What is Classical Education?

The methodology used in classical education is called the Trivium. The Trivium consists of three stages: grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric.

• Grammar is the art of learning the terms and facts associated with a subject.
• Dialectic is the art of contemplating ideas within and across subjects.
• Rhetoric is the art of clearly communicating key concepts of a subject or idea. Students move through each of these stages each time they learn something new. 

Elementary-aged students often need to spend most of their time simply learning the grammar of subjects. This usually involves a lot of memorization. 

Early middle school students spend most of their time learning subjects at a more advanced level, which involves thinking through and pondering concepts and ideas. This stage is marked by conversation and interaction. 

High school-aged students will spend most of their time learning at the more advanced rhetoric level. The rhetoric stage focuses on students being able to express themselves clearly in writing and speaking.