Which Will Work Best for My Little One, My LDS Preschool or TotSchool?

Unsure which one to purchase, TotSchool or Preschool? Here is more information to help you decide!

Our Preschool and TotSchool curriculums are very different in format style and amount of materials. Read on to see which will fit best for your family!

Intended Ages:

• TotSchool is designed for use with kids aged 18 months to 3 years.

• Preschool is designed for use with kids aged 3 years to 5 years.

Lesson Structure:

• TotSchool is one weekly lesson that can be used a little at a time over the whole week or taught all at once. 
• Preschool is two weekly lessons that are formatted like a traditional half-day preschool day, but can also be broken up to use across the whole week.

Learning Objectives:

• TotSchool’s focus is foundational learning with the goal of exploration and play. Basic colors, basic shapes, and numbers 1-9 are introduced. TotSchool is full of ideas that a mom can do to keep her toddler learning through play. Occasionally a printable is included with the lesson. Each week has at least one planned item for each of the following:

1. Heart training
2. Exploration
3. I can do it practice
4. Book Idea
5. Play
6. Joyful Noise
7. Outdoor Fun
8. Art Idea

See the picture below for a description of each.

• Preschool’s focus is Kindergarten readiness. It is a comprehensive curriculum and includes the fundamentals of school preparedness through alphabet recognition, pre-reading skills, math concepts, science, language development, large motor skills, fine motor skills and  handwriting. Routines of the classroom such as circle time, free play, and snack time are also built in. Additionally, we have multiple support videos to help our mama teachers. Lessons and how to teach is spelled out in detail with many printables for each week included and we have original songs for use at opening and closing of your preschool learning time. See the picture below for a sample of just some of what one week of our preschool curriculum has to offer.

My LDS Preschool Learning Benchmarks:

• Match one-to-one up to 5, 10, 20, 50 objects
• Verbally count to 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
• Say an object’s position in a line using ordinal numbers
• Identify written numerals
• Connect numerals to quantities they represent
• Write numerals up to 10
• Recognize the concept of zero meaning none
• Identify and describe shapes such as circles, rectangles, squares, and triangles
• Sort objects by color, size, and type
• Imitate pattern sounds and physical movements such as clap, stomp, clap, stomp
• Identify and describe a pattern
• Duplicate and extend a pattern
• Begin to use words that indicate where things are in space (beside, below, behind, above)
• Describe similarities and differences between objects
• Compare length of two objects using big/small, long/short
• Represent data using a simple graph
• Participate in imaginary and dramatic play
• Take turns
• Demonstrate a desire for independence
• Follow routines
• Participate in clean-up routines
• Treat property with respect
• Name emotions displayed by others
• Use fingers for fine motor skills to open and close objects, hold crayons, cut with scissors, etc.
• Use index finger to trace letters or numbers
• Move fingers to show numbers and for finger plays
• Use large muscle groups to maintain posture and mobility in walking, running, hopping, jumping, etc.
• Identify similarities and differences in sounds
• Listen to sounds and name objects that make that sound
• Tell whether two spoken words rhyme
• Produce a word that rhymes with a given word
• Listen to songs, poems, or nursery rhymes
• Break spoken sentences into words
• Break words into syllables
• Begin to create and invent words by substituting one sound for another
• Break words into two parts: onset and rime
• Name words that start with the same sound
• Identify the first sound in a spoken word
• Recognize and name letters in own first name
• Point to and name all 26 capital and lowercase letters and corresponding sounds
• Match capital and lowercase letters
• Distinguish print from pictures
• Understand print can be read and has meaning
• Imitate reading behaviors when handling books
• Begin to understand that print runs from left to right and top to bottom
• Turn pages in a book from front to back, one at a time
• Recognize own name in print
• Listen to stories for enjoyment
• Demonstrate active listening by attending to stories and instructions
• Make a prediction about a book by looking at pictures
• Identify the main character in a story
• Explain how a story connects to personal experience
• Retell a story with pictures and/or re-enact a story
• Learn words linked to content being taught
• Ask and respond to simple questions: Who? What? When? Where?
• Listen to and follow 3-step directions
• Communicate thoughts and feelings with words
• Share drawings and writings with others
• Trace and write letters
• Attempt to use a variety of forms of writing such as lists, messages, or stories using scribbles, shapes, pictures, and letters
• Describe observations
• Explore by manipulating materials with simple equipment (pouring from a cup, using a spoon to pick up water, etc.)

Themes:

• TotSchool incorporates a monthly theme based on a Bible and Book of Mormon scripture and different weekly themes that correlate with the monthly theme. For example, September’s theme is I can shine for Jesus. One of the weekly themes is I can shine for Jesus by using good manners. Lessons run from September to May and correlate with the seasons (start on whatever month we are in and circle back to the months you missed). 

• Preschool incorporates a weekly scripture and theme and  covers a new letter of the alphabet each week. The weekly themes are listed below. Each lesson activity coordinates with the letter, and the scripture! There are also 5 bonus holiday party lessons (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter)

When is a good time to start?

Both can be started at any point in the year.

• Totschool lessons are are broken up by month from September through May and correlate with the seasons. You can start on whatever month it is and circle back to the other months.
• Preschool lessons incorporate 56 full lessons covering each letter of the alphabet plus 5 bonus holiday lessons. The Alphabet lessons can be started at any point with the holiday lessons inserted as they come up. They also can be taught out of order if you choose to focus on a specific letter or scripture hero on a particular week .

Can Preschool and TotSchool be taught one? In a group?

They both will work for one on one instruction with a parent or in a group such as a toddler playgroup, co-op, or home preschool classroom.

My child is 3. Which curriculum is right for him?

The range of normal development for a three year old is wide. It depends on your child. If he is advanced or ready for more formal learning, then the preschool curriculum is the best place to start. Still not sure? Try a sample lesson of both and see which fits your child’s needs and abilities best. 

Download a free sample TotSchool lesson here.

Receive a free A is for Ammon Preschool sample lesson by signing up here (scroll down the page for the form). It will be delivered right to your inbox!

We know that you CAN teach your own child! Heavenly Father gave you your sweet little one and no matter your background, you can teach and influence your little one for good. If you decide one of our curriculums is right for you, we would love to be able to help!

Wishing you well!

This post was originally published in March of 2020.

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