Homeschooling means that a person is being educated at home, but other than that, what does it tell us about the educational process? What and how does a homeschooled child learn? Does this style of homeschooling follow some structure or a specific system?
Anyone that’s interested in pursuing a homeschool education for their child will naturally have all these questions. Or maybe you have already decided to homeschool and are wondering what’s the best method.
While the beauty of homeschooling is that it provides so many options, this can also be one of the hardest challenges. Homeschooling can be as traditional as “school-at-home” or as unconventional as with the “Unschooling” approach.
There are seven main approaches to homeschooling recognized as official homeschool styles. These include Classical, Montessori, Unschooling, School-at-home, Unit studies, Charlotte Mason, and the Eclectic education method. Although, you can also find some additional styles described on various sites.
Today, we’ll break down the Classical Homeschooling method and talk about its principles and why this can be the right choice for you, as well as take a look at some of the teaching resources for classical homeschooling.
What Is Classical Homeschooling?
Classical homeschooling, or the classical education method, is one of the most famous homeschooling styles. Its foundation is built upon history, literature, and language studies that use the philosophy of educational practices that date back to Ancient Greece and Rome.
The Classical homeschooling method belongs to the spectrum of main homeschooling styles. It follows a strict system and an elaborate reading and writing plan that sometimes even involves learning Greek and Latin (not always required).
While it’s not very hard, it’s still demanding, which is one of the reasons why people take a lot of pride in being homeschooled with the classical method. Another reason this method has an excellent reputation is that a lot of geniuses are believed to have had a classical homeschooling education, like Thomas Jefferson, Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare, Christopher Columbus, and others.
But, what makes the classical homeschooling method so unique?
Well, the classical method is based on the three-stages of education (the Trivium), designed to teach children grammar, logic, and rhetoric through reading and analyzing classical books, instead of textbooks.
First, the child learns facts and grammar, which shape their concrete thinking. Second, the child learns the process of correct reasoning – logic (dialectic stage). This stage is equivalent to today’s junior high or middle school-aged students. A typical teaching resource during this process would be Aristotle’s Logic. Finally, the child learns to think abstractly in the rhetoric stage, criticize their own work, and defend their own ideas.
The Trivium
Classical education dates back to ancient times. For example, the tradition of first learning the three subjects – grammar, logic, and rhetoric, originates from Ancient Greece. However, it was in the Middle Ages that this learning method became known as the “Trivium”. Today, the word itself is a pillar for defining classical education in general and classical homeschooling, specifically.
The word can also be defined as a “lower division of the seven liberal arts.” The liberal arts are part of traditional educational programs, including philosophy, logic, linguistics, literature, history, political science, sociology, and psychology. The Trivium encompasses these areas within the three-stage division of education.
Contemporary classical homeschooling programs might vary a little bit from this framework, as the movement aims to fit within modern school programs, but the main structure is the same.
The reasoning behind the Trivium is that children learn differently in different stages of life. For example, an 8-year-old uses different cognitive mechanisms than a 15-year-old. This is why learning is different in every stage and when executed properly, it follows the natural cognitive development of the child and helps them progress.
Now, let’s take a look at the three stages in more detail and see how they’ll look like in practice.
The Grammar Stage – Concrete Thinking
The first stage of classical homeschooling is equivalent to early elementary school, usually, covering grades from 1 through 4 (younger than 12 years old). Although the name suggests students during this stage learn grammar, you shouldn’t understand that definition too narrowly. In fact, this is the time when children learn the basic concepts of languages, math, history, and science. Since this is also a time when children think in concrete terms, the knowledge should come in the form of facts, rules, or patterns they can memorize.
For example, in a homeschool, children should learn new vocabulary, letters and sounds, to read, to write, to count, basic arithmetic operations, states, capitals, body systems, life cycles, historical events, timelines, famous people, and more.
