preschool routine
While out of a computer for a week, I spent Friday going over my paper lists of preschool/kindergarten/early schooling ideas. I made into a cleaner list my preschool goals and made a list of the things I need to do it the way I’d like to do it.
After writing it out, seeing it, I got excited about it. I had been thinking of postponing any attempt at real daily things until January, when Hans will be almost three and a half, I will be established in the second trimester, and the holidays will be over. But after looking at it I realized it wasn’t anything too difficult to do. I realized we needed more consistant review because Hans was stumbling over Psalm 1, which he had solidly memorized a month ago. I realized that what I needed and what the boys needed was a routine. So I set a list on the fridge and we did it all today before 9:30 — which means we can even do it on our busy Wednesdays before leaving. Hans was very excited to have a list on the fridge that says what he had to do. Not only is that like Mommy, but it is like Toad. Hans’ list even said “Get dressed” just like Toad’s list. :)
Hans’ Morning List
*Get up & get dressed
*breakfast — Mommy reads Proverbs chapter while boys eat
*clear dishes
*brush teeth
*make bed & tidy bedroom
*Hans’ job: put silverware away (10-cents)
Circle Time
*pray
*sing Holy, Holy, Holy
*catechism
*Bible memory work
*reading time: Hans chooses 3 picture books
*drawing & reading: Hans draws, Mommy reads Story Bible
Play Ideas (not necessarily done daily)
*outside
*drawing/coloring
*creative: playdough, painting
*play time together (both boys)
*play time alone
*listen to fun music while playing
*listen to classical music while playing
In the afternoon Hans and Jaeger also have to pick up all their toys, and they can’t get out more than two or three (depending on which ones) containers of toys at a time before putting them away. So they do a lot of picking up throughout the day.
Matt thought Hans needed a way to earn money so he could put his own money instead of our check into the offering at church and Hans has developed a gum habit (limited to one a day by Mommy, but it’d be a pack a day if he had his own way) that he should have to support himself. So now putting away the silverware is not just Hans helping me, but his own job that he is paid 10-cents for immediately afterwards. He’s pretty excited about it. If necessary, I am planning on enforcing a future policy that only cheerful, willing workers get paid. :)
To my resources I would like to add the Cantus Christi piano accompaniment CD and I’m looking for something similar for traditional hymns, so we can have more singing time and not just sing Holy, Holy, Holy and the Doxology off-key. I’d also like to get some Bible story picture books, perhaps the ones Veritas sells. Perhaps the boys’ kids music needs to expand to include a few classics like Wee Sing, too; it’s certainly better than Tiny Tot Pwaise (which both Matt’s and my own younger siblings were raised on). Once our memory work expands, I’d like to use this organization system, and though Saturday I did write our catechism and verses out on 4×6 index cards, WalMart was out of large index card boxes, so I just have them in a Costco photo envelope right now.
Today was a good first day, if we can stick to the list and do it every day this week it’ll be habit and routine soon and that is what I look forward to.
