Exploring Classical Curriculum

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.  

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What Are the Benefits of Classical Curriculum?

Classical curriculum is a form of education where the classical forms of education are used in order to develop a curriculum that helps children to reach their fullest potential as a part of their educational process. That being said, what is the advantage of this sort of curriculum? How can it help our children to get a better rounded education? That’s what we’re going to look at here.

First, classical curriculum helps later generations to keep 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 from our forefathers. Classical curriculum brings all of those things into focus and gives students easy access to such things. You’ll see students reading classical literature, discussing ideas from philosophers, and learning about historical events. All of these are taught in an engaging manner, so to help students feel how relevant this information is to our modern day. 

Another advantage to a Classical Curriculum preschools is that it helps students to get the broadest education that they can get. Many parents complain that their students are only getting taught how to take tests, which makes it difficult for them to learn how to think and how to develop logical arguments in a variety of ways. Classical curriculum focuses on those traits so that students can grasp those ideas and succeed in the best ways possible. 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, yes, they can be in charge of what they are learning and they can learn information throughout the rest of their lives. They don’t necessarily need to have a teacher in order to learn new information. Teachers can be incredibly helpful, but ultimately, it’s important that a student understand how to teach themselves skills, information, or whatever else that they may need in order to succeed in their lifetime. 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. 

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How Does the Classical Curriculum Help Children?

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.

We do not want students who are simply reciting words their teachers told them, or studying in order to pass tests. We want students who are genuinely curious and excited about the world around them. A student studying math should want to learn the different formulas and methods, not just endure them for the sake of getting a grade.

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Why is After School Care So Important for Kids?

While most parents give a lot of importance to where their kid goes to school, sometimes afterschool programs are forgotten about. This is a big mistake, and it is one that people are starting to realize. There is a great shift in attitudes about the importance of a quality afterschool experience for a child. Even though traditional schools have long days, there is still not enough time for kids to get involved in certain activities. In addition, parents are usually not done with their jobs by the time 3PM on a weekday. This is where After school care near Lake Forest can become very helpful. Not only do kids get to spend time in quality programs, but the parents get a chance to finish up their work day before picking up the kids!

The right After school care near Lake Forest is not just about getting your kid more academic experience, or finding a place to look after him or her. It is about giving your kid a well-rounded experience that helps them on an academic, emotional and physical level. The best After school care near Lake Forest has a number of activities for children, along with stimulating exercises that help them make good decisions and be better human beings. Whether it is through sports, music, dancing or arts and crafts, children can have a lot of fun in these programs.

Here are three of the top benefits of after school programs near Lake Forest:

1. Improvement in Academics. 

Statistics show that children who participate in these programs end up being more interested in their studies. They find things that are interesting to them, and they get better at their existing subjects. In addition, these students are more likely to attend school every day, instead of looking for ways to skip classes. Your child is far less likely to show developmental difficulties or drop out of school if they are part of a regular after school program.

2. Social Development

It is not only important for a student to excel at academics, but they should also have a focus on social skills and making good decisions. By interacting with people at afterschool programs, students get a chance to work on their social skills. If they spend time talking to other kids, getting advice from adults, or engaging in fun activities, they are far likelier to improve their behavior at school and in general.

3. Lower Rates of Alcohol/Drug Abuse

Sometimes children get into bad habits because they have nothing to do afterschool. Their parents are still working or busy, while they have no place to spend time. This leads to students gathering with each other or joining groups and gangs that encourage these bad behaviors. Children who spend time at afterschool programs are far less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, while they also make better decisions in general. Rates for arrests and dropping out of high school are much lower, along with any other behavioral issues. This is why so many parents now know that they need to find the right after school programs near Lake Forest for their kids.

For More Information About After school care near Lake Forest  Visit Us.

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A Closer Look at Classical Curriculum

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
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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.

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The Benefits of Daycare

When you’re looking to send your child to daycare in Lake County, you’re probably trying to figure out what would be the best course of action, and why you would even want to think about doing it in the first place. There are so many different things that you will want to consider, so for that reason, we wanted to write an article to give you a better idea as to why daycare could, and likely is, a good option for you and your family when it comes to giving your child the tools that they need in order to be able to succeed later on in their lives. Here are just a few to consider. 

The Benefits of Daycare for Families

There are a lot of benefits to daycare for families, which is why they have become so popular in recent years. Some of the main benefits that entire families will have can include, but definitely are not limited to the following. 

-          It gives families a safe place for their children to go while they are at work, and the environment helps them to take care of the child appropriately.

-          Some daycares will provide food for children that is included in the tuition. This, of course, will vary based on the daycare that you send your children to, but you’ll find that out when you apply and when you pay.

-          It allows families to share the educational concerns that may crop up, because many of them have a preschool environment that allows them to learn while they are staying at the daycare during the day.

-          Daycares are incredibly affordable, depending on where you go and what sort of school that you’re looking for. On top of that, many of these schools have some sort of assistance available for the kids in their care, especially if there are multiple children in one family, so you can make it that much more affordable. 

The Benefits of Daycare for Children

Of course, there are a number of benefits of daycare for the children who get to go and engage with it as well. Here are just a few of the benefits that your children will likely encounter when they are enrolled in a daycare. 

-          It helps them to learn how to socialize before they are in a more formal classroom environment, which can help to reduce their stress and to increase the enjoyment that they get from going to school.

-          It gets them used to being away from you for an extended period of time throughout the day, making the transition to all-day school a little easier than it would have been otherwise, for both you and them.

-          It helps them get experiences that they may not have gotten in any other capacity, by going on field trips and interacting with people that they may not have interacted with otherwise. 

-          It allows children to be children together, and by having that advantage as part of their experience while growing up, they will feel more comfortable in those sorts of environments and with those interactions and experiences. 

So, as you can see, there are a lot of different benefits that you will likely encounter as you enroll your child into Daycare in LakeCounty . You will want to make sure that you get the most out it, and by engaging with a daycare system that is friendly and puts the needs of your children first, you will feel like they are going to be ready to move on when 

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