CURRICULUM

This is the first part of how to learn and it is characterized by memorizing a broad range of facts and soaking in knowledge. The grammar of any subject area is its facts, its fundamental parts. For example, the grammar of spelling would be the rules of spelling, phonics, etc. The grammar of math would be the memorization of math facts and math formulas. The grammar of English would be the parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, direct objects, prepositions, etc. The grammar of science would be the facts about the various science fields of study such as the planets in the solar systems, the names and functions of the systems in the body, the parts of a plant, the periodic table of elements, the parts of a cell. The grammar of history would be the stories of history- the location, the event, the dates, the people, etc. The first thing a person should do when learning anything new is learn the facts. You can’t do anything else until you learn the grammar of what you are studying. The Classical Academy 

This is gaining understanding by asking “how, what, and why” of the grammar that was previously learned. When students get to the logic phase of how to learn, they are looking back at all the grammar, the foundational pieces they learned, and they ask how, what, and why in order to begin to make sense of the knowledge they have. They look at where they need to fill any missing grammar gaps, and extend themselves with further compounding questions. In this logic stage, we have to teach students the rules of logic, how to argue, how to recognize fallacies, non-truths and truths, otherwise this stage is just teaching students to simply listen to and banter with their own foolish and immature ways of answering the how and the why. These are skills that need to be taught. One look at media and politics today and you will see exactly why this skill of logic about facts is needed! The second thing a person should do when learning something new is to take the grammar of what you are studying and ask “how, what, and why” and begin to ask and answer questions using logic and sound reasoning. The Classical Academy  

This is the “and what does it mean” and “how do I express that” part of the learning process. We all know people who have a lot of knowledge (grammar) and ask a lot of questions (logic) but they have no idea what to do with it, how to integrate it, apply it, communicate it, or how to create innovation from it. This is the pinnacle, the top tier of the learning process, and sadly most high school and college students never even reach this point in their process of seeking to be educated. The third thing a person should do when learning something new is take the tools of logic, apply them to the foundations of grammar, and begin to apply, integrate, and communicate how it pertains to and affects life.  The Classical Academy