Tip Tuesday: How to Homeschool Your Preschooler

[@Dreaming4EverAfter]

I just have to say thank God for you. Honestly. I am so thankful that I found you and your website. I am (obviously) planning on homeschooling my son, who just turned 3. I wanted to get started planning fun things for preschool for him and through my searching I found you. I really appreciate how much time and effort you have put into sharing all of your fantastic ideas. I was beginning to feel a little panic-y about trying to homeschool as I had no idea where to start. Everything I had read up to this point went on and on about the joys of creating your own curriculum which I am looking forward to, but I wanted something to look at as an example to make sure I was on the right track. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@Heather-gq6dm]

I am going to start homeschooling my 3 year old in August, I really have enjoyed watching your videos and getting some new ideas. I am a former preschool teacher, so I am really excited to teach my own daughter.

[@ashp3370]

Let me just say that you are amazing! I'm new to your channel and Homeschooling and this makes me feel so much better. My son, who is my only child, will be two in January and I've been wanting to find out as much about Homeschooling now. He's too young for almost all of this stuff you're talking about but it gives me something to look forward to. Thank you so much for doing such a detailed video!

[@katiebr]

thank you for great tips!! I'm starting to teach my son who just turned 4, i plan to homeschooling just just preschool, I don't know if I have the patience but I'm trying lol, don't even know how homeschooling mom's do it, you guys are awesome, I can't handle my kids all day with me for that long hahah

[@asmaosman7782]

did u end up doing it. I wanna start now and have no idea how?

[@sandybenansio764]

Katie Anderson w××w×wwwwww

[@jpaulw78]

This is exactly what I needed. Thank you so much for the detailed and organized description of what I should be working on with my little one. I will definitely be looking into buying your book.

[@jsblake199]

Excellent video! You are amazing! 🤩

[@ellecruz5558]

Watching this on this day of forced homeschooling due to Coronavirus

[@toedancer1148]

I used both her letter of the week and the K-4 programs with my grandson and will be doing the same for my granddaughter. It is a wonderful program

[@Brickswithjon]

Wow! Thank you! Great tips for an apprehensive potential homeschooler like myself. :)

[@megroux]

Please do a kindergarten video as well. Thank you❤️

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, I have it on the list!

[@missa6004]

@@erica_arndt I also would appreciate a Kindergarten video. I loved this video so much it was very helpful!

[@htinhamary]

Oh wow! Thank you so much for this video... some people don’t have ideia that easy (me) I appreciate it!

[@princesa92785]

My daughter is in kinder And my Twins are about to start pre K and im looking to give then extra help home. my daughter have a problem OF forgetting what she has learn. and My boys take speech therapy í don't want them getting behind

[@bookbooky5943]

excellent thanks for this marvellious information would you recommend a preschool curriculum plz

[@erica_arndt]

I recommend my Letter of the Week preschool curriculum :) You can get it here: bit.ly/2ljBAU2

[@Taydatruth]

This was amazing! Very informative!

[@truckart]

Hi Erica. A few months ago I wrote a comment or question below one of your videos and you were kind enough to answer. But I can't find that info now. You had directed me to a website that sells used homeschooling materials (books, curricula etc). Would really appreciate it if you could tell me the name again. Thanks!

[@erica_arndt]

I'm not sure which site it was either, it depends on what you were looking for?

[@LynReelHamelburg]

i like the idea of the homeschooling it is the foundation.

[@HerGracefulAcres]

Do you keep track of your preschoolers and/or lower grade children's work? I know lesson planning is important, and you mentioned hi-lighting what has been completed in your lesson planner as you go along... but do you keep track in any other way? Is that even necessary before high school? I'm thinking of attendance, grades, pictures of the work that was done... that kind of thing. It's not required in my state, but I'm wondering if I should have records anyway, and how I should go about doing that. (I'm preparing for homeschool preschool)

[@erica_arndt]

I don't keep grades for my preschoolers or kindergartners. I usually start grading in first grade. But to keep records I just have a lesson plan that I keep, I used my Letter of the Week and k4/5 kindergarten and both come with a daily lesson planner that you can keep as record of what you did.

