Curriculum Goals

Additional Information

Students will be equipped with the skills necessary for good writing, including spelling, grammar, style, clarity, etc.
Major emphasis is placed on good writing by requiring the students to write often and correctly in each subject area.
Clear thinking by the students is encouraged through requiring clear speaking and clear writing.
Students are introduced to many styles of writing using the Bible and other high quality literature.

Phonics is used as the primary building blocks for teaching students to read.
Students are encouraged to read correctly as soon as possible.
Students are introduced to high quality children's literature as soon as possible, through our literature program.
Student's reading abilities are carefully monitored to ensure they are at a reasonable level, comprehending adequately, and reading fluently, both orally and silently, including the proper use of word-attack skills.
Students are encouraged to foster a life-long love of reading and of high quality literature after being taught to recognize the characteristics of such literature.
Integrate wherever possible other subjects such as history and science into reading.

Students will have a thorough mastery of basic mathematical functions and tables.
Emphasis is put on conceptual, as well as practical understanding of math through the frequent use of story problems.
God's unchanging character is illustrated through the timeless, logical mathematical systems He gave to man through His gift of reason.

Students are taught that God is in control of history and He will determine its ultimate outcome. Meaning cannot be derived apart from His Sovereignty.
Students are able to see God's hand in the history of the world and specifically the United States.
Students' factual basis for understanding of history and geography is broadened as they mature.
Through the use of many forms of information and research, such as biographies, illustrations, field trips, guest speakers, music, art, foods, architecture, students watch history and geography "come alive".
Students are instructed that history occurs with a linear view of time in mind.

Students are shown that because God made the universe, it has inherent order, which in turn makes it possible to hypothesize and experiment (scientific method). Guided inquiry will reveal to the student the intrinsic laws, systems, and truths God put into creation.
The study of science is treated as a "means to an end," not an end in itself. That is, curiosity, experimentation, demonstration, and research, should be emphasized as the process and way of using science, as opposed to just the study of facts in isolation. Facts should be attained not only through the lecture method but also as the result of research and discovery. By the time the students enter secondary-level science, they should be familiar with the scientific method through repeated practice.
Many forms of instruction are used to teach scientific concepts and methods, e.g., a large variety of experiments, demonstrations, research projects, illustrations, field trips, guest speakers, etc.

Students are taught the basic fundamentals of drawing to enable them to create adequate renderings.
Students are encouraged to appreciate and imitate the beauty of the creation in their own works.
Students are introduced to masters' works.
Students are equipped to knowledgeably use a variety of art media.

Students are trained to sing knowledgeably, joyfully, and skillfully to the Lord on a regular basis.
Students are systematically instructed in the fundamentals of vocal and instrumental music.
Scripture is enriched through the teaching of many classic, meaningful hymns and songs.
Students are encouraged to select some area of music, either vocal or instrumental, to pursue on their own.

Students are instructed in the fundamental vocabulary and grammar of a foreign language.
Students' understanding of the reasons for and the use of the parts of speech being taught in our traditional English grammar class work is reinforced, e.g., plurals, nouns, verbs, prepositions, direct objects, tenses, etc.
Cultivate study and logical thinking which are inherent in the study of a foreign language.

Beginning levels: Vocabulary acquisition, conjugations, declensions, and simple sentences.
Advanced levels: Additional vocabulary, grammar, simple translations, and derivatives.