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Curriculum Most Christian schools would agree on certain fundamentals, but it is imperative that parents scrutinize the foundational beliefs of any school in which they may enroll their child(ren). Therefore, below are the most important philosophical elements that we at Grace Christian Academy believe distinguish our approach to education. 1. We believe that the Bible clearly instructs parents, not the Church or State, to "bring children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." The Church’s commission is essentially to spread the Gospel and train believers (Matt.28:18-20). The State has been directed to enforce God’s laws and protect the innocent (Romans 13). The Church trains parents and the State protects families. The Family raises and educates children (Eph.6:1-4). Therefore, we seek to teach and discipline in a manner consistent with the Bible and a godly home environment. 2. We believe that God's character is revealed not only in His Word, but also in every facet of creation. Therefore, we teach that all knowledge is interrelated and can instruct us about God Himself. 3. God wants us to love Him with our minds, as well as with our hearts, souls, and strength (Matt. 22:37 ). Therefore we seek to individually challenge children at all levels and teach them how to learn, by using the centuries-old, proven classical method (see Goals), incorporating instruction in Latin. 4. We want to support parents as they teach their children that all they do should be done "heartily, as unto the Lord." Therefore, we seek to encourage quality academic work and maintain high standards of conduct. This includes biblical discipline principles. 5. We believe that as long as a child is under the parents' authority and undergoing formal education, he should be trained biblically (Deut. 6:6,7; Prov. 22:6). 6. Above all, parents can be confident that their student, at every stage of his development in school, will be loved with Christ's love at Grace Christian Academy . Our curriculum goals are in keeping with our understanding and practice of the grammar and logic stage methodologies of Classical Education and their approximate correlation to the elementary and secondary years. The Goals are those basic principles we seek to achieve throughout the nine years of elementary and junior high school, K - 8. Bible Goals Have the students read the actual text for themselves vs. only prescribed verses. Have the students read at least one Gospel account, one Epistle, and one Old Testament book each year. Encourage the students to understand the verses in context, along with other good interpretation principles. Let the Scriptures speak for themselves with clarifications and illustrations by the teacher. Show the students the richness and requirements of the Bible. Teach the whole counsel of God and the biblical Gospel. Encourage each student to come to the Father, through the Son, and grow in his or her knowledge and love of Him. Encourage each student to seek personal application of the Scriptures. English Goals Equip every student with the skills necessary for good writing, including correct spelling and grammar, pleasing style, clarity of focus, proof-reading, and self-correcting. Put a major emphasis on good writing by requiring the students to write often and correctly in each subject area. Encourage clear thinking by the students through requiring clear, focused writing. Introduce the students to many styles of writing using the Bible and other high quality literature. Instruct students to name parts of speech accurately, identify parts of a sentence and a clause, to diagram simple, compound and complex sentences. Instruct students to name and compose the four areas of discourse. Require well-organized essays of one to two pages and teach the concept of plagiarism and abhorrence of that practice. Reading Goals Use phonics (the grammar of reading) as the primary building blocks for teaching students to read. Encourage the students to read correctly as soon as possible (normally in kindergarten or first grade). Introduce the students to high quality children’s literature as soon as possible. Carefully monitor the student's reading abilities to ensure he is at a reasonable level, comprehends adequately (the logic of reading), and is reading fluently, both orally and silently. This includes the proper use of word-attack skills. Integrate, wherever possible, other subjects into reading, such as history and science. Foster a life-long love of reading and high quality literature, especially the Scriptures, after being taught to recognize the characteristics of such literature (the rhetoric of reading). Build and maintain clear, specific, but broad criteria for the selection of a good number of varied, high quality titles to include in our reading lists for each grade. The classes also should maintain titles with a range of difficulty from grade-level to above grade-level. These titles are to be logically sequenced in difficulty from first through the eighth grade. Have students read with fluency and with expression while comprehending. Instruct the students to identify the elements of literature. Latin Goals Instruct the students in the fundamental vocabulary and grammar of Latin to better their fundamental understanding of English. Reinforce the students’ understanding of the reasons for, and the use of, the