Comments on: Five Different Approaches: Teaching the Trivium

By: Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 01:16:35 +0000

In reply to Laura. The classical education method has served my family well! I heartily endorse it, Laura. However there is no perfect way to give your child a classical education. Teaching the Trivium recommends holding off on formal math until kids are 10, but not all approaches do so. My own family begins formal math at 5 or 6. My recommendation is to study the various approaches, read up on classical education, and make your own judgement calls as to what languages to teach and when to begin math. :)

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 00:29:28 +0000

I’m interested to see what you think about this- I’m researching home schooling methods for my son who is two at the moment. I’m essentially looking to “top up” my son’s education because UK state education is terrible, we can’t afford to go private and I need to work so the plan is to use school as free childcare and teach him what he really needs at home. Now on to my question: my husband is an Army Indo-Iranian linguist and cultural expert and he’s fluent in Farsi/Dari but he’s familiar with Arabic. I’m wondering in the current global climate if Arabic isn’t a better third language to learn, plus I’m reliably informed that to transfer between Hebrew and Arabic there is something called “A-E shift”, i.e. you swap the A’s and E’s. On top of that as a Christian in Europe I feel that Apologetics may be making a comeback soon and it might be handy to be able to read and write in Arabic to defend the Christian Faith…
I’m seeing a lot to like in this method- it is essentially everything mainstream schools are not doing, and the difference between an education of fundamentals and learning a series of party tricks for standardised testing. Interestingly my husband has told me that in his language training the only people who did not need to go right back to basics on their grammar were the people who had attended English schools like Eton, rather than state schools, because guess what they got there?? A CLASSICAL EDUCATION!!
I’m not sure about staying away from formal mathematics until 10 though- the boy’s from a very mathsy family apart from me! I’m the black sheep because I studied music- everyone else is engineers and economists!

By: Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 03:25:01 +0000

In reply to Helene. It's fascinating to look at other countries educational systems, isn't it. Some hold off on formal reading or math until much later than we do. :-)

By: Helene

Helene — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 14:03:48 +0000

I love that focus on language until age 10! I was shocked to find out that some other developed countries delay math learning until kids are older to their success!

By: Sara Dennis

Sara Dennis — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 03:59:00 +0000

In reply to Miranda.

Miranda, my husband and I have used classical education the whole way through and I’m thrilled with the results. My youngest two (4 and 5 years old) will be classically educated as well. 🙂

I’m so happy you found me through the Work in Progress link-up!

By: Miranda

Miranda — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 17:12:36 +0000

I just started homeschooling 2 years ago when my oldest son was in preschool, and I now have a first grader and a kindergartener. I have always been very interested in classical education. Teaching the Trivium is a book that is on my reading list. I am going to follow along with you and get some pointers! I am glad I found you at the Work in Progress link-up.
-Miranda