Homeschool Curriculum: Early Years

This post is all about the dream homeschool curriculum I would choose if I could go back in time to the early elementary years.

I started homeschooling when my first child entered kindergarten. Next year, I will begin my 10th year of home education! It will be the first time with an elementary, middle, and high school student – one in each stage of schooling!

A question I receive often is what curriculum I would recommend for the early elementary years. Typically, kindergarten-2nd grade as some moms are curious or just starting their research.

When ever I respond to a mom, I really try to think about what I would do in their situation with my own children. So, I thought it would be really fun to dream up what homeschool curriculum I would use if I could go back in time, and do it all over again. If your idea of fun is the same as mine (it’s okay if not haha!), let’s dive into it!

This post is all about what homeschool curriculum I would choose for early elementary students if I could go back in time. So fun!

[RELATED POST: Homeschool Rhythm with Multiple Children]

How I Narrowed it Down

I think it is important to share how I narrowed down this dream homeschool curriculum. There is a TON of options now for homeschoolers, which I’m so grateful for. When I started homeschooling my daughter almost 10 years ago, there was not nearly what there is out there now.

For this post, I will only choose from curriculum we have actually used. I also prefer to find the balance between cultivating a love of learning with a bit of a challenge. Based on our experience, enjoyment of, and educational benefits, here is what I would choose if I go back to these precious early years.

Homeschool Curriculum for Kindergarten

A lot of my kindergarten picks would be teacher intensive, as I think it has to be at this age. As children are just getting started with the concept of school, we have a great opportunity to start them off with a love of learning. Hand holding on how the routine will look and expectations for best effort will be worthwhile in this year.

Kindergarten Math

Starting with math, I would go with Right Start Math Level A. This is a gentle start to math that utilizes games, song, and manipulatives. It is an investment for the manipulatives, but from someone who has now used Right Start through level E, it is very much worth it! Right Start Math gives an amazing foundation for math concepts. My little one started with this in Kindergarten, and math has been very smooth for her so far.

Kindergarten Language Arts

This can be a time where your child’s reading and writing make some big strides. I highly recommend the Primary Art of Language for Reading and Writing from IEW. It is some prep work at the beginning of the year to get the games ready, but again, it is worth it. Both the reading and writing program is gentle as it uses games and phyical actions, but there is also copywork, letter and sound recognition, phonics and blends, and reading practice.

I took two years with this curriculum for my son, and 1 year for my youngest child. You can decide on the best pacing based on your child.

[RELATED POST: Curriculum Review of IEW]

Kindergarten History and Geography

We really enjoyed Around the World with Picture Books from Beautiful Feet Books. This took us through different countries over the course of a year. Through picture books, additional info, map work, animals, nature study, watercolor projects, and recipes, it was a very fun experience.

[RELATED POST: Around the World with Picture Books Review]

Kindergarten Science and Nature Study

An affordable option and light option for this age is Exploring Nature with Children. This PDF download is very easy to jump in and out of as your schedule allows. It touches on seasonal nature topics, and has great book suggestions to check your library for, as well as activity ideas.

They have free printable covers on their site as well for winter, spring, summer, and fall so you can easily divide the curriculum into 4. I spiral bound each season so we can pull it out at the appropriate time instead of binding the entire curriculum in one.

In tandem with this, if your child would like more art activities like my kids, check out Nature’s Art Club. It is FULL of art projects, nature journaling, and crafts all centered around nature topics.

Homeschool Curriculum: Kindergarten Summary

• Math: Right Start Math Level A
• Language Arts: Primary Art of Language for Reading and Writing
• History + Geography: Around the World with Picture Books
• Science + Nature Study: Exploring Nature with Children
• Art: Nature’s Art Club

Homeschool Curriculum for 1st Grade

This is the first stage of official school work where I inspect for and expect higher quality work. We really hone in on the habit of giving your full attention and best effort in assignments. These early years are so much fun, and there is plenty of delight and whimsy kept with these curriculum choices here.

1st Grade Math

I would continue on with Level B of Right Start Math. Level A is very enjoyable, and feels like time flies because it is that fun. In Level B, I noticed a shift to harder math concepts. However, if they received a strong grasp of the concepts taught in Level A, you may not notice a difference in this next level.

1st Grade Language Arts

If the Primary Arts of Language from IEW was a good fit for you, I would continue on with People and Places in Our Community from IEW. This would take care of writing, but I would add a literature, spelling, and grammar portion, and that would come through Learning Language Arts Through Literature – the Blue book (use code “juicebox” for a discount). I like the gentle and short lessons in this book, along with the accompanying literature. With IEW being a more robust writing curriculum, using a lighter curriculum for the other language arts components makes sense.

1st Grade History and Science

One of our most enjoyable years was when we read through the entire Chronicles of Narnia series with The Kind Kingdom. I love this full color box set of the Narnia series. This study includes so many great book suggestions, a hymn, light science suggestions, and some hands on projects. The recipes are not to miss! Read my full review of this curriculum at the link below.

[RELATED POST: Full Review of The Kind Kingdom with The Peaceful Press]

1st Grade Art History

We found this art history curriculum called Kindly Kingdoms that correlates really nicely with the history above. They are video courses that take students through some art technique, and then an art project based on the Medieval time period.

Homeschool Curriculum: 1st Grade Summary

• Math: Right Start Math Level B
• Language Arts: IEW People and Places in Our Community and Learning Language Arts Through Literature: The Blue Book (use code “juicebox”)
• History + Science: The Kind Kingdom
• Art History: Kindly Kingdoms for Families

Homeschool Curriculum for Multiple Children

If your children are close in age or close in level, I would combine as much as possible. History, science, nature study, and art are great subjects to combine students. If your children have a wider gap in age or level, we have enjoyed using A Gentle Feast and Simply Charlotte Mason history spines. Both allow your whole family in grades 1-12 study the same time period and topics together, but give appropriate leveled literature suggestions for each form.

If you have time for a Bible and Nature study curricula, I would highly recommend The Organic and the Word Studies. I will link a detailed review of the curricula here soon, but it has been the most impressive study we’ve used this past school year.

This post was all about our dream curriculum for the early elementary years.

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