Faith
K-4: We utilize children’s Bibles and other children’s books, arts & crafts and play-acting to teach the students important stories and lessons from the Old and New Testament.
5-8: The Bible and commentaries on the Bible serve as the primary sources for this course. Students read and discuss Biblical passages. This course is taught on a four year cycle: Genesis, Kings, the Gospels, and finally Acts and Epistles.
Phonics/Spelling
K-4: Our phonics courses are based on the Writing Road to Reading. Students learn to sound out, syllabicate, spell and critically analyze words. This highly successful program enables most of our students to read significantly above their grade level.
5-8: Our upper-level students continue to improve their spelling ability through the study of Greek and Latin roots.
Mathematics
We use the Math-U-See mathematics program from K-8th. This program is effective at both showing students how mathematics works and teaching the traditional algorithms that they need to thrive in this field. We supplement our K-6th grades with an excellent critical thinking program that develops the students’ ability to sort, match, distinguish, and other skills not traditionally covered in most mathematics programs.
Most 8th grades students will graduate having taken honors level Algebra I which is an advanced level freshman course.
Language Arts
1st-8th : Students learn to write complete sentences, one-paragraph stories, multi-paragraph stories, and research papers as they progress in ability. Writing elements from the Rod and Staff English series are used to instruct the upper levels in writing and researching techniques. Students, 1st-8th, develop a wide range of reading skills through SRA reading.
Grammar
2nd-4th: Students learn to identify different parts of speech, edit, punctuate and utilize key rules of the English language in Rod and Staff’s thorough and effective program.
Latin
3rd-8th: Students at St. Basil Academy will receive 6 years of Latin study beginning with Memoria Press’ introductory programs and advancing on to the classic middle school program, Henle Latin.
Spanish
4th /5th-8th: Students will receive 2-3 years of Spanish. We utilize the award winning Tell Me More program. This program teaches conversational Spanish as well as Spanish grammar.
Science
1st-5th: Lower-level students progress through Apologia Sciences’ elementary program. Students will learn about astronomy, botany and zoology through labs, crafts and creating their own science notebook.
6th-8th: Upper-level students will study physics, chemistry and biology using Beginning Publishing House’s advanced level middle school program, The Rainbow. This program features weekly labs that help bring science to life.
Logic
7th/8th: Students will take on year of traditional logic utilizing Memoria Press’ Traditional Logic program.
History
1st-4th: Lower-level students will study western civilization from ancient history through the Renaissance and Reformation. The primary resource for this 4 year cycle of classes is Greenleaf Press’ Famous Men series.
5th-8th: Upper-level students will complete a four year cycle of the following courses: Modern History I (16th century -French Revolution), Modern History II (French Revolution- Cold War), American History (Colonies-Civil War) and Advanced Ancient History (Ancient Greece and Rome). A variety of sources will be utilized for these courses.
Literature
5th-8th: The Literature class will be tied into and cover the same time periods as the upper-level history courses. Students will read, analyze, discuss and write on classical literature such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Lord of the Rings, Red Badge of Courage, and Animal Farm.
