There are countless curricular choices available today to suit any approach or style. This means that there are many valid choices that we could make. It is a matter of tradeoffs and balancing a series of competing goods. Our guiding principles in making selections were if the curriculum:
- Offers a Christian vision of reality.
- Is a combination of rigorous yet restful learning.
- Embodies goodness, truth, and beauty.
- Is filled with timeless content and proven methodology.
- Aligns with our digital minimalist approach.
- Aids in curriculum integration/cross-curricular connections.
- Is compatible with hybrid education (lesson plans can be readily exchanged between teacher and parent seamlessly).
Below is a further rationale for each subject/content area.
Math (Grades K-6):
Building knowledge of math facts and skills is vital for grades K-6. Students must master mathematical operations and number sense, begin developing an appreciation for the order and beauty of math which reflects God’s nature and design. Apologia provides an ideal balance of these things. Apologia uses a mastery of content with spiral review approach, has extra activities for the four supplemental weeks in the academic calendar, includes Biblical connections, and is very conducive to the hybrid model. Apologia also offers 6 levels, which fits well with grades 1-6 and pairs nicely with Kindergarten Math with Confidence (Well-Trained Mind).
While several other Math curricula are good options, for our hybrid approach we deemed this to be a proper fit. For example, The Good and the Beautiful Math curriculum, while a valid option, begins incorporating online lessons starting in grade 4+, which clashes somewhat with our digital-minimalist approach. Saxon Math, which is an old standby for mathematical rigor and practice, does very little with connecting Math to beauty and God’s design. Furthermore, Saxon has recently been bought by a large publishing house, and the new publisher offers no guarantee of printing Saxon after 2027. Singapore Math, which has an excellent reputation, requires extensive training for teachers due to its unique methodology and approach, which would be very difficult to achieve in the hybrid model where parents and teachers are partnering and sharing the teaching duties on-campus and at-home.
Science (Grades K-6):
Science is the study of God’s world. In elementary school, the goal is that students grow in their understanding of the natural world through direct experience and building a solid knowledge base.
- Grades K-2: We have chosen Seasons Afield Nature Study (Beautiful Feet), which correlates nicely with our three-year period of Primary School in grades K-2. This study takes students out into nature to experience the seasons and the wonders of God’s creation directly. In addition to a typical nature study, Seasons Afield includes art/crafts projects and read-alouds.
- Grades 3-6: We build on our Nature Study and the direct experiences of the world by learning more of the wonders of natural science. We will focus specifically on animals and plants to further build students’ knowledge of the world around them and tap into that natural wonder and love of animals and plants at this age. Apologia’s curriculum provides a deep dive into specific areas of the natural world, rather than a broad overview, and it follows the days of Creation, further connecting our study of science to the God who created all things.
English (Grades K-6):
Developing English literacy is vital to a successful education, and it consists in developing several skills and capacities involving seeing, hearing, writing, and more.
- Grade K we are combining the following:
o Penmanship: Alphabet Book 1-2 (Memoria Press) copywork (This option is very easy to work with).
o Reading/Writing: Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading (This option is user-friendly and uses phonics/phonograms).
o Spelling: Spelling You See (This option is also conducive to the hybrid model, uses phonics/phonograms, and incorporates dictation with the spelling work. It also has K-6 levels).
- Grades 1-2 we are combining the following:
o Penmanship: Continue copywork and handwriting skills; Begin cursive in grade 2 (New American Cursive, Memoria Press).
o Reading/Writing: We have selected Poetic Lessons in Grammar and Rhetoric (Beautiful Teaching), which is devoted to the beauty of words, both written and spoken, providing a pleasant experience that will make students fall in love with language. This curriculum also prepares students very well for Scriptorium, which we are using in grades 3-6.
o Spelling: Continuing Spelling You See at appropriate levels.
