The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, Revised and Updated Edition by Susan Wise Bauer, Jessie Wise Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, Revised and Updated Edition
Book Review: This Sleeper Deserves Every Award Under the Sun.
Summary: 5 Stars
When we enrolled our 7-year-old daughter in a private school in the Washington D.C. area, we mistakenly assumed that the school would teach her reading, writing and arithmetic. When it became clear that we would have to do much of this ourselves, we cobbled together a program to give her the basics. We found this book last year and it has become our bible, for several reasons. First, while the authors have a very definite opinion about what your child should learn, there is no political, religious or social dogma that drives their discussions; they simply believe that all children benefit most from a traditional education. What my husband and I found particularly helpful about this book is that it has no political agenda (when the authors believe that a Christian-based book, e.g., phonics, is the best one out there, they endorse it, noting that the book has religious overtones for those who wish not to buy it, and then recommend a back-up book, underscoring that one is frankly better than the other from a pedagagical standpoint), and it does not pander to today's educational establishment with politically correct or multicultural curriculum suggestions.
Second, the authors give you every every address, e-mail, 800 and fax number you will ever need for every grade (nursery-12th) to order the recommended books and tools. Because they have definite preferences on publishers, etc., you never get lost in a miasma of names and phone numbers. Whether you homeschool or not, they make your life easier. It's all there, it's all well laid-out.
Finally, although the book is written with homeschoolers in mind, it is so well-organized that anyone can use it, regardless of where one's child is being schooled. And given the current state of public and private education, authors Wise are doing us all a great service.
Book Review: the well trained mind
Summary: 5 Stars
After homeschooling for 13 years, this is the first book on homeschooling/curriculum planning I have wanted to buy in at least 8 years. Having seen the same cycle of homeschooling and education books on the same topics over and over, this book is a welcomed change. It is also the single most truly useful as well as inspiring book in a long time. It is an excellent resource for both the beginning homeschooler as well as the veteran homeschooler seeking new ideas or methods on how to make a transition to older homeschoolers.Book Review: Homeschooling for the rest of us
Summary: 4 Stars
The Well Trained MInd describes a system of home education reminiscent of old-fashioned tutor systems drawing on classical literature and subject matter, including the early study of logic and Latin for 'building the mind.' It will appeal to parents (and students) already interested in an early, firm start in math and reading and its practical ordering of subject areas with precise resource recommendations. It may offend parents concerned about 'the hurried child' syndrome and who would rather 'let kids be kids' a little longer. It is possible that the success the authors describe with themselves and others is due to other factors not carefully studied, such as high motivation and high intelligence. (In fact, the other two children in the family are not described much; it may be that they turned out like Susan (the daughter, product of this program) & the authors are merely protecting their privacy. Still, as a reader, I wondered how the siblings turned out.) It may offend parents concerned about overly-coercive 'programming' of the young child into a highly academic, studious life. Although the Wises certainly tout the importance of early attention to art and music, there is some risk here of over-emphasis on the three R's. Its greatest appeal is perhaps its emphasis on drawing on the whole cycle of human history, from the dawn of Man to the present. Devotees of Ed Hirsch ('Cultural Literacy') will highly appreciate the emphasis on keystones of human culture. Children who successfully follow this program would indeed turn out firmly grounded in 'culture.' Because this is a home education program, families of different backgrounds might choose to emphasize different cultures as focal points although such resources could be harder to find. The central focus of the Wises' program is identifiably Western European but perhaps one must forgive them this unfortunate necessity--is it bias? That could be argued elsewhere. They point out that it is a family's job to incorporate the subject matter of faith and religion & otherwise shy away from prescribing in this area except to include it in the schedule. I appreciated this ecumenical view. Parents timid about homeschooling will appreciate the explicit timeframe described in terms of age; school grade; and daily, weekly, yearly overviews. But one could easily feel intimidated by the caliber of the academics--you'll be looking for a Latin tutor, music teachers, etc., as needed. The program itself appeals to me personally; I was already doing similar activities with my children. However, we follow a more 'Attachment Parenting' lifestyle. So we will not follow the Wises' recommendation of using cribs and naptimes to secure home-education time. We will take a more relaxed approach while incorporating some of their ideas. The danger is always that some parents will go whole-hog without being willing to reject unsuitable portions. I hope readers will be critical and astute, choose what they need, and tailor the Wises' recommendations to fit their family, not vice-versa. One more caveat: I was raised in a very similar fashion to this strict 'classical' approach. Although I welcome the idea of seeing more young adults turn out highly educated in history, logic, and language skills, it is an awkward fit with today's society that fosters quite different values. To choose this program or homeschooling at all, parents need to be responsible about supporting their children through some awkward years of figuring out how to fit in with a world (i.e., beyond college) that has run amok with very different values and ideas.Book Review: Combines the best features of many homeschool approaches
