Kindergarten

Besides having heard about Calvert as a homeschooler, I have friends who grew up being schooled by Calvert as children out on the mission fields. So Calvert, with it's great reputation as "the Harvard of homeschool curriculum," wasn't really new to me, but I hadn't actually seen or worked with their "stuff."

What a surprise!! My kindergartner looked at the contents of the box after I opened it and exclaimed, "Mommy! It looks like Christmas!" (This statement was made in early October — long before we begin preparing for the holidays.) True to their reputation, Calvert really does a thorough and impressive job with their new kindergarten course.

The box contains EVERYTHING a parent would need to teach their kindergartner — lesson plans, workbooks, readers, visual aids, supplies (i.e. chalk, crayons), even blank newsprint for art projects! The manual gives the parent the same feeling — everything is laid out in a very thorough manner, yet relaxed enough that the focus is on giving the young child a well rounded learning experience, rather than pushing him to learn many new skills. It starts out with general instructions, including readiness criteria to use for the student and even a sample daily program. The lessons then describe how to use this plethora of materials, and are set up in this general manner: first, the lesson begins with an opening including suggestions for hymns, prayer and discussion. Then begins the first academic subject which is math. The manual explains the objectives, materials, preparation and practice step-by-step, leaving nothing to the imagination. But imagination is used in supplementary suggestions, where additional activities and ideas are given if the teacher wishes to expand upon concepts. The second subject, reading, follows the same format. Recess follows, then the "follow-up" period with suggestions for building skills learned earlier. Last comes the activities that change from day to day, including science, music, games and activities, and arts and crafts.

This course is very flexible — it could be used by a seasoned teacher who wants everything laid out to springboard to new heights, or for the new homeschooler who is venturing into new territory. This is a new gem on the market, and a course everyone should take a look at.

Rating: Most Highly Recommended

— Becky Balder is a former software trainer, now a homeschooling mother of four. She spends most of her time dividing herself between retrieving spaghetti-o's from the ceiling and discussing Egyptian hieroglyphs with her sons. Computers, books, and riding bikes are her hobbies.