Grammar I for the 2022-23 school year (28 weeks) will meet during the morning and is for students in grades Pre-K through 6th. This program uses Claritas Publishing’s Memory Work Guide (Cycle 1 this year) as our primary classical curriculum spine.
SCHEDULE
8:30-9:00 Community Worship/ Family Presentations/ Scripture, Hymn, & Timeline Memory Work
9:00-12:00 Grammar I
12:00-1:00 Lunch and Recess
SUBJECTS COVERED IN GRAMMAR I
The weekly memory work of Claritas Cycle 1 will serve as the framework for our classroom studies and activities.
- Language Block
- English
- Latin
- Presentations & Snack
- Special Tennessee State Unit (6th Grade Only)
Science and Math Block
- Math (not intended to take the place of a formal math curriculum at home)
- Science
Humanities Block
- History
- Geography
- Art
Pre-K through 3rd Grade
Students in Pre-K-3rd grade will be in self-contained classrooms where all of the subject blocks will be taught by one tutor.
Tutors will introduce the memory work, or “new grammar,” for each subject with the students on Wednesdays and expound on it through the use of additional developmentally-appropriate resources and activities such as “Five in a Row”; this will serve to enhance the children’s understanding and retention of the memory work. Students will enjoy hands-on activities, art, read-alouds, and games during class each week.
4th through 6th Grade
Students in 4th-6th grade will begin class time with their homeroom tutor who will teach the first subject block (either Language, Science/Math, or Humanities); the tutors will then rotate classrooms for each consecutive subject block lasting approximately 1 hour each.
Students will be divided in classes based on grade level. Each 4th-6th grade tutor will teach his/her subject block 3x every Wednesday (modifying, as needed, for age appropriateness); this affords the tutor the opportunity to be an “expert” on his/her subjects, making the weekly classroom experiences more enriching and robust.
Parents will introduce the new memory work at home at the beginning of every week (often with the use of the CDs) prior to class (while this is not required, it is highly recommended). Tutors will then review the weekly memory work with the students on Wednesdays and expound on it through the use of additional developmentally-appropriate resources and activities; this will serve to enhance the children’s understanding and retention of the memory work. Activities include hands-on science experiments, math games, and interactive history and geography lessons.
Students in 4th-6th grades will have a little more accountability in a few subject areas including presentations and humanities. Students will be required to come to class on their scheduled weeks with a prepared presentation on a history, science, or geography topic. Oftentimes, the presentation subjects will be assigned. Student participation will be imperative as this will be a significant part of the learning experience for the entire class. In addition, students will be expected to read or listen to the Story of the World Vol. 1 at home before class. A schedule will be provided to correspond with the memory work. Students in 4th-6th will also have very brief weekly assignments in the Prima Latina or Latina Christiana curriculum workbook. These simple assignments are not intended to be a source of stress, but a gentle preparation and stepping stone between our Grammar I/II and Dialectic programs. For 6th graders, we will also include a year-long Tennessee Social Studies Unit that will provide many fun activities and assignments on campus and at home.
PARENT DUTIES DURING GRAMMAR I
Our Grammar I program is primarily a drop-off program. However, we will have 3 parent volunteers on campus each week monitoring classes, bathroom duty, and helping teachers as needed throughout our Pre-K through 6th grade classes; parents will be on a school-wide volunteer rotation schedule. Parents who are not volunteering on a given day will be allowed to leave campus for the morning. Parents will return to pick up their Grammar I students by 12:00. We highly encourage all families to stay for lunch and recess as it is a significant way to connect with other moms, get to know your kids’ friends, and enjoy some fellowship!