I once heard someone compare classical education to the Christian practice of Lectio Divina. She also pointed out: this isn’t a new comparison. Medieval monks and educators said the same thing. Just like Lectio Divina, education is a process that takes us from surface knowledge to contemplation. We’ve seen this first-hand through our use of Memoria Press student guides. In fact, my kids ask me to get student guides for them!
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How Student Guides Lead to Contemplation
Lectio Divina is a form of praying with Scripture that has been used in Christianity since the 3rd century.
There’s some misunderstanding about this form of prayer. I’ll simply say: it was never meant to be a subjective form of Scripture reading or interpretation. It was guarded from this by a submission to long-established Christian teaching and practice.
This is true in classical education as well. We whole-heartedly welcome our children’s insights. But like Socrates, we want to be sure those insights are guided and formed by truth.
Lectio consists of four steps — and we see these same steps in the Memoria Press student guides.
Step 1: Preparation & Gathering
“‘Lectio,’ or ‘reading,’ [was] the first step….The early monks understood that the fruitfulness of a monk’s prayer depends upon the simplicity, reverence, and openness to the Spirit with which the ‘reader’ approaches the Word of God.”
Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Art & Practice of Lectio Divina
In classical education there is a focus on preparation. We recall prior information, we discuss terms, and we clarify things that could confuse our children.
This is the purpose of the Facts to Know and Vocabulary sections of the student guides. They remove obstacles and enable our children to approach their reading with understanding.
“The goal of this reading is not to rush through several chapters of Scripture. The reader, rather than trying to take in large sections of Scripture, adopts a reflective stance towards a short Scripture passage, pausing on a single word or phrase that resonates with the mind and heart.”
Memoria’s lesson plans often talk about underlining vocabulary words as they’re found in a text. Older students mark the answers to comprehension questions as they see them in the reading. These early forms of note-taking lead to more active, engaged reading.
Team reading is another form of engagement. It models fluency and expression and helps keep a child’s attention; after all, they have to watch for their next reading spot!
Step 2: Reflection
“This…leads to the second step, known as “meditatio”— Latin for “meditation”— which invites one to reflect upon what was read. Ancient monks explained this process as a deep, unhurried thinking about the Word one has read — a rumination, somewhat like the way a cow chews the cud. As the Word is read in this step, the process of ruminating gradually draws the meditator’s focus from concerns of the mind to concerns of the heart.”
In classical education, there is a strong emphasis on respect for the text. We don’t place our own assumptions on an author. Instead, we return to the text as we consider the topic at hand.
Socrates did this in his discussions. He returned to things that were previously said in order to clarify and truly understand the speaker’s meaning and intention.
This is why we encourage children to return to the text as they go through the comprehension questions.
If they remember the answer on their own, that’s wonderful, but it’s not the goal. The goal is to guide them back through their reading.
Step 3: Contemplation
“The ancients called [the third step] ‘contemplatio’ or ‘contemplation.’ Contemplation is characterized by an openness of the heart….By God’s grace, contemplatio gives one a unique ability to connect one’s newly discovered insights to daily life experiences, with the inspiration that comes from the Word of God and that has the gracious capacity to refresh the heart and mind.”
This is where discussion happens in the student guide. Note that it has to come after meditation.
The comprehension questions (meditatio) prepare our children for the deeper connections made in discussions (contemplatio).
Step 4: Conversation
“The fourth and final step, ‘oratio,’ meaning oration, or prayer, invites one’s personal response to God. This response…can be understood as a conversation between friends…One takes the time to talk to God about what was read, heard, or experienced, or about the questions that have arisen in the depth of one’s being.”
You may have heard classical education, particularly the humanities, referred to as “The Great Conversation.” The Enrichment section of the student guides invites our children to enter into this conversation and/or prepares them for future participation in it.
- A copywork exercise prepares them for sharing their own thoughts in an ordered way.
- A map activity deepens their understanding of the relationships between places and events across their studies.
- A hands-on activity allows them to share the fruits of their study with their family and friends.
- When they’re ready, a paragraph assignment guides them deeper.
What About Miss Rumphius?
Now, you may be wondering: where is this sense of Lectio Divina when the early student guides ask questions like “Who ate Little Bear’s cake?” and “Where did Miss Rumphius live?”
As parents we want to get to the meat of things. It’s so tempting to rush through the early years with a “yeah, yeah good enough” approach.
But that shortchanges our children. They’ll never be able to enjoy the meat of things if the foundation isn’t solid!
We want them to be able to answer who, what, where questions as if it were second nature — not just when the answers are obvious, but also when they’re harder to find in a text.
If we skip this step, our children will face unnecessary obstacles when it’s time to make connections for the how and why of things.
How We Use Memoria Press Student Guides
As homeschoolers, we tend to be idealists but we also have a strong, practical bent. We need to know that high ideals can be realistically achieved in the middle of chores, diapers, and sports practice!
Practical Benefits
The student guides offer some highly practical benefits for us and our children.
First, they’re straight-forward and free of distractions. Yes, they’re black and white and don’t have illustrations, but this allows our children to focus on the content they’re learning.
The consistent formatting and routine between subjects also makes it easier for me to teach. I’m not constantly transitioning between different formats, expectations, or even educational philosophies!
