Classical Home Education Support (CHES)

What is a Classical Education?

There’s a long history of very well educated people in the world who received a classical education. It is a fallacy to think that classical education is irrelevant to a modern day society because we have so much technology and knowledge that has come into existence since people received such an education. In reality, a classical education can give a solid foundation to a student, which can then help them to cope with the abundance of knowledge that we have in the world today. A classical education aims to educate the “whole person” rather than produce specialists who have knowledge only in their area of expertise.

• It is language-intensive, not image-focused. Language requires the mind to work harder. The brain must translate a symbol into a concept when reading. Images, (videos, television) allow the mind to be passive.
• It is history-intensive, providing students with a comprehensive view of human endeavor from the beginning until now.Emphasis is on reading and studying the great books and the chronological study of history. The great books give students an excellent understanding of thought throughout the ages. In the early years concentration is on stories and biographies.

Classical education for beginning readers includes:

1. Training in the written and spoken language, conversation, and a "just phonics" program.
2. Instructional reading.

It takes great patience, frequency, and consistency!

Finally, the ultimate goal of our Classical Home Education Support Pathway is to give our students the tools to learn for themselves. Books are also teachers and great books are great teachers! "To be truly educated is to be able to learn from these teachers rather than having another "teacher" lecture to you about what the real teachers have written". Dorothy Sayers

What is the Trivium Classical Education Approach?

The Trivium Classical education depends on a 3-part process of training the mind. This process is known as the trivium, which includes the "Grammar Stage", "Logic Stage" and the "Rhetoric Stage".

• Grammar Stage: The Early Years
  Provides the building blocks of learning.
  Focus is on memorization of facts.

• Logic Stage: The Middle Years
  Analytical
  Focus is on development of analytical thinking skills, abstract thought, cause and effect, and the way facts fit together into a logical framework.

• Rhetoric Stage: High School Years
  Builds on the first two stages.
  Focus is on fluent, forceful, original self-expression in speech and writing. Specialization in areas of interest.

To become involved in this program, begin by reading The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education by Susan Wise-Bauer and Jesse Wise, upon which PACT's Classical Home Education Support Pathway is primarily based.

Contact Dani Sigurdson, Academic Enrichment Specialist, at 928-5345 x290 for more information.

Well Trained Mind Meetings are on Wednesdays from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Free childcare in the VIP center is available.

Well Trained Mind Meetings

• September 5, 2007
• October 3, 2007
• November 7, 2007
• December 5, 2007
• January 9, 2008
• February 6, 2008
• March 5, 2008
• April 9, 2008
• May 7, 2008

CHES Seminar Descriptions
CHES Seminar Schedule