In 2014, when I was pregnant with my first child, my life changed in big ways. I was so grateful to be expecting, but pregnancy complications meant I had to step away from my role as a classroom teacher and go on bed rest. That time at home gave me space to think, dream, and start exploring. I discovered online teaching, global learning communities, and virtual education. And that’s when the very first version of Little House Kindergarten was born.
Since then, Little House Kindergarten has grown beyond what I could have imagined. What started as lessons I wrote for my own family has now been used by hundreds of thousands of families and community schools in nearly 200 countries around the world. Along the way, I’ve gone back to school myself, earning a Master of Science in Management and Leadership with a focus on global leadership in education, and a Master of Education in Educational Technology and Instructional Design with specializations in K–12 and adult learning. I also became a TESOL International Association certified teacher and taught students of all ages, from preschoolers to university learners, on every continent except Antarctica. Today, I’m continuing my own education as I pursue a PhD in Educational Leadership with a concentration in English. Each of these experiences has helped me refine Little House into what it is today.
I’ve also poured a lot of love into the details, even drawing the curriculum covers by hand. My goal has always been to keep it simple, beautiful, and accessible so parents feel empowered to teach their own children.
Why It’s Free
Little House Kindergarten is free because I believe early learning is the foundation for everything that comes after. I also believe we are a global village, and education is something that should be shared. I want my university students in Afghanistan and in refugee camps to have the same access to early learning resources that I give to families in my own community, and to my own kids.
This is the exact curriculum I use at home with my kids. I’ve worked hard to make sure it’s simple and accessible, so that if you can read, you can teach your child. You don’t need a teaching background. You just need the willingness to sit down with your child and learn together. Remember: you are your child’s first, best, and most important teacher.
What You’ll Find
Each lesson for Little House Pre-Kindergarten, Little House Kindergarten, and How to Teach Your Child to Read in 120 Lessons is available free on this site. The goal is to make sure every child has access to strong, wholesome, foundational early education—no matter where they live.
This is my passion project as both a teacher and a mother. It has been a gift to grow this curriculum alongside my own family and studies, and I hope it serves you and your child well too.
Happy learning,
Hannah Ward
info@actualreading.com
