The Parrot Years

Main Notes

• Classical education requires students to collect, memorize, and categorize information
• First four grades are the most intensive for fact collecting
• Young children are described as sponges because they soak up knowledge
• Goal is to supply knowledge and skills that will allow for creativity as the mind matures
• Focus on filling child's mind with pictures, stories, and facts
• Supply mental pegs on which later information can be hung
• Knowledge of the world past and present takes priority over self-expression
• Intensive study of facts equips the student for fluent and articulate self-expression later on
• Key areas for content: history, science, literature, art, and music
• Accumulate information: stories of people and wars, names of places, scientific facts, classifications
• Young writer should memorize parts of speech, sentence structure, vocabulary roots
• Young mathematician should master basic math facts
• First encounter with new subjects creates lasting excitement and wonder
• Encourage deep delving into topics without forced reflection
• Immature mind is more suited to absorption than argument
• Children enjoy memorization and repetition at this age
• Teacher serves as primary source of information through storytelling and reading
• Expect repetition and retelling of learned information
• Don't make K-4 students dig for information independently
• Present knowledge for students to 'feast' upon
• Prioritize reading, writing, grammar, and math in the curriculum
• History and science are important but can be covered less frequently
• Strong reading and writing skills are crucial for success in all other subjects
• First grade requires intense one-on-one tutoring in language skills and math
• Flexibility in starting music, art, and other subjects later is acceptable
• Classical education teaches a child how to learn, equipping them for lifelong learning