Letter of the Week Box

Step 1: Find a sturdy cardboard box or an unused storage bin. It doesn't have to be very big, the size of a shoebox or slightly bigger. Make construction paper signs with the letter of the week in uppercase and lowercase letters on the top and/or sides of the box.

Step 2: Fill the box with toys, pictures, and household items that begin with that letter. For example, for letter A fill the box with an apple, a toy airplane, a picture of your child's favorite aunt, an alligator, an apron, and any other items you find around your home that begin with a. Write each A word with a marker on an index card an place in box with items.

Step 3: Bring the box out with your child and explain that this is an A box and everything inside begins with the letter A. Show the letter A on the outside of the box. Then say, "Big A, little a, what begins with a?" Pull out an item and its corresponding card and say, "Apron begins with A! A-A-Apron." Let your child play with the item and go on to the next one.

Teaching Early Money Concepts

It's never too early to help your preschooler learn money concepts. These age appropriate activities will give your child a jumpstart into understanding the wide world of finance.

1. Buy your child a piggy bank and encourage him/her to put money that she earns or finds into it. I started my son off young by buying a piggy bank that matched the decor of his room. Between the ages of one and two, I gave him a pile of loose change and showed him how to put money in the piggy bank (I watched him closely of course to make sure he didn't eat any coins). He enjoyed it so much that now anytime he finds a coin on the ground he gives it to me to put in his pocket so we can put it in his piggy bank at home. Occasionally, we pour out all of his money and I make a big deal out of how much he has saved. (Small Motor Skills, Money Concepts)

2. Save your change for a while and teach your child the names of each of the coins. Then show your child how many quarters make a dollar, how many nickels make a dollar, etc... This activity will give him or her an early start on the concept of different values of money. Then practice counting the coins together. (Numbers and Counting, Money Concepts)

3. Give your child a handful of change and let him or her sort it into different colors then different sizes. Go over the names of each coin. (Sorting, Money Concepts, Colors, Sizes)

Homeschool Preschool Schedules

Here are a few options for organizing your time as you begin homeschooling your preschooler. Overall, plan on devoting 2-3 hours a day to your preschooler's education. The time you spend homeschooling your preschooler can be concentrated in the morning, when you are both fresh and ready to go, or it can be spread out throughout the day.

1. Formal Schedule
If you or your child thrives on structure, consider having a formal schedule. A sample schedule follows:
9:00-9:30 Story time and songs
9:30-10:00 Early math or hands on science activity
10:00-10:30 Snack time and outside play time
10:30-11:00 Pre-literacy activity
11:00-11:30 Arts and Crafts
11:30-12:00 Clean Up and Lunch

2. Flexible Schedule
A flexible schedule allow parents to work their preschooler's education into the many unexpected events of a day. Choose 5-15 learning activities that you want to accomplish with your preschooler during the week and list them on a piece of paper or write them on index cards. During the day, choose an activity when you have a block of time available. Cross the activity off of your list or remove it from the pile.

3. Combo Schedule
The combo schedul is what I use throughout my week. This schedule combines the structure of the formal schedule with flexibility of the aptly named flexible schedule. Simply have a couple of regular activities at predictable times of day followed by a learning activity from a list or stack of cards as in the flexible schedule. For example:
After breakfast: Story Time followed by Activity #1 and free time until lunch
After lunch: Activity #2 followed by arts and crafts time