Since there’s a lot to be memorized, teachers, tutors, or parents can make the process easier by having them learn through songs, chants, rhymes, games, and hands-on experience. However, repetition is the golden rule.
According to the advocates of the classical homeschooling method, this is not the time when tutors should concern themselves with teaching how’s or why’s. They should give children concrete facts to memorize because their ability to think is only in concrete terms.
The Logic (Dialectic) Stage – Analytical Thinking
The second stage of classical homeschooling is equivalent to middle school (grades 5 through 8/9) in a typical school program. This is the time when children should start thinking about the relationship between things and ask a lot of “how” and “why” questions. For this reason, in the logic stage of classical homeschooling, children learn how knowledge from different fields is related, what’s the meaning behind the concepts they’ve learned, and how these concepts work together to produce everything we know and have today.
For example, children should strengthen their basic math skills, think about numbers in time and space, learn algebra, geometry, the syntax, analysis of the language system, learn how to make deductions, and perceive the distinctive characteristics between the learned concepts.
“…To see that a horse is not a duck belongs to the grammar stage. To see that a horse is a suitable animal to use in battle and that a duck is not, belongs to the dialectic stage.”
- Douglas Wilson, The Case for Classical Christian Education.
This is also the stage where children start debating and answering open questions more elaborately. The main goal of the logic stage is to set children on a path to independence so they can express and argue their own ideas and points of view.
The Rhetoric Stage – Abstract Thinking
The third stage of the Trivium is the rhetoric stage that corresponds to high-school (14 to 16-years of age). This is a time where children learn to use abstract thinking so they can not only communicate in a better way but also create new ideas. Or, as the famous Quintilian put it: “teaching a good man to speak well.”
Everything that was learned in the grammar stage and understood in the logical stage should now be applied (wisdom) when speaking, writing, presenting, or another form of communicating.
Developmentally, this fits the adolescent brain perfectly, as teenagers are concerned with their appearances and want to show to the world that they can make it on their own. This is why the rhetoric stage gives them the resources they need so they can present themself and the values of their personal identity that’s in development.
During this stage, teenagers learn to criticize their work, articulate statements in their own words, and persuade others. For example, they should be capable of answering questions like “Why some historians think the XX war could have been prevented?”
Typical activity in the rhetoric stage is reading classical poets and analyzing their work.
Classical Homeschooling and Religion
Since classical education originates from a time when the church played a big role in educating young generations, a lot of teaching resources are related to Christianity and theology in general.
Classical education is still taken very seriously in our society today, which is why there are several organizations or movements that gave their modern interpretations of classical education, both secular and religious. Here are three major schools that follow the classical education framework.
Classical Christian education
The classical Christain education employs the Trivium model from the classical education movement with a focus on biblical teachings. It relies on the work of authors such as Homer, Sophocles, Plato, Dante, and Shakespeare, but it also integrates a Christain view in all subjects.
Following a classical Christian education curriculum means that children will also learn about the history of Western civilization, art, culture, Latin, and Greek language.
Resources for classical Christian education:
- Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning (1991), by Douglas Wilson
- The Case for Classical Christian Education (2003), by Douglas Wilson
Classical Catholic Education
The classical Catholic education began rising in 2008 when the Classical Liberal Arts Academy was established to restore the classical liberal arts in a classical Catholic tradition. While classical Christian education is taught mostly by Protestant educators, Catholic education is focused on the works of Catholic saints and doctors of the Catholic Church throughout history.
The goal of this school style is to replace the modern school curriculum with the original curriculums used throughout Catholic schools in the 16th century.
They rely on the work of Emmanuel Alvarez, William Lily, Aristotle, Cicero, and others.
Classical Secular Education
Today, there are also a number of classical education school styles that create curriculums based on the Trivium without involving religious perspectives. Although, some of them might include a “character education” (teaching values).
