CURRICULUM

PHILOSOPHY

 
For many years, we have been convinced that curriculum encompasses more than the traditionally accepted idea of textbooks and teaching aids. We have discovered an excellent expression of our long-held convictions and have chosen to quote it here with our thanks to Nora Carpenter, author of Christian Curriculum in the United States, from which the following was taken:

Curriculum is everything that affects the accomplishments of the established goals of learning. It is based on the philosophy of the school—why do you do what you do?—and actual implementation—what do you do? Curriculum is not only the textbooks; it is the teachers, and the janitor, and the discipline in the hallways. It is attitude of the school secretary directing a late student to class. It is how the classrooms are designed, and who sits next to whom, and what we are going to do with the student who forgot his lunch. It is the playground, and the science lab, and the parking lot. It is the budget, and the memos, and the faculty meetings. It is the principal, and the parents, and the attitude of the community. Curriculum is everything that impacts the student while at school—from people to plumbing (anyone who has tried to teach children when the restrooms are broken can tell you the impact of facilities on the learning process).

To illustrate: A locomotive weighing several tons is guided, controlled, and directed by the track upon which it runs. That is all the train comes in contact with. In the same manner, the curriculum, the track on which the student runs, is everything the student comes in contact with. It is our responsibility to seek God’s leadership and direction as we choose the curriculum we will use to guide the students at CCCS, whether it is a textbook, a teacher, a classroom, or a custodian. Therefore, the learning objectives outlined in this handbook should be considered from this perspective.

PURPOSE

In view of our philosophy of curriculum and in light of Proverbs 8:35, “For whoever finds me, finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord,” our purpose for curriculum parallels our mission statement: Our mission, as a discipleship Christian school, is to equip students spiritually, academically, socially and physically, encouraging them to reach their highest potential in life for Christ.

PARTICULARS

 It is our desire to convey a sample or general idea of the subject matter taught at each level. This is in no way intended to be exhaustive.

Three-year olds – Students will be exposed to recognition of name, sound, and pictures of vowels and consonants in upper and lower case; language development and listening skills using colors, shapes, animals, transportation, countries, community helpers, health, safety, and manners; counting 1-100; number concepts 1-20; and Bible lessons on creation, Noah, Samuel, Daniel, Jesus, Zacchaeus, and the Good Samaritan.
Four-year olds – Students will be exposed to manuscript writing, formation of letters, blends, words, sentences, and writing of first name; language development and listening skills including colors, shapes, animals, transportation, countries, community helpers, health, safety, manners, and science; numbers, including largest and smallest, 1-20, and addition 1+1=2; and Bible, including lessons from Scripture concerning creation, Noah, Samuel, David, Jesus, Zacchaeus, etc.
Kindergarten – The K-5 program is a full phonics-based course of study. It involves cursive writing, reading of sentences, and stories with one and two vowel words from a variety of books. The students will commit Scripture and poems to memory. Science will explore God’s plan for seeds, animals, seashore, man, weather, and seasons. Math will involve recognition counting and sequencing 1-100 by ones, twos, fives, and tens; telling time; using a calendar; and basic story problems in addition and beginning subtraction. Social studies will involve community helpers and children of the world and America (map studies, famous people, and places). Bible will include praise and worship songs, memory verses, and lessons concerning salvation, Adam and Eve, and the life of Jesus.
Elementary – The goal of the elementary is to prepare students to reach their highest potential and to be successful in our academic program. We use the ABeka program as our primary curriculum source for pre-k three through second grade. In third through sixth grades we use a combination of curricula (i.e. ABeka, Bob Jones, ACSI, etc.) which provide a sound academic education integrated with a biblical world view. The elementary curriculum is student-oriented, Christ-centered, accelerated, extremely challenging and easily individualized.
Jr. High – We will be using a combination of Christian curricula, as much as possible, to maximize application and learning. Language arts will include a continuing study of the eight parts of speech, capitalization, and punctuation rules. Diagramming is taught to enhance word usage and sentence structure. Composition is a large part of the study plan. Students will be required to write varied projects from letters to research papers. Reading involves poetry, fiction, some classics, and Christian biography. History includes world history and American history and geography. In science, students study life science and earth science. Mathematics includes a seventh-grade review and support of the concepts taught in fourth through sixth grades and algebra based student readiness.
High School – We will be using a variety of Christian Curricula as much as possible to maximize application and learning. In instances where the available Christian Curricula is academically inadequate, secular curricula will be employed with diligent integration of God’s Word and principles by the teacher, and careful and thorough discussion of any facts, concepts, or ideas that are contradictory to the scriptures or God’s principles. Our goal will always be to teach academic facts in light of God’s word and from His point of view. When they graduate, we do not want our students to be ignorant of Man’s philosophies or teachings, but instead, wise to their fallacies and errors in light of God’s truth; that they not be “tossed to a fro by every wind of doctrine” and thus be deceived, but instead “be rooted and grounded” in their faith. We want them to have the best possible education, and know how to apply it to God’s greatest glory, rather than misuse it to His dishonor and the detriment of mankind.