Woolsey Academy For Young Learners 417-742-3519
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About us
    • A Day In The Life
    • Contact Us
    • What Parents Just Like You Think
    • Enrollment Forms
  • For Providers

Choosing the Right Curriculum for Your Preschool!  Part 1 of a 4 Part Series

5/30/2015

4 Comments

 
Have you ever wanted to try several top rated curriculum, or wondered, "What will I really get?" or even, "Will it be worth the money I'm committing?"  

Me too.

As the owner, caregiver, chef, preschool teacher, and all around daytime momma' to the 10 littles in my care, it is VITAL to me that my children are Kindergarten ready in every way.  I work a minimum 14 hour day, just like many of you, and on a limited budget.  

SOOOOOooooooo, when I decided to find ways to reduce my workload I became curious about purchasing an "out of the box" curriculum, but I wanted to make certain I was going to receive the very best fit.  

I thought there was NO WAY I would be able to afford an prepared curriculum.  Just looking at the prices made me feel queasy.  I couldn't imagine adding an additional $100-150/month bill to my budget.  

Then I challenged myself...

You should too.

I decided to add up my prep hours, those hours I spend at night and on the weekends shopping for, prepping for, researching for fun and educational activities.  Mine equaled about 15 hours PER WEEK!

I then added up all my purchases for preschool activities, arts and crafts, printer supplies and ink, etc.  Mine equaled $200/month on an EASY month!!!  

And who couldn't use an extra DAY added back into their lives??!!  I know I wanted my time back AND to save money...so the search began.

I contacted the top four curriculum I found in my searches:

Mother Goose Time
The Learning Box Preschool
Carol's Affordable Curriculum
FunShine Express

I wanted to contrast and compare the leading curriculum developers that claim fun, superior, core compliant "out of the box" curriculum, that cater to saving timing and money.  I wanted to put those claims to the test. 

My criteria were (and still are) as follows:

1. Price per child must not exceed what I am spending at my local dollar stores and discount chain stores for supplies.

2. Must not add any work to my already packed day.  I needed to decrease my workload.

3. Fun, easy to use, truly be "out of the box," easy to understand for me or assistant teachers (a sub could just pick it up and easily use it).  I think I said "easy" enough times for you to understand I need it E.A.S.Y!

The first kit to arrive was The Learning Box Preschool.

So...what does really come in a kit?
What's In A Box (at a glance). The Learning Box Preschool.
The Learning Box Preschool Easy To Follow Monthly Curriculum Theme Guide.
The Learning Box Preschool Teacher Pack
The Learning Box Preschool game pieces, pawn, die, surprise box.
The Learning Box Preschool Monthly Display Themed Pack
The Learning Box Preschool "First Time Order Includes" pack
The Learning Box Preschool Daily Student Pack
The Learning Box Preschool Daily Student Pack
The Learning Box Preschool Teacher Packs
Teacher Pack, "Little White Kitten's Colorful Day" book, Student Packs
The Learning Box Preschool Daily Student Pack
The Learning Box Preschool Daily Student Pack
The Learning Box Preschool Daily Student Pack
The Learning Box Preschool Daily Student Pack
The Learning Box Preschool Daily Student Pack
The Learning Box Preschool Daily Student Pack
The Learning Box Preschool "Red Ladybug" book
The Learning Box Preschool "Red Ladybug" book
The Learning Box Preschool Bugs and Butterflies Themed Calendar
The Learning Box Preschool Year At A Glance Poster
The Learning Box Preschool Calendar
The Learning Box Preschool Counting 1-10 Poster
The Learning Box Preschool Shapes Poster
The Learning Box Preschool Site Word Chart
Counting to 10
The Learning Box Preschool Alphabet
Diamond in common places
The Learning Box Preschool Counting Bunnies 1-30
The Learning Box Preschool Counting Bunnies 1-30
The Learning Box Preschool Circle Time Monthly Set Up.
The Learning Box Preschool Circle Time Monthly Set Up.
This baby came packed with EVERYTHING!!!  I was AMAZED at how well it was organized and easy it was to just pick up 1 Teacher Pack, match it up to the 1 Student Pack, cross reference that to the marked day in the Teacher's Guide and BAM!  We had a prepped day!!

Soo let me show you what one day looked like withThe Learning Box Preschool

This may look like ALOT at a glance...but it is broken down for you in the Curriculum guide step by step.  This was Day 16 of the curriculum guide.  Did you notice that there are even the books that go with the themed kit included INSIDE the kit?!  They didn't just say, "Hey, here is your reading list...go buy it."  

THEY INCLUDED IT INSIDE!

