Well-Trained Mind - The Essential Edition

The 4^th edition of this Classical favorite updates all product information (eliminating products which are no longer available and substituting new favorites for previous recommendations). The general organization and structure of the book is the same, although a new introduction/overview section on homeschooling high school has been added.

If you're looking for some real guidance in product/curriculum selection for providing your child with a "classical" education, here it is -- down to the titles of the books and where to find them! These ladies have very clear recommendations for each subject area, both for elementary through eighth grade and high school levels, and they're anxious to share them with you. Written by a mother and her daughter (a second-generation homeschooler), the book provides what many are looking for - concrete, specific recommendations for materials to help in providing an academically rigorous, comprehensive education. Using the trivium as their pattern for education, the book is divided into sections by stage: the Grammar stage (grades K through 4), the Logic stage (grades 5 through 8), and the Rhetoric stage (high school). They wrote this book after coming to the conclusion that "if you want your child to have an excellent education, you need to take charge of it yourself. You don't have to reform your entire school system. All you have to do is teach your own child." And they, very capably, supply you with the when, what, and how of it all from there.

Jessie Wise taught her daughter, Susan, at home, using the classical method. And Susan, a literature professor at the college of William and Mary in Virginia, uses it with her own three sons. Their experience and knowledge of materials has enabled them to provide us with both a clear explanation of the theory behind a classical education and the means to implement it. Each part of the book begins with a very good description of that stage, how it differs from the others, and what your priorities should be. Then, subject by subject, and grade by grade, they provide much advice about what to teach, schedules for teaching, and many, many curriculum (text and non-text) recommendations. Later sections of the book address socialization, character, time management, grading and record keeping, standardized testing, athletics, dealing with your local school system, getting help (when needed), going to college, working, obtaining materials, and starting in the middle. Appendices list home-education organizations and other resources. Parents who want to provide this type of education will find much support in this volume. Revised in 2009.