Grammar Stage (K-6th Grade)

When we learn a new subject, we must first learn the basic grammar, that is, the basic facts and rules that form its foundation. Students in the grammar stage of development enjoy learning through memorizing information in chants, songs, and other repetitive activities. Students during this stage also enjoy learning through literature, multi-sensory activities, and are naturally imaginative and creative.

At Trinity Academy, our teachers will use classical teaching methods that utilize these natural learning tendencies of children in the grammar stage. We teach spelling and reading with a strong phonics-based program that teaches students why words are spelled the way they are. Our students learn to write by imitating good writing and focusing on the rules of English grammar. They will also learn the foundation of mathematics, a basic chronology of history, and a survey of the Bible. Classical literature is enjoyed and students learn science through interactive discovery and fact memorization.

	Beginning-Grammar (Pre-Polly)	Grammar (Polly-Parrot)
Ages	Ages 4-8 (approximate)	Ages 9-11 (approximate)
Student Characteristics	Enthusiastic learners Enjoy games, songs, stories, projects Short attention span Learns through multi-sensory activities (touch, taste, smell, see, hear) Imaginative, creative	Excited about new and interesting facts Enjoys games, songs, stories, projects Likes chants, clever word usage, and jokes Likes to explain, solve problems, and talk Relate personal experiences to topics Tell stories Likes collections, organizing items, patterns Easily memorizes Can assimilate another language well
Teaching Methods	Sing, recite, and chant Guide discovery Learning games Paint, color, build, and create Short, creative projects Multi-sensory activities and use of tactile manipulatives to illustrate concepts Show and Tell Drama Hear, read, and tell stories Purposeful field trips	Recitations, memorizations, and chants Multi-sensory activities and investigations Subject integration Make collections, displays, and models Oral/written presentations Fact drill and games Research and science fair projects Drama Purposeful field trips