A research study titled “Vocabulary Development During The Preschool Years” states that “Active participation can increase the likelihood that preschoolers [will] learn more vocabulary.”

The Guessing Game, which is only one component of Vocabulary Development addressed by the Pre K Scholars Curriculum, is as active as it gets and the children truly value being involved in the learning process. My students ask me daily, “Is it time for the Guessing Game?” It’s a favorite for all.

This week’s game provided three clues:

1. It has a face and hands

2. It’s numbered from 1 to 12

3. It tells you the time

We have already introduced both Karate Kicking Kim and Carmen the Cook, so we know the answer must begin with the hard “C” or “K” sound. Mouths are closed, but minds are thinking and eyes are widening as hands pop up.

One is called to answer: “Clock!” The child with the correct answer is given the card and may put it into the pocket chart below the corresponding beginning letter–and on to the next, until the game is completed.

While the kids are having so much fun and feeling so proud of themselves, they don’t realize they are working on phonics, letter/sound recollection, beginning sounds, vocabulary expansion and recognition, memory recall, deductive thinking, prior knowledge, listening skills, social development by listening to peers, taking turns, sitting still, raising hand and on and on…

I’m curious–how is your child exposed to new vocabulary?

My twins just turned four on January 18^th. Between their two older sisters and their mother, who teaches kindergarten readiness classes out of the home, they have a heightened sense of academics. They pick up chapter books to have “reading time” with their sisters and they spend most of their time writing friends and family letters containing “words” and elaborate illustrations. Their stick figures are a thing of the past and we can no longer drive by a sign without identifying all of the letters it contains..We wake up to questions like, “Do I have school today?” and “B, B, B..does boy start with the letter B?”

Many would say this is great, but my problem — and I know that many, many moms share my dilemma — they won’t start Kindergarten for 19 months.

Not only do they not make the cut off for Kindergarten, but they do not even make the cut off for the Pre-K class at their preschool. The cutoff for that class is at the end of December, so my kids’ January birthdays do not qualify.

My options are a three day per week class or a five day per week class, both three hours at a time. The five day class offers more time in school but the curriculum is more of the same curriculum they are currently receiving in the three day class. What do I do?

The extra two days are going to cost more and, with twins that means that extra payment is doubled. When times are already financially tough, why pay more for more of the same? Many moms are in my shoes and I can’t seem to dodge the question that is on most of their minds right now: “What will you do in the fall?” I am blessed that Pre K Scholars is a part of my world and that I can supplement my twins’ preschool experience with the program. Thanks to a well-structured kindergarten readiness curriculum, they will be more than ready for some more academic structure and they will be emotionally mature enough to handle its contents.

If you share my situation, I hope you consider the Pre K Scholars family kit – it is the perfect supplement to any preschool program, and costs much less than I would pay for those extra days in their current preschool. What would you do in this situation?