Curriculum Philosophy

DESIGN & GOAL

The Delmarva Christian High School (DCHS) curriculum is designed to support the mission of the school, which is to train students to ‘walk with God,’ ‘walk with their fellow believers,’ and ‘walk in, but not of, this world.’ Students will be spiritually, academically, and physically equipped to discern and accomplish God’s will for their lives.

The goal of the DCHS curriculum is to develop and extend the ‘knowledge’ (grammar) phase of a students’ education with ‘understanding’ (logic) and ‘wisdom’ (rhetoric). Additionally, the curriculum will provide the opportunity for the students to apply that knowledge and those skills in practical and productive ways to further God’s kingdom. It will prepare them to pursue further endeavors in academia and/or the world of work with a Christ-centered foundation.

FLEXIBILITY & SUPPORT

The DCHS curriculum recognizes the specific successes of various educational models. It also recognizes that students are gifted in different ways and will develop and exhibit those gifts at varying rates and degrees. The DCHS curriculum is designed to provide maximum flexibility, support and rigor in order that a student may achieve to his/her God-given potential. The curriculum uses those practices that have been founded on biblical principles and are, therefore, successful.

KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, WISDOM

By the time a student enters 9th grade, they should be well grounded in the factual foundation of various subjects. They may have started to organize those facts and develop points of view based on independent thinking and argument. In the 9th and 10th grades DCHS will endeavor to further develop those skills for argument and logic, both in written and oral form. Students will be taught to discern the rules of logic from a Scriptural viewpoint for each of the various subjects he/she studies.

In the 11th and 12th grades, students will develop the skills to communicate their arguments on a particular subject to others. Researching, writing and oration are skills that will be refined in all classes. All seniors will be required to successfully complete a senior project that demonstrates their mastery of core academic subjects at a college preparatory level and the application of these skills through a practical, applied manner, benefiting the community and furthering God’s kingdom.

It is recognized that the ‘knowledge,’ ‘understanding,’ and ‘wisdom’ phases are being developed at all ages. The capacity to gain these qualities is not confined to an unalterable timeline. They each pass through successive periods of development, until they catch up with one another and work together.

The following elements will be present in the successful development and delivery of the DCHS curriculum:

• The Bible will be the primary ‘lens’ for viewing a subject.

• Academic and technical subjects are not viewed in isolation, but as part of an integrated whole, pointing to God’s creation, grace, and mercy.

• Teachers must plan and work together to create mutually beneficial learning opportunities.

• Teachers must be responsive to the multiple learning styles and talents of his/her students and teach accordingly.

• Students must be challenged individually and collectively to confront, deal with and work to solve real-world problems

• Students must be able to demonstrate mastery of a subject, concept, or principle through oral and written means.

• Execution of the curriculum must provide timely feedback and opportunity for the extra help needed to meet high standards.