Class Offerings
We are delighted to offer a selection of classes that will be taught in the spirit of classical education: in a liturgical format and at a pace that lends itself to mastery. This is an overview of classes offered. For a full description of classes, goals and objectives, and class fees, please request the Family Handbook.
Note: All classes are taught on Fridays unless indicated.
Note: All classes are taught on Fridays unless indicated.
Early Learners (ages 3-5)
Circle Time and Folks Songs
Description: After morning liturgy, our earliest and early learners gather for 20 minutes of “circle time,” with a focus on American folks songs. You will love to hear your students commit to memory (and tell you the story of!) beloved folks songs that help tell the story of America—everything from “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” to “When the Saints Go Marching In."
The Gentle + Classical Preschool 2nd edition was designed with your child's development and natural rhythms in mind. It was created for parents who want to provide structure, focus on character development and faith, and add intention into their child's preschool years. Through the use of scripture-based stories, fables, and gentle and beautiful picture books, our young learners will grow together in the virtues of patience, good manners, and perseverance; develop listening and oral language skills; and deepen their memorization skills.
A time for fellowship, snacks, and free play is a part of each day too!
Lower Grammar Level (K-3)
Circle Time and Folks Songs
Description: After morning liturgy, our earliest and early learners gather for 20 minutes of “circle time,” with a focus on American folks songs. You will love to hear your students commit to memory (and tell you the story of!) beloved folks songs that help tell the story of America—everything from “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” to “When the Saints Go Marching In."
Song School Latin 1
Target Age: Song School Latin 1 is offered to K-2nd graders. Students must be able to read.
Description: Did you know there is a Latin program that matches the energy, developmental level, and fun-loving nature of your youngest students? Song School Latin does just that. Tailored for young children, this delightfully gentle introduction to Latin offers lessons that are peppered with songs, enjoyable vocabulary, illustrations, handwriting practice, stories, games, and engaging activities. Children will love learning Latin!
A Gentle+Classical Introduction to poetry, literature and art
Description: Guided by Gentle+Classical Press--through the use of scripture, fables with maxims, and picture book studies, coupled with a gentle introduction to classical art, nature and poetry, our young learners will grow together in virtue, develop listening and oral language skills, and deepen their memorization skills.
The introduction of poetry provides an opportunity for developing virtue, vocabulary growth and writing practice. Our goal is to bolster the moral imagination with a store of rich and varied images.
A time for fellowship, snacks, and gross motor activity is part of each day, too!
Children’s Theater
Target Age: Kindergarten through 4th/5th grade grade
Description:
Now folded into our Friday mornings, Fairy Tales and Fables is an opportunity for our younger students to perform on stage. Working with the instructor and fellow students, your young learner will help script, block and perform one to two simple dramatizations of fairy tales or fables. The goal? To build the moral imagination, grow in confidence and improve memorization skills, public speaking abilities and teamwork.
Upper Grammar Level (3-6)
Rabbit Trails for the Medieval Era (1st semester)
Description: Rabbit Trails through History: Medieval History is a joyful and gentle literature-based, hands-on curriculum for all elementary and middle school students. While students are taking a deep dive into the Famous Men and Women who shaped the Middle Ages in one class hour, they will follow it up in “Rabbit Trails” and read about everything from the Hundred Years War to Michelangelo’s masterpiece “The David” to the dark years remembered largely for the Plague. Delightful, hands-on crafts (build a mill, anyone?) that reinforce the stories will happen throughout the semester.
Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Description: The story of the Middle Ages is told through the lives of Attila the Hun, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Edward the Black Prince, Saint Benedict, and Joan of Arc, among many others. Famous Men of the Middle Ages guides students through the turbulent “dark age” of history and illustrates the transition from the end of ancient times to the birth of the modern era.
Target Age: Two versions of this class targeting students 3rd-5th grade and 6th-8/th grade respectively.
Dialectic Level (6-9)
First Form Latin 2.0
Description: This is the second half of First Form’s grammar-first approach, continued from last year. It focuses on grammar forms and vocabulary because these are the skills suitable for the grammar stage student. All beginners—regardless of age—are in the grammar stage of learning. Syntax (how to use the grammar) and translation are logic and rhetoric stage skills, respectively, and may overwhelm the student unless introduced at a slow, gentle pace and taught for mastery.
The uniqueness of the Forms Series lies in two features: (2) Commitment to the trivium model of teaching grammar systematically in order to facilitate retention and understanding, and (2) extensive workbook exercises to ensure skills mastery.
High school students may earn credit for this class. Please inquire.
