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Frequently Asked Questions

Please note: We are still working on this page, and hope to have a “drop-down” format soon.

General: Blossom and Root Home Education

Which levels do you currently offer?

As of fall 2020, we offer preschool / pre-k, kindergarten, and levels / grades 1 – 5. We also offer U.S. history (Vol. 1 is now available) and several Book Seed issues (STEM mini-units.)

Will you continue to build higher levels?

At this time, we do intend to develop curriculum beyond level 5, but we do not have a firm timeline in place for levels 6 and up.

Are your materials aligned with common core?

We do not attempt to align with common core standards when writing our curricula. If you are required to, or choose to, align with common core standards in your homeschool, please compare our scope and sequences for the level(s) you’re considering with the common core requirements for your state to determine whether or not our materials will be a good fit, and what you would need to supplement with, should you choose to use them.

Are your materials designed to align with what public schools cover in each grade level?

No. We do not design our materials to align with what public schools cover in each grade level. Naturally, there will be some cross-over, but that is not the overall goal for our program. If you are trying to stay aligned with public schools, because you are temporarily homeschooling or because that is your goal, you may want to compare the scope and sequence for the level(s) you are considering to the materials covered in the corresponding level in your local school district. You will need to to determine whether or not our materials will be a good fit, and what you would need to supplement with, should you choose to use them.

Where can I see which topics are covered in each level?

The scope and sequence for each level is the best place to find a list of what is covered. We also provide samples on each level’s webpage, here on this website, most of which include a full table of contents.

Which subjects do your grade level materials cover?

Kindergarten includes: language arts (reading, gentle copywork, narration and journal prompts, and literature); science with gently integrated math; nature study; picture study suggestions; art projects; composer study suggestions; and history / geography (“The History of Me.”) Please note: Math at this level is very gently integrated into science. If you wish to also add a structured math curriculum at this time, you are welcome to do so. Please scroll down for recommended math curricula.

Grades 1 and up include: language arts (reading, narration, journal prompts, creativity, geography, and literature); science; nature study; and art. Beginning in grade 2 / level 2, light grammar work is included with weekly copywork prompts. Additional grammar may be supplemented at the parent’s discretion, using an outside resource, if you need a more rigorous approach. Bundles for grades 1 and up do not include: math, spelling, handwriting or cursive instruction, history, or anything else not listed above.

Which subjects does your Early Years curriculum cover?

Vol. 1 includes: weekly literature recommendation with related activity, weekly kindness and connectivity prompt, weekly prompt for gentle math and science foundation through environment, experiences, and engagement (at a developmentally-appropriate level), weekly nature study prompt, weekly picture study suggestion and art project, weekly composer / musician study suggestion, weekly suggestions for kitchen classroom.

Vol. 2 includes: weekly reading / writing readiness lessons (one letter per week with a focus on letter recognition and letter sounds), weekly literature and nursery rhyme recommendations, weekly early math foundation lessons, weekly STEM prompt, weekly nature study prompt, weekly picture study suggestion and art project, weekly composer study suggestion.

Will your materials include all of the subjects I need to cover?

You will need to compare what our materials include (see two previous questions or the scope and sequence for the level you’re considering) with what your state requires for homeschoolers. Parents are responsible for knowing, understanding, and fulfilling homeschooling requirements according to their state. This may mean you need to source additional curriculum and / or supplements to cover your state’s requirements. For grades 1 and up, you will definitely need to source a math curriculum for your child. If you want or need your kindergartener to begin a structured math curriculum in the kindergarten year, you will need to source one as math is only gently integrated into kindergarten science. In addition, if your goal is to align with a local school district, please compare our scope and sequences to the district standards / common core standards to see where / how you may need to supplement. We do not attempt to align our materials with common core / district standards in any way.

Do your materials include tests?

No, we do not include tests in any of our curricula. Assessment opportunities include projects and narrations / notebooking, depending on which level you are considering.

Does my purchase from Blossom and Root include the required literature / science books?

