A Brand New Homeschool Literature and Language Arts Curriculum!
A simple but rich Pre-K and Kindergarten curriculum blends together the best of Charlotte Mason and Waldorf education. Based on years of experience! Available in June!
I am happy to announce the launch of Oak Orchard Press along with its first publication, Growing Oaks: Layered Learning Through Literature, a homeschool language arts and literature curriculum. What I have done with Growing Oaks is to craft a unique blend of Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, and Orton-Gillingham approaches with a heavy emphasis on ease of use. This is the curriculum that does ALL the things I have wished for–both as a Charlotte Mason homeschooler and as a Waldorf class teacher.
As a language arts curriculum, it will combine everything, all in one place:
Explicit and systematic Orton-Gillingham based reading instruction
Grammar and punctuation
Form drawing
Italics handwriting and cursive
Real living books (in the Charlotte Mason sense)
Narration and discussion questions
Integrated copywork
Heavy doses of poetry and fine art
Enrichment and extension activities
Movement activities to support learning
In a completely “open and go” format, it makes use of a gentle but systematic Orton-Gillingham based approach for reading, writing, and spelling instruction while also making use of movement activities, notebooking (or a morning lesson book), form drawing, copywork, and narration. The curriculum is rooted in seasonal “living books” and builds a core library that will serve as the basis for layered learning and seasonal rhythms for years to come.
The first release, in July 2025, will include two years (Pre-K and Kindergarten) and will hopefully continue to grow each year. All materials are easy to use, open and go, and aesthetically minimalist and beautiful. The teacher’s materials will include overviews for the year and each month, monthly supply and book lists, weekly grids, and daily lesson plans. The student’s materials will include instructional sheets, poetry, and fine art prints, in addition to literacy workbook.
This is much more than just a side project for me. This has been a lifelong passion. I have literally been working on this for decades! It is rooted in my own childhood and the books that were found in our home, and it grew from my days teaching university English and writing courses to my time as a Waldorf class teacher. It has especially taken shape during my years homeschooling my own three children. It bears influences from my time living and teaching in Turkey, France, England, and the United States as well as my experience of the liturgical life of the church.
In addition to the Growing Oaks curriculum series, Oak Orchard Press is working on Feasts and Furrows: Living the Liturgical Year Inspired by the Seasons, a guide to liturgical living including prayers, hymns, readings, stories, learning activities, and meaningful traditions to do with your family as well as the history of how and why we celebrate each feast. Options for both Western and Eastern calendars (Old & New) are planned for release some time in 2026.
There is so much more to tell you about what’s coming! There will be more posts with all the details on Growing Oaks Pre-K and Kindergarten coming soon! Subscribe to Oak Orchard Press to stay up to date.
School administrators, please stay tuned: we have hopes for an edition of the Growing Oaks: Layered Learning Through Literature early childhood (Pre-K and Kindergarten) curriculum for the school classroom. Specific release dates are not available yet, but subscribe to stay up to date.
Please subscribe to this Substack and follow me on Instagram @oak.orchard.press to get all the updates on Oak Orchard Press’ Growing Oaks: Layered Learning Through Literature, Feasts and Furrows: Living the Liturgical Year Inspired by the Seasons and all future releases. And please feel free to contact me directly at oak.orchard.press@gmail.com or here for any inquiries.