Develop Your Approach

Classical education makes use of the three stages, or trivium, in which children (and adults) learn any subject. In the Grammar Stage, the foundation of each discipline is laid. This is a time of gathering facts and developing basic skills. The second stage is the Dialectic Stage in which the student learns to reason or apply the basic facts he has learned. In this stage logic is introduced. The student concentrates on the cause and effect, or the "why," of a subject. The final stage of the trivium is the Rhetoric Stage in which the student learns to communicate what he knows about the subject at hand in the most convincing way.

As the popularity of classical education has grown among home educators over the last several years, there is an increasingly wide variety of support materials available. Most of these assist the parent in applying a classical model of education to their homeschool. These materials range in scope from a simple framework to a complete syllabus. There is also wide variety in the methods employed at each stage. For example, some lean toward the "drill and cram" in the grammar stage while others advocate a more hands-on approach. Secular classical education studies Homer and Plato from a humanist point of view. In a Christian classical education, some will study these "classical" topics from a Christian worldview, while others will choose to avoid them all together. Finally, you will find the age grouping for each stage varies with the source. As a general guideline, the Grammar stage covers ages 7-11, Dialectic - ages 12-15, and Rhetoric - ages 16-18.

Whether or not you decide to strictly follow the classical method of learning, there are many valuable ideas to borrow.

Teach them HOW to learn. One of the early proponents of returning to a classical education was Dorothy Sayers who wrote an essay entitled "The Lost Tools of Learning." She advocated teaching our children how to learn so that they would have the tools of learning at hand enabling them to teach themselves any subject.

• The Lost Tools of Learning
  The complete text of the essay by Dorothy Sayers.

Latin. We run across Latin often in our daily lives, but rarely do we realize it. Depending on your source, Latin comprises anywhere form 50% to 70% of our English language. Latin is also used extensively in the arts and sciences. Why not pursue Latin studies and provide your child yet another tool of learning?

• Language in the Grammar Stage
  Why study Latin? A well-organized case presented by Christine Miller.

Logic. During the Dialectic stage, students engaged in a classical education begin a study of logic. Logic augments studies in math and science. Through logic we can also learn how to make well reasoned arguments and discover fallacies in other's arguments.

• Frequently Asked Questions About Logic
  What is it? Why do we need it? Any other questions? Answers here! Nathaniel Bluedorn.

Speaking and debate. One of the communication skills that is often overlooked in homeschooling is public speaking. Our children may have many opportunities to speak to others; whether as advocates for homeschooling, in whatever career path they choose or when called to defend their faith. A polished presentation cannot be overestimated when it comes to effective communication skills.

• Homeschool Speech and Debate
  Trivium Pursuit has gathered many helpful resources and links.

Further Reading

• Classical Christian Education: A Growing Trend
  "But a classical education is more than simply a pattern of learning. Classical education is language-focused; learning is accomplished through words, written and spoken, rather than through images (pictures, videos, and television). Language-learning and image-learning require very different habits of thought. Language requires the mind to work harder; in reading, the brain is forced to translate a symbol (words on the page) into a concept. Images, such as those on videos and television, allow the mind to be passive. In front of a video screen, the brain can "sit back" and relax; faced with the written page, the mind is required to roll its sleeves up and get back to work." Debra Bell's insightful interview with Susan Wise Bauer, co-author of The Well-Trained Mind.
• Classical Education
  "Classical learning is called "classical" because future leaders have been trained in its methods for centuries. In fact, some parts of the classical curriculum have been around for millennia." Douglas Wilson explains how classical education can benefit some families.
• Classical Education Comes Home
  "Christian classical education is not neutral. It takes definite philosophical sides. And all that is old is not necessarily good. Not only should classical material be read through the critical eyes of a Christian, but care should be taken to ensure that our students read more material that is positive and reinforces our views rather than competing views." Interesting look at classical education from Michael Farris, former president of HSLDA.
• Definition for Classical Education
  "We pursue a narrower definition of 'Classical Education.' We are more interested in teaching by the same educational principles and toward the same educational goals as the ancients than in teaching the same literature as the ancients. We do not necessarily pursue the Classical materials – Homer and Plato, or Caesar and Cicero. Instead, we necessarily pursue the Classical Model of Child Development and the Classical Method for Teaching Subjects. We call this the Applied Trivium." Harvey & Laurie Bluedorn from TriviumPursuit.
• Historic and Modern Application
  "Modern public education does not look like the trivium. But in order to understand why, we have to understand from whence modern education has come. For, if one takes a cursory glance through Classical America, we find that even 200 years ago things were very different in American education than they are today. How did we get so far away from the classical tradition in education?" Christine Miller provides a brief look at how we got from there to here.
• Homeschooling with the Trivium E-Mail List
  For "Christian homeschooling families interested in discussing the Trivium and how it can be applied to homeschooling." Moderated by the Bluedorns.
• On the Trivium
  In depth explanation of the trivium from Christine Miller.
• Stages of the Trivium
  A look at the defining characteristics of each stage of the trivium from Berean Academy.
• Well-Trained Mind Active Boards
  Very active! Forum for parents pursuing a classical education to exchange ideas.
• Why Our Model of Classical Education May Look Different
  "...classical schools and online recommendations while agreeing on the basics of trivium learning differ from each other in the practical application of this classical pattern to learning." Susan Wise Bauer reminds us that there is more than one way to implement any method in our home!