Veritas Classical Schools utilize a time-proven method of instruction that is
referred to as the classical model of education. This process is divided into
the
Trivium and the
Quadrivium.
Trivium
The Trivium serves as the foundation for all education -- providing students
with the tools which enable them to think, to understand, and to grasp the
relationships between the Creator and His creation, as well as between
themselves and the subjects they will study.
The three aspects of the Trivium correspond with the three stages of a child’s
development, and they are referred to as Grammar, Dialectic, and
Rhetoric.
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Quadrivium
The Quadrivium consists of the study of specific subjects. Since the Quadrivium
is analogous to university training, Veritas Schools restrict their teaching to
the Trivium.
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Grammar
The first stage:
Early elementary school years
Mastery of the first stage is typically accomplished by younger children because
of their natural love of learning and relative ease by which they memorize new
information.
Veritas Classical Grammar school will emphasize student exposure to and
comprehension of core knowledge in literature, language, history, geography,
cultural literacy, critical thinking, and the fine arts.
In addition, the curriculum will incorporate methods developed by Charlotte
Mason, including narration, picture study, and nature sketching.
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Dialectic
The second stage:
Upper elementary / middle school years
In this stage of childhood development many children begin to challenge
authority and question what they have been taught. The Dialectic takes advantage
of this natural inclination by teaching the student the laws of logic and the
rules of proper argumentation as applied to the study of all subjects.
Students learn how the truths they are discovering apply to God’s creation and
how to think clearly about what they are learning, allowing them to argue for
their positions on a plethora of topics. Students learn that disagreement need
not be disagreeable and that their opinions must be seasoned with respect rather
than rebellion.
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Rhetoric
The third stage:
High school years
During the final stage of the Trivium, students focus on learning the science of
communication and the art of expression. Students focus on mastering language as
they learn to present their thoughts in an articulate, well-reasoned, and
convincing fashion. Students express their knowledge of subjects through both
written compositions and oral presentations.
This stage is especially helpful for students studying the SAT and/or ACT.
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