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Christ Classical Academy uses the classical approach to learning based upon the three levels of development called the Trivium, which in Latin translates to “the place where three roads meet.”
The goal is to teach our students how to think as a basis for mastering specific subject areas. Intensive phonics and primary reading sources, including the Bible and classic works, are used for instruction in reading and the language arts. We use an incremental and cumulative approach to mathematics skills. Latin is taught for its direct benefits and as reinforcement for understanding English grammar and vocabulary.
While each component has a primary focus during a particular phase, all skills are developed during all levels. A second grader will develop certain skills in logic and rhetoric. A high school student will still acquire extensive knowledge in specific subjects. Emphasis is simply placed on different phases during different ages.
Teachers build a foundation in the young mind with the facts necessary to reasonably discuss any field of inquiry: mathematics, grammar of language, history, literature, natural sciences.
Students build on the foundation established in the grammar phase by learning to inquire through debate, logical reasoning, and discussion.
To finish what was begun in grammar and logic phases, students articulate, defend, qualify their ideas, and they express conclusions with passion, persuasion, and civility.
The Trivium stages of grammar, logic, and rhetoric are the structure for an extraordinary education, which products prudent, virtuous, eloquent adults who are gracious citizens in any time and any place.
Play-based and designed to support growth and development of the whole child, Young Knights Preschool serves PK3 and VPK age children. Students learn developmentally-appropriate, fundamental pre-literacy and math skills, which provide the building blocks for reading and language.
During the Grammar phase, children are particularly adept at memorization. Young children learn songs and rhymes, and recite facts with relative ease. Because young children are so eager to memorize that they will make up non-sensical playground rhymes, we challenge them by providing substantial subject matter for them to memorize.
The Logic phase involves ordering facts into organized statements and arguments. During the middle school years, children are beginning to think independently. They often develop a propensity for argument. Classical education teaches children in this phase to argue well. The study of formal logic helps students understand the fundamentals of a good argument. Practice in making written and oral arguments helps to further develop these skills. Teachers encourage the use of argumentation in each subject. Again, each subject has its own logic.
Rhetoric is the art of communicating well. Once a student has obtained a knowledge of the facts (grammar) and developed the skills necessary to arrange those facts into arguments (logic), he must develop the skill of communicating those arguments to others (rhetoric).
