Preparatory Curriculum
Adaptable for Ages 2 - 4
by Katrina Lybbert
Curriculum Information
This curriculum has been created to help young children prepare for the Letter of the Week Preschool Curriculum. Children should already be familiar with the letters of the alphabet when beginning the Letter of the Week Preschool Curriculum, where the main focus is on learning the sounds of the individual letters. This curriculum will accomplish this preparatory step.
To provide fun learning experiences for our 2 - 4 year olds, I have included a weekly theme and other activities that teach basic concepts. Knowing basic colors, shapes, numbers, etc. will also be helpful when using the Letter of the Week Preschool Curriculum.
Since the Letter of the Week curriculum follows themes based on a letter each week, the Preparatory curriculum has themes related to the color, shape, number, and/or nursery rhyme of the week. This provides variety and allows your child to not feel like they are repeating the same curriculum when they move on to the next level. Having a theme correspond with a letter is more important in Step Two, as then you are trying to reinforce the sound of the letter by using words that begin with it.
This curriculum can be used with children younger and/or older than the ages of 2 - 4, and can be adapted to suit your child. When your child has completed this curriculum they can move on to the Letter of the Week Preschool Curriculum, step two of the Brightly Beaming Steps to Reading program.
Feel free to email me (Katrina Lybbert) with any questions or comments.
To provide fun learning experiences for our 2 - 4 year olds, I have included a weekly theme and other activities that teach basic concepts. Knowing basic colors, shapes, numbers, etc. will also be helpful when using the Letter of the Week Preschool Curriculum.
Since the Letter of the Week curriculum follows themes based on a letter each week, the Preparatory curriculum has themes related to the color, shape, number, and/or nursery rhyme of the week. This provides variety and allows your child to not feel like they are repeating the same curriculum when they move on to the next level. Having a theme correspond with a letter is more important in Step Two, as then you are trying to reinforce the sound of the letter by using words that begin with it.
This curriculum can be used with children younger and/or older than the ages of 2 - 4, and can be adapted to suit your child. When your child has completed this curriculum they can move on to the Letter of the Week Preschool Curriculum, step two of the Brightly Beaming Steps to Reading program.
Feel free to email me (Katrina Lybbert) with any questions or comments.
All About the Weekly Themes/Lessons
Each week (lesson) you will introduce a new theme to your child. Introduce the theme by showing pictures of the specific theme, or pictures related to it. I have included links to sites with pictures and/or printouts. These pictures can be posted on a special poster you will create for your child. (See below, "My Learning Poster") In each lesson plan you will find suggested books to read, poems to recite, and songs to sing all based on the week's theme. You can choose to read a different book related to the theme each day, or choose to read the same book all week. Some children love repetition, others like variety. Decide what will work best for you. The same suggestion applies to the poem(s). Recite a different poem each day, or recite the same one all week. When it comes to choosing the song to sing based on the theme, I recommend choosing only one. Repeat the same song each day, and by the end of the week you may find your child singing along with you. If this happens, you may want to tape record your child singing to keep as a special memory.
"My Learning Poster"
"My Learning Poster" is a special project to complete for your child as you go through the preparatory curriculum. As you can see in the picture above, of Lesson 5, there is a space for the weekly theme, vocabulary word, shape/color, letter, number, and nursery rhyme each week. By keeping this poster in a highly visible place, your child will be reminded often of the concepts you are trying to teach.
Write the headings for each section of the curriculum on a nice size poster board as shown. (The headings are: Weekly Theme, Vocabulary Word, Shape/Color, Letter, Number, and Nursery Rhyme.) Starting with week one you will put up a picture of the weekly theme (cows) and the vocabulary word (calf) on Monday. On Tuesday add a picture of the shape (square). On Wednesday add a drawing of the week's letter (A). On Thursday add the number (1) and on Friday add the Nursery Rhyme (Hey Diddle Diddle). By the end of the first week you will have a full poster. On the following week change the pictures for the weekly theme and vocabulary word on Monday, color in the shape on Tuesday, change the letter on Wednesday, change the number on Thursday and replace the previous week's nursery rhyme on Friday. Each concept should then be shown on the poster for a full week, only changing as you introduce a new concept.
