What We Teach
Why the name Sophia Scholé?
Sophia is a Greek word meaning, "Godly wisdom." It will be familiar to Christians as God's Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. The goal of all Christians is to gain insight into God's Will for their lives and wisdom for how to act in uncertain times. We hope all the instruction will give our children God's view and help them to apply their knowledge to honor God with their lives.
Scholé is a Greek word meaning, "delightful and diligent study of truth, beauty, and goodness." It was the original intention of education, where the English language found its word school. Only today, it is a frenzy, a competition, an anxious cycle to try to shape all students to the same end. In naming our school Scholé , I desire to focus on the enjoyable conversation that leads to knowledge acquisition, personal growth, and strong relationships. Diligent, intentional, and attentive study will support the growth and knowledge of the student.
Each person is made in God's image and given specific gifts, destiny, and personality. It is our mission to allow the nature and predispositions God has given each child to flourish and be shaped to serve His Will for their life. Thus, we will treat each child individually, crafting their education to meet their needs, gifts, and passions.
Kinderleben
Kinderleben is more gentle form of traditional Kindergarten. Activities are games, encouraging the young student to enjoy learning and "school." They are completed as opportunity arises and in short lessons of fifteen minutes. Students still progress in mainly reading and mathematics principles, but it also includes elements of Charlotte Mason's teachings for a younger student including habit training and the majority of time in nature.
Science from Apologia
Charlotte Mason lived from 1842-1943. While her methods and understanding of how children learn and develop is insightful and instructional for teachers everywhere, she also encouraged those who taught after her to teach as the child and times needed. Thus, she did not give a complete list of Living Books because she knew Living Books would depend on the time and place the child was being educated, not necessarily late 20th century England!
Therefore, I believe that Miss Mason would not only have supported Living Books for the subjects such as history and poetry, but also for science instruction and experimentation at a young age for children we are raising now. Science has made so many advances and discoveries since Miss Mason developed her methods that simple Nature Study for the first five years of study does not give children the depth or breadth of understanding we now have of the world around us. Children can now learn about their Creator from the smallest virus to the largest nebula through instruction and conversation, and a good Living Book!
Apologia writers have developed elementary books with a narrative story line instead of text book format, as well as activities and experiments with a Biblical Worldview. I plan on using this curriculum when my oldest child is ready to begin Year 1 at the age of 6 to help him gain insight and enjoy studying the world around him.