7/27/2019 Classical From the Start
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Classical From the Start
By Kellyann Walker
When parents decide to homeschool their children and start
learning about the different types or
styles of homeschooling, many are frightened by the classical
method. Some cannot comprehendhow to implement all the areas of
study, while others think there is too much emphasis on reading
and writing. There are still many parents who just cannot
picture how to implement the rigors of a
classical education in those preschool and elementary years. So
if you are preparing to begin yourhomeschool journey and
contemplating the classical style, hopefully this article will give
you abetter understanding of the classical model and help you put
it into practice right from the start.
Most people cannot believe that I am using a classical style of
homeschooling when I tell them the
ages of my children, especially since I have stuck with this
style since the onset. I seem to alwayshave a baby or toddler on my
lap when working with an older child. ow, after doing it that
way
for eight years !since the birth of my first daughter", our
routine has become a part of life#the
way homeschooling should be.
When you have children that are both in $re%uired& school as
well as babies and toddlers, the
family will have to adjust. ' baby is on his own schedule, so
the homeschool will have to balanceitself out. (ere are some
suggestions)
* Work one+on+one with your older child when the baby or toddler
is napping or playing
contentedly on his own.* Include baby in the family study
time.
This does not mean that you totally ignore or put off your
$alone& and $one+on+one& time with
your young ones. Those are the most precious times of life, and
I encourage you to lay down yourschedule or planned routine as
needed and live in the moments that od creates between you and
your baby.
When naptime comes, that is when you do your more intensive
subjects. -or the classicalelementary child, those subjects are
usually history, science, and nglish. That is mainly because
they have to be read aloud and then you follow up the listening
portion of the studies with%uestions and comprehension. These
activities are much harder to accomplish when you have a
toddler trying to see something, playing with something, or
being noisy. !Trust me/ I know."
0re+kindergarten+ and kindergarten+aged children are to be
warmly invited to participate in thejoint subjects) history,
science, reading, music, art, and even some grammar. Their ability
to meld
into the family unit while homeschooling is occurring will be
enhanced when they are allowed toparticipate. ven though I have
only three children, I still have them raise their hands to
answer
%uestions and generally let the youngest answer first. I also
try to offer a little more deference tothe younger ones as they
respond. ' young child1s perspective is completely different than
that of
a first+grader, not to mention that of a middle school+ or high
school+aged child.
2y the time first grade rolls around, my children are so aware
of how our school looks that it has
become part of them and not just $something we have to do.&
(owever, first grade is when webegin the $official& journey
down the classical path of homeschooling, at least in our home.
Withmy first first+grader, we started at the beginning with the
'ncient time period in history, and at
the same time we were e3ploring biology in science.
2y the time my second first+grader entered the scene !this
year", we were on the third section ofthe four+year rotation. So,
for ease, continuity, and to preserve Mom1s sanity, we continued
with
the eldest child4s rotation. What that means is that my current
first+grader will be starting herhistory studies with the
5enaissance, and in science she will be working on chemistry, just
like her
older sibling. (owever, what each will be responsible for will
look different, based on each one1s
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age and ability level. If we did not combine schooling in these
areas and others, life would be all
school.
I know that for some, using a classical approach seems e3tremely
time+consuming and un+doable.
In the beginning it re%uires a bit more work than other styles,
but I do believe that young childrenthrive in the systematic
atmosphere that is created. 6hildren learn their routine and follow
it
without even reali7ing they are doing so. I have watched my
eldest daughter grow from being an
unstructured preschooler to being a diligent, self+structured
third+grader#what a joy to watch8
2eing a classical style homeschooling family has instilled a
love of learning, reading, and studying
that I never could have imagined. Many weeks after we have
studied a particular fact in ourbooks, all three of my children
will ask do7ens of %uestions about it. To help e3plore the topics
we
have covered, we bring home many, many books from the library.
We read some of them aloud,together, and the children read some of
them independently. My daughters also have %uite the
imagination and will relive certain topics while playing. This
type of e3ploration is a direct productof our choice to homeschool
by a classical method.
ot only is the classical style good because it motivates
learning, but it also helps create a strong
academic foundation on which you can build. The elementary years
are filled with gathering facts.9ater, when study of the same time
period rolls around, students will remember much more than
if it was the first time they were hearing about a specific
topic. 5emember, these are the yearswhen they absorb as much
information as they possibly can get their hands on. The classical
style
fuels this thirst for knowledge.
(aving a strong foundation is crucial. :ue to the focus on
writing, dictation, narration, and othersuch skills, the classical
style builds strong skills in reading, writing, and verbal
communication.
ven though we haven1t formally studied spelling, my third+grade
daughter has an intuitive
knowledge of how a word is spelled. Why; 2ecause of all the
books she has read, the dictationsshe has copied, and the
narrations she has written.
I hope I have convinced you that homeschooling classically is
not out of reach.
