The Hawthorn Preschool follows the distinctive approach of Maria Montessori's "Casa Dei Bambini" or "Childrens' House." The classroom welcomes three and four year-olds who progress through a Montessori course of study that prepares them for the primary grades. Some distinctive characteristics are:

·  Mixed-Age Classrooms – Placing children in mixed age groups, corresponding to planes of development, allows them to relate to children who are both older and younger. It also allows for a “confidence interval” around learning in that a child is not labeled as either behind or gifted simply because they acquire a concept a little earlier or a little later than same age peers.

·  Observation – The teacher’s observation of the child reveals the proper timing for the presentation of new information and experiences academically, socially and personally.

·  Developmental Fit – Awareness of the needs and abilities during specific times of development allows for optimal engagement and learning for the child.

·  Classroom Community – The classroom experience builds on the desire of the young child to master his or her environment. The classroom community is child-centered rather than adult-centered.

·  Montessori Materials – The use of self-correcting, beautifully designed materials allows children to manipulate and explore at their own pace, experience satisfaction and develop self-confidence

Math: Saxon Math, Homeschool Edition Level 1. Topics: months, date, shape patterns, writing numbers, counting, identifying 2D and 3D shapes, making and analyzing picture graphs, determining ordinal value, drawing and writing number sentences, measuring in inches and centimeters, telling time, skip counting by 2s, 5s, 10s; counting money addition and subtraction with single digit numbers. (+/- 0, 1, 2, 3), and doubles facts (1+1 through 9+9).

Language Arts: Wilson’s Fundations (TM), Level K. Topics: lower and uppercase letter formation and sounds, digraphs (wh, sh, ch, th, ck), blending and decoding CVC/ CVCC words, phonemic and phonetic awareness, rhyming, ‘trick’ words, and sentence structure. Students retell short stories and identify characters, setting, problem, and solution.

Geography: Learn from nonfiction texts and songs. Topics: The American Flag, Communities, Solar System, Seven Continents, Landforms and Bodies of Water, 50 States, Presidents, American Holidays, reading a map, and using a compass.

Religion: Catholic children’s texts by Fr. Lawrence Lovasik and Rev. Jude Winkle that discuss the Mass, Ten Commandments, Seven Sacraments, The Rosary, Guardian Angels, Advent, and Lent. Memorize and copy prayers: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Grace before meals, and The Apostles Creed,

Art: Explore Color, Shape, Line, Texture, sketching nature, creating self portraits, Roman Mosaic, Mondrian, Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, and more.

Nature Study: Adapted from the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock; study of leaves, trees, insects, animal hibernation, habitats, birds, mammals, amphibians, pond life, flowers, plant life, rocks and minerals, the weather, seasons, and water cycles.

Literature & Poetry: Timeless children’s classics including Winnie the Pooh, Various Fairy Tales, Beatrix Potter, Madeline, Curious George, Make Way for Ducklings, The Velveteen Rabbit, Pinocchio, Where the Wild Things Are, Babar the Elephant, Aesop's Fables and more. Memorize and recite Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes through pictures, song, and movement. Favorites include Little Bo Peep, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Sing a Song of Sixpence, Jack and Jill, Old King Cole, Little Miss Muffet, One Two Buckle My Shoe, and more!

Music: Introduction to classical music of Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and more. Fundamentals of pitch and rhythm are explored through singing and playing simple percussion instruments. Students memorize songs to build their repertoire of patriotic and folk music.

Physical Education: Daily structured movement activities to enhance physical fitness, impulse control, spatial awareness, gross and fine motor skills, cooperating as a team and good sportsmanship. Explore creative movement, elements of dance, basic tumbling, strengthening and stretching sequences, axial and locomotor movement; the use of props such as scarves, ribbon wands, pool noodles, bean bags, parachute, and hula hoops.

Math: Saxon Math Level 2. Concepts include skip counting, telling time, calendar, adding and subtracting two-digit numbers. 1st graders also begin to learn the basics of multiplication and division.

Language Arts: Fundations Levels 1 and 2 for phonics and grammar. Vowels, consonants, diagraphs, vowel teams, syllables, prefixes, and suffixes. Parts of a sentence and rules for punctuation. Weekly spelling tests.

History: US Geography; identifying regions on a map, the 50 states, American landmarks such as the Great Lakes, the Grand Canyon, and major mountain ranges.

Religion: Discussion of Old Testament Stories, the Trinity and Incarnation, and the gift of the Eucharist as presented in God Our Father from the Faith and Life Series, Grade 1. Memorize basic prayers of the Catholic Faith and learn to sing hymns.

Art: Students learn a variety of art techniques including form, 3D shapes, sketching still life, texture, color, and shadow.

Nature Study: Students develop a love of nature and knowledge of life around campus. This includes study of trees, butterflies, mammals, plants, insects, amphibians, birds.

