Living Books

We have chosen a curriculum for the twins for "Kindergarten" from Living Books Curriculum...they actually call it the "Foundation" year.   Minus a few subjects, it seems to fit what we are already doing which is read-alouds, poetry, pre-writing and reading readiness.  What I really like about this curriculum is that it is very well-rounded and that they use "living" books (which most I can get from the library) for learning.  The areas they include are Bible study, Math, Language Arts, Music & Movement, Art, Picture Study, Nature Study, Science, and Geography.  At first I thought it was way too much for their age, but as I reviewed a downloaded sample I discovered that most of the subjects are alternated and are short lessons.  For example, one Geography study requires us viewing a picture of a jungle and discussing it.  There are fun projects to do, such as Science with Magnets kit by Usborne, Mudpies to Magnets by Robert A. Williams and the Math is all hands-on activities written by a man who writes wonderful Math activity books.

So we shall see how it goes.  It might be too much, not enough, who knows...I am hoping it will work for our first year of schooling..as long as it continues to cultivate a love for learning.  Then I am sure we will be on to something entirely different the next year knowing me!  Here's our list of books:

Teaching Resources Foundation Year Teaching Guide, LBC  ABC Assessment, Jim Carroll  Three R's, Ruth Beechick** Bible Study The Child’s Story Bible, Catherine F. Vos  Language Arts Finger Plays (Included in Teaching Guide, Part Two) Aesop's Fables, Sheila Carroll, ed. **  Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White The 20th Century Children’s Book Treasury, Janet Schulman The Complete Tales & Poems of Winnie the Pooh, A. A. Milne Best-loved Folktales of the World, Joanna Cole The Original Mother Goose, Blanche Fischer Wright  Preschool Readiness Of Colors and Things, Tana Hoban  Letters and Sounds, Rosemary Wells  Rosie’s Walk, Pat Hutchins  Poetry The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, Jack Prelutsky Science Mudpies to Magnets: A preschool science curriculum, Robert A. Williams  Science with Magnets Kit, Usborne Fun With My 5 Senses, Sarah A. Williamson  Science Supplemental Reading A Weed Is a Flower, Aliki  The Tiny Seed, Eric Carle Teaching Guide, Part Four) Math Math Play: Eighty ways to count and learn Additonal work with math skills incorporated into curriculum. Math Supplemental Reading Exactly the Opposite, Tana Hoban  Math Counts: Shape, Henry Pluckrose  Math Counts: Size, Henry Pluckrose  Inch by Inch, Leo Lionni  Geography World Map (Parent purchases separately) Nature Study Handbook of Nature Study, Anna Botsford Comstock* Art/Picture Study Come Look with Me: Exploring art with children, Gladys S. Blizzard Come Look with Me: Exploring landscapes, Gladys S. Blizzard  Preschool Art, MaryAnn Kohl  Music & Movement From Educating Young Children (Not available separately; Included in