School tomorrow!

I've pretty much planned out what we'll be doing for 3hrs each day. Allie's got plenty of workbooks covering different topics to learn. I know that worksheets aren't the best way to learn but they're the best place to start for us.

The spare room has been successfully turned from a barely-used play room to a nice little classroom. We bought a desk and are using 2 of our breakfast table (currently computer table) chairs for that. I've got the room (it's small, 9'x10-11') divided into 2 areas by means of 2 different rugs.

A small coffee table is in there as well as the kids' toybox of stuffed animals, their picnic table, and a 3-drawer bin of different "educational" toys. There's also a 3-drawer bin holding all the papers/workbooks/crayons/etc. next to the desk. On the closet, we have a map of the US with the state flags for all the states we've lived circled, and all of our birthplaces circled on the map.

The plan is to help Allie with worksheets, writing her name, and reading for a 2hr span in the morning (10-noon), break for lunch and an hour nap/quiet play time (noon-2), and then get back into the room for an hour of crafts/music/free playing in the afternoon (2-3). Hopefully that'll be long enough to keep both kids entertained but not overwhelmed.

The workbooks & worksheets consist of material from Pre-K through 1st grade. Allie's more advanced when it comes to language/reading and has almost no concept of basic math. There are also flashcards ($1 from Target) of animals and space and some play $1 bills to help her add money. Once Jason gets a little older (after his next birthday), I'll be investing in large play coins so she has experience with coins.

As holidays/birthdays/special occasions draw near, I'll be encorporating themed-crafts/learning that they can both do. I've been saving toilet paper/paper towel tubes as well as cardboard inserts in packages we recieve. We're also keeping a good eye on our Postcrossing postcards to help learn about new countries.

I'm hoping to have her prepared enough to go into Kindergarten with the ability to write her name in a 4" lined space, count to 100 with little help, write the numbers 0-9, write the alphabet, and read. She did the reading part on her own. She picked it up while we were learning what sounds each letter makes and went from "A says AHHHHHH!!" to looking at simple text "Your coupon binder says 'Five Star!'" without the hesitation of sounding things out.

It's just basics but it'll be enough. But I know she's learning things every day, "Giraffes stick their tongues in their noses and lick! That's silly!" so she's going to go in more prepared than I realise.