Mark is the headmaster of the Cole school. He researches the curriculum, decides where this crazy ship is headed and I implement the plan.
For first grade we are using books primarily purchased from Veritas Press. Mark was attracted by the Classical Education bent of Sonlight and Veritas Press. We decided on VP as it is a little less structured that Sonlight (it doesn’t have a teacher’s manual telling me to do pages 5-7 on Monday).
Here is an excerpt from our 1st grade curriculum outline:
Objectives: Priority 1: To dramatically increase reading level (and desire to read) of the student and the student’s mastery of the English language, and to master basic math skills. Priority 2: To introduce the student to Bible, art and music through read-alouds and related activities/applications. Priority 3: To give the student some new facts for memorization, primarily in geography, this is traditionally neglected in American schools, as well as to introduce the student to ancient and modern foreign languages (Greek and Spanish).
Total Instruction time per day: 2 – 4 hours a day (including physical education and Spanish instruction) for a total of 15-18 hours/week. This time does not include free reading time.
Phonics: Veritas Press Phonics Museum. This prgram incorporates over thirty “real” books (not readers) into the curriculum. The books contain outstanding historical and Biblical content. The program is also a visual/art history experience, as phonetic rules are introduced through a great painting and a read-aloud telling about the artist and the painting. It has a workbook, CD with jingles and games.
Grammar: Shurley Grammar program which consists of jingles and chants, repetition, games, Q&A, etc. to learn parts of speech and sentence structure. It consists of a workbook, CD, and educational software.
Literature: Veritas Press literature program, consisting of books for the student to read, and comprehension guides which stretches and tests the student’s mastery of the book content.
Bible: Vos’ Children’s Bible and Bible timelines as in Kindergarten. Student also does age appropriate Bible verse and catechism memorization, as well as learning the books of the Bible in order by memory.
Greek: “Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek”, a Biblical Greek program for young children.
Spanish: And hour a week with a tutor, and daily listening to tapes and CD’s and simple reading.
Geography: The student will be introduced to US geography and the study of geography (maps, compass, and geographic formations) through the book/workbook Legends and Leagues, or Mr. Tardy Goes from Here to There. Daily listening to a CD with 23 catchy songs will also teach names and locations of world geography such as continents, oceans and more than 200 countries.
Art: Video-based course from Calvert School called Discovering Art. This course studies art history, the essential elements of art and complimentary practical projects.
Physical Education: Karate classes twice a week and gymnastics once a week.
