Goals

  • To recognize, make connections with, and practice godly character traits
    as found in the Bible
  • To play and manipulate the sounds of language (phonemic awareness)
  • To make connections between print and sounds (phonics)
  • To develop a growing sense of accomplishment as they read and write
    using CVC words and sight words, both in and out of context
  • To enjoy the rereading of favorite, predictable story books

What's Available with
Joyful Heart Character

An Overview of the Lessons

The Joyful Heart Character Curriculum continues the learning from the Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme 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.

 Children should have a firm grasp of letter recognition and know most of the corresponding letter sounds before beginning.  Each weekly lesson will have a focus letter for review, introduce a new sight word, and introduce or review a short vowel word family. The reading portion of the lessons build upon one another and should be used sequentially.

Each weekly lesson is based on a character trait.   One character trait is studied each week and is discussed through Bible stories and related verses from the Bible.  Crafts and story books are used to further emphasize the character trait. Review weeks are built in to allow for review of all aspects of the curriculum and to build in opportunities to work with seasonal concepts and activities.

Note: If you are only interested in using the Character Trait portion of the curriculum, just print the character trait tune charts (double sided), grab your favorite Bible, and you will be ready to go !  The character trait definition, suggested Bible memory verse, related verses from Scripture, Bible story references, and the character trait song are on the Character Trait Tune Charts. You could then, also, choose the order for the traits and not be dependent on the scope and sequence chart.


Joyful Heart Character Scope and Sequence
This is a 9 page document to show the full 38 week sequence for character traits, Bible, memory verses, crafts, story books, sight words and booklets, letter focus, word family focus, math concepts, and science concepts at a month by month glance.

Quick Reference Book List
A list of Suggested Books to use with this curriculum for the entire year. 
Just print it out and take it to the library with you!

Resource Books

Bible and Character Traits

  • A Child's Book of Character Building: Growing Up in God's World- At Home, at School, at Play (Book 1) by Ron and Rebekah Coriell.  Fleming H. Revel Company: 1981. ISBN 0-8007-5494-8
  • For Instruction in Righteousness : A Topical Reference Guide for Biblical Child Training by Pam Forster. Doorposts: 1993 (revised 1995).  ISBN 1-891206-07-9
  • What Every Child Should Know Along the Way by Gail Martin. Growing Families International: 2000. ISBN 1-883035-53-8
  • Praying the Scripture for Your Children by Jodie Berndt.  Zondervan:  2001. ISBN 0310232163

Beginning Reading and Decoding Skills:

  • Alphabet Rhymes: Reproducible Rhyme Books by Jean Warren. Totline Publications: 1998.  ISBN 1-57029-277-9
  • Now I'm Reading for Beginning Readers: Animal Antics (Level 1 set) by Nora Gaydos. Innovative Kids: 2003. ISBN 1-58476-159-8
  • Now I'm Reading for Beginning Readers: Playful Pals (Level 1 set) by Nora Gaydos. Innovative Kids: 2003. ISBN
  • BOB books

Math:

  • Count On Math: Activities for Small Hands and Lively Minds by Pam Schiiler and Lynne Peterson. Gryphon House: 1997. ISBN 0876591888

Phonemic Awareness:

  • Phonemic Awareness: Playing with Sounds to Strengthen Beginning Reading Skills by Jo Fitzpatrick. Creative Teaching Press: 1997.  ISBN 1574712344
  • Phonemic Awareness: Listening Activities to Develop Pre- Reading Skills by Hildi Kang.  Fearon Teacher Aids: 1997. ISBN 1564179443
  • Phonemic Awareness Activities for Early Reading Success by Wiley Blevins. Scholastic: 1997.  ISBN 0590372319
  • Phonemic Awareness Songs and Rhymes by Kimberly Jordano and Trisha Calella-Jones. Creative Teaching Press: 1998. (There are three books in this series– Fall, Winter, and Spring)

Science:

  • Let's Read and Find Out Science Series Levels 1 and 2