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