Classical homeschooling is rooted in the time-tested educational principles of classical education, which have their origins in ancient Greece and Rome. This approach to homeschooling emphasizes the cultivation of wisdom, virtue, and eloquence through the study of the liberal arts and humanities. At its core, classical homeschooling seeks to provide students with a rigorous and comprehensive education that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and character traits necessary for a life of intellectual inquiry, moral integrity, and civic engagement.
Truth, Goodness and Beauty
Classical education is rich in liberal arts. It prioritizes teaching children to appreciate truth, goodness, and beauty. Lessons are largely taught through written and spoken language. In classical education, students move through three developmental stages of language which are collectively known as the Trivium. These three stages (Grammar, Logic/Dialectic, and Rhetoric) capitalize on the strengths of students’ minds as they grow and mature. Today’s classical education weaves in the mathematical arts (known as the Quadrivium) of arithme-tic, geometry, astronomy, and music throughout the Trivium stages of a student’s career. Latin language is a major component for all stages in a classical education.
Stages of the Trivium
Grammar Stage Grades K- 6. This is the time that is considered to build the foundation for all learning. Facts are memorized through songs, chants, and rhymes for future use during the Logic and Rhetoric states. Examples of facts memorized are latin conjugations, grammar, states and capitols, math and science, timeline events, documents from history, phonics, spelling, and information about people throughout history.
Logic/Dialectic Grades 7-9. This is a time when the child begins to pay attention to cause and effect. They begin to notice that different subjects correlate to one another and how all the facts they learned in the grammar stage relate to one another. Students are encouraged to explore and ask “why” and are driven to study and understand logical arguments. The study of logic applies to writing assignments, history, science, and more. This stage of learning encourages analyzing, discussion, debate, dialogue, and reasoning.
Rhetoric Grades 10-12. Students are taught through the art of effective or persuasive speaking, writing, and communicating their own thoughts and ideas. The student learns “to express himself in language—how to say what he had to say elegantly and persuasively.” (Sayers, “Lost Tools”) This is commonly done through reading ad discussing many of the Great Books and taking part in what Mortimer Adler called “The Great Conversation.”One of the defining features of classical homeschooling is its adherence to the three stages of learning known as the trivium: the grammar stage, the logic stage, and the rhetoric stage. During the grammar stage, which typically encompasses the early elementary years, students focus on building a strong foundation of knowledge through the memorization of facts, vocabulary, and basic concepts. In the logic stage, which corresponds to the middle school years, students learn to think critically and analytically, exploring the relationships between different ideas and developing logical reasoning skills. Finally, in the rhetoric stage, which encompasses the high school years, students learn to articulate their thoughts persuasively and eloquently, honing their communication skills through the study of literature, debate, and composition.
The Great Books
Another key aspect of classical homeschooling is its emphasis on the great books of Western civilization. Classical homeschooling curriculum often includes a rich and diverse selection of literary works, philosophical texts, historical documents, and scientific treatises that have stood the test of time and have shaped the course of human history. Through the study of these timeless classics, students gain insight into the human experience, grapple with universal questions and themes, and develop a deeper understanding of the cultural, intellectual, and moral foundations of Western civilization.
Latin and Greek
Moreover, classical homeschooling places a strong emphasis on the study of Latin and Greek languages. Proponents of classical education argue that the study of classical languages not only provides students with a solid foundation for understanding English grammar and vocabulary but also cultivates analytical thinking skills and fosters an appreciation for the linguistic and cultural heritage of the ancient world. By learning to read and translate classical texts in their original languages, students gain access to a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that is often inaccessible through translation alone.
Character and Virtue
In addition to its focus on the trivium, the great books, and classical languages, classical homeschooling also emphasizes the development of moral character and civic virtue. Drawing inspiration from the moral philosophy of classical thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero, classical homeschooling seeks to cultivate in students a love of truth, goodness, and beauty, as well as a sense of duty and responsibility to one's community and society. Through the study of history, literature, and philosophy, students are encouraged to reflect on timeless moral and ethical questions and to develop a strong sense of personal integrity and civic engagement.
Overall, classical homeschooling offers a comprehensive and intellectually rigorous education that seeks to cultivate in students a lifelong love of learning, a commitment to truth and virtue, and a deep appreciation for the richness and diversity of human culture and civilization.
Get more info Find more information on classical education at the following websites: The Trivium Pursuit Center for Lit/ Pelican Society The Well-Trained Mind Classical Academic Press Veritas Press Inside Classical Ed Memoria Press