- Grades 3-6 we are combining the following:
o Penmanship: Continue copywork and handwriting skills
o Reading/Writing: We have selected Scriptorium, a beautiful, gentle entry into many varied forms of writing that helps students develop a love for writing in different styles and develop human creativity, which is needed now more than ever. Scriptorium utilizes the progymnasmata model to teach writing, a time-tested and proven approach that formed the great authors of the past and continues to foster excellent communication and language skills today. Students in these grades will also use Fundamental Grammar (Claritas), which teaches parts of speech, diagramming/parsing of sentences, and it corresponds to the 4-year memory work cycle and history curriculum.
o Spelling: continuing Spelling You See at appropriate levels.
History (Grades K-6):
History is a story of human triumph and failure, and everything in between. The lessons of history come alive when we engage students in the stories of the past and the real people that were part of them. This requires building both an understanding of the facts of history and engaging with the stories of history.
- Grades K-2: The main focus of history study for young children is to build a love for the human story and heroes of history by reading or having read to them good books, memorizing a basic timeline of history, and learning the geography of the world. The Memory Work Guide (Claritas) does exactly that, helping students build a working knowledge of world history and geography that is then filled out with deeper study as they get older.
- Grades 3-6: We have selected what has come to be the gold standard in Classical Education elementary history studies: The Story of the World. This has been a beloved curriculum for 25 years and aligns with the 4-year cycle of the Claritas memory work. It includes engaging storytelling about history, accompanying assignments that are appropriate for at-home and on-campus, and helpful reading lists for students and families.
Latin (Grades 3-6):
We have selected Latin through Stories (University of Dallas), which incorporates the best aspects of a Latin reading and Latin grammar program. University of Dallas has a stellar reputation, from their professors to the teachers, books, and curricula they produce. This curriculum is an outstanding mix of Latin exposure, vocabulary, grammar, and beautiful poems and stories. This approach to Latin helps build a love of Latin and a taste of the natural way of learning Latin, like how we learn our native language through immersion, practice, and comprehensible input. This will prepare students to continue their Latin studies into formal grammar (Wheelock) in Grades 7-8, and will enable them to find joy in translation and reading of Latin texts in Grades 9-12.
Art and Music (Grades 3-6):
We have chosen Fine Arts (Invictus Press), which includes music and art appreciation as well as the making of art. This curriculum correlates with the 4-year cycle in history and memory work, which adds a nice touch and helps facilitate curriculum integration.
Theology (Grades 3-6):
We are creating our own Bible History and Catechesis curriculum from a variety of materials in order to ensure we achieve the desired outcomes in theological formation. We want students build Bible literacy, familiarity with the overall story of Scripture, and an understanding of how biblical accounts establish Biblical doctrines. Luther's Small Catechism will be used to help establish these connections. This will be a four-year cycle: Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Hymn and Liturgy Studies, Christian Biographies.
Memoria/Memory Work (Grades K-6):
A vital part of the curriculum for grades K-6 is what we call Memoria, where we bring students together around the topics, texts, and ideas that have shaped our world and that continue to shape us! As we commit Scripture, songs, poetry and more to memory and learn by heart, we are being shaped and formed into wise and virtuous people. To help guide this time, we have chosen Claritas’ Memory Work Guide, which is a 4-year cycle coinciding with The Story of the World curriculum used in grades 3-6. Claritas was also chosen for its beautiful layout of History, Math, Science, English, Latin, Scripture, Hymnody, and Timeline memory work. In addition to memory work from this curriculum, students will learn by heart from Scripture, from Luther's Small Catechism (Learn by Heart Catechism, Peter Bender), and other great poems and books. Students also present on assigned topics, give speeches and recite memory work during this time, honing their public speaking abilities.
Supplemental Curriculum (Grades K-6):
In addition to the 32 weeks of on-campus learning and the accompanying curriculum, there are 4 weeks built into the calendar that are geared toward further wholistic development of students. These four weeks are spread out throughout the year as moments for restful learning, review, and times for additional learning experiences that enrich and supplement the curriculum. These four weeks will include things like the following:
- Common Arts Experiences: Workshops geared around developing life skills in trades and crafts
- Community Service: Projects geared around serving others in our church and community
- Field Trips: Attend cultural events, museums, concerts that develop our taste for beauty
- Rhetorical Events: Students will help host two events for the school/church community (e.g., recitation nights, dances, feasts, fundraising banquets, etc.)
