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Curriculum Adoption Checklist

Use this checklist to plan your first use of Literacy for Kids. It takes about 10 minutes to fill in, and then you are ready to start.

Step 1: Choose Your Setting​

Mark where you will be using the curriculum.

  • One child at home
  • Homeschool family or co-op
  • Classroom (school setting)
  • After-school program
  • Library or community group
  • Summer program or camp
  • Club or enrichment group
  • Other: ___________

Step 2: Choose Your Cadence​

How often will you run a lesson?

  • Once a week (most common — 18 weeks = one full curriculum)
  • Twice a week (9 weeks per curriculum)
  • Short daily discussions (18 school days = about 3–4 weeks)
  • Summer or intensive format (daily, finish in 3–4 weeks)
  • Self-paced, as interest allows

Step 3: Choose Your First Curriculum​

Pick the one that fits your learners best right now. Any curriculum is a good starting point.

CurriculumGood if your learners are...
🧠Decision LiteracyFacing choices, learning to reason, or interested in how their own thinking works
💻Computer LiteracyCurious about technology, starting to use devices independently
📰Media LiteracyExposed to social media, news, or advertising; asking "is this real?"
💰Financial LiteracyStarting to handle money, asking about prices, or earning allowance
🏛️Civic LiteracyInterested in fairness, rules, or how communities make decisions
🧩Emotional & Social LiteracyWorking through friendships, conflict, or understanding their own emotions
⚖️Legal LiteracyCurious about rules, rights, or how agreements work
🌍Environmental Systems LiteracyInterested in science, nature, sustainability, or how Earth systems work
🩺Health Systems LiteracyCurious about how their body works or starting to make health decisions

My first curriculum: ___________

Step 4: Prepare for Your First Session​

Read the facilitator guide for your chosen curriculum. Then check these off before your first lesson.

  • Read the facilitator guide (takes about 10 minutes)
  • Read Lesson 1 (takes about 5 minutes — you'll know more than enough to facilitate it)
  • Decide how long your session will be (aim for 15–20 minutes)
  • Decide whether students will discuss out loud, write privately, or both
  • Have the lesson open on a screen or printed out
  • Optional: Print one scenario card to use as a warm-up or extension

Step 5: Run Your First Lesson​

A typical 15–20 minute lesson looks like this.

  • Start with the warm-up question at the top of the lesson
  • Read or summarize the main concept in 3–5 minutes (short explanation, not a lecture)
  • Use a real-life example from the lesson or one you know
  • Ask 2–3 of the discussion questions from the lesson
  • End with one reflection prompt (from the lesson or the exit-ticket bank)
  • Leave time for "what questions do you still have?"

Step 6: After the First Lesson​

  • Note what questions students asked that you didn't expect
  • Note what part of the lesson generated the most discussion
  • Decide whether to continue with Lesson 2 or explore the topic further first
  • Optional: Look at the curriculum map to see where the topic leads next

Repeat​

Once the session rhythm is established, you don't need this checklist. Each lesson takes about 5 minutes to prepare and 15–20 minutes to run.

Helpful References​

ResourceWhat it is
Implementation PathwaysDetailed guidance for different settings
Ecosystem OverviewHow the nine curricula connect
Privacy and Student DataNo data collected — explained
Facilitator guideIn each curriculum's docs section
Scenario cardsIn each curriculum's docs section
Exit-ticket bankIn each curriculum's docs section
Curriculum mapIn each curriculum's docs section