Memoria Press Kindergarten Phonics & Spelling Package

A surprise from a publisher known for its Latin programs! First Start Reading from Memoria Press is deceptively simple with an emphasis on vowel-consonant/word-families phonics and a serious focus on correct pencil grip and letter formation. Yes, in a day and age when penmanship is often ignored, they've chosen to make it a central part of their approach to reading. And, I have to confess it makes sense. After all, it serves as a kinesthetic reinforcement activity.

First Start Reading is a traditional and uncomplicated approach to phonics. After starting with ear training, vowel-consonant blending with unvoiced (m, n, s, r, f, t) consonants is first. Teach one sound for each phonogram at a time. Practice the new phonogram and its sound in a word family list with extensive practice in CVC words. Practice reading words and sentences as early as possible and reinforce learning with manuscript printing and that strong emphasis on correct pencil grip and letter formation. Include a small number of sight words. Throw in a couple of clever "tricks" for dealing with b-d confusion and you're done! Once mastered, these skills should take the student competently into a first grade reading level.

The entire program consists of four Student Worktexts (A-D) and a Teacher's Guide. The worktexts are about half letter presentation, blending, and reading practice and half writing practice space - on facing pages. Black and white line art drawings that can be colored keep the look clean. Letter formation clues include directional arrows on sample letters and starting point "dots." The four Student Worktexts are from 70 to 108 pages. The Teacher's Guide starts with an introduction that covers all the basics - syllabi for the Worktexts, the phonics approach, getting started, phonics recitation (an important element of the program), and pencil grip instruction. The rest of the book - except for a few reproducible visuals in the appendix - are wrap-around lesson plans. The lesson plans include general information for the teacher as well as scripted instructions for the student. As mentioned, half of every lesson is writing instruction, which serves as phonics reinforcement.

We expect easy-to-use from Memoria Press and we're not disappointed here. There's an amazing amount of quality phonics/reading instruction in a very reasonably priced package. You might be wondering what to do after this course. Perhaps Memoria will publish a sequel but until then they recommend Primary Phonics as a follow-up. First Start Reading is obviously designed as a lead-in to another new program from Memoria: StoryTime Treasures. Check our reading section for more information. ~ Janice

The Memoria Press grade level lesson plans are comprehensive, classical, and user-friendly. But what if you don't want all the subjects? They've got you covered with their individual subject lesson plans that provide one particular subject area - in this instance, language arts. Coverage at the different grade level differs and is sometimes keyed to particular texts (noted below). The lesson plans provide week-by-week daily checklists of assignments, reviews, exercises, quizzes, and tests. ~ Janice

Memoria Press now offers complete Curriculum Manuals and grade-level curriculum packages for PK-10 using the classical methodology. Recitation is used in every level for memorization of basic facts, systematic phonics and good books are used for reading education, copywork is used for teaching Bible truths, and music and art are included for enrichment in the early (K-3) levels. Each Curriculum Manual contains complete lesson plans for a one-year course of study.

The Curriculum Manuals are well-formatted and easy to use. In the front of each book you will find a checklist of the materials needed at that level, an explanation of this curriculum, instructions for lesson implementation, a recommended schedule and blank schedule for your own planning purposes, and 33 weeks of detailed lesson plans. Lessons include assignments from the books used at each grade level, as well as activity suggestions. The appendices include a variety of material for that grade level, and may include: prayers, letter activities, recitation, memory verses, read-aloud book list, poetry list and selections, and a paintings/music list for kindergarten and first grade. These pages are reproducible for family or classroom use.

Although most of the guides have been available for several years, the curriculum was restructured in 2015, with many of the programs originally included in 3rd grade now with a slower pacing to span 3rd and 4th grade. Guides for grades 3 and up have been modified to reflect this change, while the lower-level guides have only had minor changes. If you are already midway into the program with the original guides, you can still continue in that track with the older guides, now titled Acclerated Classical Core Curriculum Manual. You can find these along with the complete list of curriculum resources used with them on our website.

We have complete grade-level resource packages, consumable packages for “refill,” new user packages for levels that reuse resources from a previous level, read-aloud packages for each level and science and enrichment packages for the early levels. Curriculum resources are also listed individually (see website for specific contents of consumables and read-aloud packages). Please note that several of the programs include First Form Latin and Classical Composition, which should be completed in order, regardless of what is in the grade level package.If you have a student entering the program after fourth grade, you will need to start them in Classical Composition: Fable Stage and/or First Form Latin instead of what might be in the package.

This series is for the parent who wants a good classical curriculum which is outlined and ready to use. Simply open the book and follow the instructions. You will be well on your way to a quality education for your young ones. ~ Donna

Programs in this section focus primarily on teaching children to read, and may not provide comprehensive instruction in reading comprehension, spelling, writing, or other language skills. Arranged roughly by grade.

The Kindergarten level provides instruction in reading, correct pencil grip, letter and number formation, and basic arithmetic counting, adding, subtracting, telling time, and counting money. Children ages 4-6 can use the program if they are reading ready, have the ability to count to 10, print their name, recognize most letters, rhyme words, and segment sounds.