Teaching Methods
Family Life Community School integrates a variety of methods and materials for teaching our children according to biblical principles and the ancient wisdom found throughout Scripture. All of our subjects are taught from a Biblical worldview. Our teaching reflects an approach similar to that of the Traditional as well as the Classical style, with attention given to the developmental progression of optimum learning stages.
During the early years, drill and review are primary tools for teaching, and much is accomplished through rhyme, chanting and song. Art, music, movement and hands-on experiential learning provide the counterbalance for the disciplines of memorization and drill. Once basic academic skills are mastered, students are taught to how to research and collect information, integrating what they have learned in different subject areas through the rigors of logic and reason. With this foundation, upper level students are able to logically present and defend their ideas, while continuing the systematic construction of a Biblical worldview and deepening their understanding of integrated academic disciplines.
Reading & Literature
We agree that a great literature-based curriculum will move students toward cultural literacy and provide the foundation for a broader understanding of history. At the primary level, we recognize the importance of a strong phonics-based approach to teaching reading skills that is used alongside a consistent exposure to high quality children's literature. The students will be reading Christian literature, as well as some that is not explicitly “Christian.” The literature that is selected will be quality literature that represents well a broad historical perspective, or a wide range of human experience that exposes moral and spiritual dilemmas, or powerfully describes the struggle of a fallen world toward the redemptive act of grace, and so on. We want to engage our students, at age-appropriate stages, in intellectual discussions that provoke high level thinking and expose them to deep questions of the faith. We also believe that God's Word is as relevant today as it has been throughout history and we will always drive the student toward answers that are reflective of God's truth found in Scripture.
FLCS Elementary School Curriculum Goals:
Reading - we seek to:
English - we seek to:
History & Geography - we seek to:
Science - we seek to:
Mathematics - we seek to:
Character training - we seek to:
Curriculum Values
Each curriculum selected for use at FLCS is taught from a decidedly evangelical Christian perspective, even if it is not an explicitly “Christian curriculum.” We agree that “all truth is God’s truth” and are committed to teaching a sound biblical worldview throughout all academic disciplines. We also seek to establish a global perspective on social, environmental, political and humanitarian issues that helps prepare students to become world citizens with a broad view of the Great Commission and a proper response to the Lord’s command of world-wide ministry. Starting in elementary school, students are also taught how to defend their faith.
Throughout the teaching of Science and History, apologetics is presented as a natural and necessary part of living in a post-Christian era. We want to develop in our students (as the writers of the Sonlight Curriculum so aptly put it) “a healthy scholarly skepticism” toward the things they will encounter throughout life, designed to motivate them to seek, find and defend the truth.
We firmly believe and support by our educational philosophy that parents are first and foremost responsible for their children’s education. The partnership between parent and Christian educator that is a hallmark of FLCS is a trust relationship based on a mutual desire to honor the Lord Jesus Christ in all that is taught to our children. May He be lifted up and glorified by every aspect of our educational program.
Family Life Community School integrates a variety of methods and materials for teaching our children according to biblical principles and the ancient wisdom found throughout Scripture. All of our subjects are taught from a Biblical worldview. Our teaching reflects an approach similar to that of the Traditional as well as the Classical style, with attention given to the developmental progression of optimum learning stages.
During the early years, drill and review are primary tools for teaching, and much is accomplished through rhyme, chanting and song. Art, music, movement and hands-on experiential learning provide the counterbalance for the disciplines of memorization and drill. Once basic academic skills are mastered, students are taught to how to research and collect information, integrating what they have learned in different subject areas through the rigors of logic and reason. With this foundation, upper level students are able to logically present and defend their ideas, while continuing the systematic construction of a Biblical worldview and deepening their understanding of integrated academic disciplines.
