Constitution Day
Last Friday, CCS-America students observed Constitution Day, commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Students celebrated by participating in parades and activities focused on the importance of the Constitution. Each campus even had a special visitor, the Father of the Constitution, James Madison!
Click the links below to see pictures from the CCS-America Parades.
Classical Curriculum Highlight: Latin
A core aspect of CCS-America’s Classical Curriculum is instruction in Latin. Here are a few reasons we teach it:
- Some 60% to 80% of English words come from Latin, so it helps expand vocabulary.
- Latin is at the root of languages spoken in 57 countries, so other languages are more-easily accessible.
- Latin is also the language of law, medicine, science, and many other important fields.
- Latin helps us understand English grammar, which improves writing skills.
- Students who have studied Latin outscore students of Spanish and French on college admission tests.
CCS-America students begin learning Latin in 4th grade and continue through 8th grade. Students even learn how to say the Pledge of Allegiance in Latin!
Learn more about why Latin is part of our Curriculum
The Roger Bacon Academy’s Three LawsÂ
The Roger Bacon Academy and teachers at our four CCS-America campuses follow three laws that lead to the continued success of our schools and students.
Law 1: Reward good behavior – you’ll get more of it.
This law lays the foundation for the other laws. When a student receives specific praise or reward, other students are encouraged to follow that behavior. Students are rewarded for showing respect, good penmanship, correct answers, and being in correct uniform.
Law 2: Teach each step to mastery – every child will learn.
The skill or knowledge being taught is divided into small parts and students learn each part in sequence. They do this by Model, Lead, Test:
- The teacher models and demonstrates the skill or knowledge. “Watch me do it.”
- The teacher leads in performing the skill. “Let’s all do it.”
- The students demonstrate the skill. “Now, show me how you can do it.”
- This process is repeated and practiced to mastery.
Law 3: Watch the Children. If they are not behaving or learning, you are not following the first two laws.
If students are rewarded for good behavior and have the appropriate learning material to challenge them, they will behave and learn in the classroom. A teacher must watch the children to apply positive reinforcement (Motivation- Law 1) and to guarantee mastery at each step in the curriculum (Mastery- Law 2).
These three laws are time-tested and field-proven. They set the tone for an orderly learning environment and pave the way to success!