No. Required literature books and science spines (main books used frequently throughout the year) are not included in your purchase from Blossom and Root. Your purchase only includes the PDF downloads for parent guides and student notebooks as outlined in our store listings. You will need to source the required / highly recommended books, either by purchasing or borrowing them. Please scroll down further to see book list links for each level.

Does my purchase from Blossom and Root include the required materials or supplies I will need?

No, supplies and materials are not included with your purchase from Blossom and Root. Your purchase only includes the PDF downloads for parent guides and student notebooks as outlined in our store listings. You will need to source the required materials and supplies, either by purchasing or borrowing them. Please scroll down further to see materials / supply list links for each level.

Does Blossom and Root submit attendance records, completed work, etc. to my state for me?

No. We are not an umbrella school, charter, etc. and we do not submit any records whatsoever to the state for anyone. We simply provide homeschool curricula that can be downloaded and used to teach your children in your home. Parents are responsible for knowing, understanding, and following all requirements for homeschoolers in their state, regarding declaring of intent, attendance records, testing, portfolios, etc. Blossom and Root does not provide these services and is not responsible for ensuring that these requirements are met for your family.

Do we need to enroll our child with Blossom and Root?

No. We are not a school, charter school, umbrella, etc. You do not enroll with us–we simply provide curricula for use in your home.

Where do I learn about my state’s requirements for homeschoolers?

The best place to start is to look over the homeschooling laws and requirements for your state. This can help you figure out how to register or declare intent to homeschool, which subjects you’re required to cover, how testing or assessment is handled in your state and what your obligations are, etc. Here is one place to start: https://www.homeschool.com/articles/state-homeschooling-laws/ but we highly recommend going directly to the source and looking them up on your state’s website, too. Facebook groups specific to homeschooling in your state can also be very helpful in pointing you in the right direction. There may also be umbrella schools or charter schools in your state with helpful information on their website.

Do you offer printed and bound curriculum / physical copies of the curricula?

We do not offer physical products at this time. All of our materials are delivered via PDF download. You are welcome to have copies for your own family’s use printed / bound at the printing shop of your choice or to print them in your own home. We recommend Hard Copy HQ for your printing needs: https://www.hardcopyhq.com/blossom-and-root.html

Are there any refunds, exchanges, or returns?

Due to the digital nature of our products, we do not offer any refunds, returns, or exchanges on any product in our store. All sales are final. Please take time to read all of the information on our website, review samples, read the scope and sequences for your level(s), and reach out with any questions not answered on this webpage before purchasing!

Where can I find prices for your products?

Please see our store for current prices: https://gumroad.com/blossomandroot

You can find links to store listings for individual products on each product page on this website.

I need help with placement. Where do I start?

Please refer to each level’s samples and scope and sequence to see what is covered in each level. (Those are linked further up on this page, and can also be found on each level’s page on this website.) Please note that you can pick and choose pieces from multiple levels, and pieces are sold individually in our store. For example, you can do third grade LA with fourth grade science. Early Years / Kindergarten: Please scroll down to the Early Years and Kindergarten FAQs for specific placement tips for those levels.

Can I talk to someone on the phone for assistance?

Unfortunately, we do not offer phone consultations or support at this time. We are a tiny team and homeschool our children during the day. Please feel free to reach out via email after reviewing this webpage. (Your question may be answered further down.) We are always happy to help!

Are your materials in full color?

No. By and large, our materials are in black and white, as we try to make our curriculum affordable for parents to print. Exceptions are: covers of each curriculum, scavenger hunt files for levels 1 – 4, Book Seed issues.

When should I receive my digital files after purchasing?

Immediately upon purchase, you should see a prompt to download or view your files, at the same time as you see your receipt. Gumroad should also email your links to your files (and a receipt to you) at the email address you entered at checkout. These sometimes go to junk mail, so please check for them there if you don’t see them in your inbox. If you do not immediately receive your link from Gumroad, please contact us and we will assist you. You can also reach out to [email protected].

I can’t find my link / download from my purchase. What do I do?

