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Post by mountaingirl on Feb 15, 2008 22:25:53 GMT -5
I have just started using a Home Schooling Co-op and my family absolutely loves it. They hold 2 semesters a year and each semester is 8 weeks long. Classes are held on Fridays.
I work in the 2 year old class room 1-2 hours each Friday morning. I'm only scheduled for 1 hour but due to the typical winter viruses going around they were short on teachers today and so I stayed in with the 2 year olds instead of assisting in Spanish (they already had 2 adult assistants in there).
I start each morning in the hospitality room where some of the teachers prepare for their classes, we pray for one another, etc.
I'm looking for ideas for the 2 year old classroom. We have one 1 yr old, and 2-4 2 yr olds at any point in time. There are usually 2 adults in the classroom.
Since the Co-op is held at a very large church this 2 yr old room is incredible!!! I've never seen anything like it. Bubbles come from the ceiling, Noah's Ark coming out from the wall, a sun that turns on and off, and etc.
We played with the kids and read them bible stories today. Does anyone have anyother ideas? Like I said, I'm usually only in there for an hour but I feel like I should be doing more than playing and reading bible stories to them. I'm very new at this.
I would appreciate any ideas that anyone had.
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tbhas6
Senior Member
Posts: 1,146
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Post by tbhas6 on Feb 18, 2008 8:08:49 GMT -5
Hi Mountaningirl,
2 year olds, how fun!
In addition to play time and story time there are several educational things y'all can do .... just remember that 15-20 min. is about all their attention spans can handle for any one particular activity.
Puzzle time - get a few beginner puzzles and allow/help them put puzzles together.
ABC's in sign language - sing the abc's and sign each letter as you sing. They will pick it up in no time! Also remember to use alphabet flash cards as you sing. Once they master signing and visually recognizing the alphabet you can begin phonics by teaching each sound.
Counting to ten in sign language - again, just sign as you count. Give them all blocks and teach them to count out a specified number.
While learning colors, it is fun to have all the children wear specified colors. For instance on Monday they can wear red, Tuesday they can wear yellow, etc. It is also fun if you can color match their snacks and or crafts.
In a nice large church like that, they are sure to have some mats around somewhere. Tumbling time - good for getting rid of "ants in the pants" and enhancing motor skills.
Craft day once or twice each week. Check out your local public library for books detailing craft ideas for little ones.
I hope these ideas help y'all get started. It is so wonderful that your family has found such a home school co-op! tb
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Post by keflavik on Feb 19, 2008 21:57:25 GMT -5
At this age, they love music. Sing and Move. Work an easy craft into the 1-2 hours that reinforces the story but yet still something to which they can relate. For example: The Good Samaritan coinsides well with a doctor kit and Band Aids which also builds up empathy. They are very tactile at this stage as well. God's creation: Water and Sand Boxes. Moses in the bulrushes: Rock a Bye Baby. Bring a story more alive to them by showing how they can relate to it. David was a shepherd boy: Cotton balls, Mary (David) had a little lamb. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho: Build block walls and knock 'em down, telling colors and shapes as you build. Just reinforce the story again and agian as you do the extra projects. I would suggest having 2-3 activities for each hour as their attention span is short. Best of luck and have fun!
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Post by mountaingirl on Feb 23, 2008 1:43:26 GMT -5
Thank you for all of your wonderful ideas. I accidently left my flash cards at home this morning. It looks like I am now in with this age group for 2 hours every Friday which gives me some time to do some work with them.
I was thinks about teaching triangles this next Friday. I saw some glue sticks in the classroom so I thought I would cut out a bunch of different sized triangles and let them glue them together, color them, etc. I also thought that maybe this week (if I have time) make some "sewing triangles" with cardboard, fabric, and punched holes for them to put yarn through.
I can't believe how fast the time goes though. By the time you do diaper changes, snack, and story time I feel like it's time to clean because our time is up. They keep us busy!!!
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