- Offers a Christian vision of reality.
- Is a combination of rigorous yet restful learning.
- Embodies goodness, truth, and beauty.
- Is filled with timeless content and proven methodology.
- Aligns with our digital minimalist approach.
- Aids in curriculum integration/cross-curricular connections.
- Is compatible with hybrid education (lesson plans can be readily exchanged between teacher and parent seamlessly).
Below is a further rationale for each subject/content area.
Math (Grades K-6):
Building knowledge of math facts and skills is vital for grades K-6. Students must master mathematical operations and number sense, begin developing an appreciation for the order and beauty of math which reflects God’s nature and design. Apologia provides an ideal balance of these things. Apologia uses a mastery of content with spiral review approach, has extra activities for the four supplemental weeks in the academic calendar, includes Biblical connections, and is very conducive to the hybrid model. Apologia also offers 6 levels, which fits well with grades 1-6 and pairs nicely with Kindergarten Math with Confidence (Well-Trained Mind).
While several other Math curricula are good options, for our hybrid approach we deemed this to be a proper fit. For example, The Good and the Beautiful Math curriculum, while a valid option, begins incorporating online lessons starting in grade 4+, which clashes somewhat with our digital-minimalist approach. Saxon Math, which is an old standby for mathematical rigor and practice, does very little with connecting Math to beauty and God’s design. Furthermore, Saxon has recently been bought by a large publishing house, and the new publisher offers no guarantee of printing Saxon after 2027. Singapore Math, which has an excellent reputation, requires extensive training for teachers due to its unique methodology and approach, which would be very difficult to achieve in the hybrid model where parents and teachers are partnering and sharing the teaching duties on-campus and at-home.
Science (Grades K-6):
Science is the study of God’s world. In elementary school, the goal is that students grow in their understanding of the natural world through direct experience and building a solid knowledge base.
- Grades K-2: We have chosen Seasons Afield Nature Study (Beautiful Feet), which correlates nicely with our three-year period of Primary School in grades K-2. This study takes students out into nature to experience the seasons and the wonders of God’s creation directly. In addition to a typical nature study, Seasons Afield includes art/crafts projects and read-alouds.
- Grades 3-6: We build on our Nature Study and the direct experiences of the world by learning more of the wonders of natural science. We will focus specifically on animals and plants to further build students’ knowledge of the world around them and tap into that natural wonder and love of animals and plants at this age. Apologia’s curriculum provides a deep dive into specific areas of the natural world, rather than a broad overview, and it follows the days of Creation, further connecting our study of science to the God who created all things.
English (Grades K-6):
Developing English literacy is vital to a successful education, and it consists in developing several skills and capacities involving seeing, hearing, writing, and more.
- Grade K we are combining the following:
o Penmanship: Alphabet Book 1-2 (Memoria Press) copywork (This option is very easy to work with).
o Reading/Writing: Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading (This option is user-friendly and uses phonics/phonograms).
o Spelling: Spelling You See (This option is also conducive to the hybrid model, uses phonics/phonograms, and incorporates dictation with the spelling work. It also has K-6 levels).
- Grades 1-2 we are combining the following:
o Penmanship: Continue copywork and handwriting skills; Begin cursive in grade 2 (New American Cursive, Memoria Press).
o Reading/Writing: We have selected Poetic Lessons in Grammar and Rhetoric (Beautiful Teaching), which is devoted to the beauty of words, both written and spoken, providing a pleasant experience that will make students fall in love with language. This curriculum also prepares students very well for Scriptorium, which we are using in grades 3-6.
o Spelling: Continuing Spelling You See at appropriate levels.
- Grades 3-6 we are combining the following:
o Penmanship: Continue copywork and handwriting skills
o Reading/Writing: We have selected Scriptorium, a beautiful, gentle entry into many varied forms of writing that helps students develop a love for writing in different styles and develop human creativity, which is needed now more than ever. Scriptorium utilizes the progymnasmata model to teach writing, a time-tested and proven approach that formed the great authors of the past and continues to foster excellent communication and language skills today. Students in these grades will also use Fundamental Grammar (Claritas), which teaches parts of speech, diagramming/parsing of sentences, and it corresponds to the 4-year memory work cycle and history curriculum.
o Spelling: continuing Spelling You See at appropriate levels.
