2026/2027 Curriculum

In Storyweaver literature courses, students learn the art of reading well, form eyes to see into other perspectives, develop voice in their written expression, and join their stories with the great conversation. Growing in wisdom while immersed in good books, students expand their understanding of the world and their place in it.
— Calli Birch

High School

Longing for Light: Mythology & Meaning in World Literature

What does it mean to seek truth, beauty, and the good life across time and culture? In this course, students explore the great stories and ideas of the Western literary tradition, tracing humanity’s enduring fascination with myth, fate, and the journey of the soul.

This course will place emphasis on established approaches to interpretation in a variety of genres, focusing on the universality of themes and archetypes, analysis of structure and style, significance of historical backdrop, and recognition of literary devices such as tone, imagery, mood, allusions, and figures of speech. Class participation and discussion is at the heart of this course, which thrives on lively student interactions; therefore, every student is encouraged to make contributions to class activities and discussions, especially Socratic seminars. All students will receive a progress report at the semester and digital certificate with final grade report upon the completion of the course. Every text was selected on the basis of literary merit (judged by academic institutions), student enjoyment, and thematic significance.

Note on reading the Bible in a literature class: Regardless of religious beliefs, the Bible is the most influential book in the history of the world and has played a foundational role in Western Civilization and literature. In order for students to engage meaningfully with the great books, it is essential that they know several Biblical stories, in particular: the garden/creation story, Cain & Abel, the Exodus story, the book of Job, and David & Goliath. The focus of reading them together will not be for religious instruction, but to understand the narratives, their images and patterns, and how they have influenced literature.

Fall Semester Texts & Assignments:

  • The Odyssey - Homer (Fitzgerald)

  • Oedipus Rex & Antigone - Sophocles (Fagles)

  • Selections from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (Melville)

  • Selections from Virgil’s Aeneid (Fagles)

Assignments: Writer’s Notebook Entries, Socratic Seminars, Persuasive Essay, Creative Project

Spring Semester Texts & Assignments:

  • Selections from the Old Testament (King James)

  • Selections from Dante’s Divine Comedy (Musa)

  • King Lear - Shakespeare

  • Paradise Lost - John Milton 

  • Till We Have Faces - C.S. Lewis

Assignments: Writer’s Notebook Entries, Socratic Seminars, Personal Narrative, Final Synthesis Essay


Middle School

Exploring Worlds & Wonders: The Building Blocks of Stories

Step into worlds of myth, legend, adventure, and imagination! In this course, students will explore the classic archetypes that make up the building blocks of stories—the heroes, quests, mysteries, and wonders that enchant young readers and prepare them to engage with great literature.

Pursuing an atmosphere of scholé & gentle learning, this course will place emphasis on teaching young scholars how to probe quality texts for deeper meaning, while guiding them through the analysis process, recognizing historical context and literary devices such as imagery, mood, allusions, and figures of speech. Class participation and discussion is at the heart of this course, which thrives on lively student interactions; therefore, every student is encouraged to make contributions to class activities and discussions. While I will provide feedback on polished work, this course can be completed with or without a final grade, according to the desires of each family. All students will receive a progress report at the semester and digital certificate with final grade report upon the completion of the course. Please note that while I will point out areas for improvement in student writing, this is specifically a language arts course & will not cover a grammar curriculum.

Fall Semester Texts & Assignments:

  • Labors of Hercules Beale - Gary D. Schmidt

  • Selections from Edith Hamilton's Mythology 

  • King Arthur - Roger Lancelyn Green

  • Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - Howard Pyle

  • Princess & the Goblin - George MacDonald

Assignments: Writer’s Notebook Entries, Personal Narrative, Creative Project

Spring Semester Texts & Assignments:

  • Magician’s Nephew - C.S. Lewis

  • Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson

  • Sherlock Holmes short stories - A.C. Doyle

  • Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery

  • Selected Poetry

Assignments: Writer’s Notebook Entries, Group Character Analysis, Persuasive Essay


Calli is the kind of teacher every student hopes for: kind, joyful, and impassioned. Her genuine love of literature informs every aspect of her teaching, and she can light a spark in even the most reluctant of readers. Thoughtful and intentional, Calli builds trust with her students because they know—and can see in each daily activity—that she has developed a meaningful plan for their learning.
— Jennifer McEachern, The Hockaday School English Faculty

2026/27 Academic Calendar

FALL Semester

  • Orientations: Week of August 24th

  • Start Date: Tuesday, September 1st

  • End Date: Friday, December 18th

  • 1 Week Thanksgiving Break

  • 15 weeks of classes

SPRING Semester

  • Start Date: Tuesday, January 12th

  • End Date: Friday, May 14th

  • 1 Week Spring Break (March 22nd - 26th)

  • 17 weeks of classes

*Year-Long Courses are the equivalent of 1 credit & run for 32 weeks. Families paying monthly tuition will make 9 payments.