Not only that, it is printed on nice paper, full color.  One could use, oh I don't know, say their own YouTube account and provide a reading for the children to enjoy at home with mom and dad if they wanted to :).

See mine here! The Red Lady Bug book by The Learning Box Preschool is INCLUDED as well as three other books to go along with the monthly theme.
A day in the life of The Learning Box Preschool...

1. Begins with circle time "Opening Routine and Question of the Day" is found at the top of each "daily" page of the Teachers Guide (included).

2. The opening routine includes the day's song, Pledge of Allegiance, Question of the Day "What is blue?  How many things can you think of (that are blue)?, Calendar, Counting the Bunny Line, and the Weather.

3. Next comes the letter review for letters V and Z.  These are PRE-CUT!  Yes...yes...that is a happy teacher tear...  

4. They realize that little bodies need to MOVE so the review includes using our bodies to make the letters and having each child pick out a letter out of the included paper sack and tell what the letter is and then match the upper and lower case of the PRE-CUT letter.  I am STOKED about pre-cut anything and just about everything included in this curriculum is pre-cut!!!

5. The Cookie Shop game is next with ALL PRE-CUT colored circles.

6. They have also included Music, Science, Creative Expression, Food Fun, Field Trip ideas, and math into a day that allows for 5-10 minute lessons with lots of up and down, turn taking, body use, and limited "worksheets."  Though, I am NOT anti-worksheet in that it is a great connector piece for parents and children to discuss at home.
The Learning Box Preschool May monthly display
Food Fun Day 16 The Learning Box Preschool
Question of the Day and Morning Routine, The Learning Box Preschool
Little White Kitten's Colorful Day The Learning Box Preschool
Little White Kitten's Colorful Day The Learning Box Preschool
Little White Kitten's Colorful Day The Learning Box Preschool
Literature Instructions from the Teacher's Guide, The Learning Box Preschool
Teaching Instructions from The Teacher's Guide, The Learning Box Preschool
Games, Day 16, The Learning Box Preschool
Pre-Cut Letters for letter review, The Learning Box Preschool
Pre-cut colored circles for The Cookie Game as instructed via the Teacher's Guide The Learning Box Preschool
The Cookie Game via the Teacher's Guide, The Learning Box Preschool
Day 16 "At A Glance" from the Teacher's Guide, The Learning Box Preschool
Days of May "At A Glance," The Teacher's Guide, The Learning Box Preschool
Pre-cut Science and Creative Arts Materials all included in The Learning Box Preschool
The Teacher's Pack from The Learning Box Preschool
So what do some of the finished Creative Arts materials look like??  Let me show off my littles work!!!
They include puzzles, color mixing take home books, color recognition, letter and number matching, science take home observe and record books, holiday crafts, patterning activities and I would guess that 90% of everything is pre-cut.  This to me is a MAJOR saving bonus.  Instead of tossing those skeletons the letters, shapes and numbers came from , I laminated those babies and the children are now using those as tracing guides on the chalkboards and paint easels inside and out.

Now...down to the numbers.  How much does it cost?

Go here The Learning Box Preschool Store.  You will then choose your program type.  Mine is a 5 day / week program so I click the Five Day Preschool Program.  I then choose how many children I have enrolled.  Mine is 12 enrolled, and one month, then choose the month to start and it will calculate your cost.  This is what mine looks like.

Large Box Options# of Kids (Large Box)  Select  
Number of Months  Auto Delivery Club  1 Month 
Starting Month  August 2014 
12 kids at $119.49 base kit price with 0% discount
+ 1 months shipping at 14.99 per month
beginning August 2014= $134.48

This would be my most expensive option.  The Learning Box Preschool has discounts available up to 15% for volume purchases.  This would save an additional $20/month!  

This is an incredible value.  Let's break it down per child...shall we???

$134.48 / 20 days of materials  = $6.72 per day or $33.60/week for everyone!
$6.72 per day / by 12 children = $0.56 per day per child!!!  

I am FLOORED at how INEXPENSIVE it is to regain my evenings and weekends AND save money BOOYAH!!!  Still think you can't afford a professional curriculum?  Just raise your rates by $2.50/child/week to cover the cost and have a top-rated, prepared, out of the box, Kindergarten readiness program for the children in your care.  I don't know a parent around that wouldn't jump for joy over that!  They can't buy burger for THAT! 

