The Schoolhouse will be using a variety of curriculum for all subjects in the 2025/2026 school year. All curriculum uses a classical, Charlotte Mason approach to teaching.
What is a Charlotte Mason education?
The Charlotte Mason method is based on Charlotte’s firm belief that the child is a person and we must educate that whole person, not just his mind. So a Charlotte Mason education is three-pronged: in her words, “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.”
- Atmosphere: the surroundings in which the child grows up. A child absorbs a lot from his home environment
- Discipline: of good habits—and specifically habits of character
- Life: applies to academics. Charlotte believed that we should give children living thoughts and ideas, not just dry facts. So all of her methods for teaching the various school subjects are built around that concept.
For example, Charlotte’s students used living books rather than dry textbooks. Living books are usually written in narrative or story form by one author who has a passion for his topic. A living book makes the subject “come alive.”
The students were required to tell back, or narrate, in their own words what was read in the living book, in order to secure it in their minds. No fill-in-the-blank or multiple-choice for them; they practiced using rich language as they pointed out the ideas they gleaned from the reading and any mental connections they made between it and other ideas already residing in their growing minds and hearts.
What is a classical education?
A classical education, then, has two important aspects. It is language-focused. And it follows a specific three-part pattern: the mind must be first supplied with facts and images, then given the logical tools for organization of facts, and finally equipped to express conclusions.
Did you know that “learning how to learn” is actually a skill? Classical schools focus on teaching students HOW to think. Classical education seeks to produce students who possess a lifelong passion for learning, who are effective thought leaders, who communicate well, and with confidence, and are able to express themselves logically and persuasively.
It’s not about teaching to the test or teaching to the career. Yes, our students go through science, math, writing, language requirements but they do so through a classical education “how to learn” grid, Teaching students HOW to learn the material in front of them is priceless. This means they will possess the ability to learn almost anything placed in front of them. This is very different than telling students, “THIS exact material is what you need to KNOW.
Math
The Schoolhouse will be using Saxon math for grades k-12.
Saxon has a spiral approach to teaching math, ensuring students don’t lost concepts. In grades k-3rd, Saxon math is scripted for the parents/teacher. This will ensure a solid foundation is being laid, as our program is unique and students will have both parents and a teacher teaching them.
Saxon teaches students independence at a young age, so that they can independently work through most lessons as they get older.
Reading
For grades Kindergarten through 4th grade will use All About Reading. Grade 5th and up will do book studies within in their reading level that the teacher assigns.
Grades 2nd through 8th grade will use All About Spelling. This pairs nicely with All About Reading to help the students master the concepts.
Writing & Grammar
Students in grades 3rd and up will use IEW writing. This program helps students develop organizational skills in writing, while maintaining their own personal creative flair.
Younger grades will get introductions to writing, with teacher prompts and dictation.
Students in 3rd grade through 8th grade will use Fix it Grammar for grammar. This pairs very effectively with IEW writing.
Bible/History/Geography/Science
Each classroom, Kindergarten through 8th grade, will work through The Good and the Beautiful unite studies for science, Not Grass for history, and Not Consumed for bible.
High School will study World History using Master Books.
For the 2025/2026 year, High School will use Master Books for science and will be studying General Science.
High School will also use Not Consumed for bible, doing a variety of different 6 week studies throughout the course of the year.