I still can’t believe that Benji is going to be starting preschool in TWO WEEKS! I really am in complete denial about it. Jacob and Sarah were both begging for school and Ben has more of a “whatever” kind of feel about it. We will see how it goes!
For our first year of preschool – I start with basics, like real basics. My goal is to help my children develop a love for learning (#1 GOAL!) and then just get a basic feel for structure. I used All Aboard the Animal Train from My Father’s World with Sarah and even though I am not sure if I would get it again, it is what we are planning on using with Benji this year.
Step 1: Laminate, Laminate, Laminate
My laminator is my best friend this time of year. And the key to making things last through multiple children is to laminate, laminate, and laminate some more.
When you order, you receive a package of student sheets. I cut and laminated everything that I could.
I would add though, if you are only going through this program once – this is not necessary at all. This is for preschool after all! I didn’t want to pay $50 for this very simple program for each child and so I laminate the student sheets.
Step 2: Keep a Master and Make Copies
Because I didn’t want to buy new student sheets for each child, those papers that the child writes/colors/paints on, I keep a master and make copies for each additional child.
When I am done laminating and organizing all of my student sheets, I put them in file folders and that way everything is at my fingertips when I need it.
Step 3: Organize Your Books
If you purchase the deluxe package, you will receive a number of books. These are all great additions to your library (I’m just in it for the books, guys!). So have those in an accessible spot for your kiddo.
BUT I would take it a step further and look through your home library that you already have and see if you have any books that you can add to your preschool learning. This program is divided into twelve units – each centered around a different animal, color, and virtue – and I looked up books we already had that we could add. For example, Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter for our unit on rabbits.
There is a lengthy book list in the back of the teacher’s manual that also includes suggestions for books to add to each unit. I am really excited about utilizing this list more this go around.
Step 4: Prepare Supplies
At the beginning of the teacher’s manual, there is a list of basic supplies and materials that you should have on hand (there is also an additional supply list for each additional unit).
The course also directs you to do five “Surprise Time” activities with your child. I do not do this. We have loads of activities for our kiddos to do and so I just don’t feel the need to add this on. However, if you want to, you will need to prepare those each week.
Step 5: Sing for Joy CD
Another thing you receive in your kit is the Sing for Joy CD. I don’t have a CD player in our home, and so I downloaded it to my computer and then put it on my phone. It makes it easy peasy to stream it onto our portable music player when we need it.
And you are…DONE!
This program is fairly easy to put together, and if you do just a couple extra steps it makes it completely open and go for your next kiddos. I didn’t have to do ANYTHING for Benji – it was already done for me!
Now, just to mentally prepare myself for THREE kiddos in school!
You can find my full plan for Benjamin’s first year of preschool here.