Literature & Music: Read and recite classic poems and sing daily, amassing a large repertoire of folk and American songs. Several books are read and discussed as a class including The Great Quillow, Grimm’s Fairytales, Rikki Tikki Tavi, Call It Courage, and James and the Giant Peach. Introduction to classical music of Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and more. Fundamentals of pitch and rhythm are explored through singing and playing simple percussion instruments.

Physical Education: Students learn stretching and the basics of exercise, running and relay races, teamwork, skills in catching and throwing, kicking, dribbling, scooters, games and sports like floor hockey and soccer.

Math: Students work in small groups at their individual levels. Advanced math is available for those who qualify.

Lenguage Arts: Vocabulary from Classical Roots is used to study spelling and vocabulary.  Each word introduced is broken down into Latin root words. For grammar, students study parts of speech, prefixes, suffixes, and homophones. Cursive handwriting is taught using the Zaner-Bloser handwriting book.

History: Through reading A History of the New Nation, 1789-1850, 2nd graders discuss the development of our young nation after the Revolutionary War. Particular topics include the Louisiana Purchase, Manifest Destiny, War of 1812, Industrial Revolution, and more.

Religion: Class discussions and course of study are based on Following Christ and Life series. This text explores one’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Catholic Church.

Art: Students develop their artistic abilities and gain a greater appreciation as they learn about some of the most influential and prominent artists in history.

 Nature Study: A hands-on class taught to inspire students to make their own discoveries and grow in their excitement to learn about the world around them. Students find and observe plants, trees, insects, and animals, and learn in depth about them.

Literature & Music: The study of classical literature from authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and E.B. White. Students sing everyday to develop a strong repertoire of Folk and American music.

Physical Education: Students have a daily gym class where they learn the fundamentals of various sports and have the chance to play games and practice good sportsmanship.

Math: Placement in either the 5/4 or 7/6 Saxon Math grade level. Students at the 5/4 level focus on building a strong foundation in key concepts such as number

sense, numeration, numerical operations, measurement, geometry, mathematical functions, and data manipulation. Students at the 7/6 level solve and think through word problems, correctly use integers and craft exponential expressions, utilize prime factorization, perform divisibility concepts, and solve for ratios and proportions. Curriculum is marked by daily drills to assess skill and to build quick math recall. Regular exams take place after every 5th lesson.

Language Arts: Study grammar, spelling, and vocabulary exploring Greek and Latin roots. Analyze, memorize, and recite poetry of Emily Dickenson, Robert Frost, Lewis Caroll, and Langston Hughes.

History: Early American history beginning with History of Us: The First Americans followed by From Colonies to Country and The New Nation. Study of primary and secondary sources including the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Bill of Rights.

Religion: Focus on Catholic Doctrine and creed using Faith and Life: Jesus is Our Guide (Book 4).

Art: Drawing, sketching, color theory, mixed media, study of famous artists and American folk art.

Nature Study: Students actively engage in their natural surroundings and have the unique opportunity to directly observe the objects of study. Topics include trees, mammals, and birds.

Literature & Music: The study of classical literature including Black Beauty, The Secret Garden, and Heidi. Introduction to classical music of Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and more. Students sing daily to develop a strong repertoire of Folk and American music. Fundamentals of pitch and rhythm are further explored through playing simple percussion instruments.

Physical Education: Daily classes focus on building knowledge of team sports. We also work on flexibility through stretching, and strength through fitness challenges. Sports and other activities include volleyball, soccer, basketball, kickball, badminton, floor hockey and elements of dance and tumble from gymnastics. Physical education is taught by Mrs. Louise Montes.

Math: Students discuss various properties of numbers, fractions, probability theory, decimals, and other related concepts.

Language Arts: Students learn the mechanics and structure of the English language, along with vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and writing techniques.

Latin: Latin is taught twice a week, for its own sake and for its helpfulness in learning vocabulary and grammar.

History: Students take an adventure back in time to the colonization of the United States. The main text is Making Thirteen Colonies in the A History of the United States series by Joy Hakim.

Religion: Exploration and discussion of the fundamental tenets of the Catholic faith is guided by Credo: I Believe from the Faith and Life series.

Art: Students gain a greater appreciation for some of the most influential and prominent artists in history, while having the chance to explore their own artistic abilities. 

Nature Study: A hands-on adventure where students begin to make their own discoveries and grow excited to learn about God’s Creation and the world around them.

Literature: Students develop an appreciation for singing, poetry, and reading great books, including Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl, The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss, and the Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Physical Education: Through teamwork and healthy competition, students learn to work together and acquire new physical and social skills.

Math: Students are placed into classes at their own individual level according to the Saxon Mathematics curriculum. 

Language Arts: Principles of English grammar and composition using Curtis & Hake Grammar and Writing 7, Second Edition, also memorizing and reciting classic poems by authors such as Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, and Langston Hughes. Students practice cursive handwriting.

