriculum as I believe it is never to early to start. I have a MA in liberal arts and have taught elementary school so I am not inexperienced in teaching - just in teaching preschool.

[Anonymous]

Been there, homeschooled for a family, was told when I arrived that the old curriculum was no longer available for any of them (they had been using k12), so I needed to have something planned by the weekend for the following month.

[Anonymous]

You don't need anything. Seriously there us no actual schooling needed for a 4 yr old. The mom just has some theoretical idea of homeschooling. To declare at 4 a plan to homeschool until 12th grade ignores the fact the child is person who may not fit the homeschhol environment not to mention the mom may not be either.

[Anonymous]

If the parents are choosing to home school, it is likely that they want a degree of control over their child's education. As a homeschooling mom myself, I would not want someone else selecting curriculum for my child. Philosophically, I believe that early academics are harmful, so I would be very upset if you introduced workbooks without permission.

If you want to offer, that is fine but allow the parents to make the choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the parents are choosing to home school, it is likely that they want a degree of control over their child's education. As a homeschooling mom myself, I would not want someone else selecting curriculum for my child. Philosophically, I believe that early academics are harmful, so I would be very upset if you introduced workbooks without permission.

If you want to offer, that is fine but allow the parents to make the choices.

LOL I seriously doubt that OP intended to homeschool behind the mother's back!!!