Seeking a Quality Preschool in the Mannheim Germany Area& Homeschooling Advice

Hello K.,
Let me first say welcome to Mamasource. It's a wonderful site. I've enjoyed it very much so far. Back to the point. I too am stay at home Mom w/ 2 wonderful children 1B whose 12 & 1G whose 9. Feel free to read my profile, it will tell you a lot more about me. Anyway. I also home school my children. I teach my children with a great program from www.aop.com called Lifepac. They go from K-12 with electives. My kids love this program. As far as activities around here to get your kids involved in there are all kinds of things to do. I suggest going to the USO & looking on the board there or the counter for the papers that people post & leave. Oh & I forgot to tell you that I to live in the Mannhiem area. Only, my husband is still here. If you need help please feel free to write back I would be happy to help you out.
Hope this has helped you.
N

Hi K.! Sounds like we have a lot in common; I am from Columbia, SC and we are currently stationed in Kaiserslautern Germany. Unfortunately,we have run into the same problems with schooling. I was also disappointed in the CDC for the same reason. I even asked for information on kindergarten prep, but they simply told me that socialization was the most important thing at this time. I have to say that while that is important, so are the skills that they need to learn for kindergarten.

Our daughter misses the cut off date to start kindergarten in the fall, so we are also looking to meet the desires for learning the she has expressed. For right now, we decided to send our 4 year old daughter to the German Kindergarten in our vilage. We thought that at least if she was going to "play" all day she could learn the language. So far she likes it pretty good. She finds it frustrating that she cannot communicate with the children easily, but has started picking up the language rather well.

We have started looking into Montessori schoools and other private schools in the Kaiserslautern area, but the only problem with these are the cost. Just for example, we wanted to send her to Children's Learning Academy and the cost per month to send her part day (2 or 3 days per week)was $200-400 and fullday ###-###-####) was $600 a month. We were astonished!

Try talking to ACS, the elementary school in your area, and if they have playgroups ask the Moms. Also, take a look in the paper for advertisements. Sometimes you will run across some great advice. I wish that I could be of more help:) Just an idea......it might be a good idea to try to get with a few other Moms that are in the same position you are and try to do a Part Day pre-school of your own. If you got 4 Moms and each of you took a week to teach it might work out. I am definitely considering doing something like that if all else fails. Wish we lived closer!

You are not the first I've heard complain about the lack of structure/teaching of beginning skills at the CDC for almost school-age children. I would complain to ICE online about it. I agree with you that there should be a more structured, learning oriented pre-k on the posts here (and in the states). I have even thought about getting certified to be an FCC provider just to cater to those children in my area who's parents want their pre-school aged children the skills that they are going to need for kindergarten. I am in Baumholder and an hour away from you, so that wouldn't work for you, but maybe there is an FCC provider who offers that in your area?? It's worth a check. Wish I could help more!

-C.

Look at Bob Jones Homeschool or the A Beka program for distance learning. It is a good based programs for the kids to homeschool them. I am also from Charleston.

My 2 boys are in the German Kindergarten here in Kusel. We are stationed at Baumholder. They love it even though they don't speak German yet. They understand some words. The 5 year old has learned more than the 3 year old. You should be able to start your younger one at 3. I have to decide now whether to put my 5 year old in the American or German school next year. The one thing I don't like about the German school here is I have to pick them up by 11:45am and that makes it hard to get errands done sometimes. I can bring them back later from 1:30-4:30 but still have to get them for the lunch break.
J.

I'm seeking your advice. My Husband and I are in The Kusel area, he works for a private contractor, so we are not Military. We are having a very difficult time finding a Kindergarten in the area that will take our child since neither of us are German, and we are not Military. Looking for any advice you can give. Thanks!
E.

Hi!
I don't want to sound too critical, but it sounds to me like you're worrying a bit too much about what your kids are learning at this age.
Your kids will be taught what they need to know in kindergarten. There shouldn't really be too much prep for it. Also, it sounds to me like if you're doing your part at home to teach him what you can that should be more than enough. Let them have fun!
My son goes to 2 day 2-3 year old enrichment at the CDC here in Bitburg and he has a great time, they play, sing, and dance. That's all they need to be doing at this age... learning social skills and having fun.
Kindergarten is their intro into school. You don't need to prep for it. You can help your child making sure they are introduced to colors, numbers, letters, and by reading them lots of books. That will have them well set up to learn in Kindergarten. It's not like they're going off to college, Kindergarten is mainly fun stuff. I would worry more about making sure you are supporting the lessons taught in Kindergarten at home, once they are actually in Kindergarten!

K.,

I live in the Kaiserslautern area, so I don't have all the specifics on what is available in your area, but can give you some general tips for finding the socialization you need in the local base community.

I homeschool and have been doing it for 9 years if you count preschool. I know what you mean about needing to get out and socialize, both your child and you! If you want to seek out homeschoolers specifically, this is one of many lists out there about homeschooling groups. Just google in homeschooling and Mannheim and see what you come up with.

But really since your sons are so little, you could easily join any playgroup that meets frequently and go out on dates with other friends who have kids your age. Try to take classes at your local base that involve preschoolers--like at the Youth Center where they have karate, art, and all kinds of other things. Find a MOPS group to join, go to ladies bible study at chapel or a local military church--they often have kid activities while you study. I think once you start looking around at all your options, you'll find that you will actually have to choose which things to do, since there are so many things going on.

Sincerely,
R. Ackerman

This is a link to Mary Pride's homeschool world group listing.

http://www.home-school.com/groups/germany.html
Eifel Area Home Schoolers Edit Remove More
Unit 3640 Box 80, APO AE 09126-3640
Phone: ###-###-####
Home school organization for military and civilian families in the Eifel region of Germany.

Heidelberg Homeschool Group Edit Remove More
Heidelberg, Germany
Contact: Julie Kovach or Beth Shaw
Email: ____@____.com
http://www.heidelberghomeschoolgroup.org
We are an active, Christian, military affiliated homeschool support group in the Heidelberg, Germany area with about 35 active families. We offer support, field trips, co-op classes, friendship and fun! There is no charge for membership into the group and membership is available to any homeschooling family residing in the Rhein Neckar Region.

Homeschool Initiative Baden-Württemberg, Erziehung und Bildung in der Familie (BEF) Edit Remove More
Email: ____@____.com
http://www.homeschool.de

Initiative deutscher Heimschulfamilien Edit Remove More
Am Hahnengraben 8, D-90592 Schwarzenbruck
Contact: Joerg Grosseluemern
Phone: 09128-727365
Email: ____@____.com
http://www.hausunterricht.org

Kaiserslautern Military Community Christian Home Educators Edit Remove More
Serving Kaisterslautern, Germany
Contact: R. Ackerman
Phone: 011-49-6383-925061
Email: ____@____.com
http://www.kmchomeschool.org
Field trips, book sales, monthly support meetings, and lots more!

Stuttgart Area Home Schoolers (SAHS) Edit Remove More
Serving Patch, Robinson, Kelly, and Panzer
Contact: Lisa
Phone: 0711-###-###-####
Email: ____@____.com
http://www.stuttgarthomeschoolers.com
Field trips, mom's support meetings, and much more!