Amazing LIST of Books about SCHOOL for PreK and Kindergartners

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents"~ 

Emilie Buchwald

I am an admitted book hoarder and hopefully will pass on this wonderful love of reading to all my children.

I strive to read every day!

My children see me reading, book shopping, logging in or researching books, doing a book review or recommending books on the DAILY!

They can't get away from me and my addiction..err, habit.

Tidbits of my hobby here: A Novel Experience

My youngest just turned 4 years old, and she has already become the boss of..."Read one more, Momma!"

This I hear 3 to 4 times a day. 

Usually, when "Mr. Sun" is sleeping and my coffee has worn off for the day!

It has become a nighttime ritual.

And while...honestly, there are times, I just want to read my OWN book or try to let her "read" independently...I usually end up reading to her, the same book...again!

And again!

I love that this is "our time".

 I could sit and read to her for hours, if we had all that free time. I love that she would allow me to, and she enjoys it.

I see her remembering what happens next and asking questions when she doesn't understand something in the story. She has even begun reading along or "spoiling" the next page by reading ahead because she is remembering the story!

It is so amazing watching her go through this process of learning. I can sit in awe of this accomplishment!

These important times are the beginning steps in her learning to read,...and enjoy reading!

I have learned it is so much easier to get her interested if I let her choose the book and also let her pick out what she likes at the library or bookstore.

It doesn't always have to be "kiddy books".

Non-fiction, science, nature, animals, transportation, even cookbooks with pictures....all these subjects have a book that will intrigue a child if they are interested.

I wanted to try to make some lists and also help organize her books to be ready for homeschool/preschool.

Organizing by author didn't really seem too practical for our needs, so I am trying to separate them by theme or "characters"(Arthur, Berenstain Bears, Disney, etc)

So, My first list is of books about school.

Do you need #books to help your #child get ready for #backtoschool or starting school.
Here are a few we lovehttps://t.co/VKvUMEhgRi

— Trema Renae (@CoffeeWastedMom) August 1, 2018

We seem to be moving backwards in working on "Back to School" in week #2, but that is okay. It's still September and she is enjoying the books. Well, and that seemed to be a subject we found a lot of books about.

Some we have read, some I had read years ago to my older girls, and some I found online or on other great lists.

So here they are:

My List of Amazing Books about School!

**UPDATED LIST**

1. Olivia and the School Carnival~ Tina Gallo

2. Tom's First Day of School~ Beth Robbins

3. Strawberry Shortcake Goes to School~ Grosset & Dunlap

4. Wonder Pets: Off to School~ Sascha Paladino

5. Little Pirate Goes to School~ Lawrence Schimel

6. Kindergarten, Here We Come~ Quinlan B. Lee

7. The Berenstain Bears Go Back to School~ Stan and Jan Berenstain

8. A Place Called Kindergarten~ Jessica Harper

9. First Day, Hooray!~ Nancy Paydor

10. If You Take A Mouse To School~ Laura Numeroff

11. Preschool To The Rescue~ Judy Sierra

12.Llama Llama Misses Mama~ Anna Dewdney

13. Mouse's First Day of School~ Lauren Thompson

14. The Night Before Preschool~ Natasha Wing

15. Back To School? Cool!~ Suzy Spafford

Here is a great "box set" of beginner activity books:

My First Activities Book series

I hope you will find these books to read and enjoy with your littles!

Please comment on any you have found or any you would like added to the list!

I know there are SO many more wonderful books out there!

What are your favorites?

Happy Reading and Happy Learning!

MY Preschool/Homeschool 101 (WIP) Learning together

Have you ever thought about Homeschooling?

Did you entertain the idea long before your little one was even old enough?

I have considered the idea for quite awhile. I have 3 daughters. They are quite spread out in age. 

19 years, 14 years and my littlest will be 4 next week!

Wow! 4 years old...NEXT WEEK!

I've been a stay at home momma and have always tried to do the basics, as most parents do. A,B,Cs..1,2,3s, write their name, know the colors and shapes, etc but I always feared they would be behind every other 5/6year old starting out in Kindergarten.

Can she count as high as Susie?

Does she read as well as Hailey?

Sure, I'll get daily or weekly reports from teachers and hopefully will be notified of any concerns throughout but, I'm not there to monitor their every lesson progress. Do we really know what they are being taught??? Or how they average out. I know here in Ohio there are crazy tests and requirements. Dates and data. Black and white score sheets to tell you and your government just how your child is fairing in the oh so wonderful public school systems.

I mean everything is based off of these scores. Teachers salaries, grant money, school supplies, etc.

Every day, every year this world gets crazier...scarier!

I honestly worry about whether my child will be taught based off of how much money and help her school receives! How sad is that?

And so many more concerns...

peer pressure, exposure, bullying..

