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Kindergarten Curriculum Picks

These Kindergarten Picks can be purchased from Homeschool Canada (order using the HCOS Curriculum Order Form). Some options may also be available to borrow from the Learning Commons Search Portal and/or via the OverDrive virtual eBook library.

Vendor websites are pick-and-choose and some optional or alternate suggestions may be listed, so select your items with care.

Click the image below to browse the kindergarten curriculum picks directly from Homeschool Canada 

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Detailed Information for Kindergarten Curriculum Picks 

 

Phonics/Reading/Printing Skills

Option 1: All About Reading Pre-Reading Basic Package OR Level 1 with Interactive Kit; Handwriting Without Tears Letters and Numbers for Me Workbook; Stamp and See Screen (optional)

Option 1a: All About Reading Pre-reading Basic Package OR Level 1 with Interactive Kit

 

Important Note: Level numbers on these books don’t refer to grade levels. Lessons are mastery-based, not grade-level-based. This means that students are placed where they are ability-wise, not according to age or grade level. Please refer to the Pre-reading Readiness Checklist and Level 1 Placement Test below. If you select Level 1 with Interactive Kit, please note that the Interactive Kit can be reused for subsequent levels.

 

Description of Pre-Reading: The All About Reading Pre-reading program is designed for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Your student will enjoy the special games, crafts, and storytime read-alouds, and you will love the way your student effortlessly learns essential pre-reading skills. Your student will learn five very important pre-reading skills: Print Awareness, Phonological Awareness, Letter Knowledge, Listening Comprehension, and Motivation to Read.

 

Description of Level 1: Students will be actively involved in the learning process. This is a multisensory program; your student will learn through sight, sound, and touch. Everything is taught in context, and your student will apply what he has learned right away. Your student will be engaged in thinking, processing, comparing, and learning. There are five key components of reading—and this program teaches all of them thoroughly:

    1. Phonological Awareness
    2. Phonics and Decoding
    3. Fluency
    4. Vocabulary
    5. Comprehension

Website:

Website: All About Reading Pre-Reading

Website: All About Reading Level - 1

 

Pre-reading Readiness Checklist

Level 1 Placement Test

Review

 

Supplementary Resources: Program Resources

Table of Contents: Pre-Reading; Level 1

Scope and Sequence: Pre-Reading; Level 1

PDF Samples: Reading Samples

 

Option 1b: HWT Letters and Numbers for Me Workbook and Stamp and See Screen

 

Description of Workbook: This workbook is for kindergarten students or those working at that level. Lessons teach capitals, lowercase letters, and numbers. Activities help form good handwriting habits and develop strong writers.

 

Description of Stamp and See Screen (optional): Build capitals and numbers using "Wood Piece" stamps. Magnetic, chalk-like writing tool helps develop grip. Set includes 4" x 6" magnetic screen, 4 magnetic stamps (Big Line, Little Line, Big Curve, Little Curve), and a magnetic writing tool.

 

Website
Letters and Numbers for Me Workbook
Stamp and See Screen

 

Other Optional Supplementary Resources
Letters and Numbers for Me Teacher's Guide  

Roll-A-Dough Letters

Slate Chalkboard 

Free Letter & Number Formation Charts

 

 

PDF Samples
Letters and Numbers for Me Workbook 

Stamp and See Screen

 

Option 2: The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading; Fun With Letters Magnetic Activity Set; Explore the Code A, B, and C

Option 2a: The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading

 

Description: A plain-English guide to teaching phonics. Every parent can teach reading; no experts need to apply! 231 lessons; 369 pages. The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading cuts through the confusion, giving parents a simple, direct, scripted guide to teaching reading and is user-friendly, affordable, and easy to follow — supplying you with everything you need to teach reading in one book.

 

Website

Review

Table of Contents & Sample Pages

Supplementary Resource:

Fun With Letters Magnet Activity Set (highly recommended)

Option 2b: Fun With Letters Magnet Activity Set (used with Parent's Guide book above)

 

Description: Great for hands-on phonics and word-building centers! Includes 144 flexible magnet tiles with an improved font (blue consonants and red vowels), magnetic dry-erase board (9" x 12"), and activity booklet. Letters (113 lowercase, 28 uppercase, and 3 blanks) measure 1".

 

Website

 

 

Website

Teacher Resource and Lesson Plans (free when you register online) 

Other Supplementary Resources (must register for an online account for access): 

Table of Contents

Sample Pages 

Option 2c: Explode the Code A, B, C with Optional Teacher's Guide

 

Description: This fun pre-literacy workbook series teaches the 21 consonants, and their sounds as well as letter formation through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities. Students also learn print concepts.

Students will:

  • practice fine-motor skills and letter formation through tracing and writing consonants.
  • learn through visual activities.
  • use matching exercises to develop visual discrimination and letter recognition.
  • reinforce letter recognition through the use of capital and lowercase letters.

Website

Scope and Sequence  

PDF Samples 

Supplementary Resources (Optional): Wall ChartCode Cards, and Picture Letter Cards; Explode the Code Online

Mathematics

Math U See is not mentioned here simply because it is not available from our Curriculum Pick provider(s), although it is a strong option, especially in the primary grades. Math-U-See can be ordered directly from the Canadian Distributor, Math Canda. Place an order by Phone: 250-590-6761 or Toll-Free: 1-888-854-6284.

