first day of preschool

We started our fall schedule of preschool yesterday. Maddie was very excited to start her new books. It helps our day run more smoothly when we have some sort of routine not to mention the girls love learning and the extra attention from mama.

Here is what we are doing (for those I know will ask!)

Every day we start by reading a Proverb. We discuss the fool vs. wise man and other applications for the 4.5 year old! :) We'll do this every day of the week and repeat each month of the year.

Monday School:
Our good friends, Pam and her daughter Alissa (just turned 5) are going to do school with us one day a week this year. Pam and I decided it would be easier and more motivating to do some crafty type things and group activities if there was another child or two to do it with! Monday School will include Character lessons, Five in a Row (reading and crafts), group games, lots of crafts and poem/verse memorization and recitation.

Wednesday and Friday: (this takes 1 or 2 hours in the morning during Charlotte's nap time)
- Rod and Staff preschool series: This includes 7 workbooks, including a Bible reader and coloring book. After two days, :) I am quite impressed with the quality of activities and ease of use for these books. We are rotating through each book (she doesn't actually work in 7 books on one day!) during the week.
- Phonics Pathways
-Get Ready for the Code: Somebody gave us some almost brand new workbooks from the Explode the Code series. Ellie works a little bit in some of them when she wants her own book.
- Circle Time: Including our maps, calendars, music, verses, and general discussion about things the girls want to talk about!
- Read aloud: We are reading each day after lunch for at least 30 minutes. We are almost finished with a really fun one called Old Mother West Wind. (thanks Krista!)
- We also play in their pretend kitchen with baby dolls or learn the game of memory...or get down the musical instruments and sing...or put together all the puzzles...fun, fun, fun.... :) Really, you didn't think I was that organized, did you?

Tuesday mornings, our church has a ladies Bible study that we are going to attend.

I am also the coordinator for a preschool field trip group that I put together. We will go places once a month and we're planning some fun outings to the fire station, grocery store, local historical site, police station, a butterfly pavilion and maybe even a chocolate factory!