Question

Hi mamas!  Question re: kids school work!Hi mamas! Question re: kids school work! My oldest is in 5th grade and my youngest is 5 and supposed to be starting kindergarten in the fall. Because he’s not officially at school we don’t have any set schedule for him of things to do, and he’s getting bored senseless. He was going to Aurora Montessori prior to the shutdown and was used to doing so many different activities a day! With my husband and I both wfh we are finding it really difficult to keep him entertained, and he ends up watching tv for the majority of the day. While I know this is fine, and at this point survival is most important, he really needs to let out some mental energy, with some challenging things to do. Do any of you pre-k moms follow a routine with set activities or use websites to do anything? My kids work very well on routine and I really want to set one for my 5 year old ASAP as he is bothering the 5th grader and she’s about ready to murder him!  help!  

Answer 1

You can find printable sheets online (some are free, probably moreso now) which have letters and numbers to be traced and then written out. They do that everyday in kindergarten (at least in 203) so it will be good to get some practice in ahead of time. Sent examples via messenger since I could only add one photo here. Good luck!  

Answer 2

This is what we have been using for our almost 5 yr old!  

Answer 3

Yes. We have the same issue. Ordered some sight word book, math books from Amazon, downloaded prodigy on her iPad, scholastic books online, coloring books, letters to family members, play dough, writing numbers and letters, adding and subtracting problems with manipulatives, and I lock her outside when the weather is nice

Comments

@schlueter32990 can you please share amazon and scholastic links for books that have been helpful for you? In the same boat.  

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These were all great. The sticker book helps with letter recognition

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And this site reads books so I can have her do this when I work with the others or do work for work

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I also throw her in the big bathtub to play while I do some work on my laptop

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Fantastic! Thank you so much!  

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Target has a sale going on now buy two books get one free!  

Answer 4

At that age, ours were in half day pre school and always had a schedule- which no we weren’t in this situation obviously. We used some I pad tools for math, word games etc. Also constructive play like legos might be a good outlet for alternative to tv time. At 5 I had mine home for 3 weeks with a really bad virus while I worked from home. Legos were my god sent to get work done.  

Answer 5

I have a 6 yr old in kinder and twins in PreK (along with a toddler) and I work FT (hubs is working). I made a clip board schedule for their morning routines which need to be done before 9. At 9 we have a physical activity, 10-12 is learning time. 12 lunch, nap for the toddler is 1-4 so I work and the kids have quiet time to do art or screens. 4 we walk outside, dinner, bed. I try to adapt my kindergarteners work for my preschoolers, do a puzzle, find a project on YouTube, use scholastic. com, have them write letters, whatever keeps them occupied a little bit. If they are struggling, I ask them to be in charge of something like cleaning a space or making a meal (they assist me). Also restricting them to a few rooms and then allowing them into another space just keeps things fresh. Good luck  

Comments

I also ordered a few workbooks last week, but haven’t used them yet

Answer 6

Following! In the same boat.  

Answer 7

Yes! I am in the same boat as you  

Answer 8

I rotate activities with my pre-k 5 year old that will be starting kg in the fall. One day we work on fine motor skills, so writing letters/numbers playing with play-doh cutting out pictures etc. The next day it’s sounding out letters and recognising all upper/lowercase letters by sound. The next it’s working with numbers, counting objects, number recognition, sorting by specific number. I commit about an hour a day to learning. The rest of the day he’s sent outside to play with his siblings. He has no interest in tv or tablets. My favorite workbooks are the Kumon ones.  

Answer 9

You could get samples googling for them or just create your own. Have set times for specific activities such as breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime routine, etc. you could even add a couple small free time/breaks. Otherwise have a board with activities he likes to do such as coloring, play doh creations, sensory bin stuff, practicing abc’s, etc, and he can pick ones he would like to do. Split them up into categories so he can choose an art activity, grammar, reading, etc. With him being 5 he’s probably have fun building his schedule. Can build it the night before. When it’s nice out you could have outdoor activities.  

Answer 10

Thanks so much everyone for your comments! This is super helpful! With a super stressful job and not enough time in the day I just wanted him to have some form of order! All of your responses have been so great! Stay safe everyone!  

