Classical Liberal Arts & Sciences Program

The academic portion of our supplemental program for homeschooling families serves students in three multi-age classrooms.

The Early Childhood Program - Ages 5 to 6

Our Early Childhood class is for 5 and 6 year olds who are not yet reading independently. The Montessori-inspired curriculum engages students through play by inviting them to explore abstract concepts represented with tangible objects. The pace and method of instruction is closely aligned with research into early childhood best practices. As such it does not present content in abstract ways (i.e. flashcards), or ask them to use physical skills they haven’t yet developed (e.g. fine handwriting). It does teach in ways that suit children this age, such as through song, story, rhyme, finger plays, and manipulatives. When children demonstrate that they are ready, they will be introduced to number concepts, penmanship, and reading. We anticipate that when children graduate from this room they will be independently reading early reader books with 2-3 sentences per page, able to write 4-5 word sentences with correct letter formation and spelling, and able to count to 100 and add single-digit numbers accurately.

The Elementary Classes - Ages 6 to 10

The Lower and Upper Elementary classes are run like one-room schoolhouses and follow the Charlotte Mason model. Students work independently while the instructor teaches and assesses other groups of students. Instruction is small-group (usually 3-5 students) and highly directed (the teacher corrects and guides immediately as the students practice, rather than assigning homework to be graded later). Students use chalkboard slates to practice skills and copybooks to record their mastery of the content. The copybooks become a treasured artifact of the year recording all the concepts mastered by that student in their pursuit of all that is good, true, and beautiful.

Ages 6 to 8

Our Lower Elementary class for 6 to 8 year olds is for students who are reading independently and have the maturity to engage in quiet, meaningful, independent study up to 20 minutes at a time while the instructor is working with other students. Students this age are introduced to all the core academic subjects: Latin, phonics, grammar, spelling, literature, math, science, history, civics, and geography. They will practice the scholar skills of: self-assessment through written and oral narration; reading a wide range of poetry, nonfiction and fiction to develop knowledge and build vocabulary; analyzing math and science concepts to develop the habits of inquiry and perseverance; and using frameworks (such as timelines, dioramas, and re-enactments) to build meaningful connections across disciplines.

Ages 8 to 10

Our Upper Elementary class is for 8 to 10 year olds who are ready to become partners in their educational journey. They will be expected to ask and pursue lines of inquiry both in community with others and independently. We expect students this age to truly engage in self-assessment, continually asking themselves if they completely understand a concept and then to go back and, with the instructor's help, seek new modes of understanding if they do not. This class will continue its study of the core academic subjects: Latin, phonics, grammar, spelling, literature, math, science, history, civics, and geography. Students in this class will have the discipline to complete assigned tasks to the best of their ability in the genuine pursuit of all that is good, true, and beautiful.