Homeschool

Math Activities for Preschoolers

April 12, 2018 Stephanie Shields Leave a Comment

There are an overwhelming amount of Math Activities for Preschoolers. It’s amazing all of the ways you can help your preschooler learn math. Everything from using what you already have – to buying activities marketed specifically for teaching math. Here I will share with you some of my favorite activities and products that I have used with my own children.

$Great Preschool Homeschool tips for Math Activities for Preschoolers! Tons of great ideas to keep your child learning naturally!$

Math Activities for Preschoolers

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Even if you don’t plan to homeschool your children, you can start with some natural playtime education ideas. Working with them as they play, or on weekends when you have downtime with them is so important. These activities for preschoolers are tons of fun and a great way to teach them!

Daily Activities

During your normal daily routine, there are plenty of opportunities for teaching your preschooler math. Everything from counting the number of food items on your preschooler’s plate during meals to counting arms, legs, toes, eyes, fingers etc while they play.

During playtime count the building blocks or number of toys your preschooler is playing with. Count stop signs you stop at while driving. There really is a limitless number of things you can count during your daily routine. Just be creative.

Make Your Own

Using construction paper or colorful cardstock cut out number shapes. Stick them around the house or, if it is easier, you can stay in one room. Call out a number and have your preschooler find that number. Celebrate when they find the right number and if they find a different number praise and correct them by saying “I see you found number ____ great job. We were looking for number ___ can you try again?”

You can make note cards with numbers on them and use it as a homemade matching game. I also suggest decorating the cards with stickers. Making sure that each card has the same number of stickers as the number written on it. Spread the cards out in a big pile and let your preschooler match them.

Once your preschooler has conquered matching the cards turn it into two separate number decks. Take one deck and hide them around the room. Have your preschooler pick a card from the second deck and then go search for the matching card only bringing back matching cards to you.

$Great Preschool Homeschool tips for Math Activities for Preschoolers! Tons of great ideas to keep your child learning naturally$

Printables

Online you can find printable coloring sheets or activity sheets to print off that have to do with numbers as well. If you use this as an option, you can sit with your child and talk about the number on the sheet and practice counting to that number. We have our own set of Kindergarten Printables, but there are more you can find on sites like Worksheet Fun.

Buy It

There are several items you can buy to help your preschooler with math. It is easy to feel overwhelmed when you are looking around but, there are only a few items that I would say are “necessary”. I use necessary very loosely here and nothing is necessary to teach your preschooler math but, these items may help make it more fun and slightly easier.

My ultimate favorite item for preschoolers are these counting cookies . What preschooler doesn’t love cookies?

These peg boards are perfect for when it comes to combining knowing the numbers and visualizing what that number looks like. A couple other great universal tools for counting are counting bears or, Mara’s Counting Box.

Tips

First, figure out how and when your preschool learns best. Each child has a time frame during the day when they are at their best and are most likely to learn the best. Take that time frame to teach new concepts.

While some kids do learn better when being quizzed with flashcards, many kids are actually overwhelmed with this style of learning. Instead, I suggest keeping it light and fun. Take the small opportunities where they pop up during your daily routine and be sure to reinforce the concepts they have already picked up and slowly introduce new concepts (ie. they know how to count so then you would introduce what numbers look like).

There are several different ways to teach a child new concepts so, if they aren’t grasping this new concept the way you are trying, ask around and try a new way.

$Great Preschool Homeschool tips for Math Activities for Preschoolers! Tons of great ideas to keep your child learning naturally$

When I am investing in something on the pricier side like the counting bears or Mara’s Counting Box, I like to make sure that the item is versatile and will grow with my child. Both of these items can be used for sorting, counting, color identification, grouping, adding, subtracting and several other ways as well.

The easiest way to get your preschool to learn anything is to be repetitive. When it feels like you have repeated yourself too many times, repeat it a bunch more times. Even if your preschooler doesn’t seem like they are grasping the concept, give them time, they will get it. They learn best when they are playing so dive in and watch the “ah ha” moments appear.

