Liberal Arts Level 1: Illustrated Classics
Ongoing Enrollment
While our courses are no longer available for purchase on the website, St. Raphael School is open to inquiries about enrolling in courses at any time during the year. If you wish to enroll in a Yearlong course for the 2020-2021 school year after the official add/drop deadline (September 21), you will need to contact us directly. We will consider each request on a case-by-case basis after considering several factors, including size of the class, the preparedness of the student, the willingness of the instructor to accommodate a late addition to the class, and the content of the course. If you would like to submit a request for enrollment in an ongoing course, please visit our Contact Us page.
Two-Year Rotation: Click for Details
Our Liberal Arts Curriculum is designed to offer the heart of a classic literature–based education integrated into a single course. Taught in the spirit of Orthodox Christianity through a restful (scholé) pedagogy, the courses span 7 levels on a 2-year rotation, plus Level 7 and Level 8, for a total of 14 years of unique material. Class sizes are limited so that interactions within the classroom are personal and cultivate depth of learning.
Book lists for both Rotation A and Rotation B are listed under the Course Materials tab. For the 2023–2024 school year, you only need to purchase the books for Rotation B.
The Liberal Arts Level 1: Illustrated Classics course is designed to be an early elementary course for young learners and parents who are embarking upon learning together at home. The focus of the curriculum is on building a love of learning via stories, the natural world, music, art, and the rhythms of the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith. The class will meet two hours a week online. Curriculum provided will include phonics building activities, copywork, and enrichment activities related to the natural world, cooking, music, and crafts for use throughout the week at home. The class meeting time includes time for prayer, reciting poetry, read-aloud stories, songs, music, and other engaging activities to keep young minds engaged in the joy of learning.
View Liberal Arts Curriculum Map
Syllabus
Required Materials for 2023-2024:
Poetry/Hymnography:
When We Were Very Young, A.A. Milne
Our Hymn of the Nativity, All Saints Greek Orthodox Monastery
Scripture:
The Good Samaritan and Other Parables, Tomie dePaola
Story books:
Ox-Cart Man, Donald Hall
And Then Nicholas Sang, Elizabeth Crispina Johnson
Leaf Man, Lois Ehlert
The Mitten, Jan Brett
The Turnip, Jan Brett
North Star: St Herman of Alaska, Dorrie Papademetriou
Owl Moon, Jane Yolen
The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Beatrix Potter
Waiting, Kevin Henkes
Blueberries for Sal, Robert McCloskey
Rechenka’s Eggs, Patricia Polacco
Thundercake, Patricia Polacco
I, Vivaldi, Janice Shefelman
Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Judith Viorst
Owl at Home, Arnold Lobel
Big Red Barn, Margaret Wise Brown
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, Verna Aardema
The Little Drummer Boy, Ezra Jack Keats
Ellen’s Lion, Crocket Johnson
Phonics Activities:
Explode the Code, Books 1,2, and 3
Additional texts and materials will be provided by the instructor.
Dr. Erin Moulton has a deep love for education and has been teaching in some capacity for over two decades. She holds a PhD in Slavic linguistics from the University of Kansas and has also studied at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri, and in Saint Petersburg, Russia. In the past, she served as an instructor of Russian language, literature, and culture at University of Kansas. She has worked professionally as an editor, copywriter, and project manager in the fields of international compliance and revenue operations. She also serves as youth communications liaison for the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of the Midwest and as board president of the Orthodox Christian Translation Society. Erin and her husband, Christian, are parishioners at Holy Trinity Church in Overland Park, Kansas, where she teaches church school and assists in creating a multiyear cycle of curriculum for the parish. Erin and Christian have four children, all of whom she has educated at home over the past 15 years. moultonstraphael@gmail.com
Sarah Marshall has an endless love of music and deep appreciation for the sights and sounds of God’s remarkable creation. She studied at two Summer Music Institutes at St. Vladimir’s Seminary as well as taking college coursework in music studies. She has directed choirs in both the Orthodox Church in America and the Antiochian Archdiocese for the past 40 years. She has developed and grown mission choirs and directed cathedral choirs, making beautiful music for the Glory of God with countless people of all ages and skill levels. Sarah has had a long career in software development and with her husband has raised 4 incredible children. She lives in Massachusetts and splits her time between St. George Antiochian Church in Lawrence, and St. George Antiochian Cathedral in Worcester, MA. smarshall.straphaelschool@gmail.com
Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be a much better solution, as such devices enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer.
Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class.
Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use.
To download Zoom:
- Visit zoom.us/download.
- Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
- Open and run the installer on your computer.
- In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
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First, read the available course descriptions, noting prerequisites, target grades, and course objectives. If you think your student is prepared for the course, go ahead and register. After registration, a placement assessment may be provided to students, depending on the course and the student’s previous enrollment with Scholé Academy. Registration is finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
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Please take careful note of our teaching philosophy, our technology requirements, our school policies, the parent agreement, and the distinctions between our grade levels.
Double-check the course section dates and times.
Make sure they don’t conflict with other activities in your schedule or other courses you are purchasing. Our system will not catch double-bookings!
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Our Assistant to the Principal will be in touch with you after your enrollment to help you with next steps, including any placement evaluations that may be required for your course selections.
This registration will be finalized when the student’s placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.