Picta Dicta {Roman Roads Media Review}

    Recently we have begun delving into the meaning behind words with my younger son. As a struggling reader, as we have progressed in his abilities, he has begun  to question why a word is what it is. Why is this word assigned to that meaning? These are lots of great questions (I love how this boy’s mind works!) but it can be hard to keep up and get the answers he needs.When we were given the…

If you have any involvement in education, it’s likely that you’ve heard of the classical curriculum movement. There are a number of different people who have really started to push this sort of education as being important to the educational process.

Classical curriculum uses three levels of education – primary education, secondary education, and tertiary education.

Primary education is for younger students, secondary education is for older students, and tertiary education is what many of us refer to as college.

-          Primary education focuses on grammar (language), rhetoric (the ability to argue and debate with others), and logic (the ability to process information and make sense of it). Since many curricula now focus on testing requirements, primary students do not get as many of these elements and most schools don’t explore some of them until secondary education has begun.

-          Secondary education used to be referred to as the “quadrivium", focusing on four main areas of thought – geometry, music, arithmetic, and astronomy. These areas of thought are much more abstract, which helps to challenge students that were used to working with tangible objects and ideas. Students that are in secondary education learn how to manipulate ideas better, and to utilize those ideas in order to discover how the world around them came to be.

-          Tertiary education is what has developed into university or college for many of us. This is where a student would learn the specific skills that they would need in order to succeed in a particular field. Classical curriculum is where the modern idea of “majors” and “minors” have come into play at universities. In some schools that work with classical curriculum, they will also start this sort of teaching methodology during their high school years, in places such as tech schools or by working with colleges to do early start programs for some general education courses.

If you’re looking for a school that uses a primary Classical curriculum as part of their educational system, then you will want to check out East Lake Academy, a private, Roman Catholic school that is supported by the Chicago Archdiocese. Check out their website at http://eastlakeacademy.org, or, call them at 847.247.0035.  

Classical curriculum is a process of educating that incorporates methods to help children reach their fullest potential.

A classical curriculum sustains generations by passing on the information and the history that we have been granted from those who came before us. We don’t want to forget the art, the literature, and the other great things that have been brought about. Classical curriculum gives students easy access to such things. You’ll see students focusing on classical literature, discussing ideas from philosophers, and learning about historical events. All of these topics are taught in an engaging manner, helping students feel how relevant this information is to our modern day.

Another advantage to a classical curriculum is that it provides students a broad education. Many parents complain that their students are only getting taught how to take tests, making it difficult for them to learn critical thinking and form logical arguments. Classical curriculum focuses on those traits so that students can grasp ideas. Students take a variety of subjects, from the fine and performing arts, to history, to abstract thinking, and more. This helps them prepare for their university education or any other type of higher education that they may want to pursue later on in life.

Last, but not least, classical curriculum helps students to realize that they have autonomy over what they are learning. This fosters independence and commitment. Teachers can be incredibly helpful, but ultimately, it’s important that a student understand how to teach themselves to succeed. Teachers in a classical curriculum work with students in order to help them learn how to learn, instead of teaching them to take some sort of assessment tool or test.

If a classical curriculum is something that you’d like your student to be involved in, you will want to check out what they have to offer at East Lake Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois (website: http://eastlakeacademy.org). East Lake Academy is a Roman Catholic institution that is privately run, and supported by the Archdiocese of Chicago. You can take a look at their website in order to learn more about the school, or you can contact them directly at 847.247.0035, and a staff member will answer any questions that you may have about the school and their curriculum.

From a young age, children’s minds are shaped by their educators. While the values of your parents are also very important, most kids learn to think and form opinions when they are at school. They also develop their ability to think, be creative and play an active role in their education. Instead of putting your child in a regular school where they will probably receive a sub-par education from an overworked instructor, think about a classical curriculum school. These teachings place a very heavy emphasis on liberal arts, history and the Christian philosophies.

