Granite Classical Tutorial’s core curriculum is based firmly in the Christian worldview, emphasizing verbal learning and the unique teaching tools of each classical trivium stage to resolutely root students in the Christian Western heritage. Granite is a hybrid homeschool model, meaning that learning takes place both in the classroom with a tutor and at home with the parent. 1st-12th grade core classes meet twice weekly, on Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays are spent at home, under the direction of the primary educator, the parent. Granite tutors schedule home assignments for students every week so that parents know precisely what to cover on each weekday spent at home.
Kindergarten
We believe that kindergarten should be a time for children to explore, wonder, and get comfortable in a classroom environment. Granite’s kindergarten program uses The Homegrown Preschooler’s kindergarten curriculum, A Year of Playing Skillfully to awaken a child’s wonder and begin to develop important character traits such as orderliness and thankfulness. Kindergarteners will also get a thorough introduction to phonics thorugh Veritas Press’s Phonics Museum for kindergarten. The program also cultivates a love for God’s word through scripture memory and stories from The Jesus Storybook Bible. Tutors will also guide students through observations of the natural world and teach basic counting skills through manipulatives.
First and Second Grades
These grades lay the foundation for verbal skills in reading and writing and expose children to preliminary Latin vocabulary, geographical information, and Biblical stories. Our 1st and 2nd grade curriculum emphasizes memorization, utilizing repetition through songs, chants, drills, and recitations. All Grammar stage classes participate in Memory Time, a 25 minute period devoted to reinforcing the memory work for Grammar stage classes.
Third Grade
In third grade, students begin the four-year history cycle of the Grammar stage with exposure to the ancient world, its stories, and its major figures. Language arts skills are developed through reading age-appropriate historical fiction works set in the ancient world as well as through the study of fables and systematic grammar. Students also begin a formal study of Latin in third grade. Students learn about God’s creation in science, building a knowledge for future scientific studies. All material is reinforced through oral and written repetition, in line with the Grammar stage goal of committing foundational information to memory.
Fourth Grade
In fourth grade, students continue to learn about the historical Western world, now focusing on the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Students are exposed to some of the stories from the literary canon both through original texts such as fairy tales and retellings of Shakespearean stories. Students continue to build their knowledge of English and Latin grammar and vocabulary. In science, students build their knowledge of the natural world. In classes, Memory Time, and at home, repetition and memorization are key.
Fifth Grade
Fifth graders at Granite move on to the early modern world in their historical studies. Students also encounter a broader selection of more challenging historical fiction and literature to accompany these historical studies. Students continue to work on grammar and written communication to lay a firm foundation for the verbal skills necessary for the Logic stage. Students progress in Latin and continue learning about the God’s creation by studying chemistry and physics. As always with the Grammar stage, memorization and repetition are of primary importance across the curriculum.
Sixth Grade
Sixth grade is the last Grammar stage year at Granite. Students finish the four-year history cycle by learning about the later Modern world. Literary texts continue to accompany historical studies with historical fiction and literature at a more challenging reading level. Grammar and writing skill building continues and students begin a more challenging Latin curriculum. Science focuses on the human body. Students continue to commit these foundational building blocks to memory, but tutors also begin to push students towards critical thinking to prepare them for the Logic stage.
Seventh Grade
Seventh grade marks the gentle transition into the Logic stage for Granite students. In this stage, the emphasis on memorization is replaced with an emphasis on critical thinking. Students begin a new history cycle, one that will last for the remaining 6 years of their education, this time focusing on examining history with an analytical mindset. The historical focus is on the ancient world, with a heavy emphasis on the foundational societies of Western culture—the Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans. The guiding history textbooks emphasize primary sources as a gateway to understanding past cultures. In literature, historical fiction is replaced with works from the Western literary canon which complement this historical timeframe, such as Homer’s Odyssey and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. In Latin, students primarily focus on translations, applying the knowledge that they have gained in the Grammar stage and making critical choices about how to best convey the meaning of a passage. Students also begin applying the scientific method in order to critically approach their understanding of creation. To help students begin to think truly analytically, seventh graders begin the study of informal logic this year and begin to study and practice the art of debate.
Eighth Grade
In eighth grade, history studies cover the Middle Ages through the Reformation, and complementary literary studies include such classic texts as Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, and Henry V. Once again, primary sources are key, and students are guided to synthesize their historical and literary studies in an Omnibus class. These Logic stage Omnibus classes emphasize written communication, teaching students to write with clarity, coherence, and confidence. Eighth graders continue their grammar, informal logic and debate, and science studies using continuations of the Logic stage texts introduced in seventh grade. In addition, eighth graders begin a formal study of the Bible.
Ninth Grade
Ninth grade is the last of the Logic stage years at Granite. Students focus on the 1500-1795 section of the timeline, examining the history of both the Old World and the New. Literature selections include classics germane to this period including Macbeth and The Scarlet Letter. Omnibus of this year also involves a comprehensive study of American government. Like the previous Logic stage years, ninth grade places a heavy emphasis on learning about history and government from primary sources and understanding the relationships between fields of study. Ninth graders continue their Biblical studies with hermeneutics or theology. In their logic class, students study policy debate and progress from the study of informal logic to the study of formal logic. Science studies continue with an introductory biology course.
Tenth through Twelfth Grades
These are the culminating years for Granite students. Building on the foundation of intensive writing instruction from the Logic stage, Rhetoric stage Omnibus classes center on discussion and clear articulation of students’ ideas. Continuing down the historical timeline, students examine primary sources and literature which prompt discussion about historical and cultural topics in the context of the Christian worldview. In the rhetoric courses the debate skills students were introduced to in the Logic stage come to fruition as students take on the formal study of rhetoric and learn other forms of debate such as Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debates. Crowning achievements for these years include the presentation of a keynote address, participation in a mock trial, and formulating and delivering a senior thesis. Granite is committed to offering science and foreign language classes at a Rhetoric level through academic options.
Please read more about our High School Program.