Reading & Literature
We agree that a great literature-based curriculum will move students toward cultural literacy and provide the foundation for a broader understanding of history. At the primary level, we recognize the importance of a strong phonics-based approach to teaching reading skills that is used alongside a consistent exposure to high quality children's literature. The students will be reading Christian literature, as well as some that is not explicitly “Christian.” The literature that is selected will be quality literature that represents well a broad historical perspective, or a wide range of human experience that exposes moral and spiritual dilemmas, or powerfully describes the struggle of a fallen world toward the redemptive act of grace, and so on. We want to engage our students, at age-appropriate stages, in intellectual discussions that provoke high level thinking and expose them to deep questions of the faith. We also believe that God's Word is as relevant today as it has been throughout history and we will always drive the student toward answers that are reflective of God's truth found in Scripture.
FLCS Elementary School Curriculum Goals:
Reading - we seek to:
- Use phonics as the primary building blocks for teaching students to read.
- Encourage the students to read correctly as soon as possible (normally in Kindergarten or First grade).
- Introduce the students to high quality children’s’ literature as soon as possible.
- Carefully monitor the student’s reading abilities to ensure he is at a reasonable level, is comprehending adequately, and is reading fluently, both orally and silently. This includes the proper use of word-attack skills.
- Foster a life-long love of reading and high quality literature, after being taught to recognize the characteristics of such literature.
English - we seek to:
- Equip every student with the skills necessary for good writing, including spelling, grammar, style, clarity, etc.
- Put a major emphasis on good writing by requiring the students to write often and correctly in each subject area.
- Encourage clear thinking by the students through requiring clear writing.
- Introduce the students to many styles of writing using the Bible and other high quality literature.
History & Geography - we seek to:
- Teach the students that God is in control of History and He will determine its ultimate outcome.
- Enable the students to see God's hand in the history of the world and the United States.
- Make history and geography "come alive" for the students through the use of many forms of information and research, e.g. biographies, illustrations, field trips, guest speakers, music, art, foods, etc.
Science - we seek to:
- Teach that the biblical creation account is true and that the theory of evolution is false.
- Teach the students the basic elements of both accounts and that both systems are based on either sound or unsound faith.
- Show the students that because God made the universe, it has inherent order which in turn makes it possible to hypothesize and experiment (Scientific method). Guided inquiry will reveal to the student the intrinsic laws, systems, and truths God put into creation.
- Treat the study of science as a “means to an end” not an end in itself. That is, curiosity, experimentation, demonstration, research, should be emphasized as the process and way of using science, as opposed to the study of facts. Facts should be attained as the result of research and discovery, vs. Lecture. By the time the students enter secondary-level science, they should be extremely familiar with the scientific method, through repeated practice.
- Use many forms of instruction to teach scientific concepts and methods, E.g. a large variety of experiments, demonstrations, research projects, illustrations, field trips, guest speakers, etc.
Mathematics - we seek to:
- Ensure that the students have a thorough mastery of basic mathematical functions and tables.
- Put an emphasis on conceptual, as well as practical understanding of math through the frequent use of story problems.
- Illustrate God’s unchanging character through the timeless, logical mathematical systems He gave to man through His gift of Reason.
Character training - we seek to:
- Teach our students about the various character traits exemplified by Christ.
- Memorize scripture so that students will “hide God’s word in their hearts that they might not sin against Him.”
Curriculum Values
Each curriculum selected for use at FLCS is taught from a decidedly evangelical Christian perspective, even if it is not an explicitly “Christian curriculum.” We agree that “all truth is God’s truth” and are committed to teaching a sound biblical worldview throughout all academic disciplines. We also seek to establish a global perspective on social, environmental, political and humanitarian issues that helps prepare students to become world citizens with a broad view of the Great Commission and a proper response to the Lord’s command of world-wide ministry. Starting in elementary school, students are also taught how to defend their faith.
Throughout the teaching of Science and History, apologetics is presented as a natural and necessary part of living in a post-Christian era. We want to develop in our students (as the writers of the Sonlight Curriculum so aptly put it) “a healthy scholarly skepticism” toward the things they will encounter throughout life, designed to motivate them to seek, find and defend the truth.
We firmly believe and support by our educational philosophy that parents are first and foremost responsible for their children’s education. The partnership between parent and Christian educator that is a hallmark of FLCS is a trust relationship based on a mutual desire to honor the Lord Jesus Christ in all that is taught to our children. May He be lifted up and glorified by every aspect of our educational program.