The Trivium
What is the trivium?
“Trivium” is a Latin word which means, “where three roads meet”. It refers to a method that teaches children in the ways they naturally want to be taught.
Grammar (grades K-5)
In the GRAMMAR stage, grades K-5, small children love reciting facts, nursery rhymes, and songs. Children naturally memorize vast amounts of information at this stage though they may not be able to fully conceptualize or understand the depths of the subject. We capitalize cognitively during this developmental phase by implementing games, activities, songs, and chants focused on fact recollection for an already curious, thirsty, and excited young mind.
Logic (grades 6-8)
The DIALECTIC stage, grades 6-8, junior high learners are naturally argumentative. This is where they begin to think critically, reason and explore logic. They learn to understand syllogisms and how to construct sound arguments and recognize fallacious ones. Teens are going to argue anyway. Our goal is to harness that energy to argue soundly and for things worth arguing for such as truth, justice, and righteousness.
Rhetoric (Grades 9-12)
Students in the RHETORIC stage are more attuned to expressing themselves well, so it is the natural age to teach the art of persuasion. Using Grammar and Logic from the former stages we now teach how to comprise and deliver their thoughts, ideas, and solutions preparing them to interact with and improve a complex world and society in desperate need of Goodness, Truth, and Beauty.