More Homeschool Tips:

7 Reasons We Love BookShark History Level 6

March 26, 2018 Katie 2 Comments

As a BookShark ambassador this year, I am really excited to share the Reasons We Love BookShark History Level 6! This curriculum is so comprehensive and thorough, while also fitting into our budget. It’s also a perfect fit for children in multiple grade levels, depending on their current knowledge.

7 Reasons We Love Bookshark History Level 6

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When we embarked on our journey using BookShark Secular Homeschool Curriculum this year, I was worried our son would struggle to stay interested. History has always been a struggle for him in the past. Not because he didn’t understand or couldn’t remember facts, but because he got bored very easily. Let’s face it, to a child, history just may not be so easy to find fun or entertaining. So, I was hoping to give a positive review of this curriculum but didn’t know for sure if I would be able to with our past struggles. Let me say, I am thrilled with how easy this has been!

Engaging method of learning

One of the best things about BookShark is that the curriculum is so engaging on many levels. Using fictional books as a base for keeping him excited about learning has been amazing. The Wee Child already loves to read, and he digs into stories all the time. In the last year alone, he has read over 75 books. Adding to that collection now, are some amazing historical fiction accounts of things that fit perfectly into this timeline.

One of the best parts is that he loves the reading sessions so much that he asks for that first in his school day. In fact, on a few occasions, we’ve gotten so interested in the story that we went past what was mandatory reading for that day. Now, that is engagement! We keep this shelf in our homeschool room with just the BookShark History Level 6 curriculum. It’s nice to have everything in one place, and honestly, I have caught him reading ahead more times than I can count. That’s a problem, I don’t mind having.

Can be self-paced if needed

With a 4-day lesson plan in BookShark, I can work with him at his own pace. Sometimes, we speed up and do more than one day of work, and others we only do the four lessons per week. Unlike most homeschool curriculum options, BookShark makes it easy to stay self-paced by giving that extra free day each week. We can skip a day, or work every day. It’s totally up to him and how he feels.

Daily lessons aren’t too long

Some individuals feel odd about not having a school day that starts at 8 am and ends at 3 pm. In our family, a short school day means we have plenty of time for going to movies, hanging out with friends, playing games, and even field trips. All of these things are a big part of the homeschool appeal for our family.

Short lessons pack in a ton of information for our son but don’t take all day. We can easily get all of his lessons for all subjects completed before lunch if we work consistently. Alternately, we can spread it out over the course of the day if we want to do extra. Both methods work great.

So many maps

I absolutely love seeing the visual of where something happened in the past. The maps of the BookShark History programs are amazing. Not only is there a current map, as shown in the picture below, but there are also great maps that show exactly what things looked like centuries before. We have been studying the Fertile Crescent, and he thinks it is amazing to see how different the countries are now than they were in the beginning.

Teaching him with maps has been a great way to really give him a visual understanding of where things are in the world. It has also helped him to understand more about how our world has changed due to political changes, religion, and even natural disasters and erosion shaping various continents.

Note: We use our guest room as a homeschool room as well, so the guest bed is often where he does lessons!

He is excited about exploring new things

Instead of dreading the annual lessons about specific common United States history facts, he is learning tons of new things. BookShark History Level 6 is focused on ancient history. It includes early history in Africa, the Middle East, Japan, and throughout Asia. This is an area of history, that while mentioned in his past school experience, has not been heavily studied.

Easy to add my own worksheets if desires

While there are various lessons and worksheets included in this curriculum, it is easy for me to add additional printed items as I desire. I love that I can include common Ancient history printables. It’s also great for using vocabulary words within the program as handwriting practice. That leads us to my last reason to love BookShark History Level 6.

Works alongside their Level 6 Language Arts

The best part, in my opinion, about the BookShark program, is that each of the subjects weaves together with the others. For instance, the BookShark History Level 6 coincides with the BookShark Language Arts Level 6 program. The reading we do in our history lessons is also part of the vocabulary and language lessons in the LA curriculum. This keeps his mind on one subject, which enforces the things he is learning in each category. By using the vocabulary from history to practice handwriting, learn parts of speech, or even recognize how to write descriptive paragraphs, we are enforcing these in all subjects. It’s a great way repetition helps children learn.

