Hi Everyone,
Since I delved into the joys of natural learning yesterday, I thought I would share a brief account of some other methods of homeschooling over the next few posts....starting with Classical Education.
As the title suggests, Classical Education is about learning as the ancient Greeks did. It consists of three stages called the trivium.
The first stage is called the grammar stage because it's laying the foundations of learning for middle and later schooling. This is done through the learning of facts (phonetic rules, poems, stories, the basics of foreign languages, facts about animals, birds, people etc). This is not seen to be a particularly self-expressive stage, and encompasses children from around 5 to 9 years of age.
The second stage is called the logic stage, because by now most children are ready to ask analytical questions about why things are the way they are, rather than just accepting facts that are presented to them. This stage is seen to be a time when children can use their faculty of logic to critique and evaluate texts, look at reasons behind major historical events, utilise algebraic reasoning and learn the logic of scientific methods. The logic stage encompasses the ages where children begin to think abstractly, so often suits children between the ages of about 10 to 14 years of age.
The final stage for a Classical Education is called the rhetoric stage, and builds on the first two stages. By the rhetoric stage, it is said the student is thinking and expressing themselves with originality and self assurance. At this time, students begin specialising in what they feel is their preferred direction. This may take the form of specific camps, workshops, study trips, whatever suits the individual learner. This stage normally begins at about 15 years of age until the completion of secondary schooling.
(Reference: Susan Wise Bauer: What is Classical Education?)
(Reference: Susan Wise Bauer: What is Classical Education?)
Jay, Freida and I have just started looking at The Story of the World books by Susan Wise Bauer, and the kids are loving them. We've been interviewing older family members to find out about their childhood experiences. This activity is intended to present history to children in a concrete, relevant form. It was so nice to sit and hear grandparents describe their childhood memories, and the kids got a few giggles when Poppy played up the romance angle of the day he met Nanna...very sweet :)
The language used in the storybook (you can also buy a companion workbook) is really engaging and subtly prompts a desire for more knowledge in the reader/audience. The activies are suited to the various learning stages and I'm excited about delving more into these amazing history books.
As a family we seem to naturally follow the stages described in the trivium. Like most kids I know, my children love learning facts . We read lots of non-fiction and classic material, although the rhetorical (debating) stage tends to start pretty early in our house....sigh.
The literature based aspect of Classical Education could suit us well as we're quite a booky family, although I can't see us following a disciplined Classical approach across all learning areas.That would mean quite a formal approach to learning, which would suit some children beautifully (Alex, my eldest child would adore this type of curriculum), but may clash with the more active child's learning agenda.
The literature based aspect of Classical Education could suit us well as we're quite a booky family, although I can't see us following a disciplined Classical approach across all learning areas.That would mean quite a formal approach to learning, which would suit some children beautifully (Alex, my eldest child would adore this type of curriculum), but may clash with the more active child's learning agenda.
Talk Soon, Cynthia x
Some Classical Education resources:
Wise-Bauer, Susan & Wise, Jessie. The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, New Ed. Charles City, VA: Peace Hill Press, 2009.
Wise Bauer, Susan. The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child. Volume 1: Ancient Times. Charles City, VA: Peace Hill Press, 2001.
Wise Bauer, Susan. The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child. Volume 2: The Middle Ages. Charles City, VA: Peace Hill Press, 2007.
Wise Bauer, Susan. The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child. Volume 3: Early Modern Times. Charles City, VA: Peace Hill Press, 2004.
Wise Bauer, Susan. The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child. Volume 4: The Modern Age. Charles City, VA: Peace Hill Press, 2005.
Wise Bauer, Susan. The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child. Activity Book One: Ancient Times, From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor. Charles City, VA: Peace Hill Press, 2006.
PICTURE : THE NEW PICTURE BOOK BY HERMANN KAULBACH