Please check for an email from Gumroad in your email inbox or junk mail. If you do not see one, please reach out to [email protected] or to us. If you entered your email incorrectly at checkout, or if you need to change your email address associated with your purchase, or if you accidentally set up multiple accounts on Gumroad and want to combine them, please reach out to [email protected].

I need to change the email account I purchased under. What do I do?

If you entered your email incorrectly at checkout, or if you need to change your email address associated with your purchase, or if you accidentally set up multiple accounts on Gumroad and want to combine them, please reach out to [email protected].

When do you have sales?

We have three sales each year: March 15 – April 30, August 1 – September 15, and November 15 – December 31. Each sale is for 30% off everything in our store.

Page Counts and Printing Questions

Do you offer printed and bound curriculum / physical copies of the curricula?

We do not offer physical products at this time. All of our materials are delivered via PDF download. You are welcome to have copies for your own family’s use printed / bound at the printing shop of your choice or to print them in your own home. We recommend Hard Copy HQ for your printing needs: https://www.hardcopyhq.com/blossom-and-root.html

What are the page counts for each level?

Please click here for a PDF of all current page counts.

What do you recommend for printing?

Choosing whether or not to print your materials is a personal choice. There are parents that use both the teaching materials and the student notebooks digitally. Others print the notebooks, but use the teaching materials digitally. Most people print both the teaching materials and the student notebooks out.

Black and white is fine for everything, though if you choose to print the scavenger hunts for science levels 1 – 4, they are better in color, and if you choose to print any Book Seed issues (which are typically used digitally) they are best in color.

Double-sided works fine for teaching materials (parent / lesson guides.) It also works for science and nature notebooks, though some people prefer single-sided (again, that’s a personal choice.) Some people prefer to use a large sketchbook for the science and nature study notebooks for levels 1 – 3, which is completely appropriate. We recommend single-sided for the LA student notebooks in levels K – 3. If you choose to use Hard Copy HQ, they include a blank backside for any pages that require cutting, allowing those to be printed single-sided. Early Years PDFs can be double-sided.

Special note regarding Kindergarten Captain’s Log: Please note that you only need to print as many pages as you intend to use from this log book. If you’re only using it for weekly science prompts, you’ll need 36 log pages. There are enough included if you want to log calendar, weather, gratitude, etc. 5 days per week in the file.

Can I sell my printed / bound copies at the end of the school year?

There is currently a Blossom and Root B/S/T (buy / sell / trade) group on Facebook where you may sell the printed / bound copies you made for your own family’s use. Please note that you must confirm a buyer’s purchase of digital files from Blossom and Root before you may sell your printed copy to them. You may not sell printed curricula to anyone who has not purchased the digital files of that product from Blossom and Root first. Please conduct transactions on PayPal or another invoicing platform that protects the buyer. Blossom and Root is not involved with payment transactions or sales in the group and is not responsible for any of the sales conducted, in any way. Buy / sell used printed curricula and supplemental materials at your own risk. If you have any questions, please contact the admins of the group. Sharing or selling of digital content is a violation of our copyright and is strictly prohibited.

Required Materials and Book Lists

Where can I find the materials / supply list for each level?

Please refer to the appropriate links below to see materials / supplies for each level:

  • Early Years Vol. 1 master supply list
  • Early Years Vol. 2 master supply list
  • Level 0 (Kindergarten) master supply list
  • First grade assembled supply list
  • Second grade assembled supply list
  • Third grade assembled supply list coming soon. In the meantime, LA supply list can be found at the back of the parent guide PDF. Art supply list can be found at the front of the parent guide PDF. Supplies for each science activity can be found in the lab guide.
  • Fourth grade assembled supply list coming soon. In the meantime, LA and art supply lists can be found at the beginning of the parent guide / lesson guide PDFs. Supplies for each science activity can be found in the lab guide.
  • There is not a master supply list for A River of Voices, Vol. 1. Please choose activities you plan to do from each lesson to determine which supplies will be needed.
  • There is not a master supply list for Book Seed issues. Please choose activities you plan to do from each issue to determine which supplies will be needed.

Where can I find the book lists for each level?

