Early Grammar School

The Primary years at TPS are where children secure literacy and numeracy foundations while developing the discipline of careful, beautiful work. Students learn to read and write with clarity, gain early fluency in arithmetic, and experience the joy of stories, songs, and discovery.

Key Academic Focus

• Phonics & Reading:
  
  
  • Kindergarten uses First Start Reading, teaching pencil grip, manuscript form, consonant/short vowel sounds, blending, and early decoding.
  • In 1st and 2nd grades, students progress into Traditional Spelling and begin reading whole books (not basal readers), such as Little Bear, Caps for Sale, The Story About Ping, Billy and Blaze, The Courage of Sarah Noble, Little House in the Big Woods, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins.
    
  • Daily oral reading and teacher-guided comprehension checks ensure accuracy and fluency.
    
    
• Spelling, Printing, & Writing:
  
  
  • Copybook exercises (Scripture, poetry, maxims) instill spelling, punctuation, and penmanship.
    
  • 1st and 2nd graders begin New American Cursive while continuing manuscript, preparing for full cursive in Grammar School.
    
  • Students compose early sentences and short narrations with growing independence.
    

• Arithmetic:
  • Focus on number sense, counting, and arithmetic facts through 18.
    
  • Skills include time, calendar, measurement, money, and early multiplication (1×, 2×, 5×, 10× facts).
    
  • Skip-counting, drills, and games strengthen mastery and recall.
    
    
• Content Studies (Geography, History, Science):
  • Weekly Read-Aloud Program provides language-rich exposure to history, geography, science, and culture.
    
  • Kindergarten–2nd grade students learn continents, oceans, major countries, and in 2nd grade, U.S. states and capitals.
    
  • Science covers seasons, weather, flora, fauna, and nature walks for observation and collection.
    
    
• Christian Studies, Music, and Art:
  
  
  • Daily Bible stories and Scripture memory.
    
  • Music instruction: weekly in Kindergarten, twice weekly in 1st–2nd grade. Includes note reading, ear training, choral performance, and composer study.
    
  • Art appreciation: weekly artist/masterwork introduction; biweekly art instruction in 1st–2nd grade.
    
  • Daily drawing and illustration of copybook verses, poetry, and composition.
    
    
• Physical Education:
  
  
  • Twice weekly; 30 minutes of exercise and games.
    
  • Focus on motor skills (running, skipping, flexibility) and sportsmanship.
    
    

Distinctives

• Systematic phonics and spelling that build long-term reading and writing accuracy.
  
• Copybook and cursive instruction to instill habits of neatness and discipline.
  
• Rich books and read-alouds chosen for their beauty and language quality.
  
• Multi-sensory learning: oral reading, narration, handwriting, singing, drawing.
  
  

Goal

To establish firm skills in phonics, spelling, arithmetic, and habits of attention—preparing students for the rigor of Grammar School