TCA’s Cottage School Program (CSP) was developed to help parents who are committed to providing their children with the best possible education. This unique program is a partnership between homeschooling parents and The Classical Academy, to create a fuller educational experience. It is a part-time program designed to augment the education being given at home, not replace it. Parents remain the primary educators and their participation is critical to the success of the program.

Classical Education Principles

At the heart of The Classical Academy's Cottage School Program lies the time-tested principles of classical education. The curriculum emphasizes the trivium, which consists of three stages: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The grammar stage focuses on building a foundation of knowledge, the logic stage fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and the rhetoric stage hones students' abilities in effective communication. This comprehensive approach cultivates well-rounded individuals who are capable of analytical thinking, logical reasoning, and eloquent expression.

Who is the Cottage School Program for?

CSP is for home-schooling families that have children in kindergarten through 6^th grade. The program is designed to supplement the instruction being given in the home. The goal is to assist parents in developing exemplary citizens equipped with analytical thinking skills, virtuous character, and a passion for learning. We use the same core values and mission as we do in all our classrooms to help parents expand the educational opportunities for their children. To be clear, it is our desire to uphold family instruction, core values, and educational direction developed at home.

What Does the Cottage School Program Teach?

CSP is a Language Arts-emphasis program focused on Core Knowledge curriculum (not Common Core), Character Education, and Specials – Physical Education, Art, and Music. The program does not teach reading, math, history, or science. Parental involvement and support are a critical part of the program. TCA provides your child’s language arts curriculum and in-class instruction, and parents continue that instruction at home during the week. Students in grades K-2 can anticipate 1-2 hours of CSP work to be completed at home each week; grades 3-6 average 2-3 hours of work each week.

Kindergarten- 2^nd Grade.

Our instruction for students in this age range is based on the Spalding Method. This instruction provides a foundation for phonemic awareness and literature appreciation. At the same time, we provide essential instruction in writing and grammar. While we don’t explicitly teach reading in these classes, it supports the reading program that you are using at home. Our staff can provide you with recommendations for reading programs if you need them.

3^rd to 6^th Grade.

Strong writing skills are essential for success. That is the reason that students in this age range, are taught with curriculum from the Institute of Excellence in Writing. This writing program methodically guides students to improve their writing while melding pertinent grammar and vocabulary skills in each lesson. Their Classic Education is augmented with an array of literature lessons from various grade-level selections incorporated along with Greek/Latin Roots for enrichment.

Nurturing Community Environment

The Cottage School Program provides a nurturing community environment that supports students' holistic development. The school fosters strong relationships among students, parents, and teachers, creating a close-knit community where everyone is valued and respected. CSP students participate in grade-level field trips and all-school Field Day. In addition, families are encouraged to attend extracurricular activities such as our annual music concerts, the Family Talent Show, the Art Show, and our end-of-year CSP gathering. Our art and music enrichment programs are also available to CSP students in 3^rd through 6^th grades. We encourage our home school families to experience our community and network with each other. This helps parents stay engaged and fosters a sense of belonging in students through the development of social skills and empathy.

Schedules

Kindergarten-aged students attend two half-days per week, either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday mornings (8:15 -11:30 am).

Students in 1^st through 6^th grade attend one full day per week (8:15 am – 3:30 pm)

1st, 3rd, and 5th graders have the option to attend on either Wednesdays or Thursdays.

2nd, 4th, and 6th graders have the option to attend on either Mondays or Tuesdays.

We Honor Parents

Choosing to educate children at home is one of the most rewarding and challenging endeavors a family will ever experience. We aim to lift some of the burdens of teaching and fill some voids many homeschool parents have expressed that caused them to quit. TCA accomplishes this by providing a safe academic environment and providing you with academic support. We have many veteran home school parents and staff “on call” to assist you. We would love to partner with you to help your children find success in their Language Arts studies. You can find out more about the Cottage School Program on our website. Contact the Registrar’s office for further assistance regarding enrollment. They would love to help continue your child’s educational journey.