the website is www.kumonbooks.com
they sell them at target now! before you had to order them.

sunshinemomma, I think books may be great for older kids. However for pre-schoolers I think it is better to use concrete objects to teach skills such as colors shapes and size. For letters and numbers I use puzzles and stories about letters and numbers. pre-schoolers learn better when they are using all of their senses. sight and touch.
And in some cases hearing, smelling and taste. Concepts such as hot, cold, sour, sweet.
Pre-Schoolers are very concrete learners.

Piaget's theory of cognitive development.

chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/piaget.html

Many pre-school and primary programs are modeled on Piaget's theory, which, as stated previously, provides part of the foundation for constructivist learning. Discovery learning and supporting the developing interests of the child are two primary instructional techniques. It is recommended that parents and teachers challenge the child's abilities, but NOT present material or information that is too far beyond the child's level. It is also recommended that teachers use a wide variety of concrete experiences to help the child learn (e.g., use of manipulatives, working in groups to get experience seeing from another's perspective, field trips, etc).

Hi sunshinemomma and vacekd1001,

I can see both sides of this thread. There are plenty of great, concrete learning examples for preschoolers--following a recipe, organizing toys by shapes, you name it.

However, sometimes little ones can do a little tracing or a little coloring while parents are making dinner, folding laundry, or paying bills. In a perfect world, we'd have the time to make every experience in life a learning experience for little ones, but there are definitely nights I just needed to make dinner, and be done.

Also, it's important to remember that not everyone is trained as a preschool teacher, and books like this become a great jumping off point for families to create educational moments.

Welcome to the community, sunshinemomma! For a list of additional preschool learning activities, visit Preschool Learning Games and Activities at www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/showarticle/3614

Thanks MagnetMom for your post. My son does some worksheets at school however he also uses concrete materials. I think the worksheets are nice for the parents because then one knows what concepts the child worked on that day. However sometimes the school sends home worksheets. I look at the concepts the worksheets are covering then go over the same concepts using concrete material.

My little guy does like to color and paint however I just give him a large blank piece paper for him to color. Instead of a ditto sheet where he is expected to use certain colors and stay in the lines. To make this a learning experience I talk to him about his drawing and review the colors he used.
However I do like ditto sheets for concepts like tracing his name and letters.

My mom was a high school art teacher before I was born, and yet she bought us tons of coloring books--big black lines and all.

She simply told us to do whatever we wanted--polka dotted hippos or pink and purple striped houses. Since that encourages creativity and allows for a little small muscle control, I think it's a great compromise.

I'd hate to see formal stuff sent home from preschool (although I chose not to send either kid to preschool), but if it was "optional" stuff sent home, and parents understood it was optional, I could live with it.

I accept the worksheets because I know from being a teacher if worksheets were not sent home....most parents would complain that their paying for their kids to play. "They can play at home for free"

Most kids learn visually. I found that online books get them interested in reading anad it feels like play. Check this site for classical online stories and more educational games.
www.smartygames.com