Logic School

Where adolescents are armed with the tools of thought

At Naperville Christian Academy, grades 6-8 comprise our Logic School.  During these very important years, students begin the process of self-discovery and more in-depth questioning of their world, language, their faith, and their passions, structured around a new discipline, logic.

Our students begin to speak, present, debate, and will write their first research papers during these years, closely helped and guided by their teachers.  Their studies in Latin go from very basic grammar and sentences to advanced constructions and some poetry.  In Bible the students do a three year, close reading of the scriptures, providing them with an in-depth understanding of the content, culture, and genres of the biblical text.  In history the students begin to concentrate more and more on reading and interpreting primary sources, including texts, photos, movies, musical compositions, and pieces of visual art.

The 6^th Grade is a transitional year as students learn to take more responsibility for their education.  This shift is signified by moving from a single classroom to multiple classrooms as well as the addition of logic to their weekly class schedule.  The expectations of logic school students increase as they must accept the challenge of becoming better readers, writers, and speakers.  They also continue to develop their sense of social awareness as they maneuver through adolescence interacting with teachers and peers.

The 7^th Grade is an important year because students are between transitions, and they have the time and space to keep developing the fundamental skills they have received as well as focus on acquiring greater logical skills.  These students have the privilege of growing through practice and repetition, which is essential to mastering the liberal arts.

The 8^th Grade continues to deepen logical skills by having students debate in class.  Even though grammar, logic, and rhetoric pervade all grades and classrooms at a classical school, the focus on debate in the 8^th grade represents the harmony of logic and rhetoric as they transition out of the Logic School.  By the 8^th grade they are expected to be organized, responsible and mature enough to enter the Rhetoric School.  The Rhetoric School is the great crescendo of classical education, but it is nothing without its grammatical and logical counterparts.

Logic School Curriculum Overview  (PDF Chart)