February 4, 2026 – What Does a Classical Education Include?

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

Biblical Classical Education: What Makes It Beautiful

Hey, Mama,

If you’re exploring homeschooling methods, you’ve probably heard about classical education. And maybe you wondered if it’s just for the elite, or if your kids need to read every book the classical world has stamped as essential.

Here’s the truth: classical education trains the mind to think deeply, ask good questions, and recognize truth when they see it. It’s about watching their eyes light up when truth clicks, not checking boxes.

What does it include? A classical approach builds foundational knowledge first (those early years matter), then teaches your kids to think critically—to wrestle with ideas and ask why. By the high school years, they’re learning to articulate their thinking clearly. You’re weaving history, literature, science, and faith together so nothing feels disconnected. Latin comes in because it sharpens the mind in ways modern languages don’t.

But here’s what I love most: Socratic dialogue. Real conversation about real ideas. It’s not just me standing there lecturing, and it’s not them passively receiving. We’re talking through Plato and Aristotle, through Scripture, through the hard questions about what’s true. That’s where the magic happens. That’s where their minds wake up.

Why are families drawn to this? Because it produces thinkers—kids who can discern, who ask better questions, who aren’t just consuming information—they’re wrestling with it. And that matters when you’re raising them to have a Biblical worldview.

One thing, though: just because a book is labeled a classic doesn’t mean it belongs in your home. You decide what’s good and beautiful. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

His hand is on your head as you guide them, Mama. Look to the Source, always. You need Him to guide you, too.

—gena

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GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

What Does Classical Education Include?

A true classical education is built on the pursuit of wisdom, virtue, and mastery of language—and JAM with Latin embodies these ideals through a structured and beautifully organized approach to learning. But what does a classical education actually include?

First, it includes an engagement with language: reading, writing, and the study of Latin. Begin by reading aloud to your child daily; those early hours of stories build the foundation of language. Introduce writing when they are ready, and use copy work at any age to strengthen patterns of spelling, grammar, and style. Around ages 10 or 11, introduce Latin—the backbone of classical learning—because it develops logic, precision, vocabulary, and a strong understanding of English grammar.

Second, a classical education includes the Trivium: Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric stages. In the Grammar stage (birth to about age 12), students absorb knowledge. In the Dialectic stage (ages 12–15), they learn to reason and analyze. In the Rhetoric stage (high school and beyond), they learn to communicate with clarity and persuasion. JAM with Latin supports all three, allowing students to grow in their knowledge.

Third, it includes a reverence for great books and historical understanding. Students read authors who shaped the Western world and with Latin consistently anchoring lessons in Roman history. 

Finally, a classical education includes habits of excellence: discipline, repetition, and mastery.

A classical education forms the whole person—and JAM with Latin provides the language foundation that makes the journey both profound and joyful.

Todd Wilson

The Classics

Ok, I’m leading in a little over my head on this whole classical education question. But I’ll do my best to list the things that should be in a classical education.

Afterall, I assume a classical education focuses on the classics. So here’s my list of what you should definitely include in a classical education that all kids should be exposed to:

Classic Movies
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
The Sound of Music
Mary Poppins
Willy Wonika and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Pete’s Dragon (1977)
The Apple Dumpling Gang

Classic TV
The Andy Griffith Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Hazel
Little House on the Prairie
Anne of Green Gables (1985)

Classic Activities
Campfire cooking
Pillow fight (soft pillows)
Popcorn and pizza (while watching one of the above)
Building a sand castle at the beach
Slip-n-slide or sprinkler

Classic Junk Food
Twinkies
Suzy Q’s
Nerd ropes
Twizzlers
Root Beer floats

The way I see it, if you include these items in your classical education you can’t go wrong. Oh, I don’t know how much you’ll learn, but you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime.

be real,

Todd

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About the author

Todd Wilson is a dad, granddad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions, retreats, and churches across the country. As founder of Familyman Ministries and the Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind dads and moms of what’s most important through weekly e-mails, podcasts (The Familyman Show & The Smiling Homeschooler), seminars, and books and products that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, still homeschool two of their eight children (six have graduated with four married) in northern Indiana. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

Access real writing tips and classroom activities from the New York Times bestselling author, Stuart Gibbs! https://stuartgibbsmissionwrite.com/ 

Beth Mora

Feast on the Richness of a Classical Education

Don’t shy away from a home-based classical education. It’s rich. The kind of rich that most home educators crave. It starts with fresh ingredients that do not have artificial additives. Standard subjects are the core; however, the backnotes that permeate every subject are the personal conversations that slowly teach and expose your student, not what to think, but how to think. It’s not independent learning, but interdependent learning. You know, the kind of learning that the Book of Titus talks about—older teaching the younger, passing on vital Biblical worldviews.

