The Weaver Curriculum®

The Weaver Curriculum®: What it is!

The Weaver Curriculum® is composed of Scripture based, multi-grade level unit studies, originally penned by Rebecca Avery.  It is non consumable and has five Volumes, each of which can last anywhere from one year to 18 months in the teaching. There are also additional supplements for each volume to cover years 7 to 12. Because it is multi-grade level (Prep to Gr 6), after Vol 5 you can repeat again from Vol 1, even for a child who completed the first Volume four years previous. The level of work and specific focus for their older grade level will mean that it looks quite different for them the second time around. The design is just wonderful. Where grade appropriate work is to be assigned, it is colour coded to each grade for easy referencing

For those parents who have time constraints or who might feel daunted by the planning side, there are wonderful books called Day by Day. There is one for every Volume and in them are detailed lesson plans for every day of The Weaver Curriculum®. Step by step, with everything from specific subject lessons, to helpful information about the topic, to creative writing assignments, to supplies needed, to which objectives to do in Wisdom Words. I find it an invaluable time and stress saver when I sit down to do my planning! The official word is that up to 75% of the planning has been done for you and when I look at it, I believe it.

The Interlock Program is a Preschool/Kindergarten Volume which studies Creation through Noah: Genesis 1-10 (usually used for age 4 and up but occasionally used for 3 yr olds). It's a three day a week curriculum for anyone who wants to follow it that closely and it is designed to be hands on. The Interlock can be beefed up to use with both the pre-primary/elementary kids and the early primary/elementary kids. For advice on how to do that, feel free to ask at the Unofficial Weaver e-mail list.
”I have found that whether the child reads or not, he still learns the same great stuff, science, etc. That's the way the Weaver is. The child learns by being read to or by reading and by having conversations with mom or dad about the great Weaver topics that stem from core bible readings.  It is great for weaning the child into unit studies. Hmm, for that matter, it’s great at weaning the parent into unit studies.  A child that reads can learn every bit as much from Interlock as a child that can't read. Reading is a separate issue. I have done Interlock with older children and merely had the older ones read to the younger ones instead of me doing that all the time. I have done Interlock with complete non-readers.  One thing to note is that Interlock starts slowly and works its way up in challenging materials.  It will seem like review to many children to be talking about shapes and numbers 1-10 the first couple of weeks.  All Prep/K level tasks are accomplished. We are doing it again for the third time.  I could just stick my nearly 5-year old daughter in the volume with her three older brothers, but I’d hate to have her miss the great foundational bible teaching in Interlock, not to mention the fun!  She begs for Interlock every day. Rebecca Avery knew what kids love and she obviously wrote the Interlock with the eyes of a young child. Our daughter can't get enough of it all because the Interlock has spurred on her love of school.”  Sharon, in Kansas, USA

123 Read- Phonics program "123READ! is a phonics program that is multi-sensory like the rest of Weaver.  It takes a child to a second grade reading level.  You won't find boring workbooks in this wonderful program.  It is divided into three sections. That is why it is called 123.  The 1st part includes a music tape and goes over reading readiness. The 2nd part takes a child through the understanding of the name and sound of each letter. It is done in such a fun way, too. The child will make paper bag puppet animals and learn a song with a verse for each animal. The simple verses teach the name and sound of each letter while the puppet project keeps them engaged.  The last section uses songs and some coloring pages (I guess some pages might even qualify as "workbook pages" but they are few enough to be novel) to teach phonics rules.  Do I sound like I love this program?  I really do!" Sharon, in Kansas, USA.