Medieval History-based Writing Lessons (IEW)
Description: From the Anglo-Saxons to the Renaissance, from chivalrous knights to Genghis Khan, students will improve their knowledge of medieval times while learning to write with structure and style.
Working through all of IEW's Units 1–9, students learn to take notes, retell narrative stories, summarize references, write from pictures, compose essays, and more. Includes vocabulary cards, literature suggestions, and access to helpful PDF downloads.
Shakspearean Scene Study
Working with famous texts from the canon of Shakespeare's works, students will increase the flexibility of their vocal instruments, explore techniques for delivering Shakespearean language with nuance and beauty, and explore how Shakespeare utilizes prose or verse to create memorable, complex characters.
Students will be able to select their own period-correct costumes, choose two props and finally perform their scene or monologue on December 6.
Rhetoric Stage (9-12)
History of the Middle Ages
Description: This class will explore the legacy of Western Civilization and its endurance through the "Dark Ages." Before the fall, the Roman empire was split with Constantinople as the capital of the east, and the beleaguered capital of Rome to the west. The class will study the many reasons Rome fell, and discover what we call the “dark ages,” was not so dark. However, Rome was the light, and many things that should have been remembered were lost. This class will discover why the study of classical knowledge is important now more than ever.
Among other events and personalities, the class will cover the rise of the barbarians, to the brilliance of Charlemagne. It will discuss the Viking menace and the establishment of the first Viking settlement in the Americas. It will delve into the rise of Christianity and Islam to include the many wars of religion from Charles Martel in Spain and the Crusades. The class will also cover Hastings, the establishment of England, and the significance of the Magna Carta. The Spanish Inquisition and the Albigensian Crusade will also be covered. Ebbing into Asia, we will explore the rise of gunpowder and the slow death of ancient warfare. The class will discover the Black Death, the Scottish War of Independence, and the short life of Joan of Arc. The class will end with the rise of Spain and the first official voyage to the New World.
Friendly Biology
Description: Friendly Biology opens the world of biology to high school students in a gentle, non-intimidating manner. Students are led through meaningful, well-written lessons and lab activities with the goal of attaining a greater respect for the beauty and complexity of living things.
Topics covered include:
Characteristics common to all living things
Basic chemistry as it pertains to living things
The roles of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids in living systems
Cytology
Mitosis and meiosis
Chromosome duplication and protein synthesis
The importance of pH in living systems
Methods of reproduction
Mendelian genetics
Taxonomy
A survey of members of each kingdom of living things with emphasis placed on various classes and orders of importance;
An overview of all body systems of humans and
Ecology of living things.
An Introduction to Formal Logic
“The Discovery of Deduction: An Introduction to Formal Logic will welcome your students into the fascinating realm of formal, deductive logic. This text teaches students how an argument is put together—the form or structure of an argument. It pulls back the curtain to show students not only how arguments work, but also how to assess what’s going on in their own minds. The Discovery of Deduction is recommended for students who have studied informal fallacies, such as those taught in The Art of Argument: An Introduction to the Informal Fallacies; however, the text does also stand on its own as an independent study of formal logic.
The Discovery of Deduction makes a subject usually reserved for study in college accessible and relevant to logic-stage students, who are at an age when they are beginning to engage with important ideas. This text emphasizes the practical and real-world application of soundly structured deductive logic. Using methods such as Socratic dialogue, ample discussion, and integration of other subjects, the text approaches formal logic in the ideal way for dialectic students. Starting with a short history of Aristotelian logic, students move from there to learning how to translate arguments from ordinary, conversational, or written narratives into categorical form."
Shakspearean Scene Study
Working with famous texts from the canon of Shakespeare's works, students will increase the flexibility of their vocal instruments, explore techniques for delivering Shakespearean language with nuance and beauty, and explore how Shakespeare utilizes prose or verse to create memorable, complex characters.
Students will be able to select their own period-correct costumes, choose two props and finally perform their scene or monologue on December 6.
Lingua Latina
Description: We’re delighted to offer the next stage of our Latin journey: “Familia Romana (the main book of Pars I of the Lingua Latina per se illustrata series). It contains thirty-five chapters and describes the life of a Roman family in the 2nd century A.D. It culminates in readings from classical poets and Donatus's Ars Grammatica, the standard Latin school text for a millennium.
Each chapter is divided into two or three lessons of a few pages each followed by a grammar section (Grammatica Latina) and three exercises (Pensa). Hans Ørberg's impeccable Latin, humorous stories, and the Peer Lauritzen illustrations, reproduced in full color, make this work a classic. The book also includes a table of declensions, a Roman calendar, and a word index (index vocabulorum).” Adapted from From Hacket Publishing Co.’s description.
