Gentle Pre-K Homeschool Curriculum

To call my selection of books for my three-year-old a "curriculum" would be laughable at best. The "C" word makes it sound all formal and structured...rigid.

Nothing could be further from the truth.
He's three.
T-H-R-E-E.

At three, he doesn't need worksheets and lesson plans. He doesn't need time in a desk with a pre-packaged box of learning. 

He needs gentle. He needs open-ended play and permission to explore. He needs lots of time by momma's side learning through living.

For his sake...for his "I-want-to-do-school-at-the-big-table" sake, we will call all of this "school." 

"School" or "playing with purpose"...it's really just semantics, in my opinion.  But, if it makes him feel like it's more official, we'll call it his "curriculum." (Insert a wink and the knowing smile of a momma who's been through the "rigors" of Pre-k a time or two.)

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Here's what he'll be using...

Devotions

The older four kids and I will take turns reading a Bible story to him each morning. My Kindergartener will read from The Hear Me Read Bible as that is currently the only Bible he can read all by himself. But, the rest of us will use The Beginner's Bible because it is my preschooler's current favorite Bible story book. 

ABCs

He and I will put together a simple alphabet picture book using a blank journal and discarded magazines. (2x a week)

Language Development

• Usborne First Thousand Words (1 section each week)
• My Book House Volume 1: In the Nursery (a couple nursery rhymes/finger plays 2x a week)
• song time during our family morning circle time (4x a week)

Story Time

• My Book House Volume 2: Story Time (at least one story every school day) This is a lovely collection of tried-and-true stories of yesteryear. They are so innocent and written with a captivatingly simple cadence that my son just loves.
• James herriot's Treasury for Children- We will work our way through this exceptional collection by the end of the year.
• Books Every Preschooler Should Enjoy- Our story time basket will be filled with these!

Numbers/Shapes/Colors

For the most part, he knows a great deal of his numbers, shapes, and colors. These will be reinforced with homespun tot activities and lots of intentional play.

Arts & Crafts

Since he is a bit too young to join the rest of the family for some of our art time endeavors, as I am able, I hope to incorporate some activities from Art Lab for Little Kids into his week. This colorful book is by far the very best preschool art resource I've ever come across. It holds fast to my process vs. product mantra.