It’s that time of year again – when everyone’s making last-minute tweaks to their curriculum choices, and I’m no different. I have my pacing guides just about ready for starting up next week (and what I haven’t finished, I’ll finish up in the next week or so as we do our soft start. Miss 4 will be attending Pre-Kindergarten (also known as Transitional Kindergarten, K4, or Junior Kindergarten) this year. Here’s what we’re doing.
Our Main Curricula:
I’ll be using Torchlight Pre-K “Curiosity and Character” and Blossom and Root’s Early Years 2 for many of our subjects this year.
Supplementary Curricula:
I’ll be adding in bits and pieces (namely, the reading list) from Playing Preschool and Little World Wanderers. I’m also using books from Critical Thinking Company’s Pre-K Bundle and some things from Core Knowledge’s Pre-K curricula.
Phonics:
Since Miss 4 already knows all her letters and most of the basic phonograms, we’re starting phonics/reading with Logic of English Foundations A
Mathematics:
Torchlight has some math instruction included, as does Blossom & Root’s Early Years 2 (mostly hands-on). We’ll be using Singapore Math Earlybird Standards Edition KA & KB as our primary math curriculum since she’s already counting past 20 and doing simple addition and subtraction. We’ll also be doing Mathematical Reasoning 2.
Science:
I plan on adding in things from MESS (Marvelous Explorations Through Science and Stories) to round out our science education.
Social-Emotional Learning:
I’m using (in addition to Torchlight’s SEL choices) Evan-Moor’s Heart and Mind, Social and Emotional Learning Activities, and their Social Skills Activities for Today’s Kids. She’s a very good example of an asynchronous child – advanced academically, but needing some help in the social-emotional department.
Other:
We’ll do some process art from Glitterbombers, listen to music using the SQUILT monthly calendars, and engage in holiday activities using worksheets/activities from Teacher’s Toolbox & Education.com. She’s also been loving playing with Duolingo ABC and IXL.
For extracurriculars, I’m planning to sign her up for some classes through our local parks & rec center.
What Are You Using?
It seems like a lot, but I’m not using everything from everything… I like to use things as a starting point, then take them apart and put them back together in a way that works for my kiddos (what can I say, I make more work for myself).
If you’re working with a pre-k kiddo, what are you using with them this year?
Just a Secular Homeschooler 