Preschool Teachers Guide 2nd Ed DIGITAL Update
Preschool Teachers Guide 2nd Ed DIGITAL Update
Preschool Teachers Guide 2nd Ed DIGITAL Update
A Charlotte Mason
+ Classical-inspired
curriculum, composed of
26 units for your 2 to
4-year-old child, created
to make early education
a joyful, hands-on, living
delight for both parent
and child.
Erin Elizabeth Cox
The Gentle + Classical Preschool
2nd edition
CONNECT
EDITORS
Erin Cox
Whitney Braswell Facebook.com/LifeAbundantlyBlog
WRITER
Erin Cox
Instagram.com/gentle_classical_press
YouTube.com/erincoxgentleclassical
©2021 The Gentle + Classical Press, Inc
Erin Cox
LifeAbundantlyBlog.com
All Rights Reserved.
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The Gentle + Classical
Preschool 2nd Edition
Ages: 2 to 4 years
For my sweet Mama, who always chose to live life abundantly.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Content
13 Part 1
14 Welcome Letter
16 What is “Gentle, Classical?”
18 Is It Open and Go?
20 Program Overview
22 Book Information
27 Alignment with Other Gentle + Classical Programs
29 The Preschool Bundle
30 Memory Statement Board
34 What is a Memory Statement?
37 Unit Overview: Piece by Piece
44 Using the Preschool Morning Binder
48 Morning Basket
49 Rhythm or Schedule?
52 A Note About Narration
55 Part 2 / Term 1
65 Term 2
75 Term 3
85 Appendix
If you’re reading this guide, please know that I’m making an assumption that you are a
homeschooling mom/aunt/sister/guardian/grandma... but that, regardless, you have a mother’s
heart. If you are a dad/uncle/brother/grandpa or a public/private school teacher, please know
that I’m elated you have found The Gentle + Classical Press, and I hope you find value in
all that’s included. The mission God laid upon my heart is to love and encourage Christian,
homeschooling moms in the “trenches,” but please know everyone is welcome here, no matter
how you might choose to use it.
As women, our highest charge is to know Christ and to make Him known. Our home is our
mission field, and our family is our ministry. Whether you have one child or a baker’s dozen, we
are called to give them specific, intentional instruction and training when we rise up, when we
walk by the way, and when we lie down. Basically- ALL THE TIME.
That high calling can be a little overwhelming because it’s most assuredly not our only calling. We
are also wives, friends, daughters, members of our church and community, and so much more. We
wear many hats, so the idea of also educating our children can be… well, overwhelming.
Second, this curriculum is meant as a helper, not a burden. If it ever becomes a burden, it needs to
be set aside. Take every suggestion, schedule, and idea with a grain of salt. Educating our children
with intention is good and right. But the acquisition of knowledge is not above soul-making and
heart-reaching. That includes yours. If it’s too much, never hesitate to set it aside and wait for a
slower season. God knows our every need and desire and has created ALL seasons of our lives for
a purpose (His Glory). Let him lead you as you utilize this material.
Lastly, as you endeavor to educate your children, I encourage you to redeem areas of your own
education as well. The redemption of our education is one of the richest, most delicious aspects
of homeschooling. Whether you’re doing preschool at home and plan to send your children to
public or private school later, or you’re a long-haul homeschooler- make sure to take time to feed
YOUR soul and mind. First and foremost, feed your soul daily with God’s Word. Next, feed your
heart and mind. A few of my favorites are Teaching from Rest by Sarah MacKenzie and The Mission
of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson (but really, anything by Sally Clarkson)!
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 14
Friend, as you walk through these long, often challenging and messy days with your sweet babies,
I encourage you to embrace it. Jesus doesn’t expect or request perfection, except in our love for Him.
There’s no checklist in the Bible on tidiness, gluten free dinners, or your child’s ability to count
to 50 by age 3. We are urged to seek HIM above all else. All of these other things are good, but I
encourage you toward the freedom in Christ to be able to do these good things as you are able, and
never hold them more dearly in your heart than you do your Savior.
So what will you find in these pages? Before my passion for home education comes
my heart for the homeschooling mom. You’ll find that part 1 of this program is about
cultivating goodness, truth, and beauty in our hearts first.
Part 1 is about understanding a philosophy of education. And in all honesty, if you don’t read
it with eagerness and thoroughness, you very well may not like this program. And some people
won’t love it no matter what. You fully have my permission to say that this isn’t for you- because
there is NO perfect homeschooling program. Each child, each teacher, each parent is so uniquely
made that there is no one answer.
What you’ll find in this guide is MY answer, and it’s the answer for thousands of other families. I
sincerely hope its an answer for you as well, so please take some quiet time over several weeks
to snuggle up with this guide- highlighter and pen in hand- and get acquainted with the gentle,
classical homeschooling philosophy.
Why a second edition? The Gentle + Classical Preschool was the answer to my own problem
when I had long, blurred, sleep-deprived days at home with two toddlers under 2-years-old...
when it felt as if time was slipping through my hands faster than I could manage. This was my
second “set” of babies, and I had so much I wanted to do right from the start in their hearts,
minds, and bodies. Without a plan, I felt like the precious
days and opportunities would slip away. The first edition
Tip Time!
of this program was built during sleepless nights with a
yearning to do my best for my babies. A few programs and
magazine issues later, I’ve learned so much- about design,
organization, curriculum writing, parenting, and education. Hear me clearly, friend, as you
This brand new edition brings all that I’ve learned back to come to know this author’s
where The Gentle + Classical Press was started. I hope that heart through her words: the
you will be blessed, my friend! ONLY correct philosophy of
education for your homeschool
May God bless you, keep you, encourage and inspire you in all is the one that the Holy Spirit
that you do. has called you to. As I share
my perspectives, ideals, and
methods with you alongside
In Christ, much input from Charlotte
Mason and classical educators,
Erin
I want you to know that we are
not your greatest advisors. The
God that created you, created
your child, and gifted him/her
to you to parent/educate is.
Over time, there has been some distortion of what a classical education is in the grammar stage,
with an often overzealous focus on memorization. Memorization is an excellent tool. I’ve seen
those early seeds be put to excellent use in the older years myself, and our memory recitations
in this program are just for that purpose- placing pegs of terminology into little minds that
will continue to have new and exciting information hung upon them for years to come as they
encounter that topic in reading, media, and life around them. But memorization in itself is not the
end purpose. It’s ONE tool of many in a gentle, classical education.
In this volume we will lay a classical foundation based upon 3 tenets of early education courtesy
of The Liberal Arts Tradition by Jain and Clark. In this highly-recommended book, they say: “...
the disciplined physical training of gymnastic and the aesthetic, affective and emotional training
of music are foundational to the acquisition of both the moral and the intellectual virtues.
That is to say, musical and gymnastic education point to a profound truth about the nature of
human beings: the body and the soul are united in such a way that failure to cultivate capacities
inherent in either is a failure to cultivate the whole person... Thus, along with piety, gymnastic and
music provide the formative basis for all later education.”
