Curriculum – Valor Classical Academy

The Classical Approach

Valor Classical Academy provides a well-rounded course of study designed to help the whole person flourish. Valor Classical Academy’s curriculum is content-rich and rigorous across the core disciplines of Mathematics, Science, Literature, History, and Foreign Languages.

Literacy

Literacy is taught with explicit phonemic instruction focusing on language and literacy (including spelling, grammar, vocabulary, sentence diagramming, and writing.) Rather than focus on word recognition, we use explicit phonics to emphasize core language principles and teach students how words work. This empowers them to decode the complexities of the English language so they can read and speak confidently.

Numeracy

Mathematics is taught conceptually vs. procedurally using Singapore Mathematics in cross-grade ability groups. This comprehensive approach to math prepares students for algebraic thinking from kindergarten through seventh grade. In eighth grade, they begin the study of algebra. Singapore Math is widely renowned as the best mathematics teaching approach in the world.

Role of Technology

At Valor Classical Academy, use of digital technology is limited. Our students use pen, paper, and physical books as their primary learning tools. While we do utilize some technology in the classroom, students are not reliant on their laptops, phones, or other devices to study, complete exams, or perform homework. Technology is not the bedrock of the richest learning experience.

Preparing your student for classical education

Learn math facts and play math games

Here are a few examples of math games

1. ADDITION WAR: (Played with a partner) Using number cards (0-10), players each draw 2 cards (or 3 or 4 cards for more advanced students) from their deck and add them together (saying the
sums out loud to each other). The player with the greatest sum wins a point. Players then shuffle their decks and repeat the process until one player has scored 25 points. [I would discourage the practice of capturing cards that takes place in the normal card game of war as that can just become discouraging to the losing student.]
[Variation: Subtraction War: the smaller of the two cards is subtracted from the larger of the two cards and the player with the largest difference wins a point.]
[Variation: Multiplication War: the two cards are multiplied together and the player with the largest product wins a point.]

2. CLOSE TO 100: (Played with a partner) This game is designed specifically for working with double-digit addition, but it also works on the students’ subtraction skills and estimating ability. Using number cards (0-9), both students turn over 6 cards. They select 4 of those cards and rearrange them to form two 2-digit numbers which they add together to get as close to 100 as possible (either over or under). Their score for the round is how close they got to 100. For example, if a student turned over 3, 7, 5, 5, 9, 1, they could make 37+59 which would equal 96 and give them a score of 4 for that round. Play 5 rounds and the lowest total score wins.

3. KRYPTO: For advanced students, this game is played by giving students 6 numbers between 1 and 25. The students have to rearrange the first 5 numbers using the mathematical operations to equal the 6th number. For example, if the problem was 8, 11, 12, 17, 20 = 3, possible solutions could be: (17 – 8) ÷ (11 + 12 – 20) = 3 or (20 – 17) × (12 – 11)8 or (17 – (20 – 12)) ÷ (11 – 8) Students should get a few minutes to come up with as many solutions as possible and points can be awarded as the teacher sees fit. For younger students, this game still works wonderfully if you use only 4 numbers instead of 6 or just use numbers between 1 and 12 instead of 1 and 25.

Free resource for math games

lovemaths.me – Full of free games that require simple items like playing cards or dice; from Michael Minas; videos explain the games
mathforlove – Free games and lesson sortable by grade level.

Requires a purchase

Games and flash cards from Dan Finkel – Addition by Heart & Multiplication by Heart cards are wonderful flashcards; they also come with recommended games to play with them. You may want to consider the games Tiny Polka Dots for primary grades and Prime Climb for upper elementary. These all require a purchase.
Math Games with Bad Drawings by Ben Orlin, for the ambitious parent who wants a whole book of math games or for the self-sufficient upper elementary student to do on their own (most games can be played by 10 year olds, some as young as 6; most games are 2+ players)

Read

Have your children read books (or read together) from the VCA’s Reading List

We intentionally do not list books that are already in our curriculum. Lexile Levels are provided for K-2nd grade. A Lexile number is a numeric representation of a student’s approximate reading ability. Please consider book length as well as a child’s interest. We would like students to become confident and joyful readers. Consider purchasing the reference guide, Books Children Love by Elizabeth Wilson for more classic, content-rich children’s literature. We strongly encourage parents to regularly read aloud to their children books that are one to two grade levels above their current grade level.

Curriculum Sheets

We invite you to download our classical Curriculum Sheets, which you will find below. These snapshots will give you a very good feel for the classical curriculum from grades K-12. (We currently serve grades K-7 and will be adding a grade each year until K-12 are served.)

Elementary School

Upper School

Eighth Grade

Ninth Grade

Tenth Grade

Eleventh Grade

Twelveth Grade