Reading complete works
Whole books are read, not fragments. A single book stays for several weeks and is discussed in depth as a group.
Level 03 · The curriculum flourishes
Ages 6 to 12
Six years to build a mind. And a character.
It is the longest stage and the most decisive. Elementary takes the foundations of Kindergarten and builds: reading complete works, formal writing, history, science, and math in depth — with character formation as a central part, not an accessory.
Formative goals
Here the classical curriculum unfolds its full reach.
In Elementary the child already knows how to read; now they learn to read seriously. We move from early readers to complete works: literature, narrated history, science with wonder and method, and math that advances from the concrete to the abstract without skipping steps.
It is still the grammar stage of the Trivium — the mind keeps absorbing and memorizing with ease — but in the final grades the question of "why" begins to appear: the start of logical thinking that will flourish in Middle School.
And it is the stage where character formation and sacramental life take their own place: First Communion marks a milestone in the life of the school and the family.
Formal writing
From the sentence to the paragraph, from the paragraph to the text. Writing clearly because clear thinking demands it.
Narrated history
History as a meaningful story, not a list of dates. Chronology, causes, and great figures.
Science with method
Observation, hypothesis, and experiment. The ordered wonder that is the root of all science.
Math in depth
From the concrete to the abstract: operations, fractions, geometry, and problem solving with understanding.
Character formation
Virtues, responsibility, and sacramental life. The person is formed, not merely informed.
The academic day
What a day in Elementary looks like.
A day structured by subjects, alternating Spanish and English in clear blocks. Discussion and reading take center stage.
In Spanish In English Bilingual / shared
- 7:30
Arrival & morning prayer
Bilingual / sharedPrayer, announcements, and a short reading to begin the day.
- 7:50
Spanish: language & literature
In SpanishReading the current work, grammar, and comprehension.
- 8:50
Mathematics
In EnglishNumber sense, operations, problem solving — taught in English.
- 9:50
Recess
Bilingual / sharedPlay, fellowship, and rest.
- 10:15
Science
In EnglishObservation, hypothesis, and hands-on experiments in English.
- 11:15
History & Geography of Mexico
In SpanishHistorical narrative, chronology, and national geography.
- 12:15
Lunch
Bilingual / sharedFellowship and gratitude.
- 13:00
Religion & catechesis
In SpanishFormation of the faith, virtues, and sacramental preparation.
- 13:50
English Language Arts & writing
In EnglishReading, composition, and essay foundations in English.
- 14:40
Art, music, or physical education
Bilingual / sharedRotating workshops and physical activity.
- 15:00
Dismissal
Bilingual / sharedAn orderly close to the day.
The load and depth of each subject increase from 1st to 6th grade. The 50/50 Spanish-English balance is kept throughout Elementary.
Subjects by language
What is studied, and in which language.
In Elementary each subject has its language of instruction. The student uses the language to learn real content, not to "practice."
Subjects in Spanish
- Spanish: language & literature
- History & Geography of Mexico
- Civic & Ethics formation
- Religion & catechesis
- Physical education
Subjects in English
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- World History
- Music & Art
Readings & works
The first classics.
In Elementary the encounter with the canon begins: mythology, adventure, first novels, and the great stories that have shaped the Western imagination — in Spanish and English.
Greek mythology for young readers
Classical adaptations
The myths at the root of Western literature and art.
The Chronicles of Narnia
C. S. Lewis
Adventure, imagination, and moral depth — read in English in upper grades.
Charlotte's Web
E. B. White
One of the great children's novels for shared reading in English.
Platero y yo
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Poetic prose in Spanish to cultivate sensibility and language.
Don Quixote (young readers' adaptation)
Miguel de Cervantes
First contact with the major work of the Spanish language.
Stories of the Old and New Testament
Formative reading
The great biblical narratives, within catechesis.
Readings are graded by age and grade. Classics are read in full and discussed; we do not work with summaries or anthologies.
Sacramental formation
First Communion
Usually in 2nd–3rd grade
Sacramental preparation is integrated into the level's catechesis and lived in community with families. First Communion is a formative and spiritual milestone in the life of the school, accompanied with respect, without imposition, and in coordination with the parish and the home.
Level milestones
What to expect by the end of Elementary.
A student who reads well, writes with order, reasons, and begins to ask why things are the way they are.
01
Reads classical literature fluently in both languages
Understands complete works, distinguishes main ideas, and enjoys reading as a habit of their own.
02
Writes structured texts
Composes paragraphs and compositions with order, careful spelling, and a voice of their own, in Spanish and English.
03
Masters the stage's mathematics
Operates with ease, understands fractions and geometry, and solves problems by reasoning, not memorizing.
04
Locates history and the world
Handles chronology, geography, and the great historical narratives with meaning and context.
05
Lives a sacramental life of virtue
Has received First Communion (if the family wishes) and shows habits of responsibility and good manners.
06
Begins to ask "why"
Logical thinking appears: the student questions, argues, and prepares for the Middle School stage.
Frequently asked questions
About Elementary.
The most common questions from families during the elementary years.
Does Elementary meet the official Mexican (SEP) curriculum?
Yes, fully. We cover all the expected learning outcomes of the National Study Plan and issue official, nationally valid certification. What we add is depth (complete works instead of fragments), the classical method, and the bilingual component of the Pharr Oratory system.
Will my child read very old books instead of contemporary literature?
They will read both. The classics form the canon — mythology, adventure, the first novels — because they have passed the filter of time. But we also read quality contemporary literature. The difference is that we read complete works and discuss them in depth, instead of loose fragments from a textbook.
Is First Communion mandatory?
It is not mandatory. Sacramental preparation is offered and integrated into the level's catechesis, but it is always lived with respect for each family's decision and in coordination with the home and the parish. We accompany those who wish it; we do not impose it on those who do not.
How do you handle differences in pace between students?
With reasonably sized groups that allow close attention, continuous assessment, and differentiated support when needed. The classical method — shared reading, discussion, writing — gives room for each student to progress in depth without becoming invisible in the group.
How much English will my child have by the end of Elementary?
Having taken math, science, and English as subjects IN English for six years, the student finishes Elementary reading literature, writing compositions, and conversing fluently in both languages, without translating mentally. It is real bilingualism, not "English classes."
The decisive stage
Six years that define the student.
Elementary is where the reader, the writer, and the person are formed. Schedule a tour and watch a class: reading a work, a discussion, an experiment. It is the best way to understand it.