The naturally curious student in the logic stage of learning is instinctively bent toward exploration, questioning, and a deeper desire for understanding.
In Logic School, students begin to pay attention to cause and effect, discern how to think critically and deeply, and grow in their faith as they explore great ideas and texts grounded in a biblical worldview. Valor’s faculty and staff shepherd students into critical academic and developmental milestones, including organizational skills, self-directed learning, personal responsibility, and time management. Parents become less of an instructor and more of a guide and coach, as the student learns to shoulder more responsibility with the close support of both teachers and parents.
Inspiring students to cultivate a love for history, reading and writing is a priority at Valor. As students develop into adept writers and voracious readers through our comprehensive curriculum, they can approach more challenging texts and classic literature. The ebb and flow of a Humanities block allows the students to explore rich history while unraveling literary classics in the same time period. Our teachers challenge students to become more effective communicators through in-depth study of the English language. Students develop a robust understanding of English grammar by diagramming sentences, studying vocabulary, and editing papers. As they become more effective communicators, students can better articulate their speeches and engage in verbal discussions. Students begin to make connections between disciplines because they think independently, communicate confidently and love learning.
In mathematics, we focus not only on efficient and accurate problem solving but also on how to think mathematically and understand the material deeply. Our math program inspires all students to think hard and creatively about mathematics. We teach math as a powerful tool in understanding our world and also as something beautiful and intricate created by God. Your child will have every opportunity not only to become proficient in solving problems but also to fall in love with mathematics. All students gain an understanding that emphasizes the power and beauty of mathematics while at the same time equipping them to solve both theoretical and real-world problems.
Our first goal in studying science is to discover how creation reveals God’s character. We delight in the detail, order, and creativity woven throughout creation and are always pointed back to an awe-inspiring creator God. Additionally, scientific study fosters intellectual virtues such as curiosity, attentiveness, and thoroughness. These virtues are not limited to the science classroom but transcend to life beyond the laboratory. Students leave the classroom excited about God’s masterful design and are equipped for further study and discovery of the natural world.
Valor values clear communication as a fundamental, centering aspect of our pedagogy across all disciplines. Our foreign language studies support our vision to prepare our students to courageously influence culture for the glory of God. When students learn Latin well, the door to learning all languages opens. Studying Latin teaches our brains the process of learning a language; it teaches Valor students the basics of how a language works.
Latin not only eases our students into the modern Romance languages that derive from Latin, it also deepens their knowledge of English vocabulary and syntax. Over 90% of our polysyllabic words in English derive from Latin. The vocabulary in the Latin curricula used at Valor is specifically curated to improve English vocabulary. Students are drawn into the Great Conversation of Western Civilization and the culture of humanity throughout the globe in many ways at Valor. Vital among those ways is the intentional and enjoyable study of Latin!
The Valor Logic School Bible curriculum is aimed at cultivating foundational Biblical literacy in the context of robust student discipleship. In the mission to “develop passionate disciples of Jesus,” it is critical that Valor students are steeped in the Word of God and that they have a strong understanding of the grand narrative of God’s creative and redemptive work from Genesis to Revelation. This is why the Logic School Bible curriculum provides an overview of the Old Testament in the 6th and 7th grades and of the New Testament in the 8th grade. We want our students to know what God has been up to (through robust biblical study) and how they fit into it even today (discipleship).
As the student enters into the Logic School (6th-8th) and develop greater levels of independence, parents move from co-teacher role to “a guide for dependent study,” where the teacher depends on the parent to make sure the student is keeping up with their responsibilities in the learning process.
Because children mature at rates on a wide spectrum, each parent’s exact role may vary. While teachers hold the primary role of instructor in the Logic School years, parents can still expect to grade home-day work, engage in conversational assignments, and coach students in the continued process of building great habits in their independent work.
Precise definitions of the various roles that parents take as their student progresses are provided in the Valor Parent & Student Handbook.
At Valor, short field trips and overnight class trips are an integral part of the curriculum. While the classroom instruction is the primary mode of curriculum delivery at Valor, class trips support and enrich the process in powerful and memorable ways. For that reason, field trips and class trips are well-planned and targeted at meeting certain core curricular objectives.
In general, each grade level will take one trip each semester. One trip is generally focused on developing students in their spiritual capacities (toward God and toward their neighbor) and the other is more focused on enriching students in their academic learning. Although, in good classical fashion, the two are never mutually exclusive.
For the lower logic , the trips are shorter and regional (Central Texas); however, the trips will radiate out further from Waco as the students advance. The culminating experience for Valor Logic School students is a capstone trip to Washington, DC, which is guided by the Valor Student Life Director and the 8th grade humanities teacher.
Because of COVID, we are still navigating the restrictions and limitations of travel.
Interested in the sequence of study?
Schedule
Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesdays/ Thursday Home Days
Tuesdays/ Thursday Optional Study Hall, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Class Size
Two sections of 16 students for each grade
