First Grade Complete: Full Year Bundle

  All-inclusive. Biblical worldview. Literature-based. User-friendly. Homeschool-oriented. Unit Studies. This attractive, colorful, well-constructed, activity-based curriculum provides a 36-week school year: four lesson days and one open day weekly. Subjects include Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Physical Development/Fitness, Fine Arts, and Character Development/Bible. Centered on literature selections, this program can utilize the library or purchased titles. Teacher Binders include a thematic overview, detailed lesson plans, literature suggestions (and discussion questions), subject-specific assignments, and a single copy of all student pages, 3-hole punched for easy removability. Additional student workbooks can be purchased either in a binder or as refill pages.

Each semester provides a checklist to rank your child as "developing," "proficient," or "advanced" in each skill. End-of-year Wrap Up units allow students to synthesize skills while enabling parents to evaluate growth. To gauge your student's starting level in this program, check the skills listed on our sample PDF handouts.

When you first open the Teacher Binder, you'll find themes/units and also a list of subjects covered and skills taught. Instructional notes for teachers/parents are straight-forward and practical and tend toward specific skills (handwriting guidelines, calendar time, etc.). Detailed lesson plans are provided with 3-15 lessons per unit (younger levels have more units with fewer lessons per unit). Lessons include a list of skills, materials needed, calendar activities; then, step-by-step direction for each subject covered that day. Most of the daily lesson time is spent on language arts and math, but Bible, social studies, science, physical education/fitness, music, and art are incorporated into those studies on a weekly basis. The plans use bullet points and are almost scripted, so it's easy for anyone to just pick up and do once required materials have been gathered. The general feel of the lessons is Charlotte Mason and teacher-student interactive, but one or two worksheets (clean, attractive, and inviting) are part of every lesson. Math activities usually include a mix of hands-on activities along with a worksheet. In lower grades books are read aloud but as the child moves into chapter books, partial book assignments are given. The Teacher Manual includes questions for discussion based on the reading assignment. Each day includes other activities that utilize drawing, writing, arts & crafts, memorizing, physical fun, singing songs, nature walks and much more. In the back of each binder, you'll find an appendix with resource material applicable to the grade level and needed for the lessons. These include rhymes/songs, game boards/pieces, templates, maps, memory verses, grading rubrics, recipes, a literature list, and much more.

Bundles include the Teacher Binder(s), a 12-month blank calendar, several sets of flashcards, games, and several other manipulative resources. You can purchase the Full Year Bundle which includes the teacher manuals for both semesters and the manipulative resources used for the year or purchase a Semester Bundle which includes one teacher manual and the manipulative resources that are used for that semester. Teacher Binders include all the plans and one set of student pages. Extra Student Pages are available in either a Binder (Additional Student Workbook) or as a loose leaf three-hole punched Refill.

All in all, this solid program is so user-friendly, covers a full range of academic concepts and skills, ensures lots of quality and fun school-time with your children, and introduces many engaging children's books. ~ Megan/Janice