| What Is Classical Education? Classical education is | | | | received and understood by others. It develops a |
| based on the Trivium. The Trivium in Latin means | | | | true sense of accomplishment. The classical |
| "the three fold way". The Trivium can be broken | | | | method encourages children to do what they |
| down like this: K-6 grade, students like to | | | | naturally enjoy, during each particular phase of |
| memorize, grades 7-8, students are argument | | | | their life. In your own home school you might |
| orientated and in grades 9-12, students become | | | | have two definitions for classical education |
| independent thinker and communicators. Children | | | | according to how you perceive it. The first |
| at this age are particularly concerned with their | | | | definition could be this: Classical education is |
| appearance to others and classical education | | | | rigorous; language-history based and uses the |
| teaches them rhetoric, the art of speaking, and | | | | educational stages of the Trivium as an organizing |
| writing. Young children in grades K-6 are very | | | | principle. The second definition could be this: |
| good at memorizing. They love to repeat songs, | | | | Classical education focuses on classical languages, |
| rhymes, and chants. Sometimes they will even | | | | literature, history, art, and music and uses the |
| make up their own. The "grammar" phase | | | | Trivium as its organizing principle. Classical |
| corresponds with this natural tendency by | | | | education "experts" would probably argue with me |
| teaching the facts. Children in grades 7-8 start | | | | about the music part, but my children love music, |
| questioning and arguing. The "logic" phase teaches | | | | so I put that in there too and don't forget to add |
| children how to argue well, based on facts that | | | | math! If you have not tried classical education, |
| have been learned. Children in grades 9-12 | | | | give it a try. You could do a little at a time until |
| become independent thinkers and communicators. | | | | you get used to it. You might find that you either |
| They are also very concerned with how others | | | | love it, hate it, or you just want to do a little bit |
| perceive them. This phase is called the "Rhetoric" | | | | of it, like I do in our home school. Just remember |
| phase. They are taught in this phase how to | | | | to keep it fun, be flexible, and keep your mind |
| convey their thoughts so that they are well | | | | open to different ways of thinking and learning. |