Homeschool Method: Classical Education
Are you looking for a tried and true way to educate your child? Look no further than classical education!
What Is Classical Education?
Classical education originated in ancient Greece (during the classical period, hence the name) and expanded after the Renaissance.
It is a three-part process called the Trivium that teaches students how to learn and think.
The Trivium, a three-part process of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, is not just a theoretical framework.
It’s the practical pathway to mastering any subject.
Throughout the journey from elementary to high school, classical education offers a tailored approach that fits children’s natural development.
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Classical Education in Elementary School
Young children love repetition (they want to hear the same stories repeatedly). They are also experts at memorizing.
Just think of how many words a child learns in a year! Adults could never do that!
The first part of the Trivium is the grammar stage (also called an art or discipline).
The grammar stage is not limited to the subject of grammar. The name means learning foundational knowledge.
In this stage, students learn names and facts.
They learn phonics rules, times tables, names of famous figures from history, types of plants and animals, vocabulary words, etc.
These names and facts are the foundation stones of later learning.
Children excel at memorizing these facts during the early to middle elementary years.
They are naturals at the grammar stage of learning, so their schoolwork plays to their strengths.
Classical Education in Middle School
Around 5th to 6th grade, you will notice that kids aren’t content to accept your answers at face value.
They question everything. They want to know the “why” behind the answer.
Their brains are making connections, finding patterns, and understanding cause and effect better than they did as young children.
Students in grades 5-8 are ready for logic-stage learning.
With their increased ability to think abstractly, they are ready to tackle algebra and formal logic.
They learn to analyze literature, construct paragraphs, and study a foreign language in earnest.
Middle-grade students enjoy seeing connections in history and science.
They begin to notice the interconnected nature of every subject. They see math in art, literature in history, and Latin in science.
Students in the middle grades still need to use grammar to learn something new, but the focus of their schoolwork utilizes their logical skills.
It’s the next stage of learning.
Classical Education in High School
The high school student is ready for the final part of the learning process: the rhetoric stage.
The rhetoric stage focuses on original thought and expression.
High schoolers are all about self-expression! They are constantly looking for ways to express their individuality.
That is developmentally appropriate!
To capitalize on this development, high school students focus on their communication skills. They learn to speak and write persuasively.
They conduct experiments, draw conclusions, and write lab reports.
Their own interests propel them to the rhetoric stage in various subjects.
They may choose to develop fluency in a foreign language, write computer code, work proofs in mathematics, or compose original short stories or poems.
Is Classical Education the Right Fit for My Family?
Classical education, with its time-tested model, appeals to those who value tradition and proven success in education.
It aligns with the natural stages of learning and human development.
It is language-focused and develops strong readers and writers.
The formal study of logic teaches students to analyze information and think critically.
Furthermore, classical education centers around the idea that all learning is interconnected.
That is why history is often taught chronologically (and the study of science dovetails with history nicely).
Typically, classical education involves learning Latin as a first foreign language (although students may also learn modern languages).
The Homeschool Method of Classical Education
Classical education has experienced a revival in private schooling and homeschooling for good reason.
It grows with the child, inspiring and equipping them to become lifelong learners.
