The Classical Educational model is all about teaching to the student’s developmental stages and instilling progressive levels of understanding as they grow from childhood to adulthood. Maturity and brain development play a huge role in a child’s ability to retain and apply what they learn. Based on scientific research, a child develops in 3 general stages during adolescence and the Classical model caters educational methods to these stages as seen in this graphic. If students are presented with the developmentally appropriate approach to learning along their growth journey, what occurs is true learning and mastery that will stick with them for a lifetime.

Applying this philosophy to our student’s knowledge of scripture and the life, death, and resurrection of Christ will ultimately set each child up with the knowledge and skills they need to stand firm in their faith in a world that is increasingly more hostile to the Christian faith.

Grammar Stage

In the elementary years of development, children are more adept at memorizing. ATLAS CLC curriculum and programming is set up to engage students using songs, chants, stories, and rhymes regularly to teach the foundational truths that will be the basis for their biblical worldview as they grow... Children in this stage who learn the facts through these methods will remember it for a lifetime. Whether in school or during extra curricular program initiatives, ATLAS strives to take advantage of the uniqueness of children’s sponge like brain during theses years, laying the foundation for a deep understanding of scripture and academic skillsets as they develop down the road.

Logic Stage

Teenaged students are naturally more argumentative and begin to question authority and facts. They want to know the “why” of something—the logic behind it. In his CLC courses he is learning reasoning, logic, and biblical wisdom, not just facts and stories. ATLAS CLC is designed to meet students where they are, taking the knowledge they have acquired while bringing them to a deeper understanding of how scripture applies to itself and their own lives.

Rhetoric Stage

Students in their upper teenage years are becoming independent thinkers and communicators. At this level, ATLAS CLC courses are designed to capture the interest of a multitude of students with spiritual maturities, BUT ATLAS offers courses that will give students the tools they need to defend their faith when they step into the next chapter of their lives. It simply isn't enough to teach students... they must be equipped and trained to live out their walk with Christ in the midst of a dark world.