Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts is the curriculum that families with verbally gifted children rave about. Written by a former teacher of gifted students, the program treats children as capable intellectual beings from the start. Grammar is taught through the lens of real sentences from great literature. Vocabulary is built systematically through Latin and Greek stems. Poetry and literature are explored with genuine depth.

The program is organized into four strands (grammar, vocabulary, writing, and poetry/literature) taught in parallel across multiple levels. Each strand has its own slim, beautifully written student book and a detailed teacher manual. The Town level is typically used for grades 2–4, Voyage for grades 4–6, and so on through high school.

At a Glance

What to Know

MCT is not for every family. The teacher manuals require the parent to engage deeply with the material and lead discussions. The writing instruction assumes a student who already enjoys words. And the cost adds up quickly when purchasing all four strands plus teacher manuals. But for the right student — one who lights up when discovering that 'circumnavigate' contains the Latin roots for 'around' and 'sail' — MCT is unmatched.

The curriculum is published by Royal Fireside and available through homeschool retailers. It has a passionate following among classical and Charlotte Mason families, and is frequently recommended in gifted homeschool communities.