At our classical school, we believe students grow best when they learn to read carefully, think deeply, and express ideas clearly. Below is a look at the specific Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) we’ll be working on next week and what they mean for your child.
TEKS 5.6 & 5.7
Students will practice making inferences, which means reading between the lines and using clues from the text plus prior knowledge to understand deeper meaning.
According to the TEKS, students will:
Make reasonable inferences about texts
Support answers with evidence from the text
Demonstrate understanding of characters, events, and ideas through comprehension questions
🟡 Classical Connection:
Inferencing strengthens logic and reasoning, key pillars of classical education. Students are learning not just to find answers, but to justify them using evidence.
TEKS 5.7
Students will focus on solving real-world problems involving fractions and decimals.
According to the TEKS, students will:
Represent and solve problems using decimals and fractions
Choose appropriate strategies and explain their thinking
Apply math skills to meaningful situations
🟡 Classical Connection:
Classical math instruction emphasizes clear thinking, accuracy, and reasoning, helping students develop disciplined problem-solving habits.
TEKS 5.2
Students will strengthen their scientific reasoning skills, particularly through working with data.
According to the TEKS, students will:
Analyze and interpret data from charts and graphs
Identify patterns and relationships
Use evidence to draw logical conclusions
🟡 Classical Connection:
This mirrors the classical emphasis on observation and logical analysis, teaching students to make sense of the world through evidence and reason.
Across all subjects, students will continue practicing these essential skills:
Read the entire question carefully
Eliminate incorrect answer choices
Look for evidence in the text, problem, or data to support answers
🟡 Classical Connection:
These habits train students to be thoughtful, attentive learners, a hallmark of classical education.
This week, students are exploring the Golden Age of England and finishing our look at the Renaissance and its incredible impact on art, music, and culture. We’re studying famous artists, advancements in perspective in painting, the rebirth of classical ideas, and the rise of new forms of music and literature. Students are making connections between the Renaissance and how creativity shapes our world today.
Important History Note:
We are in our unit on the Renaissance in history, exploring the remarkable changes in art, music, and culture during this time. The Renaissance introduced many influential works, including Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and the artwork of the Sistine Chapel.
When discussing famous Renaissance pieces, I use cropped versions when appropriate, and choose views that support learning while maintaining a respectful environment. Occasionally, my efforts to crop certain artworks may not work as perfectly as I intend, simply because some pieces are difficult to adapt without losing important details. However, the art we explore is always chosen for its beauty, historical significance, and overall tastefulness.