Grammar Curriculum (Grades 1-6)

Content:  The facts and rules of each subject area are presented to children in the grammar stage.  Therefore, phonics is used to teach children reading and to give them the tools to become independent readers.  Children are exposed to a wide variety of quality children's literature beginning in kindergarten, and most are reading books independently by the second half of the first grade. Cursive writing, creative writing and content area writing are emphasized and taught systematically.  Children are directly taught spelling and grammar rules, as well as math facts.  A specific body of facts in history, extending from creation through current times is also taught.  Latin is systematically taught beginning in third grade.  Art and music are integral parts of Redeemer's curriculum and are used to enhance learning in all areas of study.

Methodology:  In the grammar stage, developmentally appropriate techniques which facilitate the memorization of the facts and rules of a subject are employed.  Children are taught systematically and directly and work toward mastery.  Because children who are actively involved in the learning process learn best, visual auditory, and kinesthetic components are combined to reinforce learning.  Techniques that include songs, jingles, rhythms, hand motions, and other multi-sensory  methods are utilized.  Although these techniques often include high levels of repetition, children have fun while practicing what they learn.  Primary Phonics, The Institute for Excellence in Writing, Shurley Method Grammar, and Veritas History are some of the curriculum materials which are widely shared among  Classical and Christian schools for use in the Grammar Stage.

Logic Curriculum (Grades 7-9)

Content:  The second stage of a classical school is the Dialectic or Logic stage (grades 7-9).  In this stage, students are taught formal logic in 8th grade and informal logic in the 9th grade.  The focus is on helping students to develop their use of inductive and deductive reasoning and to teach them how to order their thoughts, analyze arguments, and detect logical fallacies.  Logic curriculum developed specifically for use with students of this age is used at Redeemer.  These "core" courses are taught with an emphasis on building upon information obtained in the grammar level as an operative base and are taught in addition to the appropriate math, language arts, science, and other subject areas for this age level.

Logic is the science and art of reasoning well.  At RCCS, we teach how to avoid committing fallacies and argue our positions with factual and properly structured arguments.  Because God is truth, we must worship him thinking correctly about Him.  Because God is truth, we must reason with the world in accord with his truthful character.  To accomplish this, we study the proper structure of reasoning, formal logic, and we study the appropriate content of reasoning, informal logic.

In Math, students have two track options to follow that is determined at the end of 6th grade:

• Standard:  Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry & Statistics and Pre-Calculus
• Advanced:  Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry & Statistics, Pre-Calculus and Calculus

In the 9th grade, students begin their official foreign language studies.  RCCS requires that all students complete 3 years of Latin. Latin is a fundamental subject in classical schools.  As they learn Latin, students are reinforcing their knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary.

Latin is a language from which many others are branches.   The languages Italian, Spanish, Romanian and Portuguese all come from the mother tongue of Latin.  English gets 60% of its words from either Greek or Latin.  In addition, Latin is a tool to more greatly understand our own English grammar.  Through the process of turning English to Latin, and Latin to English one must master the world of nouns, adjectives, verbs, direct objects, and subjects.  In short, through the master of the Latin language we understand our own language and others.

Seventh and eighth grade students receive a year-long course in computer applications.  In our state-of-the-art computer lab, they learn keyboarding, word processing, data management, and presentation software skills, primarily using Microsoft Office tools.

Life Science, Physical Science, and Biology are studied in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades, repsectively.  In science, students apply lecture material in the student lab and develop their own laboratory research projects.

Logic stage students are given a strong foundation in the Bible.  In 7th and 8th grades, students are given an Old Testament Survey and a New Testament Survey course, respectively.

Utilizing a humanities approach, the literature, music, art, philosophy, and theology related to a historical time period under study are examined as follows:

• 7th grade - U.S. History
• 8th grade - Geography
• 9th grade - Ancient Civilizations

Logic level English courses expand students' knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, writing mechanics, composition, and creative writing.  They are required to read a number of major literary works related to their study of history/geography each year and are taught to analyze the worldview of the author and main characters.

In addition to the major subject areas mentioned above, the students extend their knowledge in a variety of special topic areas as well.  All students take courses in art and music each year.  Physical education is taught twice per week in grades 7 and 8.

Methodology:  Classical educators emphasize the inter-relationship of all knowledge.  At Redeemer, we believe there are real standards of beauty, truth, and goodness.  We seek to read great books, "classics," which contain great ideas for their shaping influence.  Guided discussion groups and informal debate are techniques that are frequently employed across subjects in order for students to discover principles and make connections.  The  Logic stage students are learning to answer the questions of "how" and "why".   Throughout this stage, teaching methodologies that sharpen students' critical thinking skills are employed.  Students are taught to write response papers in a variety of content areas.   They also learn to research a topic exhaustively, examining and integrating primary sources.  All Logic students are given systematic training in study skills and classical roots to assist in their scholarly development.

