Level A uses a multi-sensory approach to teach letters, letter sounds, and basic reading skills. One letter is emphasized each week with fun listening and writing games. This Level requires the teacher's guide, student workbook, word cards and appendixes, a copy of the McGuffey Revised Eclectic Primer. The primer can be purchased or downloaded.
Word Mastery: Eclectic Foundations uses Word Mastery as a base for phonics instruction. These lessons begin with a four-day study of each letter. The activities from week to week are repeated. The capital and lower case letters are used as well in a game of tic-tac-toe. As the letter sounds are introduced, reading is gradually implemented. Finally, your student will "build" the words with a dry erase marker and game board. This program is designed to be as fun and frustration free as possible.
McGuffey's: The McGuffey's section usually covers one lesson per day. Your student will study the picture and color the word cards, and then spend as much time as necessary reviewing the word cards. Each color correlates with a different part of speech. Although most children will not learn grammar concepts this early, early introduction is extremely beneficial. Your child will be able to see that the red cards (nouns) name something, and that the green cards (verbs) are "action" or "being" cards. The function of words is repeated for all eight parts of speech.
Handwriting: Play dough is chosen as a beginning activity for each letter it helps develop fine motor skills. The second day, your student is to cover the letter with something (colored sand is recommended). The third day, your child is actually writing the letters on something. Use your imagination. If weather permits, I like to encourage writing with sticks in the dirt, or using sticks, rocks, leaves, or sidewalk chalk to write/ build the letter. Finally, the fourth day your child sets the pencil to paper and writes the letters. The intent is to have your student "build" the letter for the first two days and then "write" the letter the last two days. After all the letters have been covered, simple copy work from the McGuffey selection are assigned.
Mother Goose: I always thought that my mother and grandmother were walking versions of Mother Goose. It seemed they had a rhyme for every occasion. Sadly, it appears that many children don't know very many of these beloved rhymes anymore. It seems only natural to include Mother Goose in this program. Each lesson concludes with a different Mother Goose rhyme.
Biblical Approach: This curriculum will not replace your current Bible curriculum but will encourage a Biblical worldview. Cute little poems base on Biblical principles have been written for the letter search. The McGuffey stories are well known for their reverence of God and promoting high moral standards and patriotism.
Teacher Friendly: This program is designed to cover four days a week for weeks. It really is an open-and-go program! There is no prep work involved. Everything is laid out for you so you can focus your time on teaching and bonding with your children.