parts of speech being taught in our traditional English grammar class work, e.g. plurals, nouns, verbs, prepositions, direct objects, tenses, etc. Cultivate study and logical thinking which are inherent in the study of Latin. Third Grade (Elementary - 1st Year): Vocabulary acquisition, declensions, chants of endings. Fourth Grade (Elementary - 2nd Year): More vocabulary, beginning grammar work, basic verbs, simple sentences. Fifth Grade (Elementary - 3rd Year): More sentences, vocabulary, basic translation work, phrases, grammar. Sixth Grade (Elementary - 4th Year): Translation work (New Testament/Vulgate and other sources), grammar, writing of sentences, stories, classical background. Seventh Grade (Secondary - 1st Year): Translation work (New Testament/Vulgate and other sources), grammar, writing, reading Latin classics. Eighth Grade (Secondary - 2nd Year): Translation work of moderately complex Latin, (also from the New Testament/Vulgate and other sources), grammar, writing, reading Latin classics. Mathematics Goals Ensure that the students have a thorough mastery of basic mathematical functions and tables. Put an emphasis on conceptual, as well as practical, understanding of math through the frequent use of story problems. Illustrate God's unchanging character through the timeless, logical mathematical systems He gave to man through His gift of reason. Provide a mastery of basic mathematical functions. Apply learned problem solving strategies to the problems in daily life. History/Geography Goals Teach the students that God is in control of history and He will determine its ultimate outcome. Enable the students to see God's hand in the history of the world and the United States , specifically by illustrating the effect His people have had on history. Broaden the students' understanding of history and geography as the students mature, specifically by deepening the level of exposure and research into various topics (e.g. U.S. History or geography) from kindergarten through eighth grade. Make history and geography "come alive" for the students through the use of a unit approach to history and its related areas and by using many forms of information and research, e.g. biographies, illustrations, field trips, guest speakers, music, art, foods, architecture, etc. Encourage a Christian view of history and identify whether or not history has been written from a Christian or a non-Christian perspective. Help students to learn how to study history and how to critically evaluate reading material, identify primary and secondary sources, and the historical method. Have students understand a general time line of historical events from Biblical times to the present, focusing primarily on western civilizations. Science Goals Teach that the biblical creation account is true and that the theory of evolution is false. Teach the students the basic elements of both accounts and that both systems are based on either sound or unsound faith. Show the students that, because God made the universe, it has inherent order which in turn makes it possible to hypothesize and experiment (Scientific Method), as well as to identify, classify, and categorize elements of Creation. This is particularly practiced with local plant and animal life. Treat the study of science as a part of the study of history. That is, show the students the natural integration between the advances, individuals, and applications of science, with the development of historical events within the cultures studied. Ensure that by the time the students enter secondary-level science, they are able to recall the steps of the Scientific Method, as well as other critical, grammatical elements of science. Use many forms of instruction to teach science, particularly identifying, classifying, categorizing, integrating with history and math, as well as some experiments, demonstrations, collecting, illustrating, field trips, and guest speakers. Demonstrate an increasing ability to distinguish between things that God has made and things that man has made. Describe the scientific method and demonstrate an increasing ability to recognize the use of scientific knowledge in daily life. Instruct students regarding the selected, noteworthy scientists and their accomplishments. Logic Goals Teach all our students the fundamental tools of reasoning, emphasizing the analysis of arguments, both categorical and propositional, for validity. Teach the students how to define terms, explain relationships between statements, identify fallacies, both formal and informal, and organize and judge debate. Help students practice the science and art of reasoning well. Have students acknowledge that reasoning and communication are God-given gifts. Art Goals Teach all our students the basic fundamentals of drawing to enable them to create adequate renderings. Encourage the students to appreciate and imitate the beauty of the creation in their own works. Introduce the students to masters' works of the Western culture. Equip the students to knowledgeably use a variety of art media. Music Goals Train the students to sing knowledgeably, joyfully, and skillfully to the Lord on a regular basis. Systematically instruct the students in the fundamentals of vocal and instrumental music. Enrich the teaching of Scripture through the teaching of many classic, meaningful hymns. Encourage the students (through a variety of options) to select some area of