TmT, Can you pls share your list of curricula/resources

[arvi]

TeachingMyToddlers, I am very interested in knowing the different programs that you are using with your children. You are a very creative person and I have gleaned several ideas from your posts. So, if you can please consolidate here, I would be delighted.
- I remember you were taking your DD to Prezuki classes. How is it going? Are you taking her to other extra classes.

[TeachingMyToddlers]

Oh dear, . Now I'm on the spot.   

You really ought to be asking some of the other Mommies on this board! Like Aangles, someone invite her over here! I want to see that list.  I'll update this later when I have time, we're not doing a ton of programs at the moment, it waxes and wanes like all early learning, but tonight I will write out my favorites. I keep meaning to make a list for my website, but the going is slow on getting all that updated.

[Korrale4kq]

Keri also has an amazing array of resources she uses too.

[CVMomma]

Oh, yes!  Tmt and Keri and Aangles!!!  And even some of the daddies!!!  Please all of you experienced Early Learners-- we want to pick your brains!!!    You, too, Korrale!

And Tmt, I am interested in your soroban that you are building.  I just made one out of cardboard, yarn, and beads that is quite usable, just not very professional  

[annisis]

I didn't know TmT was making a soroban! I made one last week out of jewelry wire and faceted beads! coincidences 

[TeachingMyToddlers]

Correction: *was* making a soroban! Was being the key word here.  Now I am BUYING a soroban LOL with my husband's blessing because he doesn't want to deal with helping me make one. But I can give some links of the ones I am currently considering.

[annisis]

I saw a tutorial online somewhere for making one from popsicle sticks, pony beads, and wooden kabob sticks. And another made from a shoe box, beads, and string. Depending on one's budget and what one have on hand, I'm sure one could find alternatives if buying one isn't an option though. I wanted one now and didn't have any pony beads But I had faceted beads and jewelry wire left over from another early learning project.

[Korrale4kq]

Let me see. James is 2.5.

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES/LITERATURE
Predominantely we read. We read a lot. James is like his mummy and loves non-fiction. I have 2 sets of children's encylopaedias that we love to read through. We also read the usborne beginners books too. Plus a myriad of other books. I read to James at least an hour a day. So you can imagine we cover a lot of content.

I got the leapfrog Tag USA and World Map for James' birthday.
Montesorri printables.


iPad apps
Intro to Geo.
Stack the States
stack the Countries.


MATH
MathStart Books by Stuart Murphy. I then do the extension activities.
RighStart Math A. We follow this loosely.
Miquon Math Rods. I have not looked into the books too much yet. But we enjoy playing with the rods.
IXL.com. We are loving this. James has almost completed the preschool math portion.
Marshmallow Math. We dabble.
Spectrum Kindergarten Math for work books. I do want to get Singapore Math.

iPad Apps
Montessori Numbers
3-5 Math by Eurotalk
Splash Math grade 1


WRITING/PENMANSHIP/DRAWING
James dictates for me a journal entry and he then draws pictures.
I just bought Draw Write Now. I plan to give it to JJ for his 3rd birthday.
We also free draw and paint a lot. I have him copy what I draw.
iPad Apps
Letter School.  I use it  for James to learn the correct way to write his letters. I made a stylus for my iPad.

READING/LANGAUGE ARTS/SPELLING
We read. I point out words as I read. James is predominantely a sight word reader. He is just starting to get phonics but still struggles to blend.
Flash cards for whole words. Nouns, sight words, word families, flesch cards.
Preschool Prep DVDs/APPS for sight words, phonics, digraphs, blends. (highly highly recommended)
Preschool Prep readers. (love them!  The best readers we have. And they are interesting to read. Any easy once they know their sight words)
A-Z Readers app.
Any array if easy to read high frequency readera. I have send from scholastic but mostly I make them myself.
Readingbear.org
Bob books.
Usborne phonics books.
Spectrum First Grade Phonics for workbook.

iPad Apps
Bob Book Apps
ABC Magic and others by Preschool University
Reading Raven
Pocket Phonics
Grammar Jammers

MUSIC
James is getting a violin for his 3rd birthday. Maybe a keyboard if I can afford one.
I sing a lot and play a varitey of muscial styles  But James has very limited interest in music.

iPad Apps
Solfa
MLM.

