enjoying the process » loving the journey, not just the destination

This year Keagan signed up for my Preschool program.  There was a long waiting list and I had to pull some strings, but I got him in 🙂  The class consists of Kennedy and, well, Keagan. 2 children- that’s my limit for preschool.   Last year was a little challenging with Keagan- he kind of wandered around aimlessly, getting into things, interrupting our teaching time, NOT sitting still ever, and well… it just made the days LONG. It was my fault- I didn’t have structure for him, I had nothing for him to do but watch a Leap Frog video and have a snack.  So this year I worked HARD over the summer to come up with some ideas for him- things to keep him occupied and interested while I focus on the older ones.  First thing in the morning (after breakfast and chores, of course), we have our “Preschool Time.”  We’re working through one fairy tale a week with this book:  Literature Pockets- Fairy Tales.  So far we’ve done The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and The Three Little Pigs. Once we’ve finished this book, we’ll move on to the Nursery Rhymes version. The book has enough activities to last an entire week and both Kennedy and Keagan are LOVING it!  I also add a “letter a week” and pull 3 to 4 manipulatives each day for him to work with- things like lacing beads, dry erase board with dry erase crayons (have you seen these? they’re awesome!), magnetic fishing pole so he can “fish” for letters.  He rotates throughout the morning between learning time with Cade, play time with Kennedy and Chloe, Educational video time, craft time with Canyon and snack time.  So far, so good. I haven’t had any interruptions in my focused time with the older 3 kids and honestly, I can already see how much he’s learning. It’s been such a blessing. Now… Chloe’s starting to drop her morning nap.  She’s been trying for about a month now, but I’m fighting it. I still have her rest/nap for an hour in the morning, but some days it makes her afternoon nap a little challenging.  That’s the funny thing about scheduling with children- you JUST get into the groove of the “perfect” schedule and BAM! someone changes on you.  I guess that’s why we’re supposed to be flexible, huh?

Amber came over for our last day of Goldilocks and the Three Bears while the other kids went to April’s for our Science co-op.  We made bear cookies with peanut butter and chocolate chips- yum! While I LOVE teaching the grammar and fractions and history, I have to say I’ve really enjoyed all the FUN, colorful, creative time we’ve had already this year. And it’s always amazing to me how interested the older kids become when I start reading even the most familiar of storybooks. They all tend to stop what they’re doing and gravitate toward the schoolroom to hear it again. I love it! I love my job.