music, vocal or instrumental, to pursue on his or her own. Physical Education Goals Systematically work with the students to teach them basic exercises and game skills (e.g. throwing, hitting, kicking, catching, etc.) In cooperation with the families, encourage the students to knowledgeably establish and maintain good health and nutritional habits. Enhance biblical patterns of behavior through activities requiring cooperation, teamwork, and general good sportsmanship. Impart an understanding that physical activity for a lifetime is vital to a healthy and well-rounded life. See improvements in areas of coordination, fitness, and self-confidence. Present aspects of activities such as: soccer, track, aerobic fitness, swimming, basketball, volleyball, softball, and tumbling as forms of physical activity. Electives Provide the students with a well-rounded education from a variety of areas of interest as well as serve to meet some of the practical needs which will help them adjust to life’s new challenges as they enter young adulthood. Expose students to a variety of areas. Some of them being: Computers and Technology, Chorus, Art, Drama, Practical Christianity, Home Economics and Social Protocol, and Mechanics. Kindergarten Phonic training (early reading), math properties (patterns, adding, graphing), science units, community helpers/jobs/locations, Bible stories/characters/songs, integrated art projects, PE skills/games, integrated music First Grade Phonic training/literature reading, math problem solving/properties, integrated (with reading, math, art) science units, spelling rules/memorizations, parts of speech, history units (famous places in the world & U.S., etc.), Bible reading/memorizations, integrated art, PE skills/games, thematic music/rhythm instruments Second Grade Guided independent reading of books, math properties/problem solving, science quarterly units, spelling rules/patterns/memorization, cursive handwriting, basic English grammar, history units in early U.S./Nevada History, Bible readings/memorizations, integrated art projects, PE skills/games, thematic music/rhythm instruments Third Grade Guided independent reading of books, math skills/problem solving/integrated, science units (P/C/B/ES*), spelling rules/patterns/lists, cursive/essay practice, English grammar, Latin I (vocabulary/chants), U.S. Geography/early U.S. History units, Bible readings/memorizations, integrated art projects, PE skills/games, thematic music/recorders Fourth Grade Monitored, independent reading of books (integrated with history, science), math skills/problem solving/integrated, science units (P/C/B/ES), spelling lists/patterns/rules, writing assignments, English grammar (integrate with Latin), Latin II (vocabulary/early grammar), U.S. History units (War for Independence to present), Bible readings/oral presentations, integrated art projects, PE skills/games, music/recorders Fifth Grade Monitored, independent reading of books (integrated with history, science), math skills/problem solving/integrated, science units (P/C/B/ES), spelling lists/patterns/rules, writing assignments, English grammar (integrate with Latin), Latin III (grammar/translation), World Geography/Early World History units, Bible readings/oral presentations, integrated art projects, PE skills/games, music Sixth Grade Monitored, independent reading of books (integrated with history, science, Bible), math skills/problem solving/integrated, science units (P/C/B/ES), spelling lists/patterns/rules, writing assignments, English grammar (integrate with Latin), Latin IV (grammar/translation), World Geography/Post-Medieval World History units, Bible readings/oral presentations, integrated art projects, PE skills/games, music Seventh Grade Monitored, independent reading of literature (may be integrated with history, science, Bible), math skills & problem solving (Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, Probability, Scientific Notation, Trigonometry intro) physical science(exploring creation), US History, English Grammar (integrated with Latin), Writing, Latin (Lingua Latina Curriculum – presupposes no prior knowledge of Latin), Bible (Old Testament Survey), PE skills/rules of sport/fitness training, electives (computers & technology, chorus, practical Christianity, journalism/annuals, etc.) Eighth Grade Monitored, independent reading of literature (may be integrated with history, Bible), Pre-Algebra, World Geography, English Grammar (integrated with Latin), Writing, Logic, Latin (Lingua Latina Curriculum – presupposes no prior knowledge of Latin), Bible (New Testament Survey), PE skills/rules of sport/fitness training, electives (art, music, chorus, practical Christianity, journalism/annuals, etc.) *Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Earth Science Not all electives will be available in any given school year. School Day Daily Schedule Kindergarten-6th Grade Daily Schedule 7th & 8th Grade Screening Tests and Entrance Exams offered by appointment only. Assemblies Wednesday, October 28, 2008 @ 8:45 AM The following list of calendar dates, events, holidays, and programs is not meant to be entirely comprehensive. New ideas may be introduced at any time. These guidelines are presented to illustrate what is intended to be a consistent approach to the school's involvement or non-involvement in special events and holidays.
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