| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
The Homeschool Diner's Guide to
Classical Education for Homeschoolers
Classical Education is an approach to homeschooling that is based on
the book, The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at
Home by Susan Wise Bauer which was, in turn, based on The Lost
Tools of Learning, by Dorothy Sayers. The recommendations in
these books assume a Christian world-view, but the approach can be
adapted to a secular humanist world-view by substituting secular
materials, where preferred.
"The Well-trained Mind" (TWTM) presents a philosophy of learning which
maintains that children's abilities mature in prescribed stages that
correspond to a "trivium" drawn from the Middle Ages - grammar, logic,
and rhetoric. The Grammar Stage (K - 6th) focuses on memorization
and general "gathering" of knowledge in each subject, The Logic Stage
(7th - 8th) focuses on a child's developing abilities to understand the
abstract, see cause and effect, use formal logic, analysis and criticism.
The Rhetoric Stage (9th - 12th) is when students concentrate on using
their knowledge and reason to express their thoughts in clear, eloquent
writing and speech.
TWTM contains a complete list of resources (mostly books) to use for
each homeschool year. History and science use "real books" not
textbooks, and spiral thru 4 years of study. TWTM is an intensive,
strenuous curriculum with lots of memorization, reading and writing
(including a notebook for each subject). Latin is taught, beginning in 3rd
grade. Children must be reading fluently prior to 1st grade. For more
ideas and guidance visit the Well-Trained Mind Website
Here is a good "primer" on Classical Education, Understanding
Classical Education, by Foundations Academy in Boise, Idaho
Why study more than just math and language arts? This article explains
the advantages of a broader curriculum -
"The purpose of a Liberal Arts Education" by Robert Harris, Virtual
Salt, March 14, 1991
Aztecs vs. Greeks: Those with superior intelligence need to
learn to be wise by Charles Murray from WSJ.com
Curriculum Options and Other Resources:
The curricula listed below are generally based on the ideals of "classical
education".
Tapestry of Grace - (K-12) Christian-focused, a Classical Education
that centers around a literature-based, spiraling, chronological study of
history... provides weekly goals, and has lessons for all learning levels
(grades) combined in the same four guidebooks, emphasizes discussion
and writing, does not include math, grammar, high school science, or
foreign language
The Noah Plan - (K-12) Christian-focused, described as an "American"
Classical Education approach and curriculum, easily adapts to unit
studies, can be used to teach different grade-levels at same time,
teaches French starting in K, includes online support forums and
mentors and an optional online academy directed at teaching parents
how to teach the curriculum.
Sonlight Curriculum- (preK-12) Evangelical Christian-focused,
literature-based liberal arts curriculum that discusses other beliefs in
their "world studies" units, some use Sonlight as the foundation for a
"lower-stress" approach to classical education, provides "Instructor's
Guides" to implement daily lessons (minimizes parent prep time),
complete and partial curriculum packages available, language arts
includes copy-work and dictation, offers a choice of three math
curriculum options, science consists of pre-packaged science kits, an
advanced reader option is available, doesn't require hands-on projects
and activities, no quizzes or tests, 80% of the materials are reusable
with other students, samples of curriculum and guides available online
Online Support
WellTrainedMind Discussion -- online Christian-focused support
Well Trained Mind Secular -- online secular support group
Catholic Well trained Minds -- online Catholic-focused support group
Classical Lite -- online support for those taking a more relaxed
approach to The Well Trained Mind (and Charlotte Mason)
Classical Conversations -- a combination support community and
online school, classes are organized and conducted locally, to
encourage student interaction, public speaking and debate, offers
parent support and retreats
Classical Education for Homeschoolers
Classical Education is an approach to homeschooling that is based on
the book, The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at
Home by Susan Wise Bauer which was, in turn, based on The Lost
Tools of Learning, by Dorothy Sayers. The recommendations in
these books assume a Christian world-view, but the approach can be
adapted to a secular humanist world-view by substituting secular
materials, where preferred.
"The Well-trained Mind" (TWTM) presents a philosophy of learning which
maintains that children's abilities mature in prescribed stages that
correspond to a "trivium" drawn from the Middle Ages - grammar, logic,
and rhetoric. The Grammar Stage (K - 6th) focuses on memorization
and general "gathering" of knowledge in each subject, The Logic Stage
(7th - 8th) focuses on a child's developing abilities to understand the
abstract, see cause and effect, use formal logic, analysis and criticism.
The Rhetoric Stage (9th - 12th) is when students concentrate on using
their knowledge and reason to express their thoughts in clear, eloquent
writing and speech.
TWTM contains a complete list of resources (mostly books) to use for
each homeschool year. History and science use "real books" not
textbooks, and spiral thru 4 years of study. TWTM is an intensive,
strenuous curriculum with lots of memorization, reading and writing
(including a notebook for each subject). Latin is taught, beginning in 3rd
grade. Children must be reading fluently prior to 1st grade. For more
ideas and guidance visit the Well-Trained Mind Website
Here is a good "primer" on Classical Education, Understanding
Classical Education, by Foundations Academy in Boise, Idaho
Why study more than just math and language arts? This article explains
the advantages of a broader curriculum -
"The purpose of a Liberal Arts Education" by Robert Harris, Virtual
Salt, March 14, 1991
Aztecs vs. Greeks: Those with superior intelligence need to
learn to be wise by Charles Murray from WSJ.com
Curriculum Options and Other Resources:
The curricula listed below are generally based on the ideals of "classical
education".
Tapestry of Grace - (K-12) Christian-focused, a Classical Education
that centers around a literature-based, spiraling, chronological study of
history... provides weekly goals, and has lessons for all learning levels
(grades) combined in the same four guidebooks, emphasizes discussion
and writing, does not include math, grammar, high school science, or
foreign language
The Noah Plan - (K-12) Christian-focused, described as an "American"
Classical Education approach and curriculum, easily adapts to unit
studies, can be used to teach different grade-levels at same time,
teaches French starting in K, includes online support forums and
mentors and an optional online academy directed at teaching parents
how to teach the curriculum.
Sonlight Curriculum- (preK-12) Evangelical Christian-focused,
literature-based liberal arts curriculum that discusses other beliefs in
their "world studies" units, some use Sonlight as the foundation for a
"lower-stress" approach to classical education, provides "Instructor's
Guides" to implement daily lessons (minimizes parent prep time),
complete and partial curriculum packages available, language arts
includes copy-work and dictation, offers a choice of three math
curriculum options, science consists of pre-packaged science kits, an
advanced reader option is available, doesn't require hands-on projects
and activities, no quizzes or tests, 80% of the materials are reusable
with other students, samples of curriculum and guides available online
Online Support
WellTrainedMind Discussion -- online Christian-focused support
Well Trained Mind Secular -- online secular support group
Catholic Well trained Minds -- online Catholic-focused support group
Classical Lite -- online support for those taking a more relaxed
approach to The Well Trained Mind (and Charlotte Mason)
Classical Conversations -- a combination support community and
online school, classes are organized and conducted locally, to
encourage student interaction, public speaking and debate, offers
parent support and retreats
| "An educated mind is, as it were, composed of all the minds of preceding ages." -- Bernard Le Bovier Fontenelle (1657-1757) "Inaction saps the vigor of the mind." -- Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519) |