Empowering Homeschool Families
UNDER CONSTRUCTION! This is a work in progress. Some things are here, others to come soon. Keep checking back.
WELCOME!
This site is in the startup phase. This mostly includes the learning curve involved in using this website builder!
The information here will include links to homeschool laws, lesson plans, best practices for early childhood learning, and great YouTube videos to enhance learning. Eventually, this site will be linked to products on Teachers Pay Teachers, that you can download, print, laminate, and use in your own school. Keep checking back to see what’s new, as new things are added often.
check out the Resources!
the early childhood homeschool experience
Homeschooling should be developmentally appropriate and fun. As an experienced Early Childhood Education teacher, I have ideas and resources that rely upon best practices, for making learning fun.
This site will be geared toward PreK through 3rd Grade, and whatever is offered or suggested has its basis in proven research and best practices for those ages. There are other places for gearing up for grades 4 and up, but this one is specifically for the younger kids. They learn through play and meaningful activities at this age, and pushing things down to them that were created for older kids is not appropriate. Let’s make homeschool fun and meaningful!
What is Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)?
DAP simply means that the activity or content is suitable for the age and developmental level of the child.
- Forcing kindergarteners to sit for hours at tables or desks, doing seatwork, listening to direct instruction, having to be silent, is not appropriate.
- Giving them open-ended play and activities that allow them to move and manipulate objects, with minimal direct instruction in short bursts, is appropriate.
As children proceed from Kindergarten through Third Grade, they gradually become able to tolerate and participate in more structure, longer sitting times, and their focus grows. Each child develops differently and on his or her own schedule. An educator should understand the ages and stages of development and gear instruction toward the individual abilities of each child. As a Homeschool parent, you are in the perfect situation for honoring your child’s unique abilities and meeting his or her individual needs.
Too often, public schools rush children who lag behind, or stigmatize them, and those who are gifted can be bored and not challenged enough. Class sizes are too big, teachers are expected to do too much with too few resources, and kids with behavior problems can derail learning for an entire class. Homeschoolers can avoid these problems and proceed at their own pace.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
This site is dedicated to providing support for homeschooling families. It will offer valuable resources, including links to state-specific homeschool laws, learning standards, and curated curricula. The goal is to help you create an effective home learning environment for Early Childhood Education (ECE), grades PreK through 3rd.
There will be downloadable PDF documents and lesson plans designed to enhance your educational journey. There will be ideas for starting out, structuring the environment and the day, how to assess learning, and more.
This is in response to parent questions and concerns that I have heard, while teaching in the school systems. Many are disillusioned with public or charter schools and the way they are politicized and not letting teachers teach effectively. Lax discipline in the schools is creating unsafe learning environments and parents want more consequences for bad behavior. The homeschooling movement is big and is growing every year.
This site will help you navigate the challenges and foster a positive learning experience for you and your children!
About Me!
I have a passion for developmentally appropriate early childhood education, with a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction in Early Childhood Education. I am a licensed teacher in Arizona and New Mexico, both in K-8 and ECE.
My teaching experience includes 3 years in NM Public Pre-K, as a 5-Star rated educator; 1 year in First Grade, and 5 years as a Kindergarten teacher. In addition, I worked as a Title I Reading Aide and volunteered for many years in the classrooms of my five children.