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have done any research into the field of homeschooling at all, you have probably been submerged in a philosophical quagmire, just as I was earlier this year. Hmmm, I like the idea of unit studies, but don't they sometimes end up leaving children with gaps in their education? I like living books, nature study, narration, and letting a child explore their interests, but isn't the Charlotte Mason approach a little too freeform and child-led for me? Workbooks are thorough, but what if my child is an active learner? When asked about my homeschool philosophy, I usually replied that I was eclectic, borrowing what I liked from different methods. My concern about the classical approach was that it seemed cold and rigid to me. No more! This book presents a very balanced version of the classical approach, fearlessly updated to incorporate the best of all we have learned in the homeschooling field. You can have Latin, but you can also have the benefits of unit studies, projects, and field trips. And the best part about this approach is this family's unique experience and perspective. These are real people who are living out this book daily, to the third generation. What an amazing thing to have intergenerational input to the homeschooling experience! The book is very readable, is intuitively organized, and contains meticulously researched resource lists. This book could constitute your entire homeschool how-to library, and you would be lacking nothing! If you have been looking at all the homeschool approaches, and you can't decide which one you like because they all have pluses, try this book. One caveat--if you are an "unschooler," you probably won't care for this method. However, if you think THIS method is rigid, you will choke if you read books by hard-core classicists, so save yourself now. In conclusion, this book describes a rigorous, yet flexible and child-friendly classical education method, and I highly recommend it.Book Review: The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!
Summary: 5 Stars
People choose to teach their children at home for many reasons. If you are running away from a formal school environment because you don't like "rigidity," then perhaps the system described in this book is not for you.If, on the other hand, you are contemplating teaching your children at home because public (and even private) traditional schools have watered down the content of your children's academic learning, and you truly want to give your child a world-class education at home in the classical tradition, you need look no further than this remarkable resource.
The authors have compiled a complete list of what to teach, where to find the resources with which to teach it, and, if you need it, some suggestions for working out a schedule that will accomplish it all (The authors acknowledge that the schedules in the book won't work for all families, but are merely meant to be examples).
Mind you, this book describes a system of rigorous education that requires dedication on the part of both parent and student. Any parent who has chosen to homeschool their children, though, already has proven that they have the necessary dedication to follow this program. The authors do not give credence to popular notions that children need watered-down, video- and photographically-enhanced stimuli to learn. They encourage parents to teach their children to read early, read constantly, and eventually to learn to search for answers to questions on their own. Children of the video age may find it difficult at first to actively learn, but if they are to be well and truly educated, and become lifetime learners, they cannot learn any other way.
You can use this book in many ways. If you want an all-encompassing guide, complete with suggested schedules, the authors have included them. The beauty of home education, however, is that you have the freedom to modify your curriculum.
So, what if there is a fabulous exhibit at your local art museum, but doesn't fit into the historical period you're studying that year? You go! You CAN go because even the rigorous program described in this book takes far less time than children typically spend in school and doing homework. What if your child has passion for art or dinosaurs? At home, you have the freedom to allow their exploration without sacrificing any other component of their education. Because even if you do everything described in the book, you'll still be finished with time to spare for these "passions."
But if you don't give your child the education described in this book, how will they ever have enough information about their world to know what they truly are passionate about?
Jessie Wise and her daughter, Susan Wise Bauer have been living the homeschool experience for more than 25 years, first as Jessie taught Susan and her other children, and now as Susan teaches her three children. There are few families in America that have this kind of experience from which to draw. I am using this book as the core of my homeschool curriculum (in fact, have used the program for a full year already, having used Mrs. Wise as our curriculum consultant before the book came out), and highly recommend it to parents who choose to homeschool to ensure that their children receive a quality education -- one that is simply not available in public (and even good private) schools anymore.