It emphasizes the development of the student’s heart while honoring the student’s growth and development, so that a different focus comes into view at various developmental stages. It begins with the grammar stage, where facts and memorization set the foundation for learning. The logic stage follows, focusing on learning to reason and analyze those facts. And finally, the rhetoric stage, where the student explores the art of grace-filled, elegant communication and persuasion.

A core ingredient that is so dear to my heart is the rich reading of classic literature. It infuses every subject and transforms a student, because great ideas and the exploration of mankind in the backdrop of history free a student from the tyranny of now, where current events are not connected to the past.

Do you crave this kind of education? I do. But I must be honest. When our homeschooling derailed, it was because I took a shortcut and traded the latest and greatest for that which is tried, true, and tested. Even if you’re an eclectic home educator, give in to your homeschool cravings and feast on the benefits of a classical education. 

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About the author

Beth Mora is a staff writer for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC and lesson designer for www.Schoolhouseteachers.com. She is the creator/teacher-on-camera for Here to Help Learning’s Homeschool Writing Program Grades 1-6, and a homeschool conference and women’s events speaker. Meet up with Beth at Home To Home, one of her favorite places to encourage. Everything she does, whether laughable or heart-gripping, is done to honor her Lord and Savior, Jesus. God’s grace is the salve that has healed her own life and is what she offers liberally to others. Did you know, Here to Help Learning’s Writing Program Grades 1-6 is part of your subscription to SchoolhouseTeachers.com subscription?

Carolyn VanGorkom

How to Add Classical Elements to Any Homeschool Plan

Many families are drawn to classical education, but not all want—or need—a fully classical program. Biblical classical education allows families to incorporate classical elements with the intentional goal of cultivating Biblical wisdom and character, and these elements can be added to almost any learning style.

The key is teaching in stages. Younger students thrive on memorization, songs, and repetition, which pairs naturally with Scripture memory. Middle-grade students enjoy asking why and testing ideas through discussion. Older students benefit from opportunities to write, debate, or present what they’ve learned. Adjusting how you teach at each age can bring classical structure into your home.

Classical learning also emphasizes engagement with ideas, not just facts. Teachers often use guiding questions—commonly called the Socratic method—to draw out understanding from students. This approach closely mirrors how Jesus taught His disciples, using questions, parables, and dialogue to lead them toward truth. Reading original sources, discussing historical events, or asking students to narrate what they’ve learned encourages deeper understanding—no curriculum switch required.

A simple but powerful classical tool is the commonplace book. Students copy meaningful quotes, Scripture, poetry, definitions, and observations into a personal notebook. This practice builds attention, reflection, and a love for words across all ages.

In our own family, this often happened naturally at the dinner table, with Dad leading discussions about Scripture, ideas, and current events. Classical education isn’t all-or-nothing. Even small, intentional shifts can bring depth, order, and lasting value to your homeschool—right where you are.

Learn more at SchoolhouseTeachers.com’s Biblical Classical Education Center, with a special section devoted to Augmenting Your Classical Homeschool with Commonplace Books

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About the author

Carolyn VanGorkom lives in northern California with her worship-pastor husband and two children, both homeschool graduates. Before homeschooling, she was a credentialed math teacher. She joined SchoolhouseTeachers.com as a lesson designer and quality assurance manager. She is currently the director. Her other interests include music, writing, and history.

Classical education is a rich, time-tested approach that weaves history, literature, logic, language, and reasoning together to form thinkers, not just test-takers. Explore courses like Classical History and Classics-Based Writing that immerse students in great ideas and timeless stories, while Logic sharpens their minds for clear thinking.