What Do I Need to Use the ABCJLM Curriculum?

A lot of questions have been asked on the ABCJLM Facebook Group about what is needed to use the ABCJLM Curriculum.  I wanted to write a blog post combining the answers.

First and foremost, beyond what you already have in your home nothing has to be purchased to use the ABCJLM curriculum.  You can alter every suggestion and use items already in your home or items found on the internet.  Using this option, there will be no costs involved.  (Remember that a License is required for churches, preschools, daycares, and other businesses to use the ABCJLM website.)  I purposely wrote the curriculum with this option in mind.

But if you would like to follow the curriculum a little closer, you may want to have some of the suggested items on hand. 

Supplemental Materials:

As you read through the lesson plans, you will see that specific items are suggestions throughout the curriculum:  children Bibles, games, videos, craft products, CD's, and books.  Each of these items are chosen because I have used them in our home with our children.  Also, I believe that they have aided in our children learning specific objectives.  Any of these items can be substituted with something in your home. Click the link to see a list of suggested Supplemental Materials.  On these pages, an *asterisk is placed by items that I reference frequently throughout the curriculum. To find these items, I suggest your local library, used booked stores, Amazon, ebay, Christianbook.com, or other favorite source. 

Materials to Make:

To save money, you may desire to make some of the supplemental materials.  Tactile Letters and Numbers, play dough, and flashcards are a few examples.  Directions and recipes are available on the website.  Before you spend hours making the various items, calculate the time involved and supply costs.  Sometimes it is better to purchase the item for $5 than make it yourself and spend four hours away from your children. 

Curriculum and Worksheets:

The curriculum and worksheets are 100% free for family use and are all available on the internet.  Simply go to the ABCJesusLovesMe website to view the lesson plans and either print off the worksheets or draw your own.

But these methods may be time consuming and costly for some.  Two more options have been made available: Books in Print and Kindle Editions.

Books in Print:

After realizing the amount of time and expense it takes to print off the curriculum and worksheets, many asked to purchase the books pre-printed.  I did my own research to see if it would be feasible and this is what I found.

• Time Involved
  Each of the nine books are approximately 100-150 pages. For me, it takes approx an hour to print each curriculum (so a total of four hours for all four curriculum).
  
  The worksheets take longer to print because you have to go to each lesson plan and click the link. I have never printed out all of the worksheets myself but would guess it would take 2-5 hours depending on the curriculum.  This will include approximately 150-300 pages with the worksheets, Bible Coloring sheets, and Visual Perception pages.  


• Price Involved:
  Depending on your printer, it may cost around 10 cents per print (though my computer-tech husband says it is higher than that). You can do some research online to learn what your printer costs per print. Remember to calculate the coloring copying cost as well as black/white. And, add your paper costs. Remember that you are printing 250-450 pages per curriculum.  Some pages are black and white while others pages are have optional coloring. The Handwriting pages are best printed in color.

This research showed me that it would be in the best interest of the ABCJLM users for us to offer the books in print form.  Now, each of the curriculum, their workbooks, as well as the Bible Coloring Sheets Workbook and Visual Perception Workbook are available to order in book form.

Kindle Edition:

Many have said that this is their favorite form of the curriculum.  They have the curriculum with them at all times and aren't tempted by the internet wondering.  This form is especially helpful when looking for supplies. 

The four curriculum are now available for Kindle and Kindle app on Amazon.com. Simply click the links below to download each complete 36 Week Curriculum for only $9.99. With the Kindle Edition you have access to the entire curriculum in one document as well as direct access to all linked sites and pdf files.  You can also view the worksheets in PDF file.   

Don't have a Kindle??  Use the free Kindle App to download the ABCJLM Curriculum to your web browser, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, or Android phone.
 
Which Books Do I Need?

I suggest that for each curriculum, you order the Curriculum book, the cordinating Workbook, and the Bible Coloring Sheets Workbook.  The Visual Perception Workbook is also used in the 4 and 5 Year Curriculum.  This will provide you with the lesson plans and worksheets that are used in the curriculum.  Remember that the Bible Coloring Book covers all four curriculum and is a one time purchase while the Visual Perception Workbook covers two curriculum.  Click to see what is included in each book. 

Is There A Specific List of Items Needed?

Yes, each curriculum contains a list of items needed.  (i.e. 2 Year Curriculum Supply List)  While the lists may seem daunting at first, I believe that you will find the vast majority of the supplies already in your home.  If they are not, I suggest that these items be available for your child to use and play with to expose your child to many textures, activities, books, and play.




What additional questions do you have?