Not that they live under a rock or won't have to live in the "real world" but I would like a good chance to explain and really teach them...My way? I don't know, just maybe give them a fighting chance before we throw them to the wolves!

I'm am an admitted control freak so maybe this is a somewhat selfish choice(I know I will hear it anyway). I do plan on educating myself before I jump in with both feet, but while I do still have almost 2 years(before Kindergarten) to figure this out; I am dipping my foot in the puddle to see how we do.

So, here is my pre-journey...

I am trying to find, research, save, pin, print and read anything and everything I can to get a good idea of what will be required of me, as a preschool/homeschool teacher!

There are so many wonderful resources out there today. This is one of the great uses of the internet!

Before, I jump into that, here is my super enthusiastic three year old, ready to learn!

Isn't she the cutest?

And she already has her own desk!!

My wonderful Mamaw has given us an antique desk. It is in wonderful condition!

I'm talking Laura Ingalls looking(ink well holder included) and it is amazing! She loves it!

Recourses:

I am trying to get started with a few free and basic printables and there are TONS on the web!

You can find whole lesson plans, themed plans(Christmas, Fall, Animals, etc), even personaliz-able worksheets to practice writing their name.

I'm telling you the free resources are endless!

Here are a few of my favorites that I have found.

From Pinterest:

Mommy Is My Teacher

Kingdom First Homeschool(Christian based)

Preschool Mom (great flash cards)

I also love these:

The Relaxed Homeschool

The Measured Mom

So, here we go on our homeschool journey.

I hope we can learn and thrive together. I will likely try to do a weekly update and continue to share any new resources that I find. 

Please!!!

Share any and all that you know of or come across. Mommas need all the help we can get!

I hope we can support and encourage each other!

Keep the coffee hot and the minds open!

This is my Work In Progress...Homeschooling

Happy Wednesday

Sunday Funday....Last day of Summer

Summer isn't officially over....

There are technically 39 whole days of Summer left!

I will never agree with the kids going back to school so early in the summer. It's too nice outside. Too many glorious days of sunshine left. There are things we haven't done yet!

You know all the projects and adventures you had planned in your head. All the neat things you had "pinned" on Pinterest and determined to do.
(What am I going to do with all those toilet paper rolls we've been saving???)

 All the fun places you read about and swore you were going this year!

But, alas...
The days have come and gone. Along with it the excuses, priorities, responsibilities, and of course the crazy, hectic, ridiculous schedules!

Tire blowouts...Speeding tickets...(*sarcastic cough...Sean*)
The yard work needed done. The softball games had to be played. The bills had to be paid. The weather didn't cooperate....

We've had some mini-adventures.
Driving through the country, seeing new places.
Just enjoying God's natural beauty and feeling the breeze and sunshine.
Quick impromptu ice cream dates
Days spent at the park. Either watching the game or playing on the playground
Endless trips to McDonald's and eating in the van... before, between or after the game
Lots of unforgettable cookouts, parties and stop in visits with family and friends
Splashing around in the kiddie pool
Going to the Strawberry farm...that didn't have ANY strawberries. LOL(That's another story!)
Sitting on the porch with a good book and coffee in hand
Sunsets, summer storms(not enough)...
Working in the garden
Bonfires and marshmallows...
Movie/game nights with popcorn
Young's Dairy and seeing GOATS!
Card games, Wii games and playing Legos...Endless hours of Legos

As I sit writing this...

I realize our summer may not be fancy or extravagant. No lavish cruise or trip to Disney.
Sure there are TONS of things I wish we could have done. As I'm sure any of my children would have a list of things "To Do" but I see how truly blessed I am. We are.
Everyday, we are together. We have each other and are surrounded by others who love us, enjoy us, and want to be a part of "our summer".
Every year I get a little crazy thinking...
Thinking how fast they are growing up.
How many years do they really have to be TOGETHER?
D #1 is already 19. She has her own agenda, her own responsibilities. I am blessed beyond words that she still wants to spend as much time as she can with us.
D#2 is in her last year of junior high. She has sports, church, all these friends and things she wants to do...without mom and dad.
D#3 is only 3 years old but I already know all too well how fast the years will go.
I treasure each of my girls so so much and try to never take a second for granted.

I joke that God loves me more because I always wanted all girls and that is what I have been so blessed with.
I have always taught them they are each others best friends. No matter what and to treasure each other.
If God and I have taught them anything...
That is it!

I can honestly say that they have such a bond.
Sure they tease and aggravate each other to no end some days. They bicker and fight. The stomp and scream. They throw hairbrushes and kick.
Have I mentioned I have 3 girls???

They are typical, yes.
But, at the end of the day, they still want to snuggle and be together. They still say their prayers together and always want sung a lullaby or some song I have sung thousands of times before. They pretty much fall asleep simultaneously.
They are sisters no matter what. No matter what life throws at them or what one may be going through individually. They will always have each other.

Even on those boring Summer days. The days when we did....Nothing!