Primary (K-6) Curriculum

Grammar Stage

Grades K-6 make up the grammar stage (see the Lost Tools of Learning Chart). The goal of the grammar stage is to give students raw material to work with. Primary students will be equipped with the tools they need and a foundation on which to build.

Douglas Wilson has described the grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages of learning like this:

The grammar stage is stacking up the grain in the barn, the logic stage is grinding flour, and the rhetoric stage is baking bread.

Primary students are generally excited about learning, interested in facts, and easily memorize things. As classical educators, we will take advantage of this natural disposition and use songs, chants, catechesis (questions and answers), drills, games, and presentations, among other things, in order to give the students what is necessary to become life-long learners.

Click here for an overview of our Primary (K-6) Curriculum.

Words To Live By

Built into each class and period will be “words to live by” which are proverbial sayings that are performed as a “sound-off.” The leader starts the sound-off by stating the words printed in bold letters. The students enthusiastically finish the proverb. Think of a military sergeant drilling his troops—let’s hear it!

New proverbs will be regularly introduced and all previous ones will be regularly rehearsed. Proverbs will be performed at least daily, but should be performed as often as they apply. For example, “Obey…Right away! All the way! With a good attitude every day!” 

Click here to download our list of Words To Live By.

  1. Obey … Right Away! All the way! With a good attitude every day! 
  2. Leave it … better than you found it. 
  3. When you blow it … go and make it right. 
  4. Be a truth teller … even when it hurts. 
  5. Hand … shake! Firm & cheerful, eyes on eyes. 
  6. If you fall down … smile and keep on playing. 
  7. Pro … tagonist. (clap, clap, clap…thumbs up).
    An … tagonist. Boo, oo, oo (thumbs down) 
  8. Finish … strong! 
  9. No … excuses sir! 
  10. Hustle … to help out! Dishes! Dishes! Dishes! 
  11. Never … panic! 
  12. Did you find something? … give it back, give it back, give it back. (clap, clap)
  13. Etiquette is … love in trifles. 
  14. Love … (boys) your brother; (girls) and your sister too! 
  15. How are you? … Better than I deserve. 
  16. We give gifts … because He gave them first. 
  17. What are you going to build … with that gift? 
  18. Good, Better, Best…Never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best
  19. Test your words…Is it true, Is it kind, Is it necessary?
  20. I’m much too big for a fairy and much to small for a man…But this is true, whatever I do, I do the best I can
  21. I will respect…Those whom God has placed in authority over me
    I will respect…others
    I will respect    …myself
  22. Not … unto us, O Lord;
    Not     … unto us;
    But     … unto Thy name give glory.
    Psalm … 115:1 
  23. God is opposed to the proud … but gives grace to the humble. 
  24. Greater love has no one than this … that he lay down his life for his friends. 
  25. Those who are faithful with little … will be faithful with much. 
  26. He who hates correction … (whispered) is stupid. 
  27. The bigger they are … the harder they fall. 
  28. Wisdom … (clap, clap, clap) is more precious (clap, clap) than rubies. (clap)
  29. Go to the ant you sluggard … consider its ways and be wise 
  30. The ant works hard … without a coach 
  31. For unto you is born this day … in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 
  32. Who needs a savior? … Those who are lost. 
  33. What are you? … I am a crown.
    Whose crown are you?     … I am my grandparent’s crown 
  34. He who spares his rod … hates his son;
    but he who loves him     … disciplines him diligently. 
  35. To whom much is given … much is required.
  36. Out of the abundance of the heart … the mouth speaketh 
  37. Rebuke a wise man and … he will love you.
  38. If anyone will not work … neither let him eat. 
  39. You will reap … what you sow. 
  40. The Lord be with you … The Lord Bless you, Mr. Boaz! (Ruth 2:1-4)
  41. He that covereth his sins … shall not prosper:
    but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them … shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13 
  42. Jesus said, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers … you did it to me.” 
  43. The generous soul … will be made rich – MAGNANIMOUS! Bigger than the moment. (Proverbs 11:25)
  44. Esther said … “If I perish, I perish.” 
  45. And of His kingdom … there will be no end. 
  46. Poly … theism: many gods. There is ONE TRUE GOD! 
  47. Run in such a way … that you attain it. 
  48. You’re in poor shape, are you ready to strike your colors? … I have not yet begun to fight!—John Paul Jones
  49. Two things I know:
    That     … I am a great sinner,
    And that     … Christ is a great Savior—John Newton
  50. Teddy … Roosevelt, Bully! 1901 
  51. Gettys … burg 1863 
  52. Don’t … Whine!
    Don’t     … Complain!
    Don’t     … Make Excuses, Sir!—John Wooden 
  53. Attentive is…Listening with ears, eyes, and heart
  54. Faith is…Trusting God to do what He says
  55. Diligence is…Working hard all the way to the end
  56. Patience is…Waiting with a happy spirit
  57. Contentment is…Being happy with what I have
  58. Obedience is…Responding to authority with a happy heart
  59. Wisdom is…Living skillfully in the fear of God
  60. Tenderhearted is…Feeling the joys and hurts of others
  61. Thankfulness is…Being grateful and saying so
  62. Honesty is…Commitment to truthful ways and words
  63. Joyfulness is…Being happy in God
  64. Loyalty is…Supporting someone even when the going gets tough
  65. Responsibility is…Doing what I have been entrusted to do
  66. Self-Control is…Doing the right thing even when I don’t feel like it
  67. Order is…Keeping everything in its place
  68. Discernment is…Being able to see things as they really are
  69. Forgiveness is…Releasing someone’s sin never to bring it up again
  70. Fairness is…Being big hearted to all
  71. Love is…Putting others ahead of myself
  72. Generosity is…Sharing what I have without expecting something back
  73. Christ…is Lord, Christ…is all.
  74. Give thanks always…for all things.
  75. Ladies…first.
  76. Dig…deep.
  77. Cover it…in love.
  78. First done…is not always the best done.
  79. After class…thank your teacher.
  80. Do all things…without complaining or disputing. (Philippians 22:14)
  81. And whatever you do…do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. (Colossians 3:23)
  82. In honor…give preference to one another. (Romans 12:10)
  83. Fear God…and keep His commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
  84. Why are we in school today?…to glorify God.
  85. How can we glorify God at school?…By working hard and loving one another.
  86. Why should we work hard?…Because “the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” (Proverbs 13:4)
  87. Why should we love one another?…Because “if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12)