Margot Davidson took the classics Primary and Intermediate
Language Lessons by Emma Serl, and tweaked them “just a bit.” The result is
all the warmth of the originals with just a little more practicality, beauty,
and applicability. The same balance between oral and written work has been
preserved along with all the basic elements – copywork/dictation, picture
study, memorization, grammar sequences, and composition. Some pictures are in
full color; some changed to appeal to young readers. The language is in line
with today’s English. Scripture quotes are taken from the Catholic Edition of
the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. The typesetting is modern with much
more “white space.” Pacing is flexible and a student can be started at any
level that seems appropriate.
Primary (138 pages, 164 lessons) can be a one or two
year course. Some of the exercises toward the end have been broadened, making
them more appropriate for students at the end of third grade. Intermediate (252
pages, 300 lessons, 3 Parts), is used for two years between 4th – 6th grades.
Part I covers sentences, paragraphs, nouns, letter writing,
descriptive writing, dialogue, punctuation, and creative writing. Part II
includes quotations, homonyms, descriptive writing, abbreviations, describing
words, persuasive writing, and letter writing. Part III has expanded writing
coverage and includes parts of speech and sentences, journalism, comparison
writing, and descriptive writing. The consumable Worktexts are softcover.
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Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
