Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, ​a life ...
and a science of relations. - Charlotte Mason

​WEEKLY SCHEDULE
In-Session Options: Mondays-Thursdays
OPTION A: 4-Day Cottage School Program
OPTION B: 3-Day Option
OPTION C: 2-Day Option
OPTION D: Half-Day Option
OPTION E: 3-Morning Woodland Friends (PK-K)

​FORMS
"Forms" allow for a broader window of growth.
Woodland Friends - PK & K
Form I - ages 6-9 (roughly gr. 1-3)
Form II - ages 9-12 (roughly gr. 4-6)
Form III - ages 12-14 (roughly gr. 7-8)
Form IV - ages 14-15 (roughly gr. 9)
Form V - ages 16-18 (gr. 10-12)
​
HOURS
Cottage Students Full Day:
8:15AM - 3:00PM

Enrichment Half-Day Students:
11:30AM - 3PM

Clubs & Electives: Twice Weekly

After-Care Options: $7-$10 per child per day
We have a 5 acre country-like campus with a chicken coop, gardens, rabbits, guinea pigs, aquariums, climbing trees, and a lovely green space that facilitates generous outdoor exploration and play. We are easily accessible (just four minutes off I-75) in South Dayton, close to many amenities.

Branches & Vine Mission

Abiding in Christ and His Word, informed by Charlotte Mason principles, and in partnership with parents . . . we spread a rich and varied feast of a life-giving education (truth, goodness, beauty) through three-fold knowledge with deepening relationships (God, humanity, universe). This is to be used by the Holy Spirit in transforming students to genuinely love the Lord (Deut 6:4-9), lead gracious lives of knowledge, understanding and wisdom (Prov 24:3-4), and bear much fruit for the glory of God (John 15:1-11).

Branches & Vine Motto

I AM ... fearfully and wonderfully made; a person.
I CAN ... do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I OUGHT to love the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, and with all my strength. 
​I WILL choose to honor God and elevate His Word and His will above my own.

The Branches & Vine Approach

At Branches & Vine, we honor the child's dignity as a whole person designed in God's image and for His glory.

Our educational approach nourishes the whole person with first-hand exposure to great and noble ideas through: "living books" in every subject, timeless literature and poetry, treasured handicrafts, Shakespeare plays, inspiring art, beautiful music, biblical worldview conversations, structured maths and sciences, Spanish, Latin and classical studies, generous nature exploration, violin, piano, choral, and music theory study.

We believe life-giving education possesses "depth of relations" through a three-fold framework: "knowledge of God," "knowledge of man," and "knowledge of the universe." As knowledge broadens, understanding deepens, and wisdom for life is applied. We help students build meaningful relationships with God and His Word; with friends in their rich learning community; with people from various eras, places, and cultures; and with the natural world including nature and daily outdoor life, geography, maths and sciences.

"Narrating" (retelling) from living books teaches students to digest, reflect upon, order, and graciously communicate vital ideas. Children who are exposed to daily practices of narration mature into eloquent writers and communicators.

Chronological history comes alive through well-written books, source documents, captivating biographies, and literature selections which illuminate the era.

Focused attention at short, varied lessons keeps students' minds fresh, leaving free time for exploration of nature, personal interests, and life skills.

English skills develop beautifully through "copywork" (transcribing a portion of quality literature), and "dictation" of literary passages (specialized focus on spelling and grammatical structures). Memorization and "recitation" are approached, not as tools for repeating facts, but to give children rich words to ponder for a lifetime.

Instead of dry worksheets, students design and develop cherished "living notebooks" including:
  • Book of Centuries (master timeline)
  • Commonplace Book (literary quotations)
  • Nature Notebook (observational sketches, paintings, and notes)
  • Copybook (Scripture, poetry, and literature selections)
  • Lessons For Life Scripture Notebook (Bible readings, lists, and "lessons for life") ... among other notebook keep-sakes that take shape through the years.
​Our teachers direct the course of study, but students assume personal responsibility for their own learning. We are neither teacher-driven, nor student-centered. The primary agents of learning are living books, living ideas, and living things.
​
​We seize every opportunity to cultivate a life-giving atmosphere, shepherd good habits of thought and life, and spread a generous feast of wonder and delight.

Would your child thrive in our
​whole-hearted learning community?

CULTIVATING A LIFE-GIVING ATMOSPHERE
SHEPHERDING GOOD HABITS OF THOUGHT & LIFE
SPREADING A WIDE AND GENEROUS FEAST OF LIVING IDEAS