In “tired and busy mom” terms, we will reflect both a Charlotte Mason tradition of gentleness and
the classical tradition of piety, gymnastic, and music in the early years by having 3 core activities
included in our daily rhythms:
1- Movement
2- Order
3- Seeing/Saying Beauty
In the following sections, we will detail what each of these core activities include and how they
embody traditional educational methods, while magnifying the personhood of your child.
What tools do we use in order to conduct a gentle, classical early education in our homes?
• Living books and stories that develop the moral imagination
• Hands-on engagement with a focus on developing fine and gross motor skills
• Oral and play narration
• Pretend play
• Math (order)
• Music, dancing, and chanting
• Poetry, scripture, nursery rhyme, and catechism recitations
• Exposure to good, true, and beautiful words, art, and music
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 16
One profound intention behind The Gentle + Classical Preschool is that you would incorporate it
into your day as a tool to intentionally focus your efforts with your child. It’s never intended to
be a structured, formal, complicated program. It’s one tool of many in your Mama-tool belt that
you can pull out to give you direction, focus, and encouragement in your day.
MOVEMENT
Modern knowledge, science, tradition, and old-fashioned common sense tell us just how integral
whole-body movement is to the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of a child.
We know that children learn through moving after they have first learned how to move! In this
program, we never seek to limit your child’s natural appetite for movement, but instead we
harness their natural inclination to move as they learn so that whole-body engagement takes
place. Further, we seek to limit the amount of “structured” movement during a day and most fully
rely upon your 2-4 year old’s natural, innate desire to move and explore the world around them.
Lastly, we will utilize structured, intentional movements that have been proven to foster mental
connections that can often be missed in busy, modern homes.
ORDER
In the classical tradition, order would fall under “piety,” the proper fear and love of God and man.
The foremost attribute of an early education is that we would teach our children to know God
and revere Him as they know and revere their parents. Through explorations and consistent
review of basic virtues, we seek to tune their hearts to a proper ordering of self with others,
the world, and ultimately with God. Ordering goes one step further with ordering affections for
that which is good, true, and beautiful and with observing and reflecting the natural order of the
universe.
SEEING/SAYING BEAUTY
In the classical tradition, this would fall under the concept of music. Music, rhythm, and chants
are fully integrated into each aspect of a gentle, classical education. We go one step further by
doing these items each day:
• recitation of beautiful poetry and fun rhymes
• exploration of God’s creation (not scheduled, but encouraged as a part of daily life)
• reading living books that enrapture minds and hearts
• taking time to note and observe beauty in our environment (not scheduled, but encouraged as
a part of daily life) 17 ©The Gentle + Classical Preschool
BUT, IS IT OPEN AND GO?
Admittedly, most programs don’t require (BEG) that you read the teacher’s guide in full,
maybe twice(?), before you begin their program.
Why? For most of us, we are very much used to (and looking for) “open and go.” That’s my
typical scouting process for new curriculum: “Is it OPEN AND GO?” I 1000% get it, friend. We
have limited time and many of us have several children in various grades with different learning
styles to consider.
This program is a MENU. The “feast” of a Charlotte Mason and classical education does
not have to be a full plate x 3 each day. The “feast” is a buffet of opportunities. Do the
portions that work for your family, as they work for your family... and leave the rest. It will
be there later when and if you need it.
This program is NOT legalistic. To reiterate above, YOU get to pick and choose what works
for your family. There is no “right” way to handle this content. I certainly have planned
and intended for it to be approached in a particular way, but that absolutely doesn’t mean
that it can’t be approached in 20 other very different ways. This is a program of GRACE.
This program IS unabashedly Christian. That doesn’t mean you have to be to use it, but I
hope that as you use it that you glimpse the glory of our Creator in the process.
Each unit overview page has a special division. The bulk of the page is for all children,
but you’ll find a special section for your 3-4 year old child as well.
The content for the 2-3 year old is fully grounded in movement. Memory recitations,
chants, and songs are an important portion of their week along with an abundance
of open-ended play. The math portion of this program that includes content
from Preschool Math at Home *may* exceed a 2 year-old’s readiness. Term 1
of math (focused on colors) can be extended or repeated for the entire year if
needed. (Learn more in the section titled “Our Approach to Math.”) The approach
to phonics and pre-reading skills will also be different for a 2-year-old child vs a
child who is almost 4 or older. (Read “Our Approach to Phonics + Pre-Reading” for
further details.) The Handicraft + Activity Guide, while extremely helpful, is not
recommended for a child under the age 3 as many of the activities are best suited
for children 3+. Please peruse the available samples for yourself to decide.
The content for your 3-4 year old child takes the recitations one step further by
adding in a few additional books to help them understand the concepts more deeply.
We also include a longer, additional poetry reading for fun. The pace of the math is
geared for a child 3+ as they are more ready for that material. (Learn more in the
section titled “Our Approach to Math.”)
While you are more than welcome to do the full menu of opportunities for your two-
year-old child, the program was divided in this way to help Mom/Teacher develop proper
expectations for each age group, which greatly reduces stress for everyone!
Each unit is simply and clearly laid out, separating the special books for a 3-4 year old
child from the remaining content for those with youngest learners. You will also find the
books for both age groups are listed in the next section and on the Unit Overview pages.
For daily schedules, additional book menus, handicrafts and activities, as well as
detailed guidance on specific portions of each unit, you’ll want to grab the Preschool
Handicraft + Activity Guide. It’s a really useful companion to this Teacher’s Guide that
gives even more detailed instruction.
Term 1 of All
letter + story motor skills
UNIT 1
About Me is about
Our Nursery Gross: Cross Crawl (Brain Gym, pg 4) personal facts.
L
Rhyme is a fun Fine: Plucking (strings) Terms 2 and 3
addition. Read are anatomy and
more in our include a book
literacy section all about me reference.
about their
significance and My name is _______ _________.
our approach. (first and last) We cover a new
catechism every
few weeks. For
nursery rhyme catechism kids 3+, Big Truths
for Little Kids
Rain, Rain, Go Away. Who made you? God made me.
Manners + Questions & Answers: God and Creation, expounds on this
Hygiene are The Complete Collection of Mother Goose with a story.
Volume 1; Track 12
concepts that are Nursery Rhymes; pg 41
helpful to daily
life, promote manners + hygiene character We practice a
familial bonds, new virtue chant
and encourage It makes me feel safe to hold I am patient.
every term.
maturation. __________’s hand. I put off for later what I want right now.
They’re inspired (trusted adult)
by our unit story.
We work on one
math scripture scripture verse
Math is presented
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 1 I am with you always. over a few weeks.
(Counting to 5) + -Matthew 28:20 Songs for Saplings
visually through
Colors: Orange and Red Songs for Saplings; W-With provides excellent
the Memory
tunes for these.
Statement Cards
+
and in practice
through the preschool morning binder big truths for little kids
activities from In this box,
daily work + build/write/find L; Chapter 1 additional books
Preschool Math
YOUR 3-4 YEAR
at Home and the orange page, red page and poetry are
big thoughts for little people scheduled for
Preschool Morning
Binder. L is for lying. children over 3
years as they are
artist study + music typically capable
poem Hello Rain, pg 13
Artist: Vincent Van Gogh of handling
Art: Cafe Terrace at Night handicraft + activity guide slightly more
content.
