Preschool Homeschool
Curriculum Reviews:
What is Best for Us?
For parents that are thinking about teaching preschool at home, choosing a homeschool curriculum can be a daunting task. Just a Google search for those terms can bring up thousands of results! How is a parent supposed to know which one will really be best for your child and your situation?
The true answer (and one that not many will really tell you) is that there is no ONE right homeschool curriculum. Of course, each company that sells a curriculum program will try to convince you that their is the best, because they want you to buy from them!
Most homeschool curriculum programs have good qualities, and of course, some are better than others. But in the end, it's up to you to review them all fully and decide which one will meet your needs the best. The perfect fit for one family may not work for you.
That being said, I have looked through some of the most popular homeschool curriculum programs on the market to give you an educator's opinion on each. Hopefully my reviews below will help you as you navigate your homeschooling options.
If you are a homeschooling parent, but are specifically looking for a Christian preschool curriculum, please check out my reviews of the best programs available in that particular market.
Criteria for Recommendations
As an educator, I have had experience looking through and evaluating many homeschool curriculum programs on the market today. There are some that are terrific and some not so much.
So how can one tell the difference between the junk and the treasure? In order for me to recommend a program, it must meet certain criteria:
*Based on current child development research – You might be surprised at the number of programs that are put out there by well-intentioned, but uneducated people. *Practical to implement – How can you teach with a program that you can’t even understand yourself?
*Provide support and training – You need to know that there will be help available should you need it.
*Appealing to children – We are teaching children after all, so of course the curriculum program must include elements of fun!
Adventures in Learning
Adventures In Learning is a professionally developed, age-appropriate, complete monthly preschool curriculum for ages 2 1/2-5 that is perfect for child care homes and centers of any size.
Their goal is to enhance the development of readiness skills, encourage a love for learning, and promote family involvement.
As child care providers, parents entrust us with the care and nurturing of a most cherished part of themselves-their children. Therefore, providers should be dedicated to delivering a high-quality learning environment to children of all ages.
Preschool children are capable of more
than mere playtime and naptime--they can begin to develop important
early learning skills if provided with the right learning
environment.
However, child care professionals are challenged daily to find
appropriate teaching materials at an affordable price with limited time
to plan activities, all while trying to teach a wide age range.
Adventures In Learning tackles these challenges.
Hands On Homeschooling
Hands on Homeschooling offers lesson plans and activities for preschoolers age 2 through 5 (kindergarten) that can bring purpose to your daily play.
Some people will choose to offer the activities as a way to keep a child busy during the day, some are looking for a way to prepare a child to enter a “regular” school system, and others may see this as the beginning of a lifelong educational experience.
No matter where you are along this journey, Hands on Homeschooling has a lot to offer.
Hooked on Phonics
Oak Meadow
Oak Meadow is a very popular homeschooling curriculum.
Oak Meadow’s educational philosophy states that they aim to educate the “whole child” – encouraging a balanced development. They “believe that true intelligence arises when children are given opportunities to engage not only their heads, but their hands and hearts as well.”
I found this curriculum program to be engaging, easy to use, and not hurried at all. Many programs make the parent feel as if they need to cram in all the activities each day/week and it gives the whole experience a rushed feeling.
Mother Goose Time
Mother Goose Time is a professionally developed preschool curriculum that nurtures the whole child and supports the child's social, emotional and intellectual growth. Each tool included in our monthly curriculum kit is intentionally designed to meet a range of preschool skills. All tools are based on research and best practices.
Return from Homeschool
Curriculum to Home
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