PCA Curriculum
PCA offers a
full curriculum that will prepare each student individually for a chosen career
path in higher education, trades, business, ministry, arts, or other chosen
fields.
In addition
to regular course work, we will work to enhance opportunities through
vocational and technical partnerships, dual enrollment, and à la carte classes
for home schoolers.
Our
curriculum consists of these main components:
1. Biblical
World View: Courses are taught with the understanding that God is the
creator of each discipline, and that all knowledge points to God as the
Creator. Students will have opportunities for prayer and spiritual growth
throughout each school day.
2. Base
knowledge: These skills are needed for everyday life, and will be taught
each day
- Mathematics
and Technology
- English,
Reading, Grammar, and Writing
3. Core
Knowledge: This instruction is necessary for additional life skills and
higher education. Core classes will be taught at least three days per week:
- Science
- Language
- Social
Studies
4. Specialties:
Students should devote a large portion of their time to areas of personal skill
and gifting. This can include focused study, technology, creative arts, athletics,
music, and more. Time will also be allotted for creative self-directed
application (See enterprise projects, page 6).
Grades K through 5
Students will
receive classroom instruction at or above grade level in the appropriate Math,
Reading, Writing, Spelling, History, Bible, Science, and Language skills. Special attention will be given to emotional and social development through
instruction, playtime, and peer interaction.
Reading
K-2 Heggerty-Phonemic Awareness
K-4 Macmillan McGraw-Hill 2011 (Treasures) Reading/Language Arts program
Grade 5 will also use novels to teach Reading skills
Math
K-5 McGraw Hill Math. (This is not Common Core)
Science
K-5 Generation Genius.
Social Studies
A biblical worldview will be used to teach Social Studies using the PA Standards and the Social Studies Curriculum from Macmillan and McGraw Hill as a supplement.
Bible
K-5 Bible-Based Character Education. Kindness & Empathy, Courage, Contentment, Honesty, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Forgiveness. These have been designed for students in grades K-5. Includes Bible story, bible exploration, bible verse, journal, and other meaningful activities.
Elementary
students will also receive special weekly instruction in Art, Music, PE, and
Language.
Middle School
and High school students will be enrolled according to ability and achievement
in each subject area. Some course offerings may be adjusted due to class size
and students entering the school at differing levels. The general grade by
grade track is as follows:
Grade 6
Math 6 or
Pre-Algebra
English 6 /
Grammar / Writing: Regular or Accelerated
Social
Studies
Life Science
Bible 6
Spanish
Grade 7
Pre-Algebra
or Algebra 1
English 7 / Grammar
/ Writing: Regular or Accelerated
Social
Studies
Physical
Science
Bible 7
Spanish
Grade 8
Algebra 1,
Intermediate Algebra, or Honors Geometry
English 8 /
Grammar / Writing: Regular or Accelerated
Social
Studies
Earth Science
Bible 8
Spanish
Grade 9
Algebra 1,
Geometry, Honors Geometry, or Honors Algebra 2
English 9 /
Writing: Genre or Honors Genre
American
History
Biology
Bible 9
Spanish 1
Grade 10
Algebra 2,
Honors Algebra 2, or Honors Trigonometry
English 10 / Writing:
Western Literature or Honors Western Literature
Western
Civilization
Chemistry
Bible 10
Spanish 2
Grade 11
Consumer
Math, Honors Trigonometry, or Honors Calculus
English 11 /
Writing: American Literature or Honors American Literature
Conceptual
Physics or Honors Physics
American
History
Bible 11
Spanish 2, Spanish 3, or
Biblical Apologetics
Grade 12
Math: College
Algebra, Business Math, Honors Calculus 1, or Honors Calculus 2
English:
College English 101 or British Literature
Science:
Environmental Science, Anatomy and Forensics, Botany and Zoology, or Honors Physics 2
Spanish 3, Spanish 4, or Biblical Apologetics
Bible 12
Economics and
Personal Finance
Electives
All middle and
high school and students should choose and prioritize the following electives.
Students will choose by prioritizing any electives they would like to take,
with 1 being the most desired, 2 being second, etc. Based on class size and
availability, we will attempt to enroll each student in as many of their top
choices as possible. Students should number at least 1 through 5.
__ Christian
Service
__ Bible
Quizzing
__ Gym / PE
__ Personal
Fitness
__ Chorus
__ Painting
__ Drawing
__ Creative
Writing
__ Worship
Team
__ Guitar
__ Bible
Study
__ Home
Economics / Cooking
__ Marketing
__ Spiritual
Emphasis
__ American
Sign Language
__ Sports
Theory, Coaching, and Officiating
Students
should also list any additional questions or requests regarding their schedule.
Enterprise Projects
An enterprise
is defined as a project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires
effort. Each student in grades 6 through 12 will choose and conduct their own
enterprise project. The projects may also be offered to younger grade levels if
deemed appropriate by the teacher.
The project
should make use of individual skills, gifts, and interests.
Much of the
work for the enterprise should be done on a Chromebook or on paper, so that
work can be done during a quiet time at school or on a cyber day. However, the
project can include additional components such as producing audio / video or
building a physical product.
The following
are potential enterprise projects:
- Write a
novel
- Write a
screenplay
- Develop a
portfolio of artwork
- Design
puzzles or games
- Produce a
comic book
- Write and
comment on sporting events
- Research
and comment on political or social issues
- Design a
physical product
- Write
lyrics or poetry
- Research a
scientific subject, unsolved mystery, conspiracy, historical event, or Biblical
subject
- Learn a
programming language using w3schools.com
- Code a
program or game
- Develop a
live website and domain
- Write
devotionals or Bible Study materials
- Any other
creative endeavor that can be conducted on a computer and / or paper
At any time,
each student should be conducting at least one active enterprise. At any time,
a given project can wrap up and a student move on to a new one.
Students will
periodically discuss projects with parents and an advisor in order to share
content and brainstorm on additions to the enterprise.
There will be
opportunities to discuss projects and to present projects to one's class and
present in additional venues. However, a presentation is not a requirement, and
there is no requirement to display the work publicly.
Enterprise
projects will be the main component of some cyber days. For cyber days where
this is the focus, online classes will be replaced with this individualized
work.
Students will
share what they are doing with their parents and advisors.
Course credit
will be given for enterprise projects.
Homework
The amount of homework assigned should be
well balanced and appropriate for grade level. We prefer that teachers assign
useful practice exercises and valuable research assignments instead of an
excessive amount of busywork. Homework time will vary per student, but the
general goal is that most students’ average workload will not exceed one hour
per night. Special assignments and projects may create an exception to this
recommendation, but these should be assigned with ample lead time. Advanced
course work may also require more than one hour of work per night.
With a focus on quality over quantity,
it is our expectation that teachers will normally collect homework and grade it
based on neatness, completeness, correctness, and quality.