The Preschool Unit 1 Activity: Guitar
Morning Binder
provides ample
practice for letters,
numbers, colors, and Each term, we explore art from a new
basic math concepts The Preschool Handicraft + Activity Guide provides
artist and continue listening to Peter instructions on a related activity along with many
+ daily weather and the Wolf (one movement per unit).
observation and more activity ideas, books, and detailed guidance on
Find detailed instructions on this in the each section outlined on the Unit Overview pages.
more. This section Preschool Art + Music Pack.
tells which pages we
work on each unit.
ALL AGES
*A note about
Preschool Math at Home: MUSIC
this is an excellent and gentle
introduction to early, play-
based math. I recommend
the purchase initially to have
it on hand, even if your child
is only 2. That way when they
are ready to begin, you’re
equipped and prepared!
ART STUDY
For 2-3 year old children, I encourage just utilizing this body focus.
If your child is 3-4 years, AND you desire to add nature study in addition to the included science
content, a special set of Memory Statement Cards that includes shortened versions of the statements
already available in Gentle + Classical Nature Volume 1 is included with the Preschool Bundle and has been
added into the Nature Volume 1 bundle. If you utilize those short statements, the Level 1 book list from
the (free) Gentle + Classical Nature Volume 1 Teacher’s Guide would be all you would need to read about
and explore the nature topics.
Term 1 // We
learn basics about
ourselves and
our families like
address, phone
numbers, family Term 2 // Term 3 //
names, etc. No Focusing in on Full body
book required. the 5 senses. anatomy
Brain Gym is a “bonus” book and is what we center our gross motor skills around each
week. This book has a little bit of a “hippie” vibe as it talks about energies, etc., in just a few
places. The point of the book is that these are FANTASTIC exercises that help make cross-
brain connections. If you steer away from anything with any hint of “new age” to it, then skip
this book. If you’re like me and simply ignore those aspects since they’re few, you’ll find the
exercises in it extremely useful and helpful developmentally. The exercises are in no way
yoga. *Also, if you don’t agree with this book choice, you don’t have to email me. :)
This book includes longer poems This book provides wonderful stories for our This book is a wonderful
which are great for your 3-4 catechism statements. We move through add-on. Each lesson features
year old child. These are not only the first four chapters of this book over a virtue or lesson related to
poems we would expect them the entire 26 units as it’s intended to be read the letter of the week.
to memorize, just listen to and once per week, repeated over several weeks.
recite if they’re willing.
23 ©The Gentle + Classical Preschool
WEEKLY BOOK LIST
You should be able to find many of these at your local library, in a friend’s library, in
thrift stores, and available secondhand as well. Just a few are newer, and currently
they are all in print and should not be expensive.
TERM 2 (MATISSE)
The Quilt Story (dePaola)
Gilberto and the Wind
Sleep Tight Farm
Jabari Jumps
The Snowy Day
Polar Bear, Polar Bear
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
Rattletrap Car
A Pocketful of Kisses
• Tempura Paint
• Letter building manipulatives such as: play dough, blocks, toothpicks, small Popsicle sticks,
sand, or wax craft sticks
• Dry-erase sleeves or empty menu covers for the Preschool Morning Binder
• Dry-erase markers or dry-erase crayons
• Preschool Morning Binder (which is referenced on several pages related to math). We have
created easy, convenient pages in the Preschool Morning Binder so that implementing the
activities in Preschool Math at Home are super simple and intuitive! (The Preschool Morning
Binder is included in the Preschool bundle.)
• ABC Letter Cards (for display and reference as you sing the ABC Song, Preschool Bundle)
• Optional and highly recommending: Handwriting Without Tears Pre-Kindergarten Kit (Best
price typically found at RainbowResources.com with free shipping!)
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 26
ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER
GENTLE + CLASSICAL
PROGRAMS
Gentle + Classical Nature fulfills the science portion of Gentle + Classical Primer since
the age focus is the same, and they are created to be complementary. Together, they
are a beautiful and thorough kindergarten or first grade education (though you will
still need your own phonics program and complete math program, based on when you
choose to begin those).
Since many families have children using both Primer and Preschool OR they want to
include a nature study component into Preschool, I have created memory statement cards
for Preschool-level recitations called “Pre-Level 1.” These can be found (digital only) in the
Nature Volume 1 and Preschool Bundles. You can download the Gentle + Classical Nature
Volume 1 Teacher’s Guide for free from the shop and utilize those book lists alongside the
Pre-Level 1 Memory Statements found in the Preschool (digital) bundle.
For those families who have children throughout the early ages, you may be interested
in utilizing both G+C Preschool and G+C Primer alongside one another.
1- Try to do as much work together as possible. Your little one can listen to the Primer
stories and participate in those activities and vice versa.
2- With multiple little ones, I would NOT attempt to do all of Preschool and Primer.
Choose the portions of them that work for all the children and leave the rest. You know
your children best!
3- It’s typically easier for your younger students to tag along with older students than
vice versa, but every family is different.
• Always make sure to spend as much time outside as possible. Nothing is more
important to a young child’s development than running, climbing, skipping, getting dirty,
falling down, catching bugs, and breathing fresh air. Outside time is an opportunity for
by-the-way review of memory statements from the program but is most importantly a
time for your child to play and explore with as little interruption and chatter from mom
as possible. (I know how we can be!) Let their minds and hands do the work of exploring
and absorbing every little thing around them. This is their education.
• Open-ended, free play is not a privilege. It’s a requirement for proper development.
It’s more important than any information at this age and should take top priority.
• When reading aloud to your child, watch for cues for readiness. Is she tired and
wanting to sit in your lap anyway? Has she had plenty of free play already? In our home,
we practice sitting still for extremely short board books at age 2. For longer books (like
many on the list), I allow my littles to roam freely in the room where I am reading as long
as they aren’t being loud and interrupting. And if they’re too fidgety and rambunctious,
I’ve obviously not chosen a great time to read! I then set the book aside and allow them
to play freely, choosing a later time to read.
• Develop a rhythm. I share suggestions for you in a few pages, but it’s important to
build this rhythm around your child’s biological clock and needs. They tend to get tired,
hungry, and grumpy at the same time every day, right? Use those signals to develop
a rhythm. Children love to know what’s coming next. It gives them something to look
forward to as well as security. However the schedule has to allow for many delays and
unintended disasters, otherwise it’s creating rigidity and stress instead of freedom.
• And again, just because it’s that important: don’t ever feel tied down or pressured by
this curriculum or anything said in it! Use it as it suits you. There’s freedom in structure! You
don’t have to think about what’s next. You just do that next thing, and because you’re not
constantly making decisions, you can move forward with mental clarity and joy. Preschool
was created to give you a structure to freely operate inside of- not to be a prison.