Circle Time and Folks Songs
Description: After morning liturgy, our earliest and early learners gather for 20 minutes of “circle time,” with a focus on American folks songs. You will love to hear your students commit to memory (and tell you the story of!) beloved folks songs that help tell the story of America—everything from “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” to “When the Saints Go Marching In."
The Gentle + Classical Preschool 2nd edition was designed with your child's development and natural rhythms in mind. It was created for parents who want to provide structure, focus on character development and faith, and add intention into their child's preschool years. Through the use of scripture-based stories, fables, and gentle and beautiful picture books, our young learners will grow together in the virtues of patience, good manners, and perseverance; develop listening and oral language skills; and deepen their memorization skills.
A time for fellowship, snacks, and free play is a part of each day too!
Lower Grammar Level (K-3)
Circle Time and Folks Songs
Description: After morning liturgy, our earliest and early learners gather for 20 minutes of “circle time,” with a focus on American folks songs. You will love to hear your students commit to memory (and tell you the story of!) beloved folks songs that help tell the story of America—everything from “I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad” to “When the Saints Go Marching In."
Song School Latin 1
Target Age: Song School Latin 1 is offered to K-2nd graders. Students must be able to read.
Description: Did you know there is a Latin program that matches the energy, developmental level, and fun-loving nature of your youngest students? Song School Latin does just that. Tailored for young children, this delightfully gentle introduction to Latin offers lessons that are peppered with songs, enjoyable vocabulary, illustrations, handwriting practice, stories, games, and engaging activities. Children will love learning Latin!
A Gentle+Classical Introduction to poetry, literature and art
Description: Guided by Gentle+Classical Press--through the use of scripture, fables with maxims, and picture book studies, coupled with a gentle introduction to classical art, nature and poetry, our young learners will grow together in virtue, develop listening and oral language skills, and deepen their memorization skills.
The introduction of poetry provides an opportunity for developing virtue, vocabulary growth and writing practice. Our goal is to bolster the moral imagination with a store of rich and varied images.
A time for fellowship, snacks, and gross motor activity is part of each day, too!
Children’s Theater
Target Age: Kindergarten through 4th/5th grade grade
Description:
Now folded into our Friday mornings, Fairy Tales and Fables is an opportunity for our younger students to perform on stage. Working with the instructor and fellow students, your young learner will help script, block and perform one to two simple dramatizations of fairy tales or fables. The goal? To build the moral imagination, grow in confidence and improve memorization skills, public speaking abilities and teamwork.
Upper Grammar Level (3-6)
Rabbit Trails for the Medieval Era (1st semester)
Description: Rabbit Trails through History: Medieval History is a joyful and gentle literature-based, hands-on curriculum for all elementary and middle school students. While students are taking a deep dive into the Famous Men and Women who shaped the Middle Ages in one class hour, they will follow it up in “Rabbit Trails” and read about everything from the Hundred Years War to Michelangelo’s masterpiece “The David” to the dark years remembered largely for the Plague. Delightful, hands-on crafts (build a mill, anyone?) that reinforce the stories will happen throughout the semester.
Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Description: The story of the Middle Ages is told through the lives of Attila the Hun, Charlemagne, William the Conqueror, Edward the Black Prince, Saint Benedict, and Joan of Arc, among many others. Famous Men of the Middle Ages guides students through the turbulent “dark age” of history and illustrates the transition from the end of ancient times to the birth of the modern era.
Target Age: Two versions of this class targeting students 3rd-5th grade and 6th-8/th grade respectively.
Dialectic Level (6-9)
First Form Latin 2.0
Description: This is the second half of First Form’s grammar-first approach, continued from last year. It focuses on grammar forms and vocabulary because these are the skills suitable for the grammar stage student. All beginners—regardless of age—are in the grammar stage of learning. Syntax (how to use the grammar) and translation are logic and rhetoric stage skills, respectively, and may overwhelm the student unless introduced at a slow, gentle pace and taught for mastery.
The uniqueness of the Forms Series lies in two features: (2) Commitment to the trivium model of teaching grammar systematically in order to facilitate retention and understanding, and (2) extensive workbook exercises to ensure skills mastery.
High school students may earn credit for this class. Please inquire.
Medieval History-based Writing Lessons (IEW)
Description: From the Anglo-Saxons to the Renaissance, from chivalrous knights to Genghis Khan, students will improve their knowledge of medieval times while learning to write with structure and style.
