The trivium is a model of education that is “matched” to the cognitive development of a child. Children start in the concrete thinking stage, and generally move towards more and more abstract thinking as they develop.
Stages of the Trivium
The Trivium is divided into three main stages: the Grammar stage, the Dialectic stage, and the Rhetoric stage. These stages correspond roughly to grades K-6 (Grammar Stage), grades 7-9 (the Dialectic stage), and grades 10-12 (the Rhetoric stage).
The Grammar stage is characterized by heavy emphasis on the memorization of facts – the Grammar of each subject. “How do we use language?” is a key question answered in each of the subjects studied at this level. At this age, children mainly are concrete thinkers, so they spend time learning concrete facts.
The Dialectic stage emphasizes logic – “How to think and analyze.” The study of logic begins as early as 7th grade, and in some classical schools in 8th grade.
The Rhetoric stage moves into more abstract thinking and debate. Students are pushed to sharpen and hone their skills of debate, both orally and in writing.
Description of the Trivium
The Trivium subject matter is rich in the study of Western civilization. History is usually studied chronologically from 2nd grade, integrated with the study of Classical art, classical music, and the Great books. It utilizes only those considered generally as the Great books, and textbooks are NOT used, with the exception possibly of Math. Latin and Greek languages are studied. Some classical schools have children learn Latin starting in 2nd or 3rd grade, others in high school.
The Classical Trivium
Greek influences on education carried through the Roman Empire all the way up to the colonial and Puritan times in America. This method is over 2000 years old and produced some of the greatest thinkers during this time. The Greek method was the Trivium. The Trivium literally means in Latin, “the three-road” or “the three-fold way.”
The three stages of learning – how a child learns – correspond directly to the ways they need to be taught in these stages. The classical trivium might be new to modern parents and teachers in the 21st century, but a classical education really is a recycling of an ancient – and proven – methodology to train and educate the human mind to its maximum.
 |