Creating a Memory Statement Board brings centrality and focus to your homeschool
day. Creating a board is simple and relatively inexpensive. The entire project is under
$15 and takes around 30 minutes. I’ve received pictures of Memory Statement Cards
displayed on cork board, hung with magnets on dry erase boards, and strung across
a line on the mantle, so do what works for you! You can really get creative, but I will
encourage you that I’ve heard from NUMEROUS mamas that building a board, right from
the start, would have saved them time, stress, and money. Having a Memory Statement
Board on display truly brings the program to life for most families.
Tip Time!
In order to construct a board as pictured on the next
You can find helpful page, you’ll need the following materials:
videos plus a blog post
that includes MANY » black, tri-fold, foam board measuring 48”x36” (I
different versions of
purchased mine from Hobby Lobby but most stores
Memory Statement
like Michael’s and Wal-Mart carry them for $5-10. I
Boards on my blog.
don’t think that you “need” it to be tri-fold, but mine
Boards: is. If you want to fold it up and store it each day, this
gcpress.tinyc.co/ is helpful.)
msboard » about 2 dozen clothespins- full size or mini (These can
Video (IGTV): be found on the craft aisle at stores like Wal-Mart. The
gcpress.tinyc.co/ size is only a matter of preference.)
msboardvid » hot glue gun and glue sticks
2- Lay out the materials before gluing anything down. You may have to treat it a little like Tetris
and find a configuration that helps you get everything onto your board that you would like it to
have. You can even use a yard stick and pencil to gently sketch out straight lines to use as guides if
alignment is important to you.
3- Once you are confident about where you want to place each header as well as the clothespins
to hold each Memory Statement Card, you can carefully begin hot gluing them all into place.
You will want TWO clothespins for each Memory Statement Card. You can get away with one
clothespin for any flashcards if you are putting those on your board.
5- I used several (maybe 6) of the Velcro Command Strips® to hang mine on the wall. That may
be overkill. I find the Velcro® ones easier to remove when taking things down, so I prefer those
over the poster strips. If you don’t have a space on your wall, the tri-fold display board can easily
be set up on a table or on the floor and then stored after you’re done with school for the day.
Tip Time!
You’ll likely run across MANY different variations of Memory Statement Boards- in structure,
layout, and content. Each family must decide which portions of each Gentle + Classical program
works best for THEIR family. There is no one “right way.” If you’re using more than one G+C
program, remember that you likely can’t do ALL of each program. Consolidate and streamline-
basing your decisions on prayer and your heart’s priorities- to keep days running smoothly!
Feel free to extend each unit to two weeks if that works best for your family!
In the Charlotte Mason philosophy, we simply refer to them as recitations. Note that while
the goal of recitation is not memorization, it often leads to it:
“Recitation and committing to memory are not necessarily the same thing, and it is
well to store a child’s memory with a good deal of poetry, learnt without labour…”
While we call them “memory statements,” our focus in Gentle + Classical programs is not
rote memorization (which is what Miss Mason is distinguishing above), as some may believe
based on this label. These statements offer an opportunity to dwell on beautiful thoughts
and ideas and store them up inside of our hearts. Memory statements present a chance to
“see and say beauty” (mentioned as a core activity of this program on pages 16-17) and when
poetry, rhymes, scripture, and catechism are recited regularly, it does often lead to memorization.
We recite poetry, nursery rhymes, scripture, catechism, virtue definitions, and math facts.
These are beautiful, meaningful reflections of God and thus plant true, good, and beautiful
notions into hearts and minds.
So the question is- should we “memorize” these recitations? The answer to this lies in your own
personal philosophy. You will find that scripture and catechisms (basic questions and answers
about our Christian faith or an early apologetics foundation, if you will) are the most beautiful of all
our recitations, thus they are recited for several weeks to ensure that over time, they are truly
written on our hearts.
Other recitations, like counting to 10, are recited for very long terms as they reflect God’s
order and are fundamental to early math literacy.
Recitations like the “About Me” or “Manners + Hygiene” statements provide words for concepts
that your child is already experiencing in their life. Giving words to concepts our children are
experiencing is an important part of our job, as this equips them with proper language to
express their own ideas, needs, or experiences. Furthermore, the “About Me” section in terms
2 and 3 give our children proper names for and understanding of their body parts and systems
and grants them a greater understanding of self and therefore the world at large.
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 34
HOW DO I IMPLEMENT MEMORY STATEMENTS?
Super simple! Say a short portion of the statement to your child and have them “say it back”
or “repeat after me,” whichever they understand best. If your child is very young, you might
model this behavior with another child or adult to help them understand what “say it back”
means, though most children are natural little parrots.
If your child is 2, you might keep the “portions” that you expect them to say back to 2-word
sections, slowly working through the full statement. You might also shorten any statements
as needed. Example in catechism: Rather than, “What else did God make? God made all
things,” feel free to say, “What else did God make? Everything (or all things).”
As your child gets older and you work on more recitations, you’ll find their ability to attend and
repeat back lengthens. Expect them to be able to “repeat back” one word for every year of age.
My 5-year-old can repeat back a 5-7 word statement after hearing it once. My 3-year-old can
generally repeat back 3-5 words at a time.
I want to encourage you to consider dwelling on each statement a bit. I can’t tell you how
many times I have personally read a short portion of scripture, then over the days and weeks
following, God brought that teaching to my mind again and again. He fleshes it out, brings it
to life, and pierces my heart through just a short verse.
Realizing how long this process of true understanding takes reminded me that in a checklist-
centered world, even when seeking a gentle early education, we can tend toward a hurried
mentality.
“Let’s go ahead and push through this to get to the next thing.”
But I want to encourage you to let the work do its work. Our memory statements are not
about memorization but rather about providing words and names for our experiences and
ideas and pointing to the works of our Creator. This applies to all subjects, even those that
don’t seem to have much to do with God.
35 ©The Gentle + Classical Preschool
Through these statements (or recitations), we gives names to emotions, virtues, and orders,
all while affirming facts and processes. We group, curate, observe, review, and magnify. But
we aren’t reciting simply for the sake of memorizing...
We are reciting so that as our children learn the language to express these new
ideas, these ideas can slowly weave new life into their little hearts.
“So if my child can say ‘Who are our first parents? Adam and Eve’ after two days...
Should I move on?”
The answer is not quite. Our true aim is not a factual, accurate recitation (even though those
are indeed nice). Our true aim is exposure to and understanding of the virtue, wonder, and truth
wrapped up in the knowledge that Adam and Eve are our first parents: Who are parents? What do
parents do? What family resemblances do we inherit? How are they our first parents? What have
we received from them? (Obviously, these questions and answers apply only at whatever level of
understanding your child can have about these things.)
These sweet, intimate conversations happen in little, seemingly innocuous moments, but
we must make space for them. We must leave our little ones to ponder and wonder before
moving on to the next thing. We must let these verses and nuggets of knowledge do their
work so that they aren’t memorized and forgotten but rather become true heart-knowledge.
We must help them know, FROM THE BEGINNING, that we aren’t “getting school
done” but living a LIFE of education: That education is our privileged discipline and
inherent in the atmosphere of our homes. We aren’t powering through memory work
to get to the next thing, but we are resting in the process of pressing in, letting the
Holy Spirit do his work in young (and old) hearts and minds.