In fact, classical Secular education is most commonly implemented in a homeschooling environment. This is in part because of the book “The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home,” by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, which made a big impact in the ‘90s. In this book, you can learn about the history, get an overview of the methodology, and find a list of grade-by-grade teaching resources for starting with classical homeschooling.
This form of classical homeschooling relies on the Harvard Classics and other typical classical works, as well as some more “modern” works that go well with the classics.
Are Latin and Greek Necessary?
Latin and Greek are the banes of most people interested in homeschooling, but they’re also the backbone of many classical education curriculums. Can they be avoided?
Proponents for leaving Latin and Greek in the past argue that classical languages are outdated and unnecessary as classical works are translated in English.
On the other hand, classical educators hold their ground that learning Latin is very beneficial. According to them, even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin makes learning so much easier. Plus, it’s the language used in the technical vocabulary of all sciences.
So, while there’s no consensus of whether Latin is necessary, most educators will agree that Greek is not necessary, although it can be a great addition if anyone wants to learn it voluntarily.
Keep in mind, that some institutions require a Latin certification in order to validate a classical education at home.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Classical Homeschooling
The classical homeschooling method offers many benefits, which make it probably the most popular and prestigious homeschooling method. But, just like everything else, it might not work for everyone for a number of reasons.
Benefits
The first benefit of classical homeschooling is that it stood the test of time. Originating in Ancient Greece and Rome, classical education is a well-proven, most researched, and effective method for learning that takes the natural cognitive development of children into consideration.
The second benefit of classical homeschooling is that it’s known for producing geniuses. Although this can’t be empirically proven, children following classical homeschooling are great readers, critical thinkers, and skilled orators, familiar with the key historical works that shaped our civilization.
Finally, the third benefit comes from a strong emphasis on language learning. Depending on the approach of classical education you’re going to implement, children will speak Hebrew or Koine Greek (biblical approach), Latin and Greek (traditional approach), or Spanish, French, or German (modern approach).
Drawbacks
First, the classical method relies mostly on reading. While this has its benefits, it can be overwhelming and annoying to some kids. Today, more innovative methods lean toward games, challenges, visual aids, and other technological advances to make the learning process more interesting for the young eye. When so many different resources are available, reading might be perceived as boring.
Second, reading is time-consuming and other activities might be neglected. For example, spending so much time on books might be bad for kids that have a talent for arts or sports.
Third, there’s not much experimentation and interactive learning. Children learn more effectively through their senses and when using their hands. However, classical homeschooling relies on desk work, and it’s somewhat the opposite of today’s popular approaches, like the Montessori style.
Classical Homeschool Curriculum
Today there are several classical homeschool curriculums that are known worldwide. Here are some of them:
- Classical Conversations;
- Veritas Press;
- Classical Academic Press;
- Royal Fireworks Press;
- Elemental Science;
- Easy Classical.
Teaching Resources for Classical Homeschooling
If you’re interested in pursuing a classical homeschooling education for your child, here are some books that can get you started:
- The Well Trained Mind;
- The Core: Teaching Your Child The Foundations of Classical Education;
- The Lost Tools of Learning;
- Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning: An Approach to Distinctively Christian Education;
- The Latin-Centered Curriculum: A Home Educator’s Guide to a Classical Education;
- Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child.
Before You Leave
Starting with homeschooling can be quite the challenge with so many options and distinctive paths you can take. Hopefully, our articles are here to change that narrative. Once you decide what method works best for you and your child, everything will fall into place. Dissecting the most popular homeschooling styles is one way to do it. Today, we looked at classical homeschooling, what it is, how it’s organized, what the children will learn, and where you can start if you decide that this is the right approach for you.
Further down the road, we can help you by sharing high-quality, interactive worksheets with you that will facilitate the learning process in any subject. You can also visit our blog and subscribe to our newsletter for more insightful pieces about homeschooling and children’s education in general.
Link/cite this page
If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.
Link will appear as Classical Homeschooling: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 14, 2020