As you can tell, we are really huge fans of how much this has made history easier for our son to stay excited about. He is learning tons of valuable information about the history of our world, and he is excited in the process. The easy curriculum lesson plans make it simple for me to fit into my already busy routine. It’s definitely a win-win for this family!

Wondering why we started using BookShark? Check out our list of reasons to use BookShark Secular Homeschool Curriculum. Do you have questions about BookShark? Make sure to follow their Facebook page and feel free to ask questions!

How to Introduce Math to Preschoolers

March 14, 2018 Stephanie Shields Leave a Comment

It may feel like preschoolers are too immersed in their play to be learning anything but, it’s quite the opposite actually. I have some great tips for How to Introduce Math to Preschoolers that will prove otherwise. Preschoolers are mini sponges. They hear and learn things we never thought they would hear (or meant to teach them). The best way to get a preschooler to learn or practice a new(er) concept is through play.

$Check out our tips for How to Introduce Math to Preschoolers! We've learned through the years how to really teach your children from day one with ease!$

How to Introduce Math to Preschoolers

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission on purchases made through these links.

Education starts early in our home, and math is one of the many factors that are simple to include in everyday activities. Our tips for introducing math to your preschooler or toddler are easy to follow and adapt to your unique needs.

Start Simple

Count the toys they are playing with out loud. You can even count the number of toys during clean up time. The key here is for them to be able to count in consecutive order. They most likely haven’t related the number of items in front of them to the exact number yet but, as long as they have memorized the numerical order you are on the right track!

Visuals

Saying things like “oh, I see you have 3 toys” then pointing to each as you count it out loud, and “Wow, I love the 2 dogs you have” are an easy way to incorporate numbers. This also gives them a visual of what numbers look like. The more frequently you can give your child a visual of the numbers you are counting the easier it is for them to relate the two concepts.

$Check out our tips for How to Introduce Math to Preschoolers! We've learned through the years how to really teach your children from day one with ease!$

Addition

Introducing addition can seem confusing to your child. By this point, they are used to counting (maybe haven’t mastered it yet but that is okay!) however, adding groups of things together may be a tricky concept to catch. It is easiest if you break things up into groups of similar items so they can count each item type. You can do this by saying things like: “you have 2 books and I see 1 block, how many toys do you have?”. Doing this can help your preschooler learn to add things together by giving the visual representation of adding.

I love adding in things like numbered blocks for preschoolers to learn from. Not only is it a natural playtime item, it is dual purpose with showing your children a visual of the number they are counting.

Subtraction

Subtraction can be a bit more complicated for preschoolers. This is because if they are playing with toys they likely don’t want to stop playing to set one down (or even share items).

When it comes to subtraction I actually start at snack time. We talk about how many pieces of snack they have then, I have them eat one or two. After they are done chewing we count how many are left. Another easy way to show your preschool subtraction is if they have their hands full and drop something, you can say “oops you lost 1, now you have ___” .

Consistency

Stay consistent. Make counting everything and anything apart of your daily routine. Hearing the numbers repeated constantly will make addition and subtraction much easier in the end. After a few days of this, it will simply become a part of your routine as well and you won’t have to think about saying it anymore. Once it is a part of your routine it will quickly become a part of your toddler’s routine as well!

We also love these great videos for some fun visual helps for math in younger children:

Introducing math to preschoolers is super simple. It only takes a few minutes of playing with them off and on throughout the day and taking the time to verbally point things out to them. Plus, counting everything possible (just be sure to add a few extra minutes to your routine to give time for this) even in the car. It may seem like a huge task at first but, introducing math to a preschooler will become second nature quickly.

More Homeschool Tips:

Why I am Using BookShark Secular Homeschool Curriculum

February 25, 2018 Katie 2 Comments

Last fall we embarked on a different journey for our family. Our son switched from homeschooling to a local Montessori school. While this worked well for awhile, after the holiday break, we knew we needed to switch back. That’s when Bookshark came on the scene and asked us to do a review of their BookShark Secular Homeschool Curriculum. I had already begun discussing going back into full-time homeschooling, and after looking over their information, I knew this was our solution.