You’ll find that we focus on one scripture for 3 units in this guide so that we can meditate on,
enjoy, and fully know each small verse. We chant character definitions so that when the going
gets tough and Mom reminds littles to “be patient,” they will have a deeper understanding
of what she actually expects from that command. (As an adult, I’ve personally found that I can
stretch my own endurance in uncomfortable situations when I remind myself to “put off for later
what you want right now” rather than simply commanding myself to “be patient.”)
Since each family often has a strong preference for particular Bible versions or paraphrases vs
actual scripture, I’ve not specifically outlined Bible by unit. Instead, I encourage that you read
from the Bible daily, no matter which you prefer. For this age, our personal preference is The
Jesus Storybook Bible. I find the images are attractive enough to hold attention, and the stories
are simple and quick enough to be covered in one sitting. Please use your own judgment and
adjust this portion of the program to fit your family’s preferences.
Lastly, our approach to catechism is two-fold. First, we practice each catechism for two units
so that our littles can fully memorize each statement in completion. Secondly for children 3+,
we read and re-read short chapters from a book called Big Truths for Little People that shares a
relatable story that helps our littles understand real-world application for these truths they are
reciting.
I stumbled upon these activities when my own daughter was struggling in the early years of
dyslexia and had been diagnosed with auditory processing disorder, sensory processing disorder,
and had vision processing issues as well. I learned that for some children (and now, more children
than ever before), sometimes simple pathways just aren’t being “connected” as they should be.
My own belief is that our children are typically more sedentary, more involved with electronic
media, and may not undertake as much “risky” behavior as they would have in prior generations.
These exercises are simple ways to “warm up” the brain before beginning learning activities.
You’ll notice that your young children may really struggle with many of them. That’s
fantastic! These body movements use parts of the brain that are still developing and
forming connections that haven’t been made yet.
Essentially, we want to foster opportunities to have our child “cross the midline” of their
bodies, engaging both hemispheres of the brain and fostering greater interactions across
both hemispheres. These synaptic connections “across the midline” are responsible for hand
dominance, coordination, handwriting, and reading skills.
You’ll find that each week, we will feature a different gross motor skill from Brain Gym. (As I
mentioned in book notes, Brain Gym has a couple of instances of “new age-ish” language such as
“channeling energies.” Two points: 1) I have sought to avoid scheduling any of the movements in
which they utilize this language. 2) Our bodies do indeed have energy, created by God, and it’s a
really fascinating thing to research, if you’d like to learn more.)
If you’d like to skip this particular book but find some exercises related to crossing the midline
you can search YouTube for “brain busters” or “brain gym” or check out this website as an
alternative: gcpress.tinyc.co/midlineexercises
For fine motor skills, you can create your own plans that focus on each of these little movements each
unit or check out the Handicraft + Activity Guide. The handicraft/activity for each unit is intended to
relate to our weekly story AND give us an opportunity to develop fine motor skills as well.
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 38
OUR APPROACH TO NURSERY RHYME AND POETRY
In The Gentle + Classical Preschool, we utilize nursery rhymes for all ages and add a poetry
addition for children 3 or older.
Nursery rhymes are generally completely nonsensical, and we may wonder why we should
spend our time on them. Ironically, their nonsensical nature is one reason why!
Our children have a full time job of making sense of an overwhelming and confusing world.
Children thrive on consistency because this prevents them from being overwhelmed with a
constant need to assess, decide, and figure out. Consistency gives them the stability to spend
time figuring out new things.
We often spend a great deal of our school time on serious, logical, or complex topics in which we
are taking what doesn’t make any sense and helping them to see that it does indeed make sense.
Nursery rhymes are an opportunity for us to let them see that... well, everything doesn’t make sense!
In our providential limitedness, we can’t know or understand everything. And while that sounds
extremely existentialist in relation to a nursery rhyme, I assure you that giving our children small
opportunities to relish in something that they’re trying to work out but makes absolutely no
sense is a fun treat that has larger life implications.
Additionally, rhyming is a profoundly important pre-literacy skill. Rhyming and rhythm are
bedrocks to early reading success- so rhyme, rhyme away!
We add an additional poetry component for our kids who are 3 years and older. These are
not recommended for the younger children to 1) keep the program really simple for youngest
toddlers and 2) because they are typically a little lengthy.
For both nursery rhyme and poetry, our goals are exposure and fun. We have our children recite
these verses with us (or after us) but not with an expectation of memorization. Repeating after us
is an excellent exercise for the working memory along with great speech therapy. They don’t have
to “master” these by memorizing them in order to benefit.
In Terms 2 and 3 of Preschool, science becomes more anatomical in nature. Over these
two terms, we use specific statements to give names to body parts, senses, and all of their
functions. We keep this simple by using just one book per term that can be read and revisited
again and again.
For children who are over age 3, if you desire to include nature-focused science throughout the
year, you can find Memory Statement Cards in the Preschool or Gentle + Classical Nature: Volume
1 bundles. These statements are a simplified version of “Level 1” from the Nature program.
For example, instead of “Tadpoles turn into froglets and then frogs,” this special set simply reads,
“Tadpoles turn into frogs.” The goal is to give the same focus of content in simplest terms possible.
For book suggestions or activities related to these simplified statements, please download the
FREE Gentle + Classical Nature: Volume 1 Teacher’s Guide from the shop. The “Level 1” book list
included in that guide for each unit is ALL you’ll need to go along with these statements.
Throughout this section, we tackle things like being helpful at home, taking care of things,
being gentle with small things, greeting others properly, brushing our teeth, or dressing
correctly for the weather.
While you’ll only find them presented as a statement in this guide, you’ll find these ideas
are affirmed in story throughout our weekly reading. The Handicraft + Activity Guide helps
you make these connections with your child via some suggested questions or conversational
topics (in a section called CONNECT in that guide). However, you’ll likely find that if you
keep these statements in mind throughout your week, you’ll find opportunities to explore or
discuss them further.
Beginning in Unit 10, we will cover 1 or more chapters of Preschool Math at Home with our little
ones. While that sounds like a lot, each lesson is extremely short and easy to implement.
NOTE:
If your child is 2, begin by counting to 5. If you only focus on Term 1 (or
Preschool Math at Home Chapters 1 and 2) for the entire year, you’re in good
shape, friend. Terms 2 and 3 are geared for children 3 years and older.
We will be enjoying one composition over 13 units of music study- Peter and the Wolf by
Prokofiev. This amazing composition is the PERFECT introduction to classical music in a fun
and inviting way. (It was composed just for this purpose.) We will listen to all 13 movements,
one per week, as we alternate between artist study and music. In the book list, you will find a
suggested reading to follow along as you listen to the composition each week, but be aware
that there are quite a few re-enactments and versions of this sonata on YouTube. (Find detailed
instructions in the Preschool Art and Music Pack.)
Keeping all of this in mind, the Preschool Morning Binder has been designed to add simplicity
to each morning in your homeschool. For our letter of the week, you’ll find a clean 2-page
spread featuring: BUILD IT, WRITE IT, FIND IT.
