Thanks for bearing with these curriculum questions. I have found that the people on the "brand" website tend to be biased towards their own curriculum.

Someone mentioned Winter Promise on another post and I looked that over a bit. To me, their website is a bit confusing with the theme choice, notebook, etc.... I think I've got it figured out. I think you pick a theme, then add in a language arts program and a math program?

How would you compare the two programs (MFW and WP)? The question is about their program in general and also specifically about the pk/k level.

If you have done the Winter Promise pre-k "Ready to Learn".....what exactly is involved in it? What would you do during a typical day?

Thanks!

I can't address MFW, but I will address Winter Promise. You have it right - you pick a program such as Animal Worlds and then add your language art (theirs or another) and Math to the program. The preschool program is new, but is getting rave reviews. Mary Arnold moderates the yahoo site Winterpromisefamilies which has alot of information (both good and bad) and they are willing to discuss the differences as well as SL. I would consider joining it just for the information.

Sue :)

We are doing the WP Ready to Learn Program and I really like it. I think it is probably more suited to 4 year olds and older 3's than younger 3's. The only part I don't like is the bible portion and am doing another bible program.

The program uses the Sing Play Create book as a base and has four themes lasting 9 weeks each. The themes are Farm, Pond, Zoo and Garden. Then each week is more specific, for example last week, week 2 on Farms was the Rooster and morning at the farm, this week it is the farm brings us food. Then each week you do a few activity from each of the Little Hands book in the program. For example, last week we did sequencing activities for the reading portion, made a nature notebook for science and talked about calendar, days of the week, and time for math. For the art project we made a clock. It also lists supplemental book ideas for the theme and has some great ideas of things to talk about with your kids. LOTS of hands on ideas and field trip ideas. The hands on pack is great. It is a tackle box with lots of little "toys" and you do activities with is, today we found all of the furry things. Later in the year you make a letter book and do alot more prereading activities. The activities in the Wow I'm reaading book, definately get pretty advanced with the prereading/beggining to read skills. It's not going to bring you to a first grade reading level, but it would definately get a child starting to read or ready to start to read.

If you are interested, I would check the books out of the library and they will give you a great feel for the program. With this program, you don't have to add in LA and Math. Unless you are doing it with an older child, for example, I've got a almost 5 year who is doing it with us and I add in a separate phonics, handwriting and math for her. But I don't with my 3 1/2 year old.

I am really impressed with this and as far as I can tell, is the only preschool program like it. Let me know if you have any more questions. I haven't used MFWK or AW, so I can't compare.

Jennifer