COLOR-CODING AND PRINTING EXPLAINED

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Our curriculum covers multiple ages at once!  How do we do it without “boring the younger kids” or “not teaching enough to the high school students/adults”?  And how do we make it so ALL ages (pre-reader to adult) can still come together as a family and learn?  Here’s the quick explanation of the differences below!  PS: We also answer the question of which ones to print for YOUR family setup if you scroll to the bottom! If you would rather the 5-minute read, continue on.  If you would rather hear/see the directions and hear how we use it in real life with a full video to guide you through, click HERE.

HOW ARE THE GUIDEBOOK LEVELS DIFFERENT?  WHAT IS COLOR CODING?

• All black font, main lesson portions, and activities match in the elementary – adult guidebooks (aka “GROWING & ADVANCED” GUIDEBOOKS).  This is a difficult feat for us when creating the units, but it is what allows for a seamless flow and out-loud reading between the whole family–appropriate to ALL ages.   There is no teacher’s guide, since parents get to learn alongside their children and take a break from doing the “teaching.”  We do it for you!
• Every person gets their “nuggets” of extra learning thanks to our color-coding system where there are different-colored font boxes sprinkled throughout each guidebook. Think of it in terms of Bible commentary, as an analogy:
  
  • Imagine reading the Bible out loud together as a family, each person with his/her own Bible
    
    • An “adult Bible” commentary box would include and expand on advanced concepts like apologetics or archaeological concepts
      
    • A “children’s Bible” commentary box would instead have cute and child-like commentary boxes elaborating on the ABCs of forgiveness
      
    • While the commentary is different in each Bible, all of the Bible verses would be the same.  That’s the same concept in our color-coded guidebooks.
    • Some pages or lessons have drastically varying “commentary” where others do not need any differences, at all.  It varies by unit and by lesson.
    • ADVANCED (high school/adult) will include color-coded advanced terminology and concepts such as, “The physiologically active constituents of a plant are separated and classified by their chemical structure…” You know, the things that are way over an elementary/middle school child’s head and would make them scream, “WHAT?!”  It will also include more sensitive information when it comes to history, death, more mature content, etc. 
    • GROWING (elementary/middle) will have color-coded terminology that includes more hand-holding.  It may pause to explain a concept in a watered down way (helping older students or parents be able to explain to younger children without having to think of examples on their own)
• Each person can choose to silently read his/her different-colored font or boxes as the lesson moves along, or he/she can wait until a later time and read independently.  It’s adjustable, just like in our Bible commentary example above! [Examples below]. 
  

EXAMPLE:

Swipe sideways to see comparisons of green-colored font (one in “adult” and one in “elementary”)

 

How did we bridge the gap, teaching all different age groups at their own level while still also allowing the family to come together to complete the unit as one?  By color-coding and only reading the black font out loud. 

SYW PAGES EXAMPLE

SYW pages are “Skip if You Want” pages, which are different in each guidebook.  Imagine them as page-long “commentaries” so to speak

 

DO I HAVE TO PRINT ALL GUIDEBOOKS?

Regular guidebooks do not need to be printed, unless desired.  You can view completely digitally and use with a blank notebook and paper.  We set it up this way intentionally, to help save money on printing and make more convenient for homeschooling families.  Exception: pre-reader/early learner may have pages that need to be printed, as it has some coloring, tracing, and cutting activities.

WHAT GUIDEBOOKS DO I USE OR PRINT, IF I LIKE TO PRINT?

• If you have a family of different ages from elementary – adult and you are choosing to print, we recommended printing off one guidebook of “Growing” and one guidebook of “Advanced.”  That’s it!  Set the two guidebooks on the table (or wherever) as you begin.  If younger students want to read or follow along, they can grab and share the GROWING guidebook.  If the adults or high school students want to read or follow along, they can grab and share the ADVANCED guidebook.  Remember, all black font in these guidebooks is going to match and be applicable for ALL ages!  This way, everybody can join in as desired and nobody misses any of their special “nuggets” and “extras” that are just for them!   You’ve got everything covered this way–easy as can be!  Now, if you want to do it differently (give everyone their own guidebook or mix and match), that’s fine, too!
• If you have pre-readers, give them their own Early Learner guidebook (activity pack)
• If you want to use this as core, print off (or view digitally) the Core Connections Companion.  This only needs to be printed once or viewed digitally, since it is all-encompassing and covers all ages.  Those who like to print often stick this Companion together with their guidebook before binding, so it’s all in one place.

Extra Information

• The pre-reader guidebook is the only regular guidebook that is very different than all the others because its purpose is to contain activities that can focus a little one’s mind to keep them busy and reinforce learning during the lesson—unique to their age group.  Think of it like an activity pack that reinforces the lesson for your youngest learners.   **OF NOTE: some customers actually enjoy doing the pre-reader activities with their older children just because some of them are pretty fun, and if that’s you, enjoy! 

• Core Connections Companion used to be incorporated within the main guidebooks but is now is a separate file.  Core Connections are included free of charge, as a courtesy. They are completely optional and allow for AMAZING further expansion into different core school subjects, for those who use this as their core.  All ages are covered in the single download titled “Core Connections,” so printing is very self-explanatory.  Print a single copy if you want to use it, and it covers all ages.  DONE. 🙂

 

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