Planning Homeschool Curriculum
October 11th, 2009 | 
Author:  |
US $.01
Question: I plan to homeschool my 4-year old for kindergarten next year. Any recommendations for a good curriculum?
Answer: I basically designed my child's curriculum from scratch! I needed to set goals so there is a clear direction as to where we are going and an easy way to find out if my child has mastered a specific skill. I broke the subjects into:
English (Phonics & Reading/Handwriting/Readiness)
Arithmetic
Science & Health
Social Studies
Visual Art/ Music/ Physical Education/ Free Play
Christian Living / Manners
You can find any book, dvd/vcd's, materials you need in order to help your child learn the skills. As long as you have a guide that fits your child's needs, you're all set. If you're resourceful enough, you don't really have to buy expensive curriculum packages in order to homeschool your child.
Here is how I designed my child's Learning Competencies. You are free to copy and modify it!
-----------------------------------------------------
1. Social and Emotional Development
(Free Play)
Develop the ability to
•make and describe choices.
•represent ideas.
•engage in conversations.
•learn from mistakes.
•solve conflicts.
•practice safe behavior.
•be creative and imaginative in play-puppets and dress-up.
Show independent work habits.
Recognize own feelings and know how to deal with them.
Express feeling through different activities and socialization with others.
Indicate pride in every accomplishment.
Understand the consequences of behavior.
(Personal Care)
Brush teeth with assistance.
Brush/comb hair with minimal assistance.
Cover mouth when coughing, sneezing and yawning.
Blow nose without assistance.
Show interest in learning how to tie shoe laces.
-----------------------------------------------------
2.Intellectual Development
(Phonics & Reading)
Ask questions to obtain information.
Offer information to others.
Make comments and requests.
Say the alphabet without singing.
Recognize upper and lower case letters as well as know the sounds of all the letters, (short vowel sounds).
"Read" picture books and make up a story to go along with it.
Memorize longer pieces of poetry.
Retell shared stories.
(Handwriting)
Draw or color in proper posture.
Trace letters using a crayon, markers and a large preschool pencil.
Connect the dots
•from left to right
•from top to bottom
•from 1 to 10
Begin to draw figures that represent people, animals, and objects.
Print own name.
Invent own spelling.
(Arithmetic)
Count out loud to 20.
Understand
•comparison.
•spatial relationships; on top of, next to, underneath, behind etc.
•simple addition and subtraction.
Recognize
•written numbers to 20.
•the different coins, using the words quarter, dime etc. not 25 cents, 10 cents etc.
Recognize, create or extend simple horizontal patterns (ABAB, ABCABC, AABBCCAABBCC).
Explore sequence in number and position.
Recognize, name or reproduce different shapes.
Tell time on the whole hour.
(Science and Health)
Observe and discuss natural phenomena.
Collect, classify, analyze and discuss information.
Know
•where different animals live.
•like and unlike plants.
•what plants and animals need in order to grow.
•weather and seasons.
•senses.
•gender and age.
Understand that God provides everything that is needed and that God trusts us to take care of them properly.
Practice personal hygiene and safety.
Differentiate between junk food and healthy food.
(Social Studies)
Familiar with
•a variety of different occupations.
•the different parts of a community (Church, library, police station, etc.)
•different modes of transportation.
•different US holidays, customs and traditions.
•different American symbols including the American flag, national anthem, Pledge of Allegiance and current US President.
Describe and construct simple map of immediate neighborhood.
Become aware and appreciative of own and others’ cultural identities.
(Readiness Skills)
Complete non-interlocking puzzles of at least 8 pieces.
Identify
•all 12 parts of the body such as mouth, eyes, nose, feet, hair, tongue, head, ears, hands, legs, arms, fingers, stomach, back, teeth, toes, chin, thumbs, knees, neck, fingernails, chest, heels, ankles, jaw
•primary and secondary colors including black, white, brown, pink and gray.
•different shapes
•different school supplies
Cut along a straight line with scissors.
Copy a cross, X, and a square.
Use
•a glue stick.
•tape.
•crayons, markers and a paintbrush correctly.
Draw a straight line using a ruler.
"Color in the lines" reasonably well.
Understand
•the concepts of same and different.
•the concept of comparisons; big, bigger biggest etc.
•simple opposites; hot and cold, dry and wet etc.
Sorts objects by color, size etc.
Listen attentively to directions.
Follow a three-step command.
Can use a computer program with assistance. (Mouse, not keyboard)
Know
•full name.
•parents’ names.
•age and birthday.
•home address.
•phone number.
-----------------------------------------------------
3. Aesthetic Development
(Visual Art)
Increased use of different mediums.
Explore use of lines, colors and shapes to create artwork.
Create artwork from memory or imagination.
Make art and crafts from ordinary objects; buttons, noodles etc. as well as from natural materials like leaves, acorns, sticks etc.
Create collages or murals.
Choose artwork for display and for own portfolio and give reason for choosing it.
(Music)
Sing more simple children's fun songs and praise and worship songs by heart.
Do creative movements while singing and dancing.
Know simple musical contrasts like loud/soft, fast/slow.
Understand that reading music tells us what/how to sing and what/how to play musical instruments.
Recognize the sounds of different instruments.
Play simple instruments.
-----------------------------------------------------
4. Physical Development
(Physical Education)
Use outdoor climbing structures and slides
Dance in time/rhythm to music.
Develop eye-hand coordination (throw and catch ball, assemble puzzles).
Develop eye-foot coordination (kick ball).
Do simple tumbling, (rolls).
Develop balance (hop on one foot)
Play simple outdoor games. (Follow-The-Leader, Leap Frog, Tag, Duck-Duck-Goose etc.)
-----------------------------------------------------
5.Spiritual Development
(Christian Living)
Start to ad lib after praying memorized prayers, i.e. "God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy" etc.
Know many Bible stories and characters.
Sing several Catholic songs.
Behave properly in church.
(Manners)
Say
•please, thank you, you’re welcome, excuse me
•God bless you, (for someone's sneeze).
•yes/no sir/ma'am.
Greet familiar people without being reminded.
Do not interrupt when someone’s on the telephone or while someone’s talking to another adult.
Wash and dry hands independently before and after eating.
Wait to start eating until after the meal blessing has been said.
Wipe mouth with napkin appropriately.
Help
•with picking up toys and putting them away
•making the bed
•with the laundry into machine (sorting, loading, unloading, carrying the folded clothes and putting them away.)
•setting the table
•cleaning off the table
Talk about qualities we value in a person’s character such as honesty, courage, courtesy, willingness to work hard, kindness, fairness, trustworthiness, self-discipline, loyalty and personal responsibility.
Homeschool TV: Planning Our Homeschool Part 4 Curriculum 2
Related posts
Posted in Homeschool Curriculum | 
Tags: education, lessonplans, planning homeschool curriculum, resources, teaching, technology