The transition from preschool to elementary education can be challenging. Your focus must shift from helping your child develop fine motor skills and recognizing letters and numbers to introducing them to core subjects like math, science and reading. If you’re not careful you’ll lose sight of other important subjects such as art, bible, music and physical education. A comprehensive curriculum that covers all the subjects might be the place to start as you begin establishing positive home educating habits. Deciding you need an integrated curriculum is the easy part. Finding one that’s right for your family is the challenge. Kendall Hunt Religious Publishers has produced the Kindergarten Stepping Stones curriculum, which new homeschool families may find helpful.
Disclosure: I received this product for free and was compensated for my time. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.
About Kindergarten Stepping Stones Curriculum
The folks at Kendall Hunt Religious Publishers get it. They know that an early learner must be nurtured to think, learn, choose, and grow, but more importantly that the early learner was made in the image of God. The Kindergarten Stepping Stones curriculum is designed to help a parent impart that timeless truth to their children while addressing all subjects and a variety of themes. They use literature as the basis for their integrated curriculum themes.
Here’s how it works:
The school year is broken up into nine themes: Heroes, My World and Others, Living Things, Spiritual Journey, Friends and Family, Environment, Personal Feelings and Growth, Yesterday, Social Issues and Culture.
Each theme is broken up into three or four weeks worth of lesson plans. A new children’s book is used each week to illustrate the theme. Lesson plans that touch on that theme are provided for every subject matter. The subjects include: Worship/Bible, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Art, Music, Dramatic Play and Technology.
It’s a unique approach that allows a teacher to be responsive to individual differences in developmental stages, abilities, and interests of every learner. The curriculum was designed for a Montessori classroom, but can easily be adapted for the home.
What Sets Kindergarten Stepping Stones Apart?
- Everything is planned out and I mean everything. This resource is great for moms who might not know where to start when planning lessons. The teacher manual gives an overview of the entire year’s worth of learning while the daily lesson guide for each theme provides a breakdown of every lesson and it’s objectives. They include the books you need, outline daily routines to follow, and provide all the printouts on a CD-ROM. Plus, you’ll also find several talking points, along with pictures of all the printouts, to help guide you through each activity. I’m telling you momma, you can’t mess this up.
- You’ll find tons of activities to choose from. What truly sets this curriculum apart is the variety of choices offered to allow you to tailor the lessons to meet your child’s needs, interests and ability. One week of lessons consists of 60-80 pages in the theme manual. That’s 60-80 pages of fully planned and scripted activities for each subject area. There are several different activities for each subject, which you can pick and choose from based on your child’s likes and abilities. Maybe you’re looking for something to get your kiddo moving, just open the daily lesson guide to the physical education or dramatic play section. It’s all right there. Searching for something crafty or creative? You’ll find several art and music activities that align with the theme book you are studying that week. You know your child better than anyone else. You know what they’ll enjoy and what might not engage them so well. So embrace the freedom to pick and choose what activities you’ll do.
The Bottom Line
Kindergarten Stepping Stones is a great choice for the homeschool mom who wants a pick-up-and-go curriculum. You can enjoy the freedom that comes from knowing everything you need has been provided for you.
Find out More About Kendall Hunt Religious Publishers
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