The Primary Stage
These first years are ordered to the acquisition of the skills necessary for any further learning. At this stage the student should concentrate on learning to read well, and learning to write, both in terms of letter formation and power of expression. He should also spend time acquiring facility in addition and subtraction. If these skills are learned well, all the rest of his school time will be much more profitable and his education will be more complete.
As a parent and teacher the time spent with your child is valuable. If he does not learn to read in kindergarten or first grade, it won't finally make much difference in his life. But you should spend time reading to him during these formative years. The saint stories, the tales of noble actions performed by noble people, and the fairy tales, with their clear divisions between good and bad, will make a lifelong difference.
while a good education in academic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic are possible in many situations, the ability to use MODG’s liberal arts curriculum in the context of a large family has contributed uniquely to our children’s spiritual formation. We are very proud of all their achievements, but what makes us proudest is their strong faith, the manner in which they conduct themselves, and the affection that they have for each other. Without that, we feel that any success the world offers is, in the end, meaningless.