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Because the goal is integrated thinking, subjects are taught as unified in an effort to cultivate the skills of making connections and seeing life as it truly is: integrated. In Classical terms, these concepts are captured in the idea of the Trivium. The Trivium, or "three ways," are the Verbal Arts of Grammar (linking concepts to symbols), Dialectic (correctly reasoning), and Rhetoric (persuasively expressing and communicating). All the while, the teacher focuses on preparing the child to interact with knowledge on his or her own by using each child’s natural curiosity, reasoning abilities, ability to think in metaphors and innate love of learning. These skills are easily taught in all subjects areas including those of math and science.
To develop the foundational art of Classical instruction (Dialectic) during these years, the teacher moves the child to the right answers through Socratic instruction and continually trains the child to ask the right questions (they are already naturally asking LOTS of questions!) rather than always providing the answers. The distinction from the students' perspective is they are now learning to learn on their own rather than memorizing what someone else has learned. Through this process, the imagination is continually engaged through good stories, poetry, questions, metaphors and big ideas! All of this is done with the goal of training the mind while encouraging wonder and awe. |
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