BUILD IT: Utilize play-dough, blocks, toothpicks, small popsicle sticks, or wax craft sticks to give
your child a tactile, hands-on way of relating to each letter three-dimensionally.
WRITE IT: This section gives a nice large font, with guidance arrows, to give your child an
opportunity to create this letter themselves. We recommend using dry erase markers (or dry erase
crayons) in dry erase sleeves or menu covers so that these pages can be used again and again.
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 42
POTENTIAL LITERACY EXPECTATIONS BY AGE
YOUR 2-YEAR-OLD: YOUR 3 -YE A R-OLD: YOUR 4 -YE A R - OL D :
FIND IT: In the Preschool Morning Binder, this is a simple, half-page activity that presents your
child with a variety of letters and asks him/her to circle or check the letter we are featuring.
You’ll notice that we have included the lower case letter for exposure. If your child asks, you
can simply say, “That’s the lowercase (or baby/small) ‘a’ that goes with the capital (or uppercase/
daddy/big) ‘A’. Sometimes letters look differently but have the same sound. We will learn more about
lowercase (or baby/small) letters a different time.”
43 ©The Gentle + Classical Preschool
USING THE PRESCHOOL MORNING BINDER
Your Preschool Morning Binder essentially has three different portions, all used differently
in our gentle, classical day. Let’s take a quick tour of each section of your Morning Binder, so
when referenced, you’ll have a complete understanding.
DAILY WORK
Daily Work consists of 4 pages:
Note:
Rather than reprinting the “Daily
You can find base ten Work” for each day, we utilize
blocks on amazon or
dry-erase sleeves, empty menu
other educational
covers, or lamination and use
retailers.
fine-tip dry erase markers or dry
erase crayons so that we can
use the pages inside our Morning
Binder over and over again.
Number Practice
Beginning in Term 2, we will learn one new number
each week. Preschool Math at Home lessons that
are scheduled for those weeks walk you through
simple, practical ways of doing that. You can also
utilize the 123 Flashcards from the Preschool
Bundle for teaching as well as these pages. If
your child is under the age of 3, you might prefer
to wait to have them write their numbers and
might prefer to focus on oral work and hands-on
manipulatives. You can still utilize these pages
orally and with small unit manipulatives. The pages
in the Morning Binder suggest a variety of options
based on your child’s readiness.
Frames
Preschool Math at Home utilizes a horizontal, one-
row ten frame as opposed to the more familiar
2-row ten frame. She includes these in the
appendix of the book. However, for convenience,
I’ve included a five-frame, ten-frame, and
double-ten frame in your Morning Binder digital
files to use as instructed throughout Preschool
Math at Home. These are slightly larger than
the ones included in her appendix and should
accommodate larger counters.
NOTE: You’ll find a weekly schedule for each unit included inside of the
Preschool Handicraft + Activity Guide.
Keep in mind that these activities are all utilizing different parts of the brain and body. So, while this is
around an hour of school time, your students won’t likely get bored or antsy if you keep moving! Remember
that you can split this into a few different chunks of time throughout your day. The Rhythm vs Schedule
and Our Sample Rhythm on the following pages offers alternatives to having an official morning basket
time.
ҋ Open your day with the Morning Starter. (If you have a child utilizing Gentle + Classical
Primer, utilize that planned hymn and just include your Preschool student in your Kindergartner’s
Morning Basket plan. Otherwise choose any hymn for your family that you prefer and utilize
your own country’s pledge and patriotic song.)
ҋ Brain Gym (Gross Motor) - Do prior activities learned and introduce the new movement.
Don’t feel as if you have to include every one of them. Do those that feel most natural but are a
slight challenge to complete. A 2-year-old may be more challenged by these movements than a
child over 3 would be. Their attempt to do them will be both the “work” and the benefit.
ҋ Complete the daily work from Preschool Morning Binder.
ҋ Recite your memory statements with singing, chanting, and dance.
ҋ Read your book of the week (allowing free movement and quiet toys during this time if
needed).
ҋ Work on your letter of the week (with play dough or another manipulative and complete
your Preschool Morning Binder).
ҋ Listen to your Bible story (maybe while having a snack).
ҋ Take a few minutes to look at your art of the week or listen to classical music.
ҋ Spend some time counting, do your Preschool Math at Home lesson, or your Preschool Morn-
ing Binder math page.
ҋ Work on your activity or handicraft for the week (from the Preschool Handicraft + Activity
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 48
RHYTHM VS SCHEDULE
( IN THE EARLY YEARS)
So how can you go about structuring your day in a way that brings opportunities to
incorporate these memory recitations, activities, and books in an organic, gentle way? I’m glad
you asked!
Before we dive into the rhythm of your day, let’s discuss rhythm versus a schedule. Sometimes
these ideas are used interchangeably, and you’ll find my sample “schedule” is put into quotation
marks because these concepts are indeed truly different.
A schedule is bound by time. When creating a schedule, you plan a particular sequence of events
with beginning and end times. When you are in the season of pregnancy, babies, and toddlers,
schedules can create the illusion that we are failing or “don’t have it together.” Schedules are
based upon consistency, and pregnancy, babies, and toddlers are anything but consistent, no
matter our own best hopes and practices. They remind us just how much we aren’t in control, and
it’s indeed a humbling season in a mother’s life!
A rhythm, on the other hand, is not bound by time. It’s a series of events, trigged by natural
occurrences in your day (like waking, eating, and bathing). You’ll see in our example rhythm that
we implement memory recitations in an intentional, “formal” portion of our day (if all the stars
align!), but we also have those same recitations hinged to everyday events in our life.
By incorporating these statements, readings, and activities into your existing daily routine- hinged
upon things you already do- education truly becomes an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life! Singing
“I am patient” will happen organically when tempers flare, reciting a catechism will become as
natural as singing a lullaby, and counting will be as embedded in your day as handing out berries or
crackers as a snack.
Because I am a “visual” person, I love to see examples of how this would play out in someone
else’s day to be inspired. Here’s a very typical day for us- focusing on my two toddlers since my
older children work predominantly independently on their schoolwork (and I won’t use times
since we have a rhythm for my little ones and not a time-bound schedule).
Tip Time!
Character statements/chants are repeated throughout the day as discipline dictates them or
opportunities present themselves. We choose patience first because that can be a huge challenge
for toddlers. Then we move to attentiveness. You can’t obey if you cannot attentively listen to
instructions and discipline. Lastly, in Preschool, we focus on obedience. Other virtues like kindness,
gentleness, and self-control are covered in Primer.
» Gentle waking
» Breakfast
» Free play with music or outside play
» Snack
» Intentional lesson time + story
» Lunch
» Nap or quiet time
» Snack
» Free play (preferably outside) or errands
» Supper & bedtime
In summary, here’s the “big picture” of how to incorporate the memory work in a gentle,
organic way and how to anchor them to other parts of your rhythm:
ҋ The character chants can be used all throughout the day.
ҋ The scripture recitations can be added into your bedtime and nap time routines.
