WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE APPROACH?
“America’s historic Christian method of biblical reasoning which makes the Truths of God’s Word the basis of every subject in the school curriculum.”
AMERICAN BIBLICAL CLASSICAL MODEL
The education method during America’s Colonial and founding periods can be termed “American Biblical Classical” in that every aspect of learning was based on biblical truth, while at the same time drawing from the treasure of classical writings that advanced human understanding of God and His creation. The Hebrew approach to learning and teaching, rooted in the Bible, forms the primary framework of the Principle Approach to education, rather than an overdependence on Greek thought and later European methods.
THE 4 R'S OF LEARNING
To teach effectively, one must first learn. The Principle Approach method requires the teacher and student to research, reason, relate and record as they study a subject, producing a record of their own learning in a notebook. While the Principle Approach uses some textbooks as resources, the heart of this methodology relies on the extensive use of primary sources and excellent secondary sources to gain mastery in every subject.
DEVELOPMENT OF LIFELONG LEARNERS
Because students “learn how to learn” through the methods of this approach, they become lifelong learners. Not dependent upon others for education, these students, if necessary, could teach themselves whatever they need to know for the rest of their lives. This is why we say that the Principle Approach produces Christian scholars.
THE TEACHER AS LIVING CURRICULUM AND DISCIPLER OF STUDENTS
Most schools of education challenge their aspiring teachers to be a living curriculum in the classroom. Principle Approach methodology holds the greatest potential for realizing this goal, as the teacher truly learns to rely less on published curriculum and more on what God has placed within them through their own personal and professional study and reflection. Free from the distractions of a published curriculum, state tests, and unbiblical methods, teachers concentrate on inspiring and discipling their students.
EMPHASIS ON WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION
Students are taught to communicate skillfully through written and oral communication at every grade level. Participation in public speaking opportunities are encouraged.
PROVIDENTIAL VIEW OF HISTORY
The Principle Approach emphasizes God’s purposes in the lives of men and nations, identifying the events of history as well as their underlying causes. God is the ultimate Director and Disposer of all of the events of our lives. Human history is actually “Christ-His Story.” In addition, each event reveals man’s response to God, either in obedience leading to blessing, or in disobedience leading to negative consequences.
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING
The Principle Approach’s tutorial emphasis uses a variety of formative and summative evaluation techniques aimed at identifying gaps and weak areas of understanding on the student’s pathway of mastery in a subject. Essay writing, composition, and short answer is the norm instead of true/false, fill in the blank, multiple choice, matching, etc.
TEACHING BY PRINCIPLES
The Principle Approach employs biblical principles to inform each school subject by giving context and meaning. Teachers and students approach a subject by first studying the Word of God and deducing the biblical principles of the subject. The seven principles of history and government, identified by Rosalie Slater, are fundamental to gaining a comprehensive biblical worldview of life.
LEARNING A PHILOSOPHY OF GOVERNMENT
Teaching students the art of Christian self-government is a major concern of every teacher in the Principle Approach classroom. Because of this emphasis on seeing government as first internal and causative, students learn how to structure the various spheres of civil government biblically. Another major emphasis in understanding government is grasping and applying the biblical concept of jurisdiction. God, in His Word, has prescribed responsibilities and authority limits for each sphere of government.
USE OF WEBSTER'S 1828 DICTIONARY
In the development of a biblical worldview it is essential to define words biblically and with precision. Noah Webster’s masterful work is a tool for accomplishing this. His first American Dictionary of the English Language was written during the founding period of America. It is an essential primary source for understanding what our founders meant by the words they used when crafting America’s founding documents.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE MASTER TEACHER
With the Principle Approach, the distinctive role of the teacher as a master of his or her subject is emphasized. Beginning with the Bible, other primary sources, and the best secondary sources, teachers research, reason, relate and record their own learning in the subject. This investment produces a reservoir of learning from which to draw upon in teaching others. Over time, the teacher becomes a master of the subject and, ultimately, a master teacher. Every teacher in the Principle Approach school is in a training program to become a master teacher.
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
All programs (public schools, traditional Christian schools, private schools, and classical schools) have some kind of emphasis on the development of the child’s character. Socialization to changing society norms is the chief aim of child development in most schools. In the Principle Approach school, Christian character development is seen as primary to all learning and is based on the unchanging standards of God’s Word. Character is seen as causative, and the actions of one’s life are seen as the result.
TUTORIAL APPROACH
One of the greatest challenges of all educators is the number of individual lives with which they oversee. Most schools have capitulated and given in to the idea of “mass education”. The Principle Approach says contrastly that each child should be educated according to their individuality. Therefore, education must be handcrafted for each student, regardless of the pressure to do otherwise. Individual learning styles, along with strengths and weaknesses, are identified and addressed so that students are able to exceed their own expectations for succeeding in their God-given calling in life.
BIBLICAL CURRICULUM
The Bible itself is the primary source of all learning, and is taught in a systematic and age-appropriate way throughout the years, thus giving students a comprehensive understanding of the people, places, events, and principles contained in God’s Word. Beyond that, the curriculum as a whole is infused with biblical truth and is highlighted and connected to every subject area, thereby forming an authentic biblical worldview. The FACE Noah Plan provides curriculum guides, unit plans, and lessons to begin the journey of a teacher toward becoming a master teacher and a living curriculum.
MANY OTHER TOOLS TO INPSIRE AND ENGAGE THE READER
- The T Chart is used to compare and contrast internal and external aspects of a subject being studied.
- Key charts highlight significant issues that are being studied (e.g., key individual, key document, key institution, key event).
- Timelines offer a view of the whole of a subject as well as the individual parts and how they are interrelated.
- Sketching provides a creative way to record something that is being examined or viewed.
- Hands-on opportunities offer creative ways to analyze and synthesize ideas, allowing students to express their learning in unexpected, novel ways.
- Employment of the fine and performing areas in the learning process to enrich the soul.
- Special days culminate a unit of study in a way that highlights the individuality of the students and brings closure to a unit of study with celebration and joy for a job well done.