Preschoolers - Creating a Rich Environment and a Fun Place for Learning

Will you be "homeschooling" a preschooler this fall? Are you looking for activities to keep them occupied while teaching the older ones? The Old Schoolhouse has just the aid for you.

I received Preschoolers: Creating a Rich Environment and a Fun Place for Learning for review this week. As most of you know, I have made it through 2 preschoolers and am just beginning with another. I remember being frustrated years ago when I couldn't find age appropriate activities that made me feel like they might actually be learning something. I wish I had this resource then!

Written by several home-educators, this book is a tool to help you teach, occupy and integrate your preschooler into the daily life around them. From dealing with chores, educational ideas and encouraging free play all facets of preschool life is covered here. I loved the activity suggestions and plan to integrate many into our year (probably sooner!!). Although we aren't ready for them, I am excited about the file folder activities and games for early learning. I can't wait to use them with Bear.

Preschoolers: Creating a Rich Environment and a Fun Place for Learning will be available very soon from The Old Schoolhouse Store in ebook format.

Hello!

Yes, we are still alive! I finished and started some projects over the last week or so and have been cleaning/organizing and gardening so that is my excuse for not blogging.

We are getting ready to head to the garden in a few minutes. Although the weeds almost took over, we managed to thwart them and have most of our plants. We have baby zucchini and tomatoes. Dh tilled a section and we hope to get the sweet corn and green beans planted TODAY.

I finished the knitted wrap for my friend's birthday. And I finished the lone sock. And 2 baby hats (one white and one camo). I started a cowl (kinda neck wrap/hood thing), but had to restart because I got it twisted. I am having a lot of trouble not twisting 312 stitches to get them joined in the round. LOL I also cut out the pieces for a quilted purse I am making. Busy, busy!

I reorganized the kitchen school stuff. Still need to work on the living room. I am thinking of buys bookcases. We definately need some. I made myself a little reading nook in the dining room. Just a chair and a desk-turned-end-table. Put a twice folded red tablecloth on it and a pillow on the chair. Added some books to the table and it looks so relaxing. I can look out the window and just "be". What a blessing for me!

We are visiting family over the 4th. The older boys will stay at their uncle's house for another 2 weeks after we come home. I plan to reorganize/declutter/decorate their bedrooms as a suprise while they are gone. We are turning the playroom into a bedroom for Lee so they will be separate again. I think this will be for the best with Lee at public school, they both will need some alone time and will allow for different bedtimes. Bear isn't ready to join Greg yet, so he will have that room to himself for a while. LOL

I need to get the laundry on the line and head to the garden. Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

School Organization

Sooooo, I have finally wrapped my mind around the fact that Lee won't be here for school this fall. But, just because I am losing one doesn't mean that I have any less work to do! LOL

Anyway, I need to get stuff organized. I am trying to set up a planner for me and an assignment book for Greg. I am also trying to get activities organized for Bear. He will be 2 this fall and I think he is ready for some more guided learning stuff. I am going to try to get several activities set up in small boxes or bags so that we can get out one at a time. Maybe we will try to do 2 a day or so. I think that I will start with him a week before "school" starts so that he is in the routine.

I need to go through school stuff and see what we have that we haven't used in a while. You never know what you will find stuck on a shelf around here. LOL

Otherwise there isn't much going on. 4-H projects are mainly done. Greg doesn't like to bake chocolate chip cookies.....to much effort and they are gone so fast.....now he knows how I feel :) Tomorrow Greg takes his cooking project and Lee takes his forestry project to judging. Greg will take his rabbit on Saturday. Then we are done with that for a while.

The rain here has been abundant. I haven't even been out to the mud-pit.....sorry, garden, in several days. We still haven't planted green beans or sweet corn. I also need to replant pumpkins, cucumbers and spaghetti squash. But I would sink if I was out that today.

I am still walking like a crazy woman :) I am up to 3 miles at a time. I have lost 21 lbs. so far. I definately feel better!

So, that is what is new with us. If I decide on a planner set up or get everything organized I will let you know! LOL

Current Events Around Home

Have you ever seen Mary Jane's Farm Magazine? This is the cutest magazine. It is girly, but practical. This issue showcased plums....from how to grow them to cooking with them. Makes me want to plant a bunch right now :) It is a magazine for the farmgirl in all of us.....recipes, gardening tips, craft ideas and home decorating. Everything is in here! I love it and am still drooling over my issue. It was the first but won't be the last!

How does my garden grow? Well, the hail Tuesday didn't help it any, but upon inspection this morning I think it will live. Actually the potatoes look fantastic. Only 1 cucumber is up and no pumpkins yet. I may go out and replant them tomorrow rather than wait.....the planting season is growing late. I pulled all of my red onions...there was only a handful. I don't know why we can't ever get a good stand on onions. Everything else looked ok. My flower beds look so pretty this year. I planted several perrenials so hopefully it is continue to look pretty for years to come. I need to get some more things to put in my hanging basket....the hail was hard on my wave petunias.

Otherwise, laundry is on the line. The guys are going fishing today so Bear and I are going to shower and then head to JCPenneys for a sale. We will probably end up at Menards and maybe Walmart for some beautiful fabric I saw yesterday.

Have a wonderful weekend girls!