[@tezzie1459]

Im not gonna homeschool righ now . i just want them (the twins)they are turning three in dec. to have an itrodution and a schedule in the day . tha ks alot

[@kathyvia8477]

Do you have to use a computer to homeschool for preschool

[@erica_arndt]

No, we didn't use a computer for preschool. We prefer mostly hands-on activities.

[@SophiaIsabelle2013]

How many minutes do you recommend they do and how many days a week?

[@erica_arndt]

It really depends on your child, I provide 5 days/week lessons but many people do three days/week and do about 1-2 hrs of activities.

[@Tiffshouse]

I would love to see how you organized the LOTW curriculum. I have it in a binder but when you print out all the prints and laminate the pieces, it doesn't fit in the binder. With a toddler, I can't have things close to the ground and the binder is so full I can't fit any more printouts. I'm only 8 letters in!

[@erica_arndt]

Hi! I usually put the small pieces into sandwich or snack baggies. Then put all of the same letter activities into either a binder with page protectors, or those 8x10 clasp envelopes to keep everything together! Here's a post I did on it awhile back, but if I had to do it over I'd use the envelopes since the binders take up a lot of space! www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2011/10/letter-of-the-week-storage.html

[@Tiffshouse]

Thanks!

[@petagayejolly7577]

Thank you so much for sharing, this is awesome. You did not mention how long per day you suggest doing preschool. do you think an hour is enough or too much. I have twins 4 year old and a 2 1/2 year old and I currently do 20 minutes per day.

[@erica_arndt]

Oh sorry, I think it really depends on your student and how much they can handle. When I first started out, we only did a few structured activities each day, and built our way up. Since we have 4 children, we did prek 5 days per week, but you can do 2 or 3 days per week as well. I would suggest maybe an hour to an hour and a half depending. Let your child kind of lead in this area. If they're getting frustrated or bored and not enjoying the process, stop. No need to make them dread school at this stage :)

[@abbyhinojos-carrera]

Great video! have you considered making a curriculum for lower elementary grades? I would definitely buy it.

[@erica_arndt]

I have thought about it, right now I only have full curriuclum for preschool and kindertarten. I also have a ton of other units, geograhy, literature, scientists, composers, artists. You can find all of my curriculum here: store.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/

[@abbyhinojos-carrera]

Erica Arndt Thank you! We have actually used a lot of your printables in our homeschool and I am thinking of getting letter of the week for my almost 3 year old.

[@OurWildWay]

Great tips!

[@rhondal8887]

Amazing vid! You packed in alot of info. Much appreciated. My son just turned 4. How much time should I spend on school each day? Thanks!

[@erica_arndt]

Since he's so young, I would kind of let him lead how much he can handle. I tend to do about 1-2 hours / day for prek and kinder. But also check with your state requirements to make sure. Most states don't require a specific amount of time/day until they're 6 years old, but the regulations vary so just make sure you're following your regs.

[@rhondal8887]

@@erica_arndt Got it! Thanks so much!

[@rickyperezjr2234]

Do you happen to have a video of you doing all the ideas you mentioned

[@erica_arndt]

I don't have a video of it, but I do have a ton of prek ideas on my blog: www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com

[@TheLearningLadder]

Hi, Erica. Do you have a template for your wall calendar? I love the pumpkin numbers. Thanks!)

[@erica_arndt]

I do have printable calendar numbers here: www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2011/10/gingham-calendar-day-month-printables.html

[@TheLearningLadder]

That's great. Thanks so much.

[@HerGracefulAcres]

What's the difference between the LOW Classroom PDF and the LOW regular PDF (on your website)?

[@erica_arndt]

The classroom version is for use in a class or co-op setting with multiple students, day-cares, or multiple homeschooling families all using it together. The regular download or CD is for personal use with your own children only (no matter how many you have!). If you plan to use it with just your children, you only need the regular personal use version.

[@HerGracefulAcres]

Super helpful, thank you. I was definitely about to purchase the wrong one :)

[@Dreblueskies]

What age do you start preschool?

[@erica_arndt]

I usually start around age 3-3.5 but it can depend on the readiness of your child :)

[@rickyperezjr2234]

Wow this is overwhelming

[@HendersonDebbie]

way to fast talking, and I am from a fast talking state.

[@SRoseBlog]

I watched it at 1.5x and got everything. Maybe i comw from a fast speaking society