Westminster Academy Curriculum: An Overview of K-9 Learning
The 2022-2023 school year has just ended, but we’re already looking forward to another year with our students at Westminster Academy. We hope you are, too! The upcoming school year will bring some changes to our educational program; namely, our expansion to ninth grade, in which we will introduce the rhetoric phase of learning. But what exactly does that mean for our students? Keep reading for a brief overview of Westminster Academy’s curriculum, including the schools of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
Grammar School
The foundation of our school is a classical Christian curriculum that emphasizes reading, writing, languages, critical thought, and problem-solving. It begins with the grammar stage, taking place in grades 1 through 4. In this stage, we teach students the fundamentals and rules of each subject.
In kindergarten, we focus on teaching students to become independent readers through language arts work. This prepares them for 1st and 2nd grade, where we teach them to become independent learners. The curriculum of grades 1 through 4 includes Bible, math, language arts, science, and social studies, as well as the electives art, health, and gym. We utilize a phonics-based system to teach reading and encourage memorization of the core concepts of these disciplines.
Logic School
In the logic stage of learning, we help students transition from concrete thinking to critical thinking. Rather than mere memorization of new information, the logic school emphasizes analytical reasoning and how knowledge relates to other knowledge. Students are encouraged to ask questions that allow them to reach a valid conclusion with a deeper understanding of the subjects they’re learning.
The logic school takes place in 5th through 8th grade. This curriculum includes Bible, math, language arts, science, and social studies, as well as electives health, music, business, and gym. We also begin to introduce foreign languages at this point, focusing on Latin and Spanish.
Rhetoric School
Finally, we have the rhetoric stage, which focuses on abstract learning. Students combine what they have learned in grammar school and logic school — foundational knowledge and critical thinking — to form reasonable opinions and conclusions they can defend via debates and persuasive writing. Communication is the central feature of the rhetoric school.
During the 2023-2024 school year, 9th grade students will study Bible, algebra, biology, language arts, and world geography, with the electives government and gym. One of our goals for the future is to continue the rhetoric school by adding grades 10, 11, and 12 to Westminster Academy’s program.
For a complete breakdown of the learning material we use in our curriculum, please see our Academics page. Feel free to contact Angelyn Dodson at Westminster Academy with any questions ahead of the 2023-2024 school year!