Why I am Using BookShark Secular Homeschool Curriculum

We are advocates of all types of education for children. In fact, we truly believe that education should fit the individual child, not the opposite. Making a child attempt to learn according to some standardized test or protocol doesn’t always work. For our son, while parts of Montessori worked well, others did not. He is a natural reader and loves learning, but testing just never works for him. The process of BookShark curriculum is so reading focused, it worked naturally for him to get back into the swing of homeschooling.

They asked me to do a review

I’ll be pretty honest here. BookShark reached out to me and asked me to do a review of their curriculum. They saw that we are advocates of secular homeschooling, and I am always speaking out about how homeschooling isn’t just for religious reasons. As a mixed religion family, we have never made our homeschooling journey about religion. It has always been about our son, his needs, and what worked best for his education.

When they reached out to me, I jumped at the chance to review this curriculum. I knew I needed to be honest here about my thoughts, so, I was prepared to tell them all of the things I didn’t like, but honestly, I adore this curriculum from start to finish! There are so many ways for me to easily personalize it for our family, that it made it a seamless transition back into homeschooling for our son.

BookShark curriculum focuses on facts while using fiction

One of the things that I loved the most when I first cracked open my boxes of curriculum and books, was the fact that they interweave fictional books with factual accounts. For example, the history program for Level 6 which our son is using, has a great set of books for him to read about ancient Egypt. Using these books as a base for engagement, the BookShark materials then encourage him to learn specific vocabulary words, definitions, and historical accounts of the Ancient Egyptian culture.

As we have finished recently the books Mara Daughter of the Nile and The Golden Goblet, both by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, I have loved seeing how they took these great fictional accounts, and easily wove in historical facts. The books themselves are an easy read to get our son interested. Using the vocabulary drills and the tips on writing things like descriptive paragraphs are all perfectly woven into the fictional stories. These books are chosen as excellent examples of ancient Egypt, and they give you a perfect way to weave those educational lessons into fun reading time.

This is a perfect curriculum for a child who is a natural reader.

Admittedly, our son loves to read. Last summer alone, he read over 50 chapter books. These are not little books, but hundreds of pages each. That means that a curriculum that is book focused works wonderfully for him. He will sit down and read his assigned chapters with no complaint or struggle.

While I have no experience with younger grade levels, I have seen and read many reviews that show it works great for teaching children to read. If your child is a reluctant reader, this could either be a great way to get them to read more, or could be a struggle for them. This is one area you really have to consider for yourself.

BookShark keeps parents involved but not overwhelmed

Reading out loud together through poetry and other books is also a big part of the BookShark curriculum. I love that it has brought us together as parent and child. It’s like we have another special bond in doing this together. I am learning new things right alongside him and falling in love with the characters he is reading about.

This is just a portion of our school time, so I don’t feel overwhelmed, but I am actively involved in his education and learning throughout the process. We can accomplish a lot in just a few hours time, and I am able to easily go right back to my daily work while he reads his assigned pages.

The lesson plans are simple to follow

One of my favorite things about BookShark as a secular homeschool curriculum is that the lesson plans are so simple to follow. You receive one large binder, and each subject has its own set of plans. You can place them in the binder easily week by week, so you can always easily flip back and forth to the current week.

There are tons of options for adding in additional programs

Since the curriculum is largely about history, language, and science, it is easy to supplement with their suggested mathematics and spelling materials as needed. In our case, we use Saxon math as it is a great curriculum for our son. We do not currently use a separate spelling program because he has mastered most common grammar and vocabulary. Instead, we utilize the language program give to us by BookShark for consistent review and creative writing helps.

I am totally in love with BookShark for our son. It has given me, as a work at home mom, so much freedom. I have truly educational and easy to follow lesson plans that keep him interested, and the bulk of the work has been done for me. Not to mention the fact that he is loving the books and how much he is naturally learning!