Latin & Spanish: Study culture, vocabulary, and grammar to promote comprehension and fluency in ancient and modern languages.

Religion: Students study moral theology with an emphasis on Biblical sources, according to the principles and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Students examine the Ten Commandments in depth, including the context of the Exodus, the covenant, and the giving of the law on Sinai. The Faith & Life Series, Book 7 Following Christ, serves as our textbook.

Art/Music: Foundations of drawing and pivotal moments in art history. In music, students grow Listen to classical music from Baroque through Modern periods, learn the basics of music theory as well as note-reading and notation skills to expand musical literacy and lay the groundwork for further study. Music is taught by Mrs. Alexis Walls.

Science: Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science are covered in a three-year rotation. This year students take Physical Science, studying the fundamental principles of physics and chemistry. The students explore theory as well as practice through laboratory experimentation. Science is taught by Mrs. Louise Montes.

Literature & Music: Students study classic works of American and British literature. Works include Pride and Prejudice and Robinson Crusoe. In previous years, students have read The Scarlet Pimpernel, A Christmas Carol, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and Julius Caesar.

Physical Education: Daily classes focus on building knowledge of team sports. We also work on flexibility through stretching, and strength through fitness challenges. Sports and other activities include volleyball, soccer, basketball, kickball, badminton, floor hockey and elements of dance and tumble from gymnastics. Physical education is taught by Mrs. Louise Montes.

Math: Saxon Math Curriculum. Students take a placement exam to be assigned to either Pre-Algebra or Algebra I.

Language Arts: Mechanics and structure of the English language. Vocabulary, grammar, and writing are essential aspects of Language Arts and assignments include essay composition, quizzes on Latin and Greek roots, and diagramming sentences.

Latin & Spanish: Twice per week, students learn Spanish focusing on basic grammar and vocabulary. Also twice a week, students study Latin. Using the first book from the Cambridge Latin Course, the boys learn essential vocabulary, fundamental grammar concepts, and aspects of Roman culture.

History: Students study the Civil War, using Joy Hakim’s Terrible War as the textbook. Topics discussed include the social and political events leading up to the war, its major battles, and the men and women who most influenced the conflict. Supplementary materials include Jim Murphy’s The Boy’s War, which highlights the experiences of teenage boys who joined the Union and Confederate armies.

Religion: Religion study is guided by The Life of Grace, which explores God’s action in the life of each human being. Time is spent reading Scripture, especially the

Gospels.

Art: This class surveys the variety of artistic techniques and influential figures throughout history.

Earth Science: Our Earth Science course covers topics like minerals and matter, landforms, oceanography, and weather. Through readings, lectures, discussions, and labs, the class aims to give students a broader knowledge of and a greater appreciation for the world that surrounds them.

Literature & Music: Literature class involves poems, songs, and stories to help students appreciate the beauty of language. Students sing American, Irish, and English folk songs, developing a repertoire with their peers. The boys also memorize important poems, which they recite in front of the class. Finally, students read works of classic literature like The Call of the Wild and Tales from Shakespeare.

Physical Education:Physical education classes take place daily. Students stretch and run, learn the basics of sports including handball, hockey, and soccer, and then engage in spirited competition.

Math: Sharpen their reasoning skills through the study of proof-based geometry.

English: Read classic literature including The Scarlet Letter, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Willa Cathar’s My Antonia. Through close reading and discussion, students explore themes of family, morality, friendship, and justice.

Latin & Spanish: Grade 9 continues to encounter the world of the Roman Republic with Mr. McGovern, using the Cambridge Latin Course. The text follows Caecilius (a Roman banker living in Pompeii) and his family through the events of their day-to-day life, introducing students to the Latin language as well as the culture and customs of the average Roman citizen. Spanish with Mr. Hickman picks up where the boys left off in the Realidades textbook last year. In addition to the necessary grammar and vocabulary, each chapter takes students on a tour of a different Latin American country as they encounter the breadth of places where Spanish is spoken.

Greek History: An opportunity to expand on one’s knowledge of the ancient world. Class follows the Becoming Greece textbook, a companion resource to Becoming Rome as studied in Middle School. Students explore the thought, customs, and achievements of Ancient Greece, giving students a deeper appreciation of the Ancients and their influence in the evolution of Western Civilization.

Theology: Close study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to understand the Catholic Faith and how to put it into practice in one’s personal life.

Art: Principles of composition and the basics of drawing and sketching with pencil, and building towards watercolors and acrylic paints.

Biology: A rigorous approach to the natural world, while stressing that the order and grandeur of nature is not accidental, but all part of God’s design. Lays the foundation for study of Chemistry and Physics in future high school years.

Physical Education: Focus on one sport per week, as a means of exercise and athletic training. Sports include outdoor soccer, dodgeball, handball and more.