Curriculum
We use a variety of curricula, Memoria Press being one we use frequently. It is a classical Christian curriculum and their Latin is the best of all that is out there. We have enjoyed it greatly. Their composition, logic, grammar, and literature is also exceptional. In 8th+ we use Apologia Science for its conservative Christian worldview. For whichever classes you enroll in you will receive a book list. You can order through Excelsior or find the items on your own. We try to keep the book list small. In many classes all they will need is a notebook. In Apologia science classes it is imperative to have the newest editions (as the older editions are completely different).
The Role of Excelsior in Your Homeschool
Excelsior exists to provide accountability (in the form of moving through the curriculum together and “done-for-you” checklist lesson plans) as well as community, to provide fun and engaging classroom time where students will learn to love and enjoy their subjects and make lifelong friends.
Excelsior serves to empower parents to be the primary teachers (which is the state of Arizona’s definition of homeschooling). We usually won’t use class time to proctor tests (we leave that to the parents at home if they desire). All assignments are optional and suggested, we leave that to the parent’s discretion. If a student demonstrates mastery in that week’s lesson, perhaps they do not need to do the homework assignment and that is the parent’s prerogative to choose what serves their child’s time best. We give no grades at Excelsior (with the exception of Composition, students may turn their final drafts into their teacher for their critiques and a grade).
It is important to note, there are some subjects we won’t cover altogether and we leave them for you to do at home (such as Math – we play Math facts games in Primary School and then in the Grammar and Upper Schools we leave Math for home). In other subjects you will primarily be the instructor (such as Composition – we will teach the first two days, but either you, or the DVD video instructor, will teach the remaining days. The students are expected to come ready and have completed the assignments the previous week so that they can continue on. And there are some subjects that we cover completely at Excelsior and require no at home time.
Grammar School
3rd through 6th grade is what we call our Grammar School. It is a time when they are laying the foundation of the essential building blocks that will carry them through to higher, more complex learning. They will dive deeper into Latin starting with Latina Christiana and then progress into First Form Latin and Second Form Latin. Through several years of meeting with our moms and receiving their input, we have honed in on the classes that are most important to the moms to be done at co-op in community. These are classes that benefit from live instruction or are more enriched to do with other children, as we have fun learning together in community.
We typically don’t refer to students by “grade” but refer to the classical model of students working in levels based on their abilities. No two students will learn the same or at the same time. There are students who are advanced and parents can opt to choose classes that fit best for them (such as grade level higher or the option to go to a lower grade where appropriate is fine too).
Our fervent desire is to serve and bless the families at co-op. We achieve this goal by completing an entire day of instruction in core subjects. As added accountability and to make homeschooling as simple as possible, you will be given a lesson plan checklist that takes you through the curriculum week by week. And the best part is we do the curriculum together, in community (and we have a lot of fun!)
Grammar School Class Schedule
NOTE: (stricken items either mean it’s not the year it is offered –or– I don’t have enough at this time to make a class – I need 3 students – if you are interested in that class let me know asap and I’ll put you on the waitlist)
| all students | 8:45 AM | Students arrive and assemble for Morning Assembly | ||||
| all students | 9:00 | Pray, Pledge to the Flag and Bible, Hymn, Announcements, Manners/Etiquette Lesson, Dismissed to classes | ||||
| Grammar students break into different Bible classes | 9:20 | Christian Studies BibleWe cover the entire Golden’s Children Bible in 4 yearsReading and Discussion, Ancient Geography Map work | ||||
| all Grammar students together | 9:50 | Bible Verse Recitation (recite the old, learn the new) | ||||
| 10:00 | Latin Every week we recite our latin forms, learn or review a lesson, do the current week’s assignment in the workbook, and play Latin games like “Latin Jeopardy”) and Lingua Angelica (we learn songs and prayers in latin). | |||||
| Choose One: | Latina Christiana I (3rd or 4th) | Latina Christiana II (4th) | First Form (5th or 6th+) | Second Form (6th+) | ||
| 11:00 | Geography – Choose One: | |||||
| suggested 3rd/4th | States and Capitals (Over the course of 2 years students will learn about each state, fun facts, topography, they will memorize the capital, all spellings and abbreviation, and be able to recognize and recall where all states are on the map) | |||||
| suggested 5th/6th | World Geography (over the course of 2 years the students will cover 2/3 of the world learning interesting facts about countries, identifying them on a map, and correct spelling. They will also briefly review states and capitals and/or previous learned world geography. | |||||
| all Grammar students together | 11:30 | Chorale | ||||
| 12:00 | Gather for closing prayer and Doxology hymn, lunch/recess | |||||
| 1:00 | Classical Studies/History – Choose One: | |||||
| suggested 3rd/4th | Ancient History (2024-2025)This class covers ancient history through great read alouds, geography and timeline study, wonderful picture book read alouds and activities/experiments/crafts | |||||
| suggested 5th | Famous Men of Rome | |||||
| suggested 6th | Famous Men of Middle Ages | |||||
| 1:30 | Composition | |||||
| Introduction to Composition (3rd) | IEW – Level A, year 1 | IEW – Level B, year 1 (5th/6th) | ||||
| Optional Afternoon: | 2-2:45 pm | Science: | ||||
| suggested 3rd/4th | 2024-2025:First Semester: Memoria Press Astronomy Constellations (Units 1-3) Second Semester: Apologia Astronomy (Planets, Comets, etc) | |||||
| suggested 5th/6th | Apologia Botany and Chemistry & Physics (2024-25) — | |||||
3rd grade:
Click here for the Third Grade curriculum we use.
4th grade:
Click here for the Fourth Grade curriculum we use.
5th grade:
Click here for the Fifth Grade curriculum we use.
6th grade:
Click here for the Sixth Grade curriculum we use.