Planning to Use
Joyful Heart Character
4's Curriculum

 There are a total of 38 planned weekly lessons in the Joyful Heart Character Curriculum, designed to be used during a typical school calendar year (August through May).  Each weekly lesson is arranged so it can be used over the course of four days.

The Joyful Heart Character Weekly Planning Sheet is meant to help visually group the activities that are related to one another and  to work in blocks of time,  not necessarily in order. For example, one time frame may be 'Opening' in which I work with both my 4 1/2 year old and my 2 1/2 year old.  Another time frame may be 'Reading', which I tend to do one on one with my older child, while the younger two children are napping. I have found that this provides a plan that is structured, yet flexible.

For each week, print a Joyful Heart Character Weekly Planning Sheet and fill in the blanks with specific concepts and activities to focus on with your child.  You can use the scope and sequence (below) as a guide and/or click on links within the table below  for lots of ideas!

Scope and Sequence Sheets
first semester scope and sequence
second semester scope and sequence (not complete at this time)

Links in the table will take you to detailed information regarding that portion of the curriculum (ideas and printables).  Additional tips for planning can be found beneath the table.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 OPENING Bible Memory Verse:   Prayer Bible Memory Morning Message Exercises Predictable Story Book MATH Skill Focus: Pattern for the Month: Calendar Binder Calendar Binder Hands on Skill Focus Time Calendar Binder Calendar Binder Hands on Skill Focus Time BIBLE and CHARACTER Character Trait:   Bible Story Apply Character Trait Song Review Bible Story Character Trait Song 2nd Bible Story Related Scripture Fictional Story Character Trait Song Review Bible Stories and Trait Character Trait Song Fictional Story Related Activity   READING Focus Letter/ Sound: Sight Word Focus: Word Family/ Rhyme Focus: Picture Review Sheet (from the3's Curriculum) Listen and Trace Sheet Sound Activity Sight Word Booklet (Day 1) Review the Focus Letter Sight Word Booklet (Day 2) Phonemic Awareness Activities Kidwriting Review the Focus Letter Sight Word Booklet (Day 3) Rhyme Time Activities Decoding Practice Review Activities Reread Booklets Kidwriting OTHER Seasonal books, art, science, field trips, etc.

Printable Joyful Heart Character Weekly Planning Sheet

Additional Tips

For the year, gather 38 file folders.  Label each with the lesson number, character trait, and review letter.  This will make it easy for you to add ideas as you come across related activities, etc. You can either print all printables and file them now or print each week as you need them.

Prepare your calendar - either a wall calendar or a calendar binder.

Prepare a kidwriting notebook for each child. 

Prepare a morning message folder or binder. 

You may also wish to mark weeks for possible, related field trips.

For each week, print a Joyful Heart Character weekly planning sheet, if you haven't already done so, and fill in with specific concepts and activities to focus on with your child. You can use the scope and sequence as a guide and/or click on links within the table above for lots of ideas!

For each month, gather books (some you may already own, borrow, place on hold at the library, order if really enjoy, or find a similar book). 

Look through craft ideas and gather needed supplies.