To find good pictures of the weekly theme and vocabulary word for your poster, you can search at http://www.google.com/ on the image search. I usually find just what I need! Once you get to google be sure to click on Image and it will take you to the image search page. Have fun!
Suggested Schedule for the Week:
MONDAY: Introduce the Weekly Theme
- Introduce the weekly theme with pictures and post one or two on your learning poster.
- Choose one story to read based on the theme.
- Share a poem based on the theme with your child.
- Sing a song based on the theme.
- Do the gross motor skills activity with your child.
- Introduce the vocabulary word & post a picture for it on your learning poster.
For the weeks you teach a shape:
- Collect 3 - 5 everyday objects in the shape of the week to share with your child and discuss.
- Walk through your home looking for the shape.
- Cut the shape out of playdough or cookie dough... bake the cookies!
- Put a drawing of the shape on your learning poster.
For the weeks you teach a color:
- Introduce the color by coloring in the shape on your learning poster with the color of the week.
- Put on an article of clothing in the color of the week.
- Point out objects around your home in the color of the week.
- Add the color to a meal by choosing a food in the color, or using a plate, cup, or utensil in the color of the week.
- Let your child color in a coloring book or on a printout in the color of the week. Review the
Weekly Theme
- Choose one story to read based on the theme.
- Share a poem based on the theme with your child.
- Sing the song based on the theme that you chose on Monday.
- Review the vocabulary word and use it as you talk to your child about the theme.
WEDNESDAY: Introduce the Letter for the Week
- Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter to color.
- Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter using their finger. You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.
- Point out the letter in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
- Post the letter on your learning poster.
Review the Weekly Theme
- Choose one story to read based on the theme.
- Share a poem based on the theme with your child.
- Sing the song based on the theme that you chose on Monday.
- Review the vocabulary word and use it as you talk to your child about the theme.
Review the Shape/Color
- Point out the shape and/or color on your learning poster and discuss with your child.
THURSDAY: Introduce the Number for the Week
- Show your child the appropriate number of objects to count, or eat the appropriate number of snacks of crackers, cheerios, etc..
- Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for the number and put on your learning poster.
- Add the correct number of stickers to your counting book.
- Show your matching index cards for the number of the week to your child.
- Draw the appropriate number of shapes (using the shape of the week) and count them.
- Walk around the house counting objects up to the number of the week.
Review the Weekly Theme
- Choose one story to read based on the theme.
- Share a poem based on the theme with your child.
- Sing the song based on the theme that you chose on Monday.
- Review the vocabulary word and use it as you talk to your child about the theme.
Review the Shape/Color
- Point out the shape and/or color on your learning poster and discuss with your child.
Review the Letter
- Point out the letter on your learning poster and discuss with your child.
FRIDAY: Introduce the Nursery Rhyme for the Week
***Continue to recite this rhyme daily till the next Friday***
- Post the words to the rhyme on your learning poster.
- Sing and/or recite the nursery rhyme for your child.
- If possible, read a book based on this nursery rhyme.
Review the Weekly Theme
**Do theFine Motor Skills Activity for the Weekly Theme on Friday
- Choose one story to read based on the theme.
- Share a poem based on the theme with your child.
- Sing the song based on the theme that you chose on Monday.
- Review the vocabulary word and use it as you talk to your child about the theme.
Review all Shapes, Colors, Letters, Numbers
- Review all the shapes, colors, letters, and numbers previously learned.
- Point out the current ones on the learning poster.
- Use the matching index cards of all the previously learned numbers and play a matching game.
- Create a small booklet that has a page for each week in the program. Each page of the booklet will have the shape/color, letter, and number for one lesson(week). Add to the booklet as you work through the program and look through this booklet every Friday.
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