Personally, I give The Learning Box Preschool a 5-Star rating.  I would absolutely purchase this curriculum for daily use in Woolsey Academy for Young Learners!
4 Comments
Michele link
6/1/2015 03:51:03 am

I really liked the preschool papers but they closed down and joined Mother Goose. I'm really not happy with this program because it doesn't give you papers for the children to practice their letters and numbers. Luckily I still have papers from the previous program that I reprint for them. They are learning about different subjects but sometimes too old for the younger kids. I have 3 & 4 year olds and sometimes 5 year olds when they are not ready for kindergarten. Is there a program that has what I need? Thank you for your info.

Reply
LaDonna Woolsey
6/1/2015 02:09:39 pm

Michele, are you referring to The Learning Box Preschool in your post as the company that shut down? If so, they are certainly alive and well and have TONS of printables included (covering letters, numbers, concepts, themes, math, literacy)

I have found The Learning Box Preschool to be an excellent curriculum!

I will be posting reviews of the other three "out of the box" curriculum in the coming days. As a very experienced preschool teacher and childcare business owner I am pleased with what I have found in both price and ease of use.

Frankly, I don't think one could go wrong choosing from any one of the four I have tested.

Reply
LaDonna Woolsey link
6/4/2015 10:08:17 am

Hello Michele! Thank you for your comment and reading the post. Congratulations on your longevity and commitment to the education of young learners!

I like the criteria as spelled out on this link:

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/teaching/docs/How-Choose-Preschool-Curriculum.pdf

Copy and paste it to your browser and it will take you to a great document that really spells out the in's and out's of a quality program and curriculum. I believe that the four "out of the box" curriculum I have sampled as stated in the above post meet these criteria.

Again, thank you! I wish you well and I hope you get to play today!

LaDonna Woolsey

Reply
Linda Deleon
6/2/2015 04:20:18 pm

I have worked in childcare for eights year now, but I am new when considering my own curriculum. I am curious on the standards you think of when you look for this material. What do you look for? I have needed to think about think, before everything was provided for me.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Life is made of moments...

    "There isn't anything more full of hope, joy and peace than a child's smile... It captures the mundane and makes it extraordinary." - LaDonna Woolsey

    I am a Mother Goose Time Blogger. I decided to become one after trying their products because I they are comprehensive and serve my mixed age group well.  I do receive products to review from Mother Goose Time and do so with my own honest and thorough opinions.  For more information, please contact me at Ladonna@woolseyacademy.com

    Categories

    All
    A Little Bit Of This And That!
    A View You Can Use!
    A-Z Alphabet Theme
    C Is For Cookie!
    Continents And Countries
    Curiosity
    Curriculum
    Dandelions And Darlings...
    Happy Halloween!
    Help For Tired Mommas...
    Holidays
    Letter M Monkey
    Letter N Newts
    Letter O Olympics
    Letter P Is For People
    Letter Q Is For Queen
    Letter S
    Letters Learning
    Letter T
    Letter U
    Letter W
    Letter X
    Play Based Learning
    Preschool
    R Is For Rainbow
    Sensory Play
    Teaching And Learning
    Turtles And Trains

    Archives

    November 2019
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    A Little Bit Of This And That!
    A View You Can Use!
    A-Z Alphabet Theme
    C Is For Cookie!
    Continents And Countries
    Curiosity
    Curriculum
    Dandelions And Darlings...
    Happy Halloween!
    Help For Tired Mommas...
    Holidays
    Letter M Monkey
    Letter N Newts
    Letter O Olympics
    Letter P Is For People
    Letter Q Is For Queen
    Letter S
    Letters Learning
    Letter T
    Letter U
    Letter W
    Letter X
    Play Based Learning
    Preschool
    R Is For Rainbow
    Sensory Play
    Teaching And Learning
    Turtles And Trains

    Follow Me on Pinterest

    RSS Feed

    Follow Me on Pinterest

Location

What Our Clients Are Saying

My husband and I both work full time and during the year 2011 we needed a child care provider for our five year old daughter and our 20 month old son. I am a Special Education Teacher for the Willard RII district in Missouri. I found LaDonna Woolsey on the internet while searching for a child care provider.  I had called numerous places and never felt comfortable with any of them to even make an appointment to meet them in person. I called LaDonna, and almost immediately after the conversation started, I felt a sense of relief and made an appointment to check out her daycare in person, the following day.  When I saw her facility I was absolutely amazed. LaDonna answered all of my nervous mom questions and watching her interact with the children made me realize I had found the perfect person to watch my children during the day. She started providing Child Care services for my children immediately... - Lisa Lassley - Special Education Teacher for the Willard RII 

Contact Us

Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About us
    • A Day In The Life
    • Contact Us
    • What Parents Just Like You Think
    • Enrollment Forms
  • For Providers