ҋ The “all about me” statements can be incorporated into your outside time or during baths.
ҋ The math memory work can be incorporated to count toys in the playroom during clean-up time.
ҋ The manners + hygiene statements can be incorporated during bath, teeth brushing, on walks, or
alongside family chores.
Now it’s YOUR turn! Using the above rhythm for inspiration, brainstorm what would work for
your family. Walk through your day mentally, taking notes of ways to work these things in.
You can be as detailed or general as you would like. It might help to make notations about which
type of memory statement to focus on during different activities. For example, outside time
might always equal science and so on.
Developing daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms for your family builds confidence, faith, and
comfort for your children. The power of family rhythms and the consistency and calmness they
bring to your youngest members can’t be overstated. There is a season for everything under
the sun, and our Heavenly Father created us to enjoy and thrive on rhythms. As your family
grows, you’ll find natural rhythms that happen spontaneously, and you’ll find that you have to
also be intentional to choose and protect your rhythms. Ultimately your rhythms create your
family culture and are the memories that help to shape your child.
As you do this and begin to walk it out, remind yourself again and again: Jesus first. Grace
always. This season of little ones is ABOUNDING in grace! Don’t allow anxiety or fear over
early education to steal your joy in this sweet, precious (and short!) season. Your family’s culture
is built over months and years and will never be impacted by a bad day or week (or two!).
Anytime your child listens to a book, watches a show, has a grand adventure, or discovers
something new and comes to tell you all about it- they’ve just narrated! Children are natural
“tellers,” but it can come more naturally to some than others.
As your children grow, narration itself can be their education. We never truly know a thing
until we can tell someone else about it. Once we have understood a story, event, or piece of
information deeply enough that we can use our own words to tell someone else all about it,
we have taken ownership of that knowledge, and it becomes deeply embedded in us.
Notice this for yourself in your own life. If you read a book and keep it to yourself, do you
remember it and understand it as well as you would have had you discussed it with a friend
or book club? With a long-term view in mind on the importance of narration, go ahead and
implement narration from the very beginning of your child’s education.
What does that look like for a toddler (with a limited vocabulary!)?
It can often look like very simple, brief questions from you about what you’ve just read and
one-word answers from your toddler. (Note: If you’ve spent much time studying Miss Mason, you’ll
know that these types of leading questions are frowned upon. However, almost all of Miss Mason’s
narration instructions are geared at children over the age of 6. By asking leading questions in these
early years, we can help our children develop the ability to discern the portions of the story that
ought to be shared or told. Again, that discernment is natural for some children but others need this
specific guidance and natural exercise.)
AN EXAMPLE:
If we are reading Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What do you see?, I might ask after each page- “What color
was that animal?” or “What animal is that?” By answering, he’s simply telling back what I’ve just read
to him. It really is THAT easy in the early years. As you read more advanced books and your child grows
older, you might read 2-3 pages before asking a question about what has happened in the book. By
asking your child to tell what they’ve just observed, you’re helping them to sharpen their observation
skills and report back accurate, important information. You’ll find questions to help make connections
and foster narration for each unit inside of the Preschool Activity and Handicraft.
Tip Time!
When modeling narration to your child (which you will likely have to do frequently), make sure
that you speak in complete sentences (as appropriate) and also work on requiring your child to
answer in complete sentences. Here’s an example:
By doing this, you’re planting very early seeds for speaking and writing in complete
sentences later on. A child who speaks in complete sentences tends to also write in correct,
complete sentences as well! Future you will thank you for doing this right from the start!
L
Fine: Plucking (strings)
all about me
My name is _______ _________.
(first and last)
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 1 I am with you always.
(Counting to 5) + -Matthew 28:20
Colors: Orange and Red Songs for Saplings; W-With
F
Fine: Weaving
all about me
My mommy is _______ _________.
(first and last)
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 1 I am with you always.
(Counting to 5) + -Matthew 28:20
Colors: Black and White Songs for Saplings; W-With
poem Changing, pg 29
Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67:
I. Introduction handicraft + activity guide
Unit 2 Activity: Flower Crown
57 ©The Gentle + Classical Preschool
letter + story motor skills
E
UNIT 3 Gross: Double Duty (Brain Gym, pg 6)
Fine: Mixing
all about me
My daddy is _______ _________.
(first and last)
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 1 I am with you always.
(Counting to 5) + -Matthew 28:20
Colors: Yellow and Blue Songs for Saplings; W-With
poem Opposites, pg 44
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Art: The Yellow House handicraft + activity guide
Unit 3 Activity: Engine Cookies
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 58
letter + story motor skills
UNIT 4 Gross: Elephant (Brain Gym, pg 8)
H
Fine: Coloring
all about me
My family is ______, _______, ______,
and ______.
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 1 Lord, my God, you are very great.
(Counting to 5) + -Psalm 104:1
Colors: Green and Pink Songs for Saplings; V-Very
T
Gross: Neck Rolls (Brain Gym, pg 9)
Fine: Tweezers
all about me
My country is _________.
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 2 Lord, my God, you are very great.
(Counting to 10) + -Psalm 104:1
Colors: Brown and Gray Songs for Saplings; V-Very
I
Fine: Squeezing
all about me
My state is _________.
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 2 Lord, my God, you are very great.
(Counting to 10) + -Psalm 104:1
Colors: Purple and Review Songs for Saplings; V-Very
poem A Catch, pg 16
Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67:
III. The Bird handicraft + activity guide
Unit 6 Activity: Frozen Sensory
61 ©The Gentle + Classical Preschool
letter + story motor skills
U
UNIT 7
Gross: Belly Breathing (Brain Gym, pg 12)
Fine: Sewing (or Lacing)
all about me
My city is _________.
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 2 Hide me under the
(Counting to 10) + shadow of your wings.
Shapes: Square and Rectangle -Psalm 17:8
Songs for Saplings; U-Under
poem Advice, pg 64
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Art: Tree Roots handicraft + activity guide
Unit 7 Activity: Felt Umbrella
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 62
letter + story motor skills
UNIT 8 Gross: Cross-Crawl Sit-Ups
C
(Brain Gym, pg 13)
Fine: Stirring
all about me
My address is _________.
(street address)
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 2 Hide me under the
(Counting to 10) + shadow of your wings.
Shapes: Circle and Oval -Psalm 17:8
Songs for Saplings; U-Under
O
Gross: Owl (Brain Gym, pg 17)
Fine: Sewing (or Stamping)
all about me
My phone number is _________.
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Chapter 2 Hide me under the
(Counting to 10) + shadow of your wings.
Shapes: Triangle and Diamond -Psalm 17:8
Songs for Saplings; U-Under
Q
Gross: Energizer (Brain Gym, pg 14)
Fine: Sewing
all about me
My 5 senses are: sight,
hearing, taste, touch, and smell.
My Body (McDonald)
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Always give thanks to God for everything.
Chapters 3 & 5 -Ephesians 5:20
Number: 1 Songs for Saplings; T-Thanks
G
Fine: Blowing
all about me
I see with my eyes.
My Body (McDonald); pg 3-4
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Always give thanks to God for everything.