Please refer to the appropriate links below to see book lists (required / highly recommended books only) for each level. Please note that supplemental book lists (for optional / supplemental books), if applicable, are only available in the appropriate parent guides upon purchase.

Does my purchase from Blossom and Root include the required literature / science books?

No. Required literature books and science spines (main books used throughout the year) are not included in your purchase from Blossom and Root. Your purchase only includes the PDF downloads for parent guides and student notebooks as outlined in our store listings. You will need to source the required / highly recommended books, either by purchasing or borrowing them.

Does my purchase from Blossom and Root include the required materials or supplies I will need?

No, supplies and materials are not included with your purchase from Blossom and Root. Your purchase only includes the PDF downloads for parent guides and student notebooks as outlined in our store listings. You will need to source the required supplies and materials, either by purchasing or borrowing them.

Can we switch a book in the curriculum out for another book?

For Early Years, it’s very easy to switch out a book if needed. Please feel free to supplement with another book of your choosing if you’d like.

For kindergarten and up, switching out a literature book in Language Arts will mean having to change the related journaling prompt(s), and possibly some activities, to adapt them to the book you choose. This shouldn’t be too difficult to do in kindergarten or level 1 / first grade, but it may entail a little more work for levels 2 and up, as there are more activities related to the books that you’ll need to adapt. However, we encourage you to make the curriculum your own, and to adapt it however you like to suit your needs. If you would like to swap a book out, you are more than welcome to do so.

Homeschooling with Multiple Learners

Can I teach both Early Years levels at the same time to different children?

We do not recommend this. The two Early Years volumes have a lot of similar content. They both include a weekly nature study prompt, suggested picture study and art activity, suggested composer / musician study, and suggested literature selection. Because of this, juggling two volumes with multiple young children can be unnecessary and stressful. We recommend choosing one volume to do with both learners at the same time. Typically, we recommend choosing based on the older child’s needs. If you do decide to do two volumes at the same time, we recommend choosing ONE volume to follow for the weekly nature study prompt, suggested picture study and art activity, suggested composer / musician study, and suggested literature selection.

Can I teach Early Years and kindergarten at the same time to multiple learners?

You can, if you feel it is the best fit for the needs of your children. You can also have your younger child jump into the kindergarten activities when and where they like, and supplement with additional letter or number resources as needed. If you do decide to do an Early Years volume alongside kindergarten, we recommend choosing one or the other to follow for the weekly nature study prompt, suggested picture study and art activity, and suggested composer / musician study. That way, you won’t be doubling up on those subjects unnecessarily.

Can I teach some elementary subjects from a single level with multiple learners of different ages?

Yes, absolutely. For elementary-aged learners, you can choose a single level of science, art, and nature study to do with multiple learners of multiple ages. These subjects can be adapted or adjusted to accommodate multiple ages fairly easily. Science topics can be simplified for younger learners, or you can dive deeper for older learners. Our Level 1 – 3 science programs are appropriate for grades 1 – 4. Level 4 science is appropriate for grades 1 – 5. If you have a kindergartener, they may be able to use an elementary science curriculum, too. We recommend science from Levels 1 – 3 for kindergarteners.

How do I choose a science level for multiple learners?

You can choose based on interest. First grade / level 1 science covers geology, weather, and seasons. Second grade / level 2 science covers botany (plants and fungi.) Third grade / level 3 science covers zoology. Fourth grade / level 4 covers physics, engineering, and anatomy. Level 4 is a bit more intense than Levels 1 – 3.

You can also choose based on what you need to cover this year, according to your goals. You can even purchase multiple levels and mix / match them to cover multiple topics over the year.

Can I use one level of language arts with multiple learners?

This is a bit trickier than using one level for science, nature, or art, but it can be done under certain conditions. If the children are fairly close in age or needs, it’s fairly easy to adapt or supplement with outside resources to support the younger or older chid. If their needs are widely different, it may make more sense to choose individual levels for each child OR to use a different (outside) reading curriculum for one child or another and simply do the literature (read-alouds) and related activities together from one level of Blossom and Root.