Wondering whether children should answer questions or narrate? Check out The Great Narration vs. Writing Debate
The Day-to-Day
If your child is in 1st-3rd grade, your focus will be on modeling. This is also true for older students who are new to the guides.
Believe me: the time spent on this now will make later independence possible!
Vocabulary
- I read the phrase and ask my child what they think the bold word means. Sometimes, I’ll repeat it in a sentence that has a more familiar context.
- If they can’t figure it out from the context, I go ahead and give them the definition. Remember, the goal is learning, not quizzing.
Mom tip #1: I only have my kids write out definitions for words they aren’t able to figure out from context. - Until spelling is strong, I write the definition on a personal-sized whiteboard, a piece of paper, or even above the word in my child’s guide.
- I then have them copy what I wrote.
Mom tip #2: My friend Dianna does this for each word, but doesn’t have them copy until after the lesson. This allows the copywork portion to be independent work!
Comprehension Questions
In this modeling stage, we handle questions in a similar way.
- First I circle or highlight the questions I want to have them answer in writing.
Mom Tip #3: If you do quizzes/tests, select written answers based on what will be on those quizzes/tests. This way, your child can use their student guide for studying. When I do this, I just add an extra question or two that I feel is important — this way they don’t know exactly what will be on the quiz/test.
- Ask the first selected question and formulate an answer with your child, returning to the text whenever needed.
- Write your child’s answer down, like you did for the vocabulary words, and then go to the next question.
- Have them copy the answers into their guide as independent work (but only if they’re truly ready to work independently).
- The remaining questions can be answered orally, but you want to be sure they’re thoughtful answers, clearly spoken, and given in complete sentences.
Discussion Questions
We try to do one discussion question per lesson. I don’t have a specific plan for choosing one, I just look at the options and select the one I feel is most important for us to talk about.
Sometimes I choose based on what a particular child is struggling with; whether that struggle is emotional, physical, or in the realm of virtue. Other times I choose something I know connects to what they’re studying in another subject, or something they’ve studied previously.
Mom tip #4: for literature, there’s a discussion question answer guide in the back of each Teacher’s Manual!
Transitioning to Independence
When a child is in 4th grade or showing readiness — whichever comes LATER — we begin transitioning to independence.
- At this stage, we consider using the various dictionaries that other MP moms put together. They’re available for free here on the MP forum.
These are a great way to introduce dictionary skills with a limited list, rather than plopping a massive dictionary in front of the kids! - I continue selecting questions, but I teach the kids to read their book with an open student guide. This way they can mark the page number of the answers as they read.
Mom tip #5: Older kids may be ready to answer all the questions in writing, and I have some who do that. But remember it’s better to answer a few well than rush through a bunch of them and do poor work. - Even at this independent stage, it’s important to stay engaged with our kids through the discussion questions.
To do this, I have a “meeting” time with each child. This is when we look over their work, clarify anything they struggled with, and talk about the discussion questions.
Should we Test or Not?
A common question among homeschoolers is whether quizzes/tests are necessary.
This really comes down to state requirements and parental preference. Except for Latin, math, and spelling, we don’t use quizzes/tests until middle school.
If You’re Doing Quizzes/Tests
Regardless of age, don’t wait for the review lessons before your child studies! This is the equivalent of cram/pass/forget — and we’ve all experienced that chaos.
Instead, include frequent review of vocabulary, assigned questions, and map locations.
This free printable includes ideas for studying with your child, and a host of creative ideas for studying independently.
For Everyone — Even if You Don’t Test
Be sure to use either the flashcards or drill questions for each student guide. This transfers the most important things into our child’s long-term memory.
I usually choose flashcards because the kids can use them independently during the week. But right now, we’re using the drill questions. These are in the Classical Studies and Christian Studies guides.
You can also do this with other guides: just use the Facts to Know, Vocabulary, and written answers as drill questions!
Are Student Guides Always Necessary?
You don’t have to use a student guide for every subject; but choose wisely.
If it’s a literature book we intend to study, we don’t skip the student guide and we rarely skip the guides for Classical Studies.
On the other hand, Christian Studies works well as a read/discuss course. Memoria Press’s 3-5th grade Nature Studies also work well this way.
Even if you don’t use a student guide, be sure to use the Teacher Guide. It will help you keep the overall vision for the course.
Mom tip #6: sometimes a course needs a guide in order for kids to be engaged. We tried using States & Capitals without the guides and it completely fell apart! The kids had nothing tangible and weren’t able to process and share what they were learning. We started over — with the guides — and it’s going so much better!
It’s Okay to Follow Rabbit Trails
My last tip for using Memoria Press student guides is: don’t feel limited by them!
I often run into parents who feel Memoria Press studies are “dry.” I think it’s because they see the guides as end-all-be-all workbooks rather than a way to go deeper.
The student guides give a solid framework so we can explore rabbit trails — if we want to — without reinventing the wheel.
With our Memoria Press studies, we’ve observed animals through YouTube, taken virtual tours of famous places, invited animals into our home with Google 3D, listened to vintage recordings of Native American languages, zoomed in on the brush strokes of famous paintings…and all without buying additional curriculum.
But if I’m not able to do these things, I know my children are still receiving a beautiful education — because of the Lectio approach of the Student Guides.
This post is based on a talk I gave at the 2021 Sodalitas Homeschool Conference. Scroll to Practical Curriculum, Tuesday July 13 to watch!
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