This post is a continuation of a series entitled, “Three Simple But Significant Steps To A Classical Education.” The first step in moving toward classical Christian homeschooling has to do with lightening your load: abandon the public school model. The second step, teach the skills of the trivium, is introduced in this post while the third step, supervise the study of subjects will follow soon.

If you’ve read my book, A Brief History of Classical Education, you recall that Ancient Rome took the Greek idea of a classical education and organized it into 7 liberal arts made of 2 steps: the trivium and the quadrivium. The trivium was composed of three basic skills sets that every educated man and woman in Rome (and later Western Civilization) had mastered. After the student had become reasonably adept at all three skills, the quadrivium was initiated which I’ll explain in a future post.

As I began to study the ancient model of classical education, it became clear to me that acquiring these three basic skills was critical to deeper study of subjects. The ancient Romans and medieval Europeans called these three skills grammar, logic, and rhetoric. (I emphasize the word skills in the prior sentence to help those parents who were publically educated and perhaps predisposed to consider the words grammar, logic, and rhetoric as discrete subjects which they are not.) In order to avoid any confusion, I’ll be describing these three skills as follows:

• Learning the Language

• Thinking Critically

• Communicating Effectively

When you consider the three phrases above, it’s a little easier to see a skill which takes time to acquire as opposed to a discrete subject which can be learned in a semester or two. Just like the ancient and medieval trivium, the classical trivium that you compile and structure for your children will take time to complete. In some cases, acquiring the skills will be consecutive, and at other times, acquiring one skill will happen concurrently. Teaching the trivium is a process that will vary in length for each child in your family.

You might also have noticed that I chose the word “teach” the skills of the trivium. In order to teach any skill, you need to be proficient (and preferably an expert), in the particular skill. For instance, I wouldn’t even begin to teach my daughter how to play the guitar because I don’t know the chords, the fingering, or even how to tune the strings, but I would be able to teach her the basics of piano performance and theory. (I confess that I am only proficient not an expert!) I mention this caveat about your own abilities with the three skills so that you will be thinking about what you need to do to bring your own skills in language acquisition, critical thinking, and effective communication up to speed before teaching your children.

“Learning the Language Through Hearing,” is the topic of my next post.

* * * * *

Have you pinned down your home education philosophy yet? Do you have any questions?

How are you doing with breaking the bonds of the public school model?

I’d love to hear your experiences, so please leave a comment if you feel led to share.

As with any renaissance, the new generation tinkers with the old ideas, and in the case of classical Christian home schooling, the new generation is adjusting for contemporary needs. In fact, the renewal movement is still so young that some of the authors advocating the classical model are issuing revised editions as they tweak the model in response to reader suggestions. In our family’s own extensive tinkering, we have settled on seven fundamental characteristics of classical Christian homeschooling. We believe each element is consistent with the historical model. Here is our list of essentials:

1. Scripture is at the center of all learning and illuminates meaning.
2. Both Dad and Mom are active participants.
3. The integrated study of classical literature and western world history leads to understanding of culture and values.
4. Critical thinking skills are built through Socratic Dialogue and subjects like latin, logic, debate, math, and science.
5. Written and oral rhetoric teaches effective organizational and communication skills.
6. Rigorous content and flexible schedules prepare for undergraduate studies.
7. Leadership skills are developed by regular practice through service to community and family.

I’ll examine each of the essential elements like the centrality of Scripture in future posts. When you combine all the elements over time, you’ll soon discover that you are living in a time of extreme importance…you might even catch your breath sometimes when it dawns on you that you are raising your own classical Christian scholars who are being equipped spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally to lead their generation all because your family decided to join the renewal movement and embrace a classical Christian home education!

Welcome to The Classical Scholar! I’m Diane Lockman, your moderator, and I have over 9 years of hands-on experience in raising classical Christian scholars. Now I’m experiencing the dreaded but delightful high school years! My best friend and husband, David, and I spent the first 12 years of our marriage living the high life as yuppies (I’m a CPA; he’s an engineer and patent attorney), but soon after turning 30, I began to yearn for children. Tragically, our first son, Davis, was born with a congenital birth defect that doomed his precious life during infancy, but the good news is that Davis’ death served as a “wake-up call” for us which eventually resulted in two more healthy babies, Meredith in 1992 and Connor in 1994, and an unforgettable encounter with the Risen Lord in October 1997 that changed my life forever!

During 1999, we seriously considered moving overseas so that David could teach in some sort of mission role. Enrolled in a global missions course, I had been reading about American expatriots who sent their kids away to boarding school, and I cried out to the Lord because I couldn’t bear to part with them after waiting so long for children. Little did I know that the Lord who knew my deepest longings was about to reveal a new call on my life: classical Christian homeschooling. Soon thereafter, I read The Well-Trained Mind by Jesse Wise and Susan Wise Bauer, and David and I took the plunge!

During the early years, I carried most of the academic load, but as the kids have gotten older, David has assumed more and more responsibility. He has always taught them Scripture around the kitchen table every morning, but now that they’re doing high school work, he is leading them in Debate, Algebra, and Biology. David is the one who first mentioned the idea of a website where I could minister to other parents who were either already trying a classical Christian home education or were thinking about it. I was seriously hesitant because of the time commitment, but soon the vision began to take shape, and The Classical Scholar was born. It is our greatest hope that every guest who visits this website will be profoundly blessed. We are praying that you will experience life-changing insights and receive encouragement for the difficult journey ahead as you raise your own classical scholars!