Rhetoric Curriculum (Grades 10-12)

Content:  The Biblical worldview is integrated in all subject areas, but it is given special attention through in-depth Bible study in grade 10, the study of Christian doctrines in Systematic Theology in grade 11, and Apologetics, which teaches a student how to defend one's faith, in grade 12.  We want students to know what they believe and why they believe it so they can fulfill the mandate given in 1 Peter 3:15 which states, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect."

The classical core courses of the Rhetoric stage include the study of formal Rhetoric, Civics, Economics, and Senior Thesis. In grade 10, students learn the components of the art of rhetoric and are taught to skillfully use the techniques they have acquired in other subject areas.  In grade 11, students develop an appreciation for the original intent of the Constitution as they learn the mechanics of government as well as the principles for maintaining a free society.  Additionally, through their study of Austrian Economics, the students learn the fundamental laws of economics.  In grade 12, Senior Thesis is the capstone project which integrates a student's understanding of Logic, Rhetoric, Civics, Economics, and Scripture.  Each student selects a public policy issue on a controversial topic, prepares a written thesis, and defends it orally to a small group of faculty members.  Thus, students exercise their research and rhetorical skills in a formal, yet supportive environment.

Rhetoric students analyze major works and anthologies in literature as they continue the study of history with the Medieval, Renaissance and Reformation time periods in grade 11, and Modernity in grade 12.  By studying the past in an integrated and chronological fashion, students learn to thoughtfully consider the ideas and consequences that form the basis of our current culture.

Each year, fine arts courses are also coordinated to the study of each time period of humanities.  Also, students have the opportunity to further their arts education in painting, drawing, piano and guitar.

The standard and advance math tracks continue in the Rhetoric stage in grades 10, 11, and 12, repsectively as previously stated.

• Standard:  Algebra II, Trigonometry & Statistics and Pre-Calculus
• Advanced:  Trigonometry & Statistics, Pre-Calculus and Calculus

Chemistry, Physics and Anatomy and Physiology are the science courses that are offered in 10th, 11th and 12th grades.  Study in these courses help students to gain an appreciation for the detail and complexity of God's creation.  Lab exercises provide opportunities to review and apply lecture material.  A systematic approach to problem-solving is emphasized.

Students will pursue a course of Latin I - III in grades 9, 10 and 11.  Through this study, the students will build a workable vocabulary, practice the grammar of the language, and enjoy an understanding of the culture and history associated with its time.

Methodology:   Rhetoric is the stage of a classical and Christian school where students synthesize and apply fundamental facts and critical thinking to create expressive communications.  In this stage, the emphasis remains on providing a broadly-based liberal arts program, which will prepare them for lifelong learning.  Characteristics of persuasion, eloquence, and beauty are emphasized.  Rhetoric students are taught to present themselves in a way that is polished and persuasive, in both written and oral form.  Once again, the emphasis is on building upon knowledge and skills gained in previous stages.  It is in the Rhetoric program that RCCS graduates are prepared to enter the world of higher education and/or work.  The goal of the program is to equip students with a solidly Biblical worldview and to prepare them to use the knowledge and understanding, as well as skills and virtues they have accrued in order to express themselves with both wisdom and eloquence as Christ's representatives in the world.

Collaboration Between Grades

One of the notable benefits of a Redeemer education is the ability to collaborate between older and younger students.  This collaboration has taken many forms ranging from after-school tutoring to shared class projects to performing for other classes.

Five week mummification project

In the ninth grade, students have the opportunity to partner with a couple of grammar school classes throughout the year.  During our study of ancient Egypt in the first semester, the ninth and third graders embark on a five week mummification project which involves mummifying small Cornish hens.

Hoplite Warfare

Later in the second semester, the ninth graders once again partner up, but this time they join forces with the fourth grade to experience hoplite warfare from ancient Greece.  Students are able to engage in history and see it come to life. 
Working together with the younger classes is a fabulous opportunity because it allows our freshman to become leaders, model appropriate behavior, develop self-awareness, and practice responsible decision making.  For the third and fourth graders, it allows them to benefit from individual attention, to build relationships with older students, and to glimpse how what they are learning now matters even later in school.  Though outsiders may lament the small school approach, opportunities such as these make us very thankful we are able to invest in one another.