Do you have questions about BookShark? Make sure to follow their Facebook page and feel free to ask questions!

How to Teach Shapes to a Preschooler

February 12, 2018 Stephanie Shields Leave a Comment

Preschoolers are one of my favorite ages to teach. As complicated as it may seem, teaching them is pretty easy. These tips for How to Teach Shapes to a Preschooler are from my own experiences with children. Between the ages of one and four, toddlers absorb so many things that we that we don’t even realize. Some things may take a bit longer than others for your child to pick up but, I can assure you that they will pick it up. Shapes can be one of those tough subjects to teach.

How to Teach Shapes to a Preschooler

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission for purchases made via these links.

As you get started trying to help your preschooler, you may feel overwhelmed. The great thing is that there are so many options and great ways to reach them at their level. Below, you’ll see some of our tried and true methods that really help stay on focus!

Helpful Information

Science has said that a child hearing their parents voice helps their brain to make stronger synapse connections. So spending as much time talking to them as you can is pretty important. Another important thing to help your child learn new things is repetition. For a new concept to stick with your child, you need to repeat it somewhere around 20 times before it is easily recalled by your child.
Starting Point

Make sure that you have several types of shapes within their toys and around the house. This can be anything from a clock to a shape sorter. The options are pretty limitless. The key is to make sure the shapes are varied and not just your typical simple shapes.

How to do I Teach my Toddler

I find that teaching a toddler works best when you get down to their level. Be present in what they are doing. Being involved in what they are doing will allow you to keep them interested while you are working on new concepts.

At Home

When working with your child at home, I have found that it is best to not make it feel like hard work. Make it casual and fun. If you can get them to, look at each shape and repeat the shapes name after you say it.

Play with them

Get down on the floor with your child. While you are playing, label each shape that your child picks up along with every shape you pick up.

Puzzles

Puzzles are another great resource for learning shapes. There are several types of puzzles you can get to help with shape identification. You can get ones with basic shapes or you can get matching puzzles as well.

Make it a Game

Once your child is a bit more familiar with the shape names, you can turn it into a game. Scatter shapes all over the room and ask your child to bring you a specific shape. Celebrate when they bring the correct one and when/if they bring the wrong shape you can say something along the lines of “thank you for bringing me this [insert shape name here], but, I was looking for a [insert shape name here]. Can you please bring me one?”

While You are Out

When you are out at the park or even shopping, you can extend the labeling here as well. Take time to label the street sign shapes, any shapes you may see at the park, or in the store. Use every opportunity that you can to point these out. Once your child is more comfortable with shape names, you can ask them to tell you what shapes they see while you are driving or walking.

The hardest part of teaching your preschooler their shapes is to remember to take the time to point out all of the shapes. As an adult, pointing out shapes just doesn’t cross our minds. It may take time for this to become a habit for you as well as for your child to completely grasp the concept but, the trick to both is just staying focused and taking advantage of every opportunity possible.

Homeschool

Math Activities for Preschoolers

Math Activities for Preschoolers

Daily Activities

Make Your Own

Printables

Buy It

Tips

More Homeschool Tips:

7 Reasons We Love BookShark History Level 6

7 Reasons We Love Bookshark History Level 6

How to Introduce Math to Preschoolers

How to Introduce Math to Preschoolers

Start Simple

Visuals

Addition

Subtraction

Consistency

More Homeschool Tips:

Why I am Using BookShark Secular Homeschool Curriculum

Why I am Using BookShark Secular Homeschool Curriculum

They asked me to do a review

BookShark curriculum focuses on facts while using fiction

This is a perfect curriculum for a child who is a natural reader.

BookShark keeps parents involved but not overwhelmed

The lesson plans are simple to follow

There are tons of options for adding in additional programs

How to Teach Shapes to a Preschooler

How to Teach Shapes to a Preschooler

Helpful Information

How to do I Teach my Toddler

Play with them

Puzzles

Make it a Game

While You are Out

More Preschool Teaching Tips:

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