Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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Nurturing the Years of Wonder
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benedicta
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Posted: Jan 01 2009 at 1:28pm | IP Logged Quote benedicta
Happy and Blessed New Year to you all!

I am planning to begin a Charlotte Mason-type preschool for my 3 1/2 year old son. I also homeschool (traditional) a middle schooler and a high-schooler, and have a 1 1/2 year old child.

Can anyone give me pointers about how to begin (a tall order, I know!). We have started a nature journal, and I read aloud and make up stories all the time. But I am wondering what to do further, how to set up the "schoolroom" space, etc.

Thank you for the help!

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Mackfam
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Posted: Jan 01 2009 at 10:19pm | IP Logged Quote Mackfam
Happy New Year to you as well, Benedicta!

I have a couple of ideas to offer you. Just reading aloud is plenty really, that coupled with your lovely nature walks and investigating anything your son seems naturally interested in would be fine.

Consider setting up a small art center for him - crayons, a small set of watercolor paints, color pencils, markers, a variety of papers for creative expression. My little guy loves small square inset paper. There's something about the small squares that just begs for you to pick up a square and draw something. Actually, all my kids love the inset paper for a variety of uses. Lori at Montessori For Everyone has some really great posts on integrating art into the home. Her blog, while devoted to Montessori work in the home, is a wealth of knowledge in general and may help you visualize some spaces. I use a lot of Montessori work within a Charlotte Mason framework in my home.

I know many here really enjoy using Five in a Row.

I enjoy setting up my own picture book themes using one of my favorite books - Picture Perfect Childhood.

Speaking of Cay, you might also consider looking at another favorite of mine - Catholic Mosaic. I use Cay's Catholic Mosaic to help round out our liturgical year and my 4 yo loves these books! Add in a few Treasure Box books and you've got religion wrapped up.

Praying that you find some ways to freshen your learning spaces in a gentle way for you and your little boy! In my life though, when all is falling apart, when life is stressful or chaotic, it's the picture book that saves us every time. If nothing else, we're curled up on the couch reading throughout the day. You just can't go wrong there!

Hope this helps some.    

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SuzanneG
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Posted: Jan 10 2009 at 5:19pm | IP Logged Quote SuzanneG
Here are a couple additional links, keeping in mind that these are for more kindergarten-age-children, but there are some excellent booklists and great information about preschool too.

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websterm
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Posted: Jan 13 2009 at 1:23pm | IP Logged Quote websterm
It's always nice to read that READING is so good for the preschool age. I know that I get wrapped up in thinking that I need to do this, or I need to do that...
What a nice reminder that all I really need to do is just simply read, read, read, and talk about what we are reading.   

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