Little Shoes Academy PreK & K

Name: Little Shoes Academy PreK & K
Brand: Little Shoes Academyhttps://littleshoesacademy.com/

by Little Shoes Academyhttps://littleshoesacademy.com/

Multi_subjectGrades Pre-K–K

Little Shoes Academy PreK & K: Theme-Based Multi-Subject Program

Little Shoes Academy provides comprehensive PreK and kindergarten programs delivered via PDF files with weekly online support sessions. The curriculum uses thematic unit studies to integrate multiple subjects around engaging topics like camping, dinosaurs, and oceans.

Best for

Homeschooling families with PreK-K children who want engaging, theme-based learning and can dedicate time to lesson preparation and hands-on instruction

Evaluation Criteria

3 strengths · 3 neutral

Direct InstructionStrength

The curriculum provides structured lessons with clear instructional guidance, though it requires significant parent preparation and presentation. Lessons include specific teaching sequences and interactive parent-child activities.

Lessons include detailed instructions like 'teach the letter's name, sound, and the name of the image' and provide 'Tips for Reading to Preschoolers' and 'Guided Reading Suggestions'

Individual Subject RigorStrength

Each subject maintains appropriate developmental rigor, particularly in literacy and math which are scaffolded systematically. The kindergarten literacy program is noted as 'fairly advanced' with systematic phonics and reading instruction.

Kindergarten math covers counting to 30, place value to 20, addition/subtraction to 10, while literacy teaches phonics, sight words, sentence writing, and book skills; lessons 'must be used in order since skills are scaffolded'

Cross Curricular IntegrationStrength

The curriculum effectively integrates subjects through weekly themes, connecting language arts, math, science, social studies, and art around cohesive topics. Thematic lessons like 'Camping' naturally incorporate letter recognition, counting, nature science, and related activities.

Each themed week includes 'essential components' for morning meeting, math, and language arts, with optional activities for science, social studies, art, and motor skills all connected to the weekly theme

Teacher TrainingNeutral

The curriculum includes helpful teaching articles and weekly online support sessions, though formal professional development is limited. Instructional guidance is embedded within lessons.

Includes 'Tips for Reading to Preschoolers,' 'Guided Reading Suggestions,' and 'weekly online group sessions with the curriculum's authors' where 'parents can ask questions as they arise'

Retrieval PracticeNeutral

The curriculum incorporates some repetitive practice through daily letter and number lessons repeated throughout the week, but lacks systematic long-term review. The Daily Flash file provides some skill review activities.

Letter and number lessons are 'repeated each day for the week' and the Daily Flash file reviews 'coins, shapes, colors, patterns' but no evidence of cumulative review across themes

Knowledge CoherenceNeutral

While themes provide coherent weekly experiences, the curriculum lacks a systematic knowledge-building sequence across themes. The wide-ranging weekly themes appear to be selected for engagement rather than cumulative knowledge development.

Weekly themes range from 'All About Me' to 'Dinosaurs' to 'Oceans' without clear progression or connection between topics, though skills within math and literacy are sequentially developed

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com