History (Grades K-6):
History is a story of human triumph and failure, and everything in between. The lessons of history come alive when we engage students in the stories of the past and the real people that were part of them. This requires building both an understanding of the facts of history and engaging with the stories of history.
- Grades K-2: The main focus of history study for young children is to build a love for the human story and heroes of history by reading or having read to them good books, memorizing a basic timeline of history, and learning the geography of the world. The Memory Work Guide (Claritas) does exactly that, helping students build a working knowledge of world history and geography that is then filled out with deeper study as they get older.
- Grades 3-6: We have selected what has come to be the gold standard in Classical Education elementary history studies: The Story of the World. This has been a beloved curriculum for 25 years and aligns with the 4-year cycle of the Claritas memory work. It includes engaging storytelling about history, accompanying assignments that are appropriate for at-home and on-campus, and helpful reading lists for students and families.
Latin (Grades 3-6):
We have selected Latin through Stories (University of Dallas), which incorporates the best aspects of a Latin reading and Latin grammar program. University of Dallas has a stellar reputation, from their professors to the teachers, books, and curricula they produce. This curriculum is an outstanding mix of Latin exposure, vocabulary, grammar, and beautiful poems and stories. This approach to Latin helps build a love of Latin and a taste of the natural way of learning Latin, like how we learn our native language through immersion, practice, and comprehensible input. This will prepare students to continue their Latin studies into formal grammar (Wheelock) in Grades 7-8, and will enable them to find joy in translation and reading of Latin texts in Grades 9-12.
Art and Music (Grades 3-6):
We have chosen Fine Arts (Invictus Press), which includes music and art appreciation as well as the making of art. This curriculum correlates with the 4-year cycle in history and memory work, which adds a nice touch and helps facilitate curriculum integration.
Theology (Grades 3-6):
We are creating our own Bible History and Catechesis curriculum from a variety of materials in order to ensure we achieve the desired outcomes in theological formation. We want students build Bible literacy, familiarity with the overall story of Scripture, and an understanding of how biblical accounts establish Biblical doctrines. Luther's Small Catechism will be used to help establish these connections. This will be a four-year cycle: Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Hymn and Liturgy Studies, Christian Biographies.
Memoria/Memory Work (Grades K-6):
A vital part of the curriculum for grades K-6 is what we call Memoria, where we bring students together around the topics, texts, and ideas that have shaped our world and that continue to shape us! As we commit Scripture, songs, poetry and more to memory and learn by heart, we are being shaped and formed into wise and virtuous people. To help guide this time, we have chosen Claritas’ Memory Work Guide, which is a 4-year cycle coinciding with The Story of the World curriculum used in grades 3-6. Claritas was also chosen for its beautiful layout of History, Math, Science, English, Latin, Scripture, Hymnody, and Timeline memory work. In addition to memory work from this curriculum, students will learn by heart from Scripture, from Luther's Small Catechism (Learn by Heart Catechism, Peter Bender), and other great poems and books. Students also present on assigned topics, give speeches and recite memory work during this time, honing their public speaking abilities.
Supplemental Curriculum (Grades K-6):
In addition to the 32 weeks of on-campus learning and the accompanying curriculum, there are 4 weeks built into the calendar that are geared toward further wholistic development of students. These four weeks are spread out throughout the year as moments for restful learning, review, and times for additional learning experiences that enrich and supplement the curriculum. These four weeks will include things like the following:
- Common Arts Experiences: Workshops geared around developing life skills in trades and crafts
- Community Service: Projects geared around serving others in our church and community
- Field Trips: Attend cultural events, museums, concerts that develop our taste for beauty
- Rhetorical Events: Students will help host two events for the school/church community (e.g., recitation nights, dances, feasts, fundraising banquets, etc.)