Homeschooling Preschoolers: Relationships, Faith, and Academic Readiness – Amy Sloan (Through the Years Series)
"We want children who are not jaded and bored already with the work that they’ve been doing." ~ Amy Sloan
🎙️ To kick off our "Homeschooling Through the Years" series, Yvette Hampton welcomes back Amy Sloan to discuss homeschooling through the preschool years in this insightful episode of the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast! Join us as we dive into the joys and challenges of homeschooling during the preschool years.
Amy, a second-generation homeschooling mom and founder of Humility and Doxology, shares her wisdom on setting goals, fostering relationships, and cultivating a love for learning in young children.
We discuss the importance of faith and discipleship, creative ways to incorporate academics into everyday life, and how to maintain a language-rich environment. If you're a parent or educator looking to enrich your homeschooling journey, this episode is a treasure trove of practical advice and encouragement!
Recommended Resources:
Homeschool Conversations with Humility And Doxology Podcast
Amy Sloan’s Past Episodes on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast
"Called to Homeschooling" - Yvette Hampton on Amy's podcast
Follow @HumilityandDoxology on all the socials
Homeschool Teaching Methods Overview - Sonya Shafer (Homeschool Survival Series)
The Power of Memorization - Nathan King on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast
Healthy Homeschooling: Five Health Benefits of Home Education – Aby Rinella
Ginny Yurich – 1000 Hours Outdoors
Ginger Hubbard - Heart Training
Preschool Curriculum:
The Gentle Classical Preschool
Book Lists:
Books Children Love: A Guide to the Best Children's Literature, by Elizabeth Laraway Wilson
HumilityandDoxology Preschool Book List
Podcast Recommendations:
Listen to the full Homeschooling Through the Years Series here.
Homeschooling Every Subject Series
Schoolhouse Rocked Series and Topic Directory
Stream Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution for FREE Tonight!
Get your FREE Homeschool Survival Kit!
Discussion Questions:
1. Amy Sloan emphasizes the importance of building relationships during the preschool years. How do you think focusing on relationship-building can impact a child's long-term educational journey?
2. In the podcast, both Yvette and Amy talk about the importance of incorporating Scripture memory for young children. What are some creative ways to teach Scripture to preschoolers in your home?
3. Amy mentions using music to help children memorize Scripture. What are some of your favorite albums or resources for Scripture-based music for young kids?
4. The episode discusses the importance of laying a foundation of faith and discipleship in the early years. How do you incorporate the Gospel and Bible lessons in your daily routine?
5. The podcast suggests that learning should be playful and not stifle a child’s natural curiosity. How do you ensure that learning is fun and engaging for your preschooler?
6. Amy talks about the importance of family devotions and teaching children to sit quietly for them. How have you successfully managed family devotion time with young children?
7. Yvette and Amy both discuss the impact of parents modeling repentance. How has modeling repentance and asking for forgiveness affected your relationship with your children?
8. The episode underscores the significance of reading aloud to children. What are some of your go-to books or authors for reading aloud to preschoolers?
9. Amy mentions that she never used a formal preschool curriculum for her five children. What are your thoughts on using a formal curriculum versus a more relaxed, play-based learning approach for preschoolers?
10. Amy and Yvette talk about teaching children conversation skills from an early age. What strategies do you use to teach your preschoolers how to engage in meaningful conversations with adults and peers?
11. **Primary Goals:** Amy Sloan and Yvette Hampton discuss the primary goal of discipleship during the preschool years. What are some practical ways you can incorporate discipleship into your daily routine with your preschooler?
12. **Scripture Memory:** Yvette mentions different methods of teaching scripture memory to her children. What method do you find most effective for teaching scripture or other important lessons to young children?
13. **Number Sense:** Amy Sloan emphasizes the importance of developing a good number sense in preschoolers. What are some everyday activities you can do with your preschooler to enhance their understanding of numbers and basic math concepts?
14. **Learning Through Play:** Both Amy and Yvette discuss the significance of play in early childhood education. How do you balance structured learning activities and free play in your homeschooling routine?
15. **Motor Skills Development:** Amy talks about the importance of fine motor skills. What fine motor activities have you found most effective for your child, and what other creative activities could you try?
16. **Outdoor Play:** The episode mentions the benefits of outdoor play and exposure to sunshine for preschoolers. Do you have a daily routine for outdoor activities, and what are some of your child’s favorite outdoor games or activities?
17. **Behavior Management:** Yvette and Amy discuss challenges in managing behavior during the preschool years. What strategies do you employ to address behavior issues, and which ones have been the most successful?
18. **Intentional Learning:** The idea of being intentional in teaching letters, numbers, and other skills is highlighted. What are some intentional teaching moments you've experienced recently, and how did they go?
19. **Parental Self-Care:** Homeschooling, especially with little ones, can be exhausting. How do you ensure you take care of yourself while meeting the demands of your preschooler’s education and development?
20. **Resource Sharing:** The podcast mentions exchanging toys or using resources like Pinterest for activity ideas. What resources have you found valuable in homeschooling your preschooler, and are there any specific toys or tools that have made a significant impact?
21. **How do you encourage sibling bonding and shared experiences in your homeschooling routines? Have you tried having older children read to younger ones, and what was the outcome?**
22. **What are your favorite poetry books or poems to read aloud to preschoolers? How do you incorporate poetry into your daily or weekly homeschooling schedule?**
23. **How do you manage and balance behavioral issues during read-aloud time? Have you found any particular strategies that work well in maintaining a calm and engaging environment?**
24. **What are some practical tips you've learned for balancing the needs of homeschooling multiple age groups, especially when prioritizing preschoolers?**
25. **Flexibility is a recurring theme in homeschooling. How do you handle the inherent messiness and loudness that come with teaching preschoolers at home?**
26. **What are your napping routines and quiet time strategies for your children? How do you ensure that both you and your kids get the necessary rest or downtime throughout the day?**
27. **How do you incorporate personal care and self-care into your busy schedule as a homeschooling parent? Do you have any clever hacks or routines for this?**
28. **What educational methods have you used or considered in your homeschooling journey? Which methods have you found to be the most effective for your children, and why?**
29. **Read-aloud time is highlighted as an essential part of early schooling years. How do you select books, and what types of books do you invest in to create a rich, literary environment at home?**
30. **How do you individualize your homeschooling approach for each of your children? What are the key factors you consider when choosing or designing a preschool curriculum for them?**
Sponsors:
Apologia is a Christ-centered, award-winning homeschool curriculum provider. Our mission is to help homeschooling students and families learn, live, and defend the Christian faith through our print and digital curriculum and online classes.
BJU Press Homeschool is dedicated to providing homeschool families with academically strong curriculum rooted in a biblical worldview. They offer a complete curriculum from preschool through 12th grade, available in both traditional textbooks and video courses. By teaching through the lens of Christ’s power, they help students view the world through the transformative story of God’s creation
CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Start your free trial today.
The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast is a member of the Biblical Family Network. Our mission is to support and encourage the family by providing the very best podcasts on family, discipleship, marriage, parenting, worldview, culture, and education, all from a Biblical perspective. Visit the website for more great shows, like the Thinking Dad, Culture Proof, Homeschool Insights, and Made2Homeschool.
