What is the best homeschool curriculum for preschool & kindergarten?

Question

I use PACE curriculum for my 6th grader but I have one that I am going to be doing preschool with next year & then kindergarten. The PACE system doesn't look that great for children just starting out with no reading skills. To the experienced homeschooling parents, what do you recommend?

Answer 1

Honestly, I think what's "best" depends on several factors.  

Among those factors are:  

  *What are you willing to spend?  

  *What are your long-term goals curriculum-wise?  

  *What type of a curriculum are you looking for (i.e.-textbook,

       classical, workbook, unschooling, etc)?

Here is a brief rundown on some of the different types of popular programs for younger children.  You'll quickly notice a theme which will address the reading issue.  The majority of them are literature-rich &/or classical programs.  Here they are:

  

1) Sonlight:  Literature-rich curriculum (has 2 preschool levels as well as a kindergarten level).  Is somewhat pricey.  However, many will get the instructor's guides only either from SL directly or Ebay and then get the books from the library.  I personally use SL and we love it.  We have been through what is now Pre-K 4/5 (didn't have 3/4 then), K, 1, 3, and science through 4.  I purchased our Pre-K and Core 1 from SL, our K used (as a full Core), and pieced 3 together over the course of a year.  

If you purchase everything, SL will provide you with a full curriculum encompasing science, literature, language arts, history, phonics, handwriting, and bible as well as a complete instructor's guide with study sheets and questions to guide you.

www.sonlight.com

2) Before Five in a Row/Five in a Row:  This is VERY similar to SL in that it is also literature-rich.  In fact, many of the books here overlap with SL.  Again, some will get their list and check them out from the library even though they are not nearly as expensive as Sonlight.  FIAR is made up of mini unit studies combined with books and other curriculum that you add in to complete the entire curriculum.  I've not used this curriculum personally, but have known many who have and loved it for younger children. (I've heard this is very similar to Tapestry of Grace).

www.fiveinarow.com

3)  My Father's World:  Again, there will be a good deal of overlap here with this curriculum and SL/FIAR.  Many of the books are shared between the different curriculum.  It is, again, a literature-rich curriculum.  There is a guide for MFW as there is for SL, but it is not nearly as comprenhensive.  Also, the curriculum itself isn't as comprenhensive.  However, that is reflected in the price which is MUCH cheaper.  MUCH.

www.mfwbooks.com

4)  Winter Promise:  Again, this is a literature-rich curriculum.  The instructor's guide for WP very closely resembles that of SL.  However, the price does not.  Also, WP is a much younger company and they don't offer the other portions of the curriculum that SL does (i.e.-math, etc.).  They are a MUCH more hands-on curriculum, though.  If that's what you're looking for, this may be the place to go and you can supplement elsewhere.

www.winterpromise.com

5)  Abeka:  Many say Abeka's phonics can't be equaled.  I don't know personally as I've never used their phonics program.  Most who use it do say when you get to a certain level it does get repetitive, though.  Abeka uses a workbook intensive approach at that age that changes to a textbook/workbook combo as the children get older.  We currently use Abeka's science, health, and grammar curriculum.  (Yes, we also use SL science.  I have a child who loves science.)  They are a VERY good curriculum, but they are VERY repetitive and if you buy the entire program directly from Abeka (I never have), the cost can be VERY prohibitive.  I would recommend getting the books you're considering from Ebay first and going from there.  Also, with Abeka, you don't have to get the entire program (tests and all)...especially at this age.  You can EASILY find the readers and workbooks on Ebay...EASILY.

www.abeka.com

6)Calvert:  They offer a complete curriculum...literally.  If you order directly from Calvert (as opposed to Ebay, etc), then you will get everything you need for the entire year all the way down to pencils, crayons, paper, etc.  They do this because they started originally selling their curriculum to overseas clients who had no access to any of this stuff.  They still do so today despite the fact that a large portion of their clients are domestic.  They are the definition of a textbook program.  HOWEVER, (and that's a BIG however), they have GREAT add-ons.  I would HIGHLY recommend you get their catalog and look at their music, art, and science electives.  You can find them on Ebay for MUCH cheaper than you can buy them from Calvert.  (I did for all 3 and my kids LOVE them.)

www.calvertschool.org

7)  Educators Publishing Service:  This is not a complete curriculum, but it is an incredible resource.  I would highly recommend a couple of their programs for younger children:  "Explode the Code" until they learn to read and write.  Once they know how to read and write, I would recommend "Just Write".  Once you feel they're ready for vocabulary, I would recommend, "Wordly Wise 3000".  (Their newest version of Wordly Wise has levels for kids as young as K.)  You can see more about their programs as well as some samples at their website:

www.epsbooks.com

A great online resource for phonics is www.starfall.com (and it's FREE!).

Above all, READ, READ, READ!!!!  That does more for a preschooler than anything.

Amy

Answer 2

girls want to learn to write their names, the alphabet, name their shapes and colors and  take a stab at reading her favorite books with you..

boys, are not ready for any formal schooling, and are best served by having blocks, legos, playdough and other kinetic (touching) materials

at hand.

typically, not ready unitl age eight for stiff, scheduled training...but will pick up a lot as he is ready ,

and will acclimate right into classes at 3rd or

4th grade level...

please don't spend money on preK and K materials...

Answer 3

I would personally start with either something like Sonlight or with lapbooks and great living books.  Hands of a Child has many, many great lapbook units that are designed for PreK-3; they are skills-based, cross-curricular, and tons of fun.

Answer 4

I would simply get the comprehensive curriculum book ($10 Sam's) for either Preschool or Kindergarten and use that along with the many websites with educational information for preschoolers.  Try these:

www.enchantedlearning.com

www.dltk-kids.com

Answer 5

I've found that the best curriculum is what you design yourself.   You don't really need something put together by "experts" for this young an age.  Work on learning colors, letters, shapes, counting.  Do lots of crafts, coloring, cutting and pasting, etc. to build the fine motor skills needed for writing.  Read to the child a lot.  Play board games and other games.  Sing songs like the alphabet song.  Read a wide variety of books, stories, poems, fiction, nonfiction, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, Bible stories, etc.  Visit the library regularly.  Watch things like the "Leapfrog" video series to learn letter names and sounds in a fun way (and give you more time with the older child).  If the little one wants a workbook to do lessons like the older one, get an inexpensive "comprehensive curriculum workbook" at a discount store.  Explore a lot in your neighborhood.  Take walks and examine nature.  Read a lot.  Plant seeds and watch them grow.  Read a lot.

And read.  A lot.