Character Quality Language Arts (CQLA)

The curriculum systematically builds knowledge around character traits using historical themes, biographical sketches, and biblical content, creating coherent knowledge domains.

Each unit focuses on character traits 'developed using Scripture, historical themes, animal topics, and biographical sketches, especially of Protestant heroes and missionaries'

The curriculum offers multiple complexity levels within each unit and uses challenging vocabulary, allowing adaptation for different student abilities.

The program includes 'extension' and 'further extension' activities, and 'Copying and Comprehension passages are divided into three sections' with more advanced students completing additional sections

The curriculum includes a comprehensive Teacher's Guide with audio CD, sample lessons, and detailed implementation guidance.

The Teacher's Guide 'explains how the program works and provides many important resources and tools' and includes 'a companion audio CD that comes with the Teacher's Guide walks you through a sample lesson'

The curriculum provides structured, explicit instruction with clear lesson formats and incorporates proven direct instruction techniques from multiple established programs.

Reviews note it 'borrows ideas' from programs like Easy Grammar and Jensen's Grammar, uses 'grammar instruction and practice ideas,' and 'lessons all follow the same organizational format'

The curriculum provides comprehensive writing instruction including composition, creative writing, poetry, and research-based reports using techniques adapted from established programs like IEW.

The program covers 'composition (including creative writing, poetry, and research-based reports)' and incorporates 'the key-word-outline technique of IEW's Structure and Style, plus essay writing ideas from Writing for 100 Days'

The curriculum does not include phonics instruction and requires students to already have basic reading skills before beginning.

Multiple reviews explicitly state that 'CQLA does not teach reading and phonics' and 'students need to already be able to read picture books before beginning the program'

The curriculum primarily uses excerpts and passages rather than whole books, drawing materials from character sketches, biographical materials, and biblical resources.

Reviews note that passages come from 'Institute in Basic Life Principles materials, especially their wonderful Character Sketch books' and that the program 'does not teach extensive literature study'

The curriculum includes dictation exercises and skills review, with concepts being 'introduced, practiced, reviewed, and built upon' across levels.

Reviews mention the program uses 'copying and dictation' and that 'skills and concepts are introduced, practiced, reviewed, and built upon with higher levels of difficulty from year to year'

The curriculum includes explicit vocabulary instruction with challenging words, though some users find the vocabulary work repetitive over time.

Reviews mention 'vocabulary words in all levels are quite challenging' and the program includes 'copywork, comprehension, vocabulary' but some noted 'defining vocabulary words can become repetitive'