Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part VII – Crafts}

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The Book of Crafts for Jr. K is brand new, it was not available when we first started. In the lesson plans I was queued with something like “Make a gingerbread craft” or “Madeline Craft”, but there was nothing more than that. Previously what I did was searched pinterest for great ideas and went from there. However, now with The Book of Crafts, no searching on my part is necessary as they are all laid out for me. I received a portion of this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. See full disclosure at close of post or … Continue reading

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part VI – Music}

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Now we’re in my category that I can boast on a bit as I spent practically a whole day organizing myself on this one to make the most of it. While I know that people would love to have a CD of all the songs chosen for the year in the curriculum plans for Jr. K because of copyright issues that is a hard task to accomplish. However, with the availability of streaming music online, especially through a new software I’m just now getting to know called Spotify it is possible to follow someone’s playlist. I practically spent all day … Continue reading

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part V – Prayer}

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Through these two books, my young preschooler daughter is getting a heart of prayer and a foundation of devotion time fairly regularly. She loves to memorize and recite prayers and this is such a precious time and set of memories for me that was helped to form and be created from the organization and recommendations of the Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten Curriculum. Continue reading

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part IV – Poetry}

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Through the recommendations of Memoria Press in their curriculum package it is amazing what is possible to provide in a pre-school or Junior Kindergarten experience and I’d say the bulk of the best of it is within the literature and poetry section. Since there are 33 weeks and 34 literature selections, let me start with telling you about the poetry because of this, there is really only three. Two, however that you use on a regular basis throughout the year of curriculum in the lesson plans. The third doubles one week for both literature and poetry. A key element to … Continue reading

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part III – Math}

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Alrighty, so far I’ve told you about the Junior Kindergarten Lesson Plans For One Year and the Phonics books portion of Jr. K. Now I want to tell you about the Math and Numbers portion of the curriculum.

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Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part II – Phonics}

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Coming into starting Jr. K, AppleBlossom already knew her alphabet. She could sing it in order (only half the time skipping N and then insisting she had said too) and she could identify letters out of order both upper and lowercase. Also, thanks to LeapFrog Phonics Letter Factory DVD she knew all the sounds as well. What she did not know was how to write any letter other than a capital A that I had just showed her one day randomly. So I knew I needed something organized to really work through them all.

Learning the alphabet is the critical first step in learning how to read. The Alphabet Book teaches letter recognition, letter formation, and pencil grip through repetition and tracing.
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Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten {Review – Part I}

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2012-2013 has been an incredible school year! We are not quite finished yet, but we are close and I’m in awe of how amazing the year has been. Truly with this kind of beginning for our homeschool experience is amazing.

I’m delighted to have gone deeper with books and really watch my young preschooler’s mind fly, and that is what we are doing with Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten.

Because of what Memoria Press has put together with their teachers at Highlands Latin School, I feel like I know what I’m doing in this teaching business. Coming in if you ask me to go back to teach middle or high school I have no fear. Hand me a preschooler, and I’m terrified. Or rather, I used to be terrified until Memoria Press took away the fear and presented me with everything I need for success. Continue reading

A day in the life of Blossom School with Memoria Press Jr. Kindergarten! {Part 1}

Today I wanted to share a bit about what we’re doing in school. (My wordpress is acting up, so stick with me…) We’re a bit behind from illnesses and life, but then she will not turn four until July, so if we have to repeat things that’s okay. I’ve been planning to do something like this forever, but I forget to take pictures and beat myself up about it and I finally decided you might just be interested in the text anyway… Week 21 – Day 1 Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten is planned out for two days per week for … Continue reading

Memoria Press Junior Kindergarten is a fun time!

Today we’re starting our second week of Memoria Press Jr. K and it is an interesting day. While the lesson plans are for two days a week we did activities in addition on other days last week to enhance the week and it was awesome. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to put this all together on my own. Starting out today was interesting… AppleBlossom refused to write anything. No tracing, that ended with a tossed pencil across the table. But finally she offered to trace it with her finger, and of course we did and many times. So we … Continue reading

“Not” Back to School: Curriculum Week PK3

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I know last year I was loving to look at all of the “Not” Back to School blog posts and maybe even the year before that. I love the idea of planning and figuring out what all we are going to attempt. Last year was just fun and randomness for education. This year is going to be similar but with a little more effort on more often and a little more structure. After all, my baby is three. Now this year I participate!   There are so many options! If you find me in some forums, right now you’ll see … Continue reading