CRITICAL THINKING
I would love the books from CriticialThinking.com or the miniluk, logico, or funthinker  But it's not in the budget right now.
We use an app called qwizful that we love.

GROSS MOTOR
We followed Doman loosely.
James does tumbling, rolls, jumping, hanging, walking balance beam, swimming, riding balance bike.
He has basketball, soccer,football, tball exposure.
We are also building up his stamina to run a 5k in a few years.
When James is 3 he will be doing cheer leading tumbling or dance.

FINE MOTOR/CONCENTRATION/PERSONAL CARE ETC.
We do a lot of Montessori-esque tasks that require focus and use a lot of fine motor skills. A lot of these including sorting, catergorizing and more. I do most teaching on a tray very similar to the Montessori mat idea.
James is also responsible for himself. He makes himself snacks and drinks,  cleans up after himself, sorts and puts away his clothes etc.


iPad apps that cover several subjects.
Teach Me Kindergarten.
Timmy's Kindergarten Adventure.
A variety of apps from alligator or grasshopper apps. They are free, very good and customizable.


Wow... I didn't know we did so much!  I am sure i have forgotten things. I am a stay at home mum so we have all day to do things. We don't have a tv so James does not get that. I limit his iPad, computer time to 30 mintues a day of learning time. He is allowed to watch Mighty Machines, Backyardigans or Blues Clues on Netflix very infrequently. We spend most days outside. He plays in the sandpit, tends to his garden, takes care of his birdfeeder and bird bath and we go for walks and talk about things that we learn about. We try and run once a day.
I read to James 30 mintues before nap and 30 mintues before he goes to sleep at night. Sometimes more during the day at his request. Recently I have requested that he read a book to me. Often just a preschool prep reader. Or a Bob Book. Sometimes 6 of them. It is up to him how many he does.
We do flash cards on and off when he asks for short periods. We do a focused math lesson once a day to work any concept he is not getting through our playtime or daily life. It is usually less than 20 minutes after his nap. He is free to play with his counting bears, tally sticks, miquon rods and other math stuff whenever he desires.
Most of the day though James just plays with his trains and hotwheels or he rides around on his balance bike. He jumps and tumbles a lot too.

[TeachingMyToddlers]

annisis-

I totally hear you, making one myself would be feasible, like shown in this tutorial.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y1f3zH-7DY4&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Y1f3zH-7DY4&rel=1</a>

However, I chose not to do so for a couple of reasons. The primary reason is I want the shape of the bead to match the shape of the beads in the software programs and future DVD's we may use (we were using math secret but have since switched to ShowMe Soroban which I really like, although it only does addition/subtraction, we'll do something else when we finish it). It is the same reason I opted to paint our wannabe RS abacus yellow and blue versus something else (to match their apps or workbooks which I will probably use down the road). I believe the continuity will be helpful in firmly cementing the mental image of the beads which is the ultimate goal, so I want there to be as much consistency as possible. Downloadable flashcards I am using also use the distinct biconal shape. I considered making my own with two wooden cones and holes drills so they would be very oversized, but it was going to be too much work, possibly not as fluid to manipulate, and not very cost effective compared to buying. So, I am opting instead to go with an oversized Teacher abacus initially and then something smaller. It's my son who has difficulty manipulating the beads on the teeny-tiny math secret one we have, which I do not recommend.