Working through all of IEW's Units 1–9, students learn to take notes, retell narrative stories, summarize references, write from pictures, compose essays, and more. Includes vocabulary cards, literature suggestions, and access to helpful PDF downloads.
Shakspearean Scene Study
Working with famous texts from the canon of Shakespeare's works, students will increase the flexibility of their vocal instruments, explore techniques for delivering Shakespearean language with nuance and beauty, and explore how Shakespeare utilizes prose or verse to create memorable, complex characters.
Students will be able to select their own period-correct costumes, choose two props and finally perform their scene or monologue on December 6.
Rhetoric Stage (9-12)
History of the Middle Ages
Description: This class will explore the legacy of Western Civilization and its endurance through the "Dark Ages." Before the fall, the Roman empire was split with Constantinople as the capital of the east, and the beleaguered capital of Rome to the west. The class will study the many reasons Rome fell, and discover what we call the “dark ages,” was not so dark. However, Rome was the light, and many things that should have been remembered were lost. This class will discover why the study of classical knowledge is important now more than ever.
Among other events and personalities, the class will cover the rise of the barbarians, to the brilliance of Charlemagne. It will discuss the Viking menace and the establishment of the first Viking settlement in the Americas. It will delve into the rise of Christianity and Islam to include the many wars of religion from Charles Martel in Spain and the Crusades. The class will also cover Hastings, the establishment of England, and the significance of the Magna Carta. The Spanish Inquisition and the Albigensian Crusade will also be covered. Ebbing into Asia, we will explore the rise of gunpowder and the slow death of ancient warfare. The class will discover the Black Death, the Scottish War of Independence, and the short life of Joan of Arc. The class will end with the rise of Spain and the first official voyage to the New World.
Friendly Biology
Description: Friendly Biology opens the world of biology to high school students in a gentle, non-intimidating manner. Students are led through meaningful, well-written lessons and lab activities with the goal of attaining a greater respect for the beauty and complexity of living things.
Topics covered include:
Characteristics common to all living things
Basic chemistry as it pertains to living things
The roles of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids in living systems
Cytology
Mitosis and meiosis
Chromosome duplication and protein synthesis
The importance of pH in living systems
Methods of reproduction
Mendelian genetics
Taxonomy
A survey of members of each kingdom of living things with emphasis placed on various classes and orders of importance;
An overview of all body systems of humans and
Ecology of living things.
An Introduction to Formal Logic
“The Discovery of Deduction: An Introduction to Formal Logic will welcome your students into the fascinating realm of formal, deductive logic. This text teaches students how an argument is put together—the form or structure of an argument. It pulls back the curtain to show students not only how arguments work, but also how to assess what’s going on in their own minds. The Discovery of Deduction is recommended for students who have studied informal fallacies, such as those taught in The Art of Argument: An Introduction to the Informal Fallacies; however, the text does also stand on its own as an independent study of formal logic.
The Discovery of Deduction makes a subject usually reserved for study in college accessible and relevant to logic-stage students, who are at an age when they are beginning to engage with important ideas. This text emphasizes the practical and real-world application of soundly structured deductive logic. Using methods such as Socratic dialogue, ample discussion, and integration of other subjects, the text approaches formal logic in the ideal way for dialectic students. Starting with a short history of Aristotelian logic, students move from there to learning how to translate arguments from ordinary, conversational, or written narratives into categorical form."
Shakspearean Scene Study
Working with famous texts from the canon of Shakespeare's works, students will increase the flexibility of their vocal instruments, explore techniques for delivering Shakespearean language with nuance and beauty, and explore how Shakespeare utilizes prose or verse to create memorable, complex characters.
Students will be able to select their own period-correct costumes, choose two props and finally perform their scene or monologue on December 6.
Lingua Latina
Description: We’re delighted to offer the next stage of our Latin journey: “Familia Romana (the main book of Pars I of the Lingua Latina per se illustrata series). It contains thirty-five chapters and describes the life of a Roman family in the 2nd century A.D. It culminates in readings from classical poets and Donatus's Ars Grammatica, the standard Latin school text for a millennium.
Each chapter is divided into two or three lessons of a few pages each followed by a grammar section (Grammatica Latina) and three exercises (Pensa). Hans Ørberg's impeccable Latin, humorous stories, and the Peer Lauritzen illustrations, reproduced in full color, make this work a classic. The book also includes a table of declensions, a Roman calendar, and a word index (index vocabulorum).” Adapted from From Hacket Publishing Co.’s description.