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Classical Education

 Classical education is a unique way of training students to think critically while the conventional system of learning is in most part absorbing facts and being tested on what the student has retained. Classical education is arranged in three stages. The early years are when the student absorbs facts. In the middle years they learn to think critically and in the high school years, students begin to express themselves logically. This pattern is called the trivium.

The Grammar Stage

            The elementary years are the building blocks of learning.  There the students learn to memorize spelling words, multiplication tables, poems, and rules of grammar, historical dates, and other subjects. Children at this age love to memorize and it generally comes easily to them. Actually, at this stage, children are absorbing facts; they are not yet able to think critically about subject matter. This is not the stage of self-expression. History, reading, and English are taught in story form and the child is more readily able to remember the story. This Grammar Stage lasts through the fourth grade and prepares the way for the next stage of learning.

The Logic Stage

            The Logic stage begins at fifth grade, and at this stage, children begin to ask questions about the cause and effect of different fields of knowledge. Facts are not just accepted at face value without asking "Why?" or "How?" At this time, students begin to have the ability to think abstractly and their thoughts are more mature. Students also begin to study algebra and the logical thinking of solving these mathematical problems. They will also begin to write essays consisting of paragraphs instead of just sentences with using logic to support the theme of the text. In history for instance, students may logically begin to question why the Civil War was fought rather than just memorizing dates and battles. This beginning of logical thinking is found in every area of learning at this stage of the students' educational careers.

The Rhetoric Stage

            This is the final stage of the student's classical education.  At this stage, students are able to build upon the foundation of the Grammar Stage and the questions and abstract thinking of the Logic Stage. Now students can write and speak with self-expression drawing their own conclusions in clear language. Here students may select subjects that appeal to them and will focus on that field of training.

Developmental learning

Reading and writing across the curriculum

Leveled assessments

Enrichments and interventions