Chapters 3 & 5 -Ephesians 5:20
Number: 2 Songs for Saplings; T-Thanks
number 2 page
big thoughts for little people
G is for God
artist study + music
poem Wishes, pg 12
Artist: Henri Matisse
Art: The Open Window handicraft + activity guide
Unit 11 Activity: Ice Boats
67 ©The Gentle + Classical Preschool
UNIT 12 letter + story motor skills
S
Gross: Footflex (Brain Gym, pg 19)
Fine: Hand-rolling
all about me
I touch the world with
my skin and hands.
My Body (McDonald); pg 15-16
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, Always give thanks to God for everything.
Chapters 3 & 5 -Ephesians 5:20
Number: 3 Songs for Saplings; T-Thanks
J
Fine: Pinching
all about me
I smell with my nose.
My Body (McDonald); pg 7-8
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, A merry heart does good like medicine.
Chapters 3 & 5 -Proverbs 17:22
Number: 4 Songs for Saplings; M-Merry
D
Gross: Gravity Glider (Brain Gym, pg 21)
Fine: Stamping
all about me
I speak and taste with my mouth.
My Body (McDonald); pg 9-10
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, A merry heart does good like medicine.
Chapters 3 & 5 -Proverbs 17:22
Number: 5 Songs for Saplings; M-Merry
P
Fine: Painting
all about me
I hear with my ears.
My Body (McDonald); pg 5-6
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, A merry heart does good like medicine.
Chapters 4 & 5 -Proverbs 17:22
Number: 6 Songs for Saplings; M-Merry
B
Gross: Brain Buttons (Brain Gym, pg 25)
Fine: Sewing
all about me
My arms help me to carry and catch.
My Body (McDonald); pg 13-16
math scripture
Does God see my ways and
Preschool Math at Home,
count my every step?
Chapters 4 & 5
-Job 31:4
Number: 7 Songs for Saplings; S-Step
number 7 page
big thoughts for little people
B is for Behave
artist study + music
Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67: poem Bear, pg 63
VIII. The Wolf Stalks handicraft + activity guide
the Bird and Cat Unit 16 Activity: Felt Bears
©The Gentle + Classical Preschool 72
letter + story motor skills
UNIT 17
R
Gross: Energy Yawn (Brain Gym, pg 29)
Fine: Stirring
all about me
My legs and feet help me
to run and walk.
My Body (McDonald); pg 17-20
math scripture
Does God see my ways and
Preschool Math at Home,
count my every step?
Chapters 4 & 5
-Job 31:4
Number: 8 Songs for Saplings; S-Step
K
Fine: Sewing
all about me
My belly button is how
I ate before I was born.
My Body (McDonald); pg 21-22
math scripture
Does God see my ways and
Preschool Math at Home,
count my every step?
Chapters 4 & 5
-Job 31:4
Number: 9 Songs for Saplings; S-Step
number 9 page
big thoughts for little people
artist study + music K is for Kindness
A
Fine: Felting
all about me
My skin protects my inside parts.
Me and My Amazing Body (Sweeney); pg 3-4
math scripture
Preschool Math at Home, I will obey your word.
Chapters 4 & 5 -Psalm 119:17
Number: 10 Songs for Saplings; O-Obey
M
Fine: Stirring
all about me
My bones make up my skeleton,
which holds my body up.
Me and My Amazing Body (Sweeney); pg 5-6
math scripture
More and Less I will obey your word.
Preschool Math at Home, -Psalm 119:17
Chapter 6 More and Less Songs for Saplings; O-Obey
+
preschool morning binder big truths for little kids
daily work + build/write/find M; Chapter 3
*Fish and Pond Activity
YOUR 3-4 YEAR OLD
N
Gross: Skipping
(*not from Brain Gym; Integrate into your day however you see fit.)
Fine: Painting
all about me
My muscles are attached to my
bones and move my body.
*N is for Nanna Me and My Amazing Body (Sweeney); pg 7-8
math scripture
Equal To I will obey your word.
Preschool Math at Home, -Psalm 119:17
Chapter 6: More and Less Songs for Saplings; O-Obey
+
preschool morning binder big truths for little kids
daily work + build/write/find N; Chapter 3
*Fish and Pond Activity
YOUR 3-4 YEAR OLD
V
(*not from Brain Gym; Integrate into your day however you see fit.)
Fine: Cutting
all about me
My brain is the boss of my body and
tells each part what to do.
Me and My Amazing Body (Sweeney); pg 9-10
math scripture
More, Fewer, Equal Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”
Preschool Math at Home, -John 6:48
Chapter 6 More and Less Songs for Saplings; B-Bread
+
preschool morning binder big truths for little kids
daily work + build/write/find V;
Chapter 3
*Fish and Pond Activity
YOUR 3-4 YEAR OLD
W
(*not from Brain Gym; Integrate into your day however you see fit.)
Fine: Rolling and Gluing
all about me
My blood carries energy to all the
parts of my body.
Me and My Amazing Body (Sweeney); pg 11-12
math scripture
Pennies Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”
Preschool Math at Home, -John 6:48
Chapter 7: Addition & Subtraction Songs for Saplings; B-Bread
X
Gross: Wheelbarrow
(*not from Brain Gym; Integrate into your day however you see fit.)
Fine: Threading
all about me
My heart is a muscle that moves
blood through my whole body.
Me and My Amazing Body (Sweeney); pg 13-14
math scripture
Addition Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”
Preschool Math at Home, -John 6:48
Chapter 7 Addition & Subtraction Songs for Saplings; B-Bread
Y
(*not from Brain Gym; Integrate into your day however you see fit.)
Fine: Sewing
all about me
My lungs fill with fresh air
to give my blood oxygen.
Me and My Amazing Body (Sweeney); pg 15-16
math scripture
Subtraction Be zealous and repent.
Preschool Math at Home, -Revelations 3:19
Chapter 7: Addition & Subtraction Songs for Saplings; Z-Zealous
Z
(*not from Brain Gym; Integrate into your day however you see fit.)
Fine: Clapping
all about me
My stomach breaks up the food
I eat and turns it into energy.
Me and My Amazing Body (Sweeney); pg 17-18
math scripture
Subtraction Be zealous and repent.
Preschool Math at Home, -Revelations 3:19
Chapter 7: Addition & Subtraction Songs for Saplings; Z-Zealous
m t w th f
Read your
Last Stop on Last Stop on Last Stop on
book of the Market Street Market Street Market Street
week
Read the next Read the next Read the next Read the next Read the next
story each day story each day story each day story each day story each day
Bible Story in your in your in your in your in your
preferred Bible preferred Bible preferred Bible preferred Bible preferred Bible
Big Thoughts
for Little Letter L
People
Morning
Find L in your
Binder- Build L with Write L in a Build L with Write L in
story and in
Phonics and play dough sand tray
Morning Binder
manipulatives Morning Binder
Handwriting
Activity or
Handicraft
Memory
Statement
Recitations
Bible Story
Big Thoughts
for Little
People
Morning
Binder-
Math
Morning
Binder-
Phonics and
Handwriting
Poetry