Middle School

A pillar of the Classical/Charlotte Mason Philosophy is the use of narration to cement and synthesize ideas brought about through literature, art, and discussion. The student is often encouraged to “tell back” what they learned. Though it may sound simple, the process in the mind is much more complex. The student must listen to a new idea or view a new image with only ONE reading or glance, and then proceed to process that new information in their mind before regurgitating it in a narrative form. They must ask themselves “What did i just hear? What came first? What came next? Why did it happen?”. They must sort the answers to these questions in their mind, and then orally explain what they come up with.

Narration comes in many forms. The most often used form is with words. Younger children will usually only narrate orally. Older children will begin writing down their narrations (the recommended age to start is 10 years old). However, parents are encouraged to vary narration style for creative minds. They might draw a picture of what they learned and explain the picture. They might write a fictional conversation between two people mentioned in what they learned. They might teach a class to their stuffed aniamls about it.

The bulk of narration is to do two things well: KNOW and TELL. They come to know an idea, wrestle in their minds with the idea, and tell it back. This is considered the foundation of Composition as an art: first composing orally, then written form.

Forms 1-3 will mostly use Scriptorium as the place for practicing narration. Form 1 will only be asked to narrate orally and/or draw pictures. Form 2B will also do this but begin written narrations in the spring. Forms 2A and 3 will write their narrations in class.

Forms 2B-3 will also be encouraged to include narration in their at home study of Augustus Caesar’s World.

This class will expose the students to great works of art, poetry, music, civics, and biographies. Basically, a closer look at the beautiful, good, and foundational things humans have done with the lives God gave them. This class period will have two parts:

First, we will study composers and artists from similar time periods and explore their great works. We will enjoy poetry from selected authors together.

Second, we will study how man has governed himself or governed others. The older classes (Form 2A & 3) will begin the year studying government and civics. The younger classes (Form 1 & 2B) will read biographies of noble people who reflect our PACC virtues (see next page). After semester, Form 2A will study biographies of great Americans. Form 3 will study the life of Julius Caesar using the classic Plutarch’s Lives and study guides by Anne White. Younger classes will continue biographies.

There will be suggested follow up reading selections and discussion guides to use during the week, but none will be required.

We stand firm in these virtues at PACC:

Courage, Wisdom, Love, Faith, Honesty, Loyalty and Perserverance.

We will be reading biographies from people in history and we will discuss how we see these virtues played out in their lives. These discussions will teach and show the children moral character and how to live by these high standards.

Please connect with your child’s teacher to stay updated on the biography they are currently reading.

We desire to allow the class freedom to discuss and narrate about the biographies, so we do not have a time limit set for each book. We will simply mark where we leave off from week to week, and choose a new one when we finish it.

Each class will be studying the bible in a different way this year. For the Primary and Form 1 classes we are focused on foundational principals of the bible and will be introducing them in a fun flash card concept.

For the Form 2B class we will be reading biographies of faith filled people from History. We will be learning about and discussing their lives and how they used their faith in adversity.

For the Form 2A class we will be reading The Little Pilgrim’s Progess. This book is a story that blends foundations of faith and walking that out in a story form. We will use this book to dicuss real life application and how we see faith in our daily lives.

For Form 3 class we will be reading The Case for Christ. We read together, discuss the facts, science, and archaeology of the book, and learn to use apologetics to defend our faith.

There will be suggested follow up family discussion material to use during the week, but none will be required.

Is a writing curriculum for 3rd-8th grade that is classical, developmentally appropriate, flexible, easy on the teacher, and beautiful. It utilizes the ancient Progymnasmata, the training tools of the masters, along with the historic classical canons of rhetoric: Invention, Arrangement, and Style (Elocution). This is a pilot program through Beautiful Teaching and all material is required to be kept in our community exclusively. Parents will have access to the designer and will be able to offer feedback throughout the year.

We have scheduled the lessons of this program so that the student does 99% of the writing in-class. Students will come home with their class compositions in a folder, and are expected to read their work to their family. (Families, we hope, will encourage these young writers. There is no need for editing or corrections at home). They must bring back their class compositions the following week. Teachers will be keeping their writing in a collective file.

At the end of the year, we will compile a book of their writings.

Our goal in nature study is to awaken interest and to give children their first inspiring ideas about the natural world. It is not to learn facts and definitions. For our Forms 1-2, it is not a rigid curriculum to follow. What we want to do is put our children in touch with the wondrous world created by the Maker of heaven and earth, and to bring him/her in living synthesis with it.

Form 3 class will follow a curriculum designed to integrate Nature Study with a specific subject (this year, the study of Weather). It will allow them freedom to study the natural world while guiding them into structured lab work such as that which is required in high school.

A nature or science journal will be kept by each student for them to sketch, note take and record observations. Record keeping in Forms 1-2 will be free and personal to the student, without any specific parameters from the instructors. Form 3 students will have guided study based off their Weather curriculum. There will be nature follow up suggested activities, but no required work during the week.

The goal of History class is to help all students understand the people and events of history in connection to each other, not just as isolated facts.

We desire to have each student engage with the material in academically appropriate ways and to create a fuller appreciation for history through critical thinking, discussions, and creating projects. This year we are focusing on Ancient History and using the book Augustus Caesar’s World written by Genevieve Foster. Students in the Upper Elementary and Middle School classes will receive follow up reading and narration assignments for home in order to be prepared for class the following week.

At Pointing Arrows we affirm that each individual student learns to read at different rates. Development of reading can be challenging work and the desire to cultivate the love of learning in our children as priority. We will focus on introducing our Primary students to phonics in a simple and fun way. This beginning stages of phonics will start with learning the letters and what sound each one makes. We will also have the students practice how to write the letters. During the second semester we will begin to blend sounds together and in turn learning some sight words through fun games. Parents will be given a list of sight words that were used in class so they know what was learned. Each parent can choose then to practice at home if desired-this is not a requirement.

The goal of any Charlotte Mason or Classical program is to create students who have a love for learning, a love for their fellow man, and who grow up to be educated, wise and virtuous citizens. While students will learn the two of those goals by coursework in their Humanities classes, their study in incomplete without the practical application of Humanities: Etiquette.

Etiquette/Manners will be taught as a required Elective class once every 5 weeks. Our etiquette class is intended to fulfill the goal of demonstrating love and respect for fellow man and creating wise and virtuous citizens.

Students will learn proper methods of conversation and introductions, methods of self-care and dressing appropriately, behavior expectations for different parts of the community (restaurants, houses of others), behavior expectations specific to men and women, dining habits and more!