Hi. There is not a lot of prep time in the MFW K program. The biggest prep time is getting some library books for the "day 6" reading day. Most libraries will let you check items out for a few weeks so you can get several weeks worth of books at a time. I even let my husband pick up those books for me. I'd email the list for him to bring home from work.pokkets wrote:I am beginning homeschooling with my 4 year old and delivering my 3rd child in 8 weeks!! i am concerned about prep time for the activities i.e. sun, moon etc. Can anyone tell me how this is and what a typical day looks like???
Another part of the getting books is in the "day 1" part of the science/character activities. MFW recommends that you have either an encyclopedia or other general reference books for browsing. You don't have to go to the library to do that browsing. I just grabbed simple picture books from the library for that part.
To make it even easier, I'd like to suggest that you get a 1st encyclopedia either in book or CD format. You are not trying to teach them everything about the sun, or moon --- but just a few key ideas and also teaching them that you can use reference materials to learn new things.
I saw a small beginning encyclopedia at Walmart the other day for less than $10 and I've seen a CD (computer) version of a World Book encyclopedia that's not too much money. By having something at your house to use quickly, it can be a time saver when you are adjusting to a new person in the house and those weeks when getting out the door and in the van --- seems so complicated.
I also found that it was easy to break up the day in the K program into small portions (10-15 minutes) so it was easy to get a day's work in, while tending to an infant (or even a toddler -- with special needs).
Internet search can be useful too. You'll still want some books, but for basic factual material, the computer search can be helpful too.pokkets wrote:Thanks Crystal that does help a lot, what about the places that indicate i need to make sun dials and ant farms etc. Sounds really fun, but I am trying to be realistic with a new one coming. Also, is the encyclopedia a better idea than just searching the internet. My son loves the computer. Thanks again, Michele
It's ok to skip any projects that just can't be done. The year I did the K program, I also had a child in ECC, and a toddler who was diagnosed with sensory integration dysfunction and severe communication disorders. Life was hectic. But, I scaled back things to make it work for us. I was always looking for the most simple way to substitute when possible.
I usually had the materials around the house and just didn't have a ton of time to give for prep for the craft and it worked. Typically craft prep is in terms of minutes --- 5-10 minutes. And an occasional project might take a few more minutes or some advance planning.
The Ant Farm --- we bought the kit and ordered the ants and that was easy to do ( I thought). You do need to purchase weeks ahead of time ---- only because you have to order the ants in the mail. The other option is to just go outside and look for ant hills and such.
About the sundial, if you read through the instructions on that "project" the prep time looks about 1 minute to me. Pencil. ball of clay. put pencil in the clay. put all of that on a piece of cardboard (or on the walkway with a circle around it drawn in chalk --- told you I substitute materials that work for me)
I found that the prep time was usually something simple like that. If it hadn't been, I wouldn't have got through that year and still be using MFW 3 years later. :)
--crystal