A WOW curriculum for early childhood...

Teaching Pre K-8, Aug/Sep 2002

Is what you'll find in Saxon Early Learning newest offering. It has all one could want an early learning program to include: teacher's manuals, big books, lap books (slightly smaller than big books), original books, classic fables, Max the Bear (he's somewhat larger than you've seen in other classroom kits and he's a lap puppet), concept posters, alphabet wall cards, number cards, picture cards, letter cards, learning center signs, alphabet handwriting strips "Gathering time" (read: "opening exercises") materials, theme-related literature and other media, an interactive CD-ROM, math manipulatives and science manipulatives, and a Spanish component. Now do you know why we used the word "Wow!?

The teacher's manual provides a weekly planner that makes a teacher's preparation simple. There's Max's Media Center, which includes weekly suggestions for theme-related readaloud books, videos, software and websites. A daily planner will give all you need to plan your instructional day, and learning centers are suggested for each week. They are theme-related and connect to daily lessons. Following daily gathering time there are four carefully sequenced core lessons that follow a predictable pattern and instructional focus. These core lessons 1) introduce the concept, 2) focus on literature, 3) focus on letters and sounds and 4) focus on the curriculum. There's also a great culmination activity called "Reviewing the Day." It's a great opportunity for kids to relax and reflect on what they learned that day.

About the teacher's manual for Spanish support: It also contains 180 reproducible masters encouraging daily review of key vocabulary and reinforcing the connection between school and family. There are scripted lesson introductions which are great for pre-teaching either to a group of Spanish-dominant students or to clarify specific areas of the lessons which may be problematic to individual learners.

There's also a pronunciation guide/ new word glossary, two-page scripted gathering time activities, oral language prompts and weekly literature summaries included in this manual.

This whole package looks really good to us. Good for everyone. In fact, we can't imagine a better support vehicle for a new teacher, either. Call for pricing and more information.

This is not a teacher purchase, but we'd recommend that every early childhood teacher place it high on the list he or she submits to the principal. It will be great for all of you - not the least of whom will be the kids.

Saxon Early Learning

800-284-7019

LUCKY SUBSCRIBER

Shawna King

Elliston, VA