About
Life Prep Curriculum

Hi, I'm Nicole.

I'm a teacher, curriculum developer, and instructional designer. And now, I'm a homeschool mom.

Where I started

I taught in K–12 classrooms for seven years, including math for grades 5–12. I hold ESOL, ESE, and Gifted endorsements and I'm a Certified Learning Strategist. I started Life Prep Curriculum to give teachers practical, standards-based curriculum that connects school to real life.

What changed

Then I began homeschooling my son, a kindergarten learner who learns in his own way.

I did what I knew how to do: I went looking for the right curriculum. I spent more time comparing products than feeling sure about what he needed.

So I changed the question. Instead of "Which curriculum will finally fit?" I started asking: "Who is he, what is he showing me, and what would help next?"

What I believe

Learning is already happening in play, conversation, and ordinary routines.

Children deserve real choices, including the choice to say no to an invitation.

Parents can still teach, plan, guide, and use curriculum. Noticing doesn't replace any of that.

What we haven't seen yet is a question, not a failure.

Less controlling. More noticing. I'm glad you're here.

What Life Prep Curriculum
is now

Life Prep Curriculum is where I share that journey, and the tools I'm building along the way:

Start With Your Child: A Guide to Interest-Led Kindergarten helps parents get to know their learner, offer invitations, and notice the learning in everyday life.

36 Play-First Observation Bins are ready-to-set-up invitations with parent guides and observation cards.

Real stories from our days: a snack, a car ride, a retold story. I share what I saw, what it might mean, and what I still don't know.

I'm not here to convince you.

I'm here to make this easier.

If that sounds like what you need right now — you're in the right place.

A growing curriculum library filled with standards-aligned, ready-to-use resources for teaching real-world skills that actually count toward academic credit.