So, they range up to $100-250 online, which is insane and has held me back from purchasing, but recently I found a few more options.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/610566753/Teacher_Abacus_15_rods.html This one is currently in stock, $63 for one plus $22 slow shipping from Hong Kong.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/115429443/Teacher_Abacus_Soroban_/showimage.html These people also sell this one which looks to be a lot cheaper, the initial page says $19 but I am waiting to hear back about it. It just looks a bit cheap to me and less aesthetically pleasing.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/123520308/6_Rods_teacher_abacus.html I am waiting to hear back on a price quote from these people but I am leaning toward this one. It will last us quite a while until they outgrow it and I think it's less overwhelming. But they time they outgrow it, they will probably just need a standard one anyway for personal use. Or I can buy a 13 rod one right away, in general I prefer this style with yellow beads.

Here's a child using a big demonstration abacus here, I'm not sure if the yellow one I'm looking at is this size or smaller, but it comes from India so it may very well have the same size beads. I can hang it on the wall at child height and my son will be able to manipulate the beads with no issue.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5Tk5T8GW4pE&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5Tk5T8GW4pE&rel=1</a>

So, I commend your efforts! But those are my particular reasons for deciding not to do a homemade one. I cut corners in a lot of ways when I can. but on this one I am opting to just fork out the money.

[Kerileanne99]

Oh, wow! I just read this entire thread, and didn't realize anyone would be interested in the things we use and do. I am happy to put together a list of curricula, programs, resources, and activities we somehow work into a week. For some things we have a regular 'schedule', so she knows what to expect. For others I just have three lists: 1) things I fit into the day, and week. 2) areas of weakness/new interests/excitement that I will come up with activities for 3) a list of her current favorites for her to choose from.
As many of you, we are all about ways of incorporating lessons within lessons and subjects within games, without forcing it! There isn't enough time in the day as it is

Because we stay home a lot, the whole wheelchair accessibility thing, we have an extensive physical program for both of us set up in the garage: we have a climbing wall and cave (hubby and I are certified rock climbing instructors, both indoor and outdoors), a cargo net, brachiation/monkey bars, climbing ropes, swings, a mini-trampoline, a balance beam and other gymnastics-style equipment, even a zip-line and a slack line.  A couple of people have requested pictures, so I will have hubby take some after he recovers from oral surgery tomorrow While I realize it would be a bit impractical and excessive for some with easy access to local playgrounds and such, many of the individual ideas are easily replicated...

Anyway, sorry about the wait, but I promise to get together a list tomorrow eve!
I would LOVE to know what others are using!!!    

[Corinne2011]

Oooooo, I'm interested too.  And pictures are always great.  Does anyone remember what they did with an 8 month old?  She was premature and already "at risk" for learning disabilities or other problems.  I just want to do what I can now to prevent any future problems.  I'm sort of at a loss as to what to really do and how much.

[c4andy20]

I was going to make an abacus as well, but then I found this one in Chinatown in Chicago for $8.99. I was so excited I kept saying, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I can't believe I found an abacus!!!" I think the sales lady thought I was crazy. 

Anyway, it came with an instruction book in English  but I am also going to get ShowMe Soroban. The book doesn't have enough examples for me to be able to teach anything other than basic addition and subtraction.

This abacus is actually pretty sturdy, the only thing I don't like about it is that all the beads are black. I really want to paint them. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what color would be best? Or maybe I could have two different colors to differentiate the top beads from the bottom? I don't know I am going to have to do some more research.

[shadahfree]

Korrale4kq, how did you make your I-pad stylus?

[TeachingMyToddlers]

c4andy20,
Ironically that is the same one I saw on craigslist locally. They were originally asking $20 but I think she said she'd take $10, wanting to unload it. However, it's a chinese saunpan and I'd have to remove a couple beads from every column, either saw them off carefully or disassemble the frame. She said it had hinges so I think I could have taken it apart, but I decided I didn't want to put the work in.

Are you going to teach saunpan or soroban?

-TmT

(I will try and get my list together tonight if I can.)

[c4andy20]

TmT I would love to teach saunpan but I haven't found any good software/curriculum/videos for it that is in English. The book it came with is pretty good at explaining counting, adding, and subtracting but not anything above that. There are very few examples in it. If anybody on this forum knows of any videos, software, or curriculum please let me know. If not, then I think I am going to have to take off the top beads.

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