Monday, November 16, 2009

Summarizing Classical Education

Classical Education (sometimes called the trivium), has its roots in ancient times. It divides learning into three periods of human development, called Grammar (1st-4th grade), Logic (5th-8th grade), and Rhetoric (9th-12th grade). It is a very orderly way of introducing knowledge.
We rely heavily on the outline provided by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer in their extensive book The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (click on the title to see it on Amazon). If my summarization has raised more questions than it has answered, you might just need to read the explanation in the book.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Cornelia's Kids

I'm beginning this as a parallel blog. My first blog focuses on our family's likes, dislikes, and personalities. This blog will focus less on the people in our family, and more on the techniques, curriculum, crafts, etc. we use in nurturing and raising our children.
Cornelia was a widowed Matron (mom) in ancient Rome. The story goes that she was with a group of women who were displaying their jewels. When they asked Cornelia for hers, she presented her children, who were her treasure. When Cornelia's sons grew up, they became great Roman reformers, and Cornelia was held as the ideal Roman matron. My children, and what they could become, are my treasures. So, while I'm not her, you can call me Cornelia, if you want to.