|
Classical
Defined
-----------------------------

|
WHY A CHRISTIAN
CLASSICAL SCHOOL?
by Douglas Wilson |
During the Middle Ages, an educational
model called the “trivium” developed. The trivium had three
parts: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. The primary concern of
the trivium was to teach students how to learn.
Learning the truth is important. But learning how to learn
the truth is equally important. If Christian schools don’t
teach how to learn the truth, their students will discard
the truth quickly and readily. But if schools teach children
how to think, they will have the tools to make right
judgments in the future, thus profoundly affecting their
lives.
The Three Stages
The grammar aspect of the trivium can be
defined as the particular facts of each subject. The grammar
of math includes addition, subtraction, the multiplication
tables, and the like. The grammar of geography includes
mountains, rivers, and continents. The grammar of history
includes presidents, kings, dates, and great battles.
When students move to the logic period,
they begin to sort out the facts learned in the grammar
stage. They examine the relationships between the incidents
of history. They learn how multiplication rules affect other
parts of math and reasoning.
Once the students have sorted out the
facts, the rhetoric stage teaches them to communicate well.
It is not enough to blurt out the truth. I’m glad Christians
have gotten involved in social and political issues. But
sometimes believers communicate the truth badly. We
shouldn’t be content with that. In the rhetoric stage the
student learns how to present truth in a winsome, persuasive
way. 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT STAGES
AS RELATED
TO THE TRIVIUM
“How the Trivium works”
| |
BEGINNING
GRAMMAR
(Pre-Polly) |
GRAMMAR
(Poll-Parrot) |
LOGIC
(Pert) |
RHETORIC
(Poetic) |
| |
Grades K - 3 |
Grades 3 - 6 |
Grades 7 - 9 |
Grades 10 - 12 |
| |
Student Characteristics: |
Student Characteristics: |
Student Characteristics: |
Student Characteristics: |
| |
1. Obviously excited
about learning
2. Enjoys games, stories,
songs, projects
3. Short attention span
4. Wants to touch, taste,
feel, smell, see
5. Imaginative, creative |
1. Excited about new,
interesting facts
2. Likes to explain, figure
out, talk
3. Wants to relate own
experiences to topic, or
just to tell a story
4. Likes collecting,
organizing items
5. Likes chants, clever,
repetitious word
sounds (e.g. Dr. Seuss)
6. Easily memorizes
7. Can assimilate another
language well |
1. Still excitable, but
needs challenges
2. Judges, critiques,
debates, critical
3. Likes to organize
items, others
4. Shows off knowledge
5.Wants to know“behind
the scenes” facts
6. Curious about Why? for
most things
7. Thinks, acts as though
more knowledgeable
than adults |
1. Concerned with
present events,
especially in own life
2. Interested in justice,
fairness
3. Move toward special
interests, topics
4. Can take on
responsibility,
independent work
5. Can do synthesis
6. Desires to express
feelings, own ideas
7. Generally idealistic |
| |
Teaching Methods: |
Teaching Methods: |
Teaching Methods: |
Teaching Methods: |
| |
1. Guide discovering
2. Explore, find things
3. Use lots of tactile items
to illustrate a point
4. Sing, play games,
chant, recite, color,
draw, paint, build
5. Use body movements
6. Short, creative projects
7. Show and tell, drama,
hear/read/tell stories
8. Field trips
|
1. Lots of hands-on
work, projects
2. Field trips, drama
3. Make collections,
displays, models
4. Integrate subjects
through above means
5. Teach and assign
research projects
6. Recitations,
memorization
7. Drills, games
8. Oral/written
presentations |
1. Time lines, charts,
maps (visual materials)
2. Debates, persuasive
reports
3. Drama, reenactments,
role-playing
4. Evaluate, critique (with
guidelines)
5. Formal logic
6. Research projects
7. Oral/written
presentations
8. Guest speakers, trips |
1. Drama, oral
presentations
2. Guide research in
major areas with goal
of synthesis of ideas
3. Many papers, speeches,
debates
4. Give responsibilities,
e.g. working with
younger students,
organize activities
5. In-depth field trips,
even overnight
6. Worldview
discussion/written
papers |
Additional Information
What is a Classical Model of
Education?
|
|