The other factor that should be considered is the literature itself. The literature lists for higher levels may not be appropriate for a younger or more sensitive learner. Please refer the book lists for each level (scroll up to find links) to help you assess placement. You can usually read samples on sites like Amazon, or find information on websites like common sense media, which can help you determine whether or not the book lists will work for multiple learners in your homeschool.

Recommended Supplements

Do you have recommendations for math curriculum?

There are so many math programs available, and sometimes finding the right fit requires some trial and error. We personally use and love Right Start Math and Wild Math, as they work well for our own hands-on learners in our homeschool. We also really love Beast Academy–it is a great choice for advanced learners. Kate Snow’s Math with Confidence series, Singapore and Math Mammoth are solid programs. And you can find some great units to round things out (like money, time, shapes, etc.) at the Moffat Girls shop on Teachers Pay Teachers. There are many more choices out there, so please do not let this list limit you!

What about second languages? Any recommended supplements?

I find a lot of great resources on Teachers Pay Teachers for French, and I know there are quite a lot of Spanish resources there, too. The Language Together readers (available on Amazon) are very good. You can read more foreign language program reviews on the Cathy Duffy website here: https://cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/foreign-language#

I will add to this entry as I find more recommendations.

What would you recommend for spelling?

If you want to use a structured spelling curriculum, Evan Moor makes spelling workbooks that are easy to incorporate into any homeschool. All About Spelling has wonderful reviews and is worth looking into. And you can also find spelling resources on Teachers Pay Teachers.

What about handwriting and cursive?

If you would like to add a handwriting or cursive curriculum, there are many options available in teaching supply stores (like Lakeshore), on Teachers Pay Teachers, and from publishers like Handwriting Without Tears and Exl Cursive Handwriting Workbook Series.

What if I’d like to add more grammar?

Grammar is lightly integrated into the copywork for Levels 2 and up, but if you’d like a more rigorous grammar component, you might look at Evan Moor or Teachers Pay Teachers for supplemental materials.

What do you recommend for history?

For world history, Curiosity Chronicles is a wonderful option to consider.

We offer one volume (up to 1791) of U.S. history currently–A River of Voices Vol. 1. While there are pathways for learners in k – 7th grade, it may not be a fit for every younger learner. Please read through the samples and information carefully before deciding to add it for your child.

What about geography?

Geography is integrated into language arts for levels 1 and up, but some parents like to add a structured geography curriculum, too. Evan Moor makes a good geography workbook called Beginning Geography for grades k – 2. They do have resources for upper grades, too.

Early Years FAQs

Which subjects do your Early Years curricula cover?

Vol. 1 includes: weekly literature recommendation with related activity, weekly kindness and connectivity prompt, weekly prompt for gentle math and science foundation through environment, experiences, and engagement (at a developmentally-appropriate level), weekly nature study prompt, weekly picture study suggestion and art project, weekly composer / musician study suggestion, weekly suggestions for kitchen classroom.

Vol. 2 includes: weekly reading / writing readiness lessons (one letter per week with a focus on letter recognition and letter sounds), weekly literature and nursery rhyme recommendations, weekly early math foundation lessons, weekly STEM prompt, weekly nature study prompt, weekly picture study suggestion and art project, weekly composer study suggestion.

Kindergarten FAQs coming soon.

First Grade FAQs coming soon.

Second Grade FAQs coming soon.

Third Grade FAQs coming soon.

Fourth Grade FAQs

Where can I find the cursive copywork pages?

The cursive copywork pages are at the end of the Language Arts Lesson Guide PDF (not the notebook PDF.)

More FAQs coming soon.

A River of Voices FAQs coming soon.

When will Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 be released?

We do not have a firm ETA for either volume at this time, but Vol. 2 is anticipated for a rolling release beginning in late summer 2021, and Vol. 3 is anticipated for release in late 2022.

When will you make announcements about where the profits from A River of Voices Vol. 1 will go?

A donation recipient list can be found at the bottom of the US History page, and will updated between January and March of each calendar year.

More FAQs coming soon.

Book Seed FAQs coming soon.

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