our homeschool materials for kindergarten | no. 10
We are currently homeschooling our 4-year-old in Kindergarten and adapting it for our 3-year-old nephew who joins us for homeschool days. This is our first year of giving homeschooling a routine go even though we’ve been doing activities and education since Elodie was 2. I thought I would share with you our current (ever-adapting) routine for homeschooling, what materials we use, how we are able to easily adapt for multiple ages and take it on the road as we travel for work.
This is a longer post, but I hope it will prove helpful for you if you’re looking to homeschool and want one place to find reliable and trustworthy materials!
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Main Curriculum
Peaceful Press Nature Kindergarten
This Kindergarten is our main curriculum. It is nature-centered and unit based with a new unit study every month. From trees and farms to cities and desserts, this curriculum gets us outside, doing hands-on learning, and keeps us organized with a beautifully paced weekly plan making it easy to see at a glance what we can expect out of the week.
My favorite part of this material is that it is adaptable to multiple ages and gives a weekly supply list whether it’s for materials included, kitchen/household items, craft supplies, or books. With one look on Saturday, I can accurately plan my week of supplies so I’m not scrambling. This is especially helpful when we travel. I plan ahead 2 weeks - 1 month and pack the supplies in a “homeschool” suitcase. It’s been working wonderfully!
Bible
I have been looking for a faith-based lesson set-up we could use for a while now and I’ve just ordered The Good Gospel from The Peaceful Press. I’m hopeful it will be a good fit for us!
In the meantime, I’ve been reading the Bible at night out loud. We just finished Mark and are starting Exodus right now, Elodie gets to pick the books. The Passion Translation has been wonderful for keeping us in the word. I supplement this by verbally retelling classic Bible stories (creation, Noah, Moses, etc.), listening to audio psalms, and encouraging scripture memorization. Honestly, the biggest thing we’re working on spiritually is asking forgiveness and practicing kindness. Everything else comes when it will.
Reading and Writing Materials
For reading, we’ve used 2 things that have proved very helpful for learning the alphabet, letter sounds, and independent reading.
Learning Dynamics 4 Weeks to Read
The way this reading program breaks down alphabet sounds is genius. With only learning 5 letters, your child is able to read their very first book! It’s that empowering step that encourages them to keep learning. The songs are catchy and the stories and characters really help stick the letter to memory.
While I am disappointed that this company discontinued their app for music (you now have to go to their YouTube channel), I can’t deny how well the progression of the letter introduction has taught Elodie to read! My nephew is currently loving their alphabet song.
Bob Books
These books were introduced to me after I purchased Learning Dynamics. I love that these books have simpler illustrations and the books are smaller for little hands (which somehow makes them more fun for the littles.) We don’t own our own set, but I would love to eventually. I was able to borrow 2 sets from our local library which was wonderful! Their sight words box is a great starter for early readers.
Other Materials
We rely on books from our own stash and the library to supplement reading (early readers, alphabet books, phonics books, etc.) The library is an invaluable resource. When we do buy books, I stick to educational books that will last through many grades/ages and I almost always purchase from Thriftbooks.
For writing, chalkboards from Chalk Full of Design are THE BEST. The travel sizes are perfect for practicing on the go. I love the erasable nature of them so that I don’t have a bunch of loose paper everywhere. I just ordered their travel set of 4 mini boards with chalk pens and the kids love them!
Math
For math, we rely on the included number cards/charts from Peaceful Press Nature Kindergarten as well as addition and subtraction cards I got from Target. I love our vintage abacus for visual counting as well as baking and measuring activities.
The other day I literally just wrote a few math problems on scrap paper and had Elodie use crayons to count for each problem. For example, 5 + 2 = ? becomes her taking 5 crayons and placing them in the middle of her paper and then bringing 2 more and counting her total to get the answer. She enjoyed that visual!
History/Extra-Curricular
For Kindergarten, I don’t believe it’s hugely important to include every subject of study you would get in high school. It’s overwhelming. That’s why we get a lot of our learning from books and interest-led studies. For example, Elodie has learned much about doctors, marine biology, building, art technique, animals, weather, child care/mothering, and cooking/baking because those are the things she is interested in.
Before every trip to the library, I make sure to ask what she hopes to learn about (and I listen throughout the week to her questions). Then, I go to the online library reserve and look up/reserve books on the topics she’s interested in. She can choose stories and other books freely in person, but this way I know she has what she was curious about.
For history, I look for books that have pictures and easy stories without too much trauma or detail. Just the photos and description of life back then help to solidify “the past” as a concept she can imagine. The Little House on the Prairie series has been our favorite.
20 Wholesome Winter Books for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners
OtherGoose was what we used exclusively when she was 2. Geared for ages 2-7, the online activity-based learning platform was perfect. Elodie did outgrow some of the subject matter and I kept forgetting to log in, but I saved many of the lessons for future reference.
I also love that they recently released a $1/month plan where all the lessons get delivered straight to your inbox instead of having to log in. It’s simple, affordable, and much easier for a forgetful mama like me! We’ll probably sign up for this method come summertime next year.
We don’t use screens hardly at all, but when we do, we make sure it’s intentional and educational. YouTube has been a great resource for learning, specifically how things are made. One time on an auto-play accident, Elodie started watching how pipes are made and ended up watching how sewage systems work! She was actually interested, so I let it ride. The only other screen-based activity I recently introduced is Duolingo ABC. This is a wonderfully simple learning game. Once a week, I let Elodie log on to my phone and do a few reading lessons. Usually Fridays or Saturdays, since Mon-Thurs is Peaceful Press.
Physical Activity
So important, physical activity is a non-negotiable for us. We try to go outside for at least 30 minutes a day, walk on trails nearby, go to playgrounds, and most recently the kids are enrolled in a dance/music/movement class once a week at our church which has been so fun! It’s called Zumbini, which is adorable, and they love getting to move, listen to someone other than me, and socialize with other little people.
Quiet Time
With all this learning happening regularly, quiet time is a must. Their little brains are firing on all cylinders without them even realizing it. Most days after lunch, we do quiet time for each child in their own space with some books or drawing and let them have their own time to wind down and regroup for about 30 minutes or so.
Educational Toys We Use
Nuts and Bolts - literally just nuts and bolts paired with pieces of metal with holes in it that Leland got from work. it’s the best!
Wooden Anatomy Puzzle (bought this for Elodie for Christmas)
Final Homeschooling Thoughts
Everything is constantly changing in our routine because of our living rather nomadically with an erratic work schedule and spontaneous trips home when we get tired of hotel life.
That being said, having a base is a great way for me to know where we’re going. I am truly passionate about creating an easy, fun, and beautiful way to learn for my daughter and I know that’s not everyone’s personality. There are so many resources out there that have done the hard work for us so our job is plug and play!
I hope this post helps you discover resources for Kindergarten and Preschool that you can utilize for your kids. There is no better teacher for your child than you. The fact that you’re here means you already care so much about their little minds! You’re doing a wonderful job, mama. I hope you have a wonderful day.
love, makayla