Grammar School Festivals- A Vital Piece of the Grammar School Foundation
At CDA, Grammar School Festivals are a vital component of the Grammar School foundation. Each Grammar School student participates in a grade-level festival presentation. Not only do festivals give students time to celebrate the history they learned in their grade, but they also develop their presentation skills before entering Logic school.
“In classical education, we want our students to develop a comfort level with oration. As they enter Logic school, they will continue to make presentations, have formal debates, and engage in Socratic discussions within their classrooms,” Grammar School Principal Michele Howard said. “We hope that these festivals develop a confidence and normalize public speaking.”
Recitation is taught in the classroom in PreK and Kindergarten and culminates at the end of the year with a festival. In 1st through 4th grades, students choose something that interests them from the period they are studying. Then, with the help of a parent, they research, write, and develop a visual to accompany the presentation, which is memorized and given at the festival.
Describing the outcome of festivals, Howard said, “History comes to life for these students, and hopefully, continues their love of history. It also creates special memories with these years.”