By looking at the Romans, Greeks and other Europeans for inspiration, the classical curriculum features teachings of other languages, an in-depth look at the history of Europe and the United States, and a deep education into various subjects. The classical curriculum is not about creating students who can recite sentences or memorize math solutions. Instead, it is about creating critical thinkers who can use a variety of means to improve their knowledge.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a heavy focus on the past. After all, we would not be here if our previous generations had not made so much progress. There is a benefit to understanding the roots of Christianity, how it manifested in areas such as Athens and Rome, and how it has evolved since then. In addition, a liberal arts basis for your child’s education makes them into a well-rounded individual. It is no good excelling at math if you cannot communicate or articulate your thoughts to others. The classical curriculum emphasizes every subject.

Sometimes parents think about putting their child in such a school when they are older. However, it is beneficial to start from preschool if you want your child to learn this curriculum properly. That way, they become critical thinkers and open-minded individuals from when they are very young.

One of the biggest drawbacks of a typical education in this country is the way the past is taught. So many classes spend time dealing with American and World history, but it seems as if the past mistakes of our ancestors take up the primary focus. There is so much taught about wars and slavery and other topics, while the progress we made as humans is ignored. That is not to say we should ignore past mistakes, but it is also good to show our children how their ancestors struggled and overcame obstacles to build modern cities and societies.

When your child gets educated through the classical curriculum, they are proud of the past and willing to change the future. By understanding both the good and the bad from the past 100 or 200 years, they are in great shape to become active thinkers and leaders in the future.

If you are thinking about types of preschools for your child, or the possibility of homeschooling, it is important to look at different curricula. While the school your child attends is also important, the type of material taught at that school holds greater weight. When speaking about the classical curriculum, we are referring to the Christian curriculum teachings that put a greater emphasis on traditional liberal arts.

These teachings focus on mathematics, languages and reading from a classical point of view, with a lot of importance given to the teachings of old Athens, Rome and other European areas. Classical curriculum preschools focus on this type of schooling and give children a great foundation for the rest of their academic career.

Not only is this type of education great for your child’s critical thinking, but it also gives them a great background into the ways of Christians and a look at the history of Europeans and Americans. Most preschools can give you a list of books they are using. These classical curriculum preschools give great importance to the well-rounded education children receive. Instead of only teaching them the very basics in math and English, kids get to work on different subject, learn other languages and fully engage with their teachers.

Of course, not all of this learning takes place in preschool. However, enrolling your kid in one of the classical curriculum preschools is the best way to give them a head start. By the time they are in second or third grade, they already have a deep appreciation for this method of teaching. They are also better and more curious learners, because they know a wide variety of skills from a young age.

The classical curriculum has a number of objectives. For one, students are taught about the past. This education is not about glorifying the past and getting students to live by those exact methods. Instead, it is about looking at what was done correctly and incorrectly hundreds of years ago. This gives students a chance to appreciate the progress made since then, while also knowing where their families and ancestors came from. While the flaws of the past are acknowledged, they are not the primary focus.

In contrast, traditional schooling has a way of spending too much time looking at how past generations made mistakes. There is a lot of focus on these unsavory ideas, instead of bringing the progress and good decisions to light.

Aside from a clear instruction of the past, classical curricula also focus on making students into keen thinkers and learners. It is not always about listening to the teacher and repeating whatever information they tell you. This form of education wants students to become curious. They want students who are willing to think outside the box and take an active role in their education.

If you want your child to get started with this type of education from a young age, consider one of the many Christian curriculum preschools in your area. It is the best way to give them a broad and deep understanding of the past, present and future.

If you've never heard of a classical curriculum, then you may be interested in what exactly it is referring to. How can it make a difference in everything that you're doing?How does it help your child to grow and advance in their education? In this article, we're going to give you an idea as to what a classical curriculum is and how it can benefit your child as they grow and learn.

First off, you need to recognize that the process of a classical curriculum is made up of three parts, and each of those parts is making it so that the mind is able to adapt and think well. Also, a classical curriculum is set up in such a way that it follows the standard development of the child. Essentially, whatever stage the child is at, the classical curriculum is going to match up with it, making it much easier for the child to adapt to and embrace whatever it is that they're learning. Let's take a look at the three parts in more detail.