Answer 11

ABC Mouse or Homer

Answer 12

We've been using abcmouse. com, yes it sucks it's more screen time but my kiddos have been learning alot and has kept then busy while we're working from home. my kiddos even come sit next to me and say " I'm working on my laptop like mommy"

Answer 13

My twins are starting kindergarten in the fall as well. I’ve been busy with my own school work and helping my 5th grader. They play with legos and action figures a lot. They also really like Minecraft. When I do work with them it’s usually working on writing letters and numbers with their fingers on the carpet  We also work on them with chalk outside. I’ve also used letter blocks to work on rhyming words like Cat, Hat, Bat, Sat etc.  

Answer 14

Get endless learning app and homer it’s kindergarten learning. It’s awesome

Answer 15

Look at Khan Academy Kids. its an app that inhave I have had mynson my son working on who is in kindergarten this year. We have done ABC mouse as well and he seems to like Khan Academy better

Comments

This! Avoid starfall.  

Answer 16

I love ABC Mouse for that age

Answer 17

Former kinder teacher here: we loved IXL! I’m not sure if they have free subscriptions right here but I believe they have pre-k stuff and then you can monitor how well he’s doing and move him up and down in whatever areas you want

Answer 18

Non-computer stuff: 1. Have him practice making letters, numbers, shapes, with playdough 2. Have him draw with chalk on sidewalk 3. Do a read aloud & then have him retell the start when you’re finished by acting out the story 4. Have him create a puppet show 5. Play his favorite song & ask him to make up a dance & then show you the moves when it’s finished 6. Have him help you bake or make jello 7. Have him walk around the house & count all the items in the house that are blue 8. Have him walk around the house & find all the items that begin with the letter A, then repeat with other letters

Answer 19

Computer stuff: 1. Go to YouTube & Search “Dr. Jean Banana Dance”, it’s a singing & dancing activity where the children follow along with Jean & it’s silly & engaging 2. Go to YouTube & Search “The Learning Station” it’s appropriate for Pre-K thru 1st graders & it’s all educational songs & movements, very engaging There are SEVERAL videos by this group & they’re great. 3. YouTube “Sesame Street” & search songs

Answer 20

These are all awesome suggestions! I use similar tools and I use Sundays to create a daily “lesson plan” so each day all we have to do is look at the day and time and what is scheduled, grab the materials I already prepared, and set the kiddo to it! It’s not perfect, but at least I always have something to go to in a pinch. Me and hubby WFH too so I totally get how hard this is!  

Answer 21

My sister in law is a retired Montessori teacher. She shared this today:  
http://www.montessorimaterials.org/...h.htm

Answer 22

Hey girlill message you!  

Answer 23

Brain breaks: use Www. gonoodle. com endless fun with singalongs, kids yoga, Zumba kids, etc. videos to stay active and burn energy. Especially if it’s a day they can’t get out because of weather or you just need a break!  

Answer 24

Learning to code virtually at www. codeverse. com is great for elementary aged!  

Answer 25

Starfall is also a great website for little kids.  

Comments

@falsework keeps my kids busy for HOURS. Best $35 I’ve ever spent

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@hypnology25426 i dont pay anything for it. Is there more games and activities when you pay? I had payed for abcmouse and my daughter loved that as well. This year canceled the subscription for it and we are now using starfall and abcya

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@falsework yes. There is some free content but a lot more with a paid subscription!  

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Plus on the website there is content for grades 1 and 2 as well!  

Answer 26

Check out Busy Toddler on Instagram. She has great activity idea for older kids his age that have been a big hit with my son who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall as well.  

Answer 27

Check out play to learn preschool on Facebook. She live streams a circle time at 10 am min-fri. She’s amazing!  

Answer 28

I ordered a preschool book off of Amazon. I have also been doing a letter of the day with my son and practicing that letter. I also have just gone on pinterest and found different cutting activities, matching activities, pattern activities, shape activities, etc

Answer 29

Also check out miss Megan's kindergarten camp on Facebook, she does an hour long lesson everyday live at 9 or you can watch the recording. my kids love it!  

Answer 30

As author of parent-friendly books to teach reading, find many of my tips to grow your child's reading while at home at www. readinginstruction. com Here's a tip to get you started: for learning a new letter: 1) Have your child do airwriting od the letter while saying the sound; 2) Put down kite string on the carpet and have your chilld walk, hop, or jump on the letter in the direction it would be written and say the sound. 3) Have the child draw the letter and then trace with different colors, or do glue writing or sparkle writing over the letter; 4)have your child do a scavenger hunt for thing in the house that start with the letter and put a post it note on the item with the letter. Have your child then make a book of all the items found with that letter as his or her own alphabet book. 5) Read a story and have the child jump up when hearing and seeing the letter! I could go on for days on this one topic! Let me know which ones work best for you!