THE TRIVIUM
Classical education depends on a three part process of education called The Trivium. It is a time tested approach that takes advantage of the students’ natural tendencies at each stage of development and provides them with the necessary tools for learning—a wealth of information (grammar), the ability to think and reason (logic) and the ability to communicate winsomely and effectively (rhetoric).
Grammar
K-5th
At the Grammar Stage, young children are naturally inquisitive and are both willing and able to memorize and recite a large amount of material. This is when we help our students absorb tremendous amounts of information with historical and biblical time lines as well as master language with Latin, the Swiss Army Knife of languages - once you know Latin, learning many other languages becomes much easier.
Logic
6th - 8th
During the middle school years, the Logic stage, children begin to think independently, question the world around them, and often develop a propensity for argument. Using their natural bend towards questioning, we teach students to think and analyze critically and to argue well by arranging facts into organized statements. Practice in making written and oral arguments across all subjects helps to hone these skills.
Rhetoric
9th - 12th
During the Rhetoric stage, students learn to clearly express themselves and defend their understanding of the truth by communicating winsomely and effectively. In this final stage of education, students bring the knowledge they gained in the Grammar and Logic stages and apply it in solving difficult problems, becoming self-aware, and expressing their thoughts and understanding of concepts through both oral and written assignments.