Before Five in a Row - A Review

Product:  Before Five in a Row

Price: $24.95

Age Range: 2 - 4 year olds

Company:  Five in a Row Publishing

Author:  Jane Clare Lambert

Other Products Available:  FIAR  products for ages 2 - 12

Brief Overview: (From the website)
This all new product includes 23 FIAR-style mini-units (plus an extra mini-unit!) on outstanding AND simple children's books for ages 2-4 as well as a large section on learning readiness activities in everyday life; things to do in the kitchen, at the store, at bedtime, bathtime, etc. You'll find an entire treasury of ideas to prepare children for learning- making sure that they've covered all the basic but oh-so-important steps to ensure that they are ready to begin more formal schooling. The perfect introduction to the joys of parent-directed learning in just a few very special minutes each day.

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Our Thoughts:

I actually used this book years ago when my 2 older daughters were younger.  Now, thanks to being a part of the CREW, I have the opportunity to use it again with my now 2 year old daughter.  I loved it then and I love it now.

This is exactly what learning should be like for a little preschooler.  Lots of lap time, cuddle time, and story time.  Asking questions and making comments about the story.  Learning comes naturally in this context.

For example, we read the story, "Goodnight Moon."  Love this story all on its own.  Which is one thing that I like about this curriculum.  The Lamberts have chosen wisely with their books of choice.  But the book becomes even more special with the mini-lessons added from BFIAR.  Pointing out how the pictures on the wall are pictures from other storybooks.  Showing how the light in the room and outside the window change as the moon and stars come out and the lamps go dim.

Another favorite was "Caps for Sale".  Can't tell you how many times I have read this book to my daughters.  It is one of my favorites because it is so much fun to shout out, "Caps. Caps for sale. 50 cents a cap."  Again, though, the book becomes even more fun with the lesson guide.  We talked about how girls learned to walk with good posture by walking around with books on their heads.  So all 3 of my girls got up and walked around, having a great time trying to keep a book on their head.  Also talking about the meaning of the saying, "Monkey see, monkey do" and seeing it come to life in the storyline.

In addition to the storybook activities, other enrichment activities are added at the end.  Things like the importance of reading or reciting nursery rhymes and poems to your child.  About enjoying your little one while they are still little and making learning a natural process, a part of their play.  As the saying goes, "Learn to play and play to learn."

I am a huge fan of the FIAR series.  I think they are a wonderful curriculum and I highly recommend not only this book, but the whole series.

Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge to review, as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.

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