Birds and Eggs

April 7, 2020

Our unit for April is Birds & Eggs. The topic is really a lot wider than you would think. There are all kinds of animals that fall into the category of “birds”. For instance, do you think about a chicken being a bird? I normally don’t right away. How about an ostrich? Not all birds fly! This post may contain affiliate links. In our Experience Early Learning curriculum, our weekly topics will be In The Nest, Bird Parts, Tree Birds and Exotic Birds. Each week has sub-topics.

Since this “stay home stay safe” protocol started the end of March, we began making take-home packets and teaching virtually. My wonderful curriculum company, Experience Early Learning began providing us with BEE SMART at Home Learning Bags parent letters and instructions on how to put the bags together.

It has been super easy to put together. At first, I just wanted to put the things together for the kids who’s parents were working from home so they were staying home with them. Then I saw how so many people were giving of their talents to others and I thought “I could offer my extra supplies to other children that aren’t enrolled in my school, until I ran out of extras. Then I started to see how well that was going over and I made a decision to start an online version of my preschool. I’ve been doing live and pre-recorded videos for the children so they can get my instruction time and see my face. They have been asked to send pictures for me to share with everyone.

I admit it has been a challenge to get up every morning and record my teaching time, but at the same time, it is been fun. I am learning as I go along new ways to add MORE to each “class time”. I’m looking forward to using my curriculum in my online classes because it is by far my favorite preschool curriculum I’ve ever used.

I know it is challenging to come up with activities and craft ideas for your children, especially if it isn’t something you have done before and if you don’t feel teaching is your gift. I have many parents in my school that tell me they don’t know how I do it and/or that teaching just doesn’t come naturally to them. And that is totally okay. Not everyone is a teacher. Some people become very stressed if they have to figure out what to teach and the actual teaching experience. I am so excited to share my online preschool with others around the country to give parents some resources so they don’t have to come up with themes and ideas on their own. Right now, the online portion of my preschool is a work in progress, which I hope to have in full swing by August with a trial run during our summer camp in June and July. I’ll be posting more information in a different post.

How have you been handling being at home during the last four weeks? It’s been quiet but I am trying hard to get things done that I normally wouldn’t have time for. Big home projects. I will share more on that, too! Share photos of any learning projects you are doing with your children or how about some home improvement jobs you have finished. We are working on a few different ones. It’s been exciting to get rid of stuff I’ve kept for decades…