The Harp and Laurel Wreath

The curriculum uses appropriately complex texts from great literature, designed for different classical learning stages.

Selections include works from Shakespeare, classical poetry, and Lincoln's speeches, which the reviewer describes as 'some of the greatest works' organized by learning stages

The curriculum facilitates direct instruction through its structured approach with study questions and guided analysis.

Study questions are included after each piece in the rhetorical section with suggested answers provided, and the author explains how to use the readings across learning stages

The curriculum incorporates structured writing activities including copywork, dictation, and compositions based on the literary models.

Students 'copy, take through dictation, analyze, present orally, and as subjects for compositions' according to the classical approach described

The curriculum builds cultural literacy through exposure to classic works and great authors, though systematic domain knowledge building across subjects is not evident.

Selections include works from Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Lincoln's speeches, and other culturally significant pieces that the reviewer notes children 'would like to be familiar with'

The curriculum provides teacher guidance through explanations of how to use the readings and suggested answers to study questions.

Berquist 'explains how to use the readings, dividing them up according to the different stages of learning' and provides 'suggested answers' at the back

The curriculum incorporates memorization as a key component, which provides retrieval practice for the literary selections.

Students use the selections to 'memorize' as part of the classical approach, though broader spaced review systems are not described

The curriculum appears to build vocabulary through exposure to rich literary language, though explicit vocabulary instruction is not described.

The review emphasizes 'well-written models' and selections from great authors which would naturally expose students to sophisticated vocabulary

The curriculum primarily uses excerpts and selected poems rather than whole books, though this appears intentional for its anthology format.

The review describes it as a 'collection of prose and poetry' with 'literary excerpts' and 'scenes from Hamlet' rather than complete works

No evidence of systematic phonics instruction is provided in the review.

The review focuses entirely on literature selections and classical methods without mentioning phonics or early reading instruction