Option 1: Math Lessons for a Living Education K

Description: Designed to engage students through exciting stories, teach them how to apply mathematical concepts through everyday life situations, and allow them to learn smarter instead of harder.

  • Learn to count to 10 and numbers 0-10
  • Develop critical thinking skills and build stamina
  • Make connections to their world by noticing basic patterns, shapes, and concepts of time

This book was written to be used by you and your young students together. It begins the story of a twin brother and sister as they interact with their family, friends, and town. They make connections in life and find it full of learning opportunities! Students will learn about counting, basic shapes, opposites, positional words, graphing, and more. They will also learn about the weather, nature, and how unique God created them to be.  Features:

  • A Charlotte Mason flavour to math for today's student
  • Convenient daily schedule — saving you lesson prep time
  • Short, engaging 15-30 minute lessons
  • An instructional blend of stories, copywork, oral narration, and hands-on experience to bring concepts to life

Website

Placement Tests

Review 

Table of Contents

PDF Sample  

Option 2: Singapore Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics Textbook A &

Description: Textbooks develop essential math concepts and basic reasoning skills in a fun and engaging way. Lessons are guided by focused learning objectives, exercises reinforce new knowledge, and reviews assess student learning. Textbooks include detailed teaching notes.

Features & Components:

  • Each lesson is directed by a focused learning objective.
  • Exercises allow students to repeat and reinforce newly learned skills.
  • Teaching notes at the bottom of each page give step-by-step instructions to help educators develop lessons systematically.
  • Math at Home activities in tear-out sheets provides extended opportunities for learning with family members.

Note from Curriculum Consultant: The two textbooks (A and B) correspond to the two halves of the school year. Generally, the two textbooks will be sufficient for a home education setting, but some families may wish to use the workbooks as well. The teacher Guides have been written for a classroom setting and are not necessary. 

Website

Supplementary Resources: Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics Activity Books A and B

PDF Samples:

    Option 3: Jump Math New Canadian Edition Kindergarten

    Description:  This program accommodates diverse student needs and abilities with an embedded review, the scaffolding of concepts, careful use of language, and opportunities for continuous assessment and practice. The New Canadian edition of AP Book 1 is printed in two parts, Book K.1 and Book K.2. In order to cover the full curriculum, students will need both parts. In conjunction with the New Canadian Edition of JUMP Math's Teacher Resources, Student Assessment & Practice (AP) Book K is designed to cover the curriculum for Kindergarten mathematics, with units on:

    • Number Sense
    • Patterns and Algebra
    • Geometry
    • Measurement
    • Probability and Data Management

    Note from Curriculum Consultant: The multi-modal approaches to solving math problems presented in this resource can be a benefit to some students, but other students may find this approach confusing and would be better served with a program that presents a consistent approach to solving problems.

    Website 

    Teacher Resource and Lesson Plans (free when you register online) 

    Other Supplementary Resources (must register for an online account for access): 

    Table of Contents

    Sample Pages 

    Multi-Subject

    Come Sit by Me Volume One

    Description: This resource is a Canadian picture book unit study that uses literature as a launch point for learning activities. You and your student spend one week on each book, reading the book each day, followed by your choice of the dozen or more activities. The suggested activities are listed for all subject areas, from math to music, science to social studies and many in-between. Each book study has one or more connected Bible stories as well as a related memory verse. Suits multi-level teaching. 

    Note from Curriculum Consultant: This resource addresses standards in ADST, Art, Bible, English, Health, Science, and Social Studies; additional math and phonics instruction required. It is suitable for multi-grade teaching of students in Kindergarten through Grade 2. Come Sit by Me book packs, each including one-quarter of the required literature books, are available to borrow via the HCOS Learning Commons Search Portal. 

    Here are a few books that align with the content areas of BC's curriculum which you may choose to purchase and have on hand in case you experience a delay in borrowing some of the 36 books used in this unit study:

    1. A Team Like No Other (G. Graham)
    2. Baseball Bats for Christmas (M. Kusugak)
    3. Bone Button Borscht (A. Davis)
    4. Franklin Rides a Bike ( P. Bourgeois)
    5. Hannah’s Collections (M. Jocelyn)
    6. Jessie’s Island (S. McFarlane)
    7. My Arctic 1,2,3 (M. Kusugak)
    8. Sandwiches for Duke (J. Sadler)
    9. Stella, Queen of the Snow (M. Gay)
    10. The Auction (J. Andrews)
    11. The Moccasin Goalie (W. Brownridge)
    12. The Sugaring Off Party (J. London)

    Website

    Science

    Intro to Engineering Science Kit

    Description: Intro to Engineering welcomes young children to the field of engineering with 21 experiments and building projects in five sections. Start by learning some engineering basics with experiments on levers, forces, and pulleys. Build simple devices using these basic components. Move on to explore engineering on land by building vehicles with wheels, such as a race car and a wind-up car. Next, investigate engineering with air (and in the air) by building a helicopter, a pinwheel, a parachute, a glider, a balloon rocket, and an air-powered carousel. Then, build a diving bell, a sailboat, and a paddleboat to experiment with engineering in water. Finally, find engineering in your own home with experiments modelling the telephone and television. Includes a 48-page guidebook.

    Website 

    PDF Manual

    Optional Resources

    Not listed in document
    • Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids K by Teacher-Created Resources (addresses Health standards)
    • A Day with Yayah (addresses the "First Peoples Communities" content standard)