The first part of classical curriculum is all about the building blocks. At this point in time, the mind is ready to take in information, and educators work to make sure that the children are getting all of the information that they want or need in order to succeed. Memorizing information when they're in elementary school is actually an enjoyable experience, so giving them things to remember can really help them out. They will learn about all sorts of facts, including grammar, how to speak, descriptions of plants and animals, and more. By giving them information to learn, they have information to build upon as they get older.

The next part of the educational system is about analyzing information. This is that stage of life where kids start asking the question "why" all of the time. Instead of just learning the information that they were learning facts, they want to start to connect things and create situations where cause and effect play a role in what they're learning. So, during this stage, the curriculum will shift from learning facts to learning how to think a bit more. How does that caterpillar turn into a butterfly? Why do we get sick? How do birds and planes fly? By giving children the ability to be curious and explore how things work and are put together, we help to encourage this, and thus make it easier for them to learn as life goes on. This logical stage is incredibly important to a child's development, and so the curriculum matches that and allows them to explore.

The last stage of the classical curriculum is about helping the child to find and embrace the things that they enjoy and want to learn about. This is where they go to different events and learn about the things they want to learn about. Are they interested in music? Then now's the time for singing or musical instrument lessons. Are they interested in art? Allow them to take art classes during school. By giving them the freedom of individuality and the ability to explore anything and everything that they want to learn about when it comes to their education, children start becoming the adults that they want to be. This is where they decide (at least, for the first time) what they may want to explore when they go on to higher education. This may also be where children want to explore potential interests as well, and determine which they like and which they dislike. This is, essentially, a higher form of exploration than the previous step, and the curriculum parallels that stage.

Are you looking for a school that will help your child get started with a classical curriculum that they can continue as they go into elementary, middle, and high school? Then take a look at our program. We have years of experience in this area and we can help you to determine the best course of action for your child's future. By getting them engaged in learning, you will find that it's a lot easier for them to learn as they grow older.

When you’re working with your children, you want to make sure that you’re going to be able to find a program that is going to fit their style of parenting. There are a lot of places where you can get daycare in Lake County, so it’s important that you know how to get the right one for your child(ren) and their particular needs. Here are just a few tips that you can use to find the right daycare in Lake County.

Look for a Daycare that uses the System of Education that You Want.

There are so many different ways that schools teach children that it’s hard to figure out which way you want to go about it. Talk to parents and professionals to figure out the differences between all of them. Then, talk to the various daycares to see how they go about dealing with your child’s education. That way, you know what’s going on and you have a say in it as well.

Look for a Daycare where the Staff is Friendly and Cares About Families.

You want to be certain that your children feel safe, right? And you want to make sure that your concerns are heard as well? Then actually go to the daycare and observe. See how the staff works with children and with the parents. Get a feel for how staff members communicate with you and with the children. If you don’t feel like your children are going to feel comfortable in the environment, or you worry about how the staff is going to influence your child, then you may want to look at another daycare. An unfriendly daycare is not anywhere that you would want your child to be. Find a Daycare that Fits in Your Budget and Your Schedule.

This takes some research on your part as well. You want to make sure that the daycare is affordable and that you don’t have to mess up your schedule in order to make sure that the kids can get picked up. Talk to them about their program, see if there is financial assistance (if you need it, of course) and then make some decisions. This part should be the last step, because the first two steps are a tad bit more important in the big picture, but at least consider this idea before making a final decision.

This may take you a littlebit of time to do, but when your child’s education and future are part of what you’re looking at, it can give you a lot of confidence and assurance when you find a daycare that is going to fit their needs and yours. Contact our daycare in Lake County today to learn about everything that we have to offer, and we’ll help you to get started with whatever it is that you need helpwith. We can’t wait to help your child to achieve their goals and for you to get the help you need in caring for them.