The Well-Trained Mind

by Bauer, Susan Wise

• ISBN13: 9780393059274
• ISBN10: 0393059278
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-04-01
• Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc

Summary

This book will instruct you, step by step, on how to give your child an academically rigorous, comprehensive education from preschool through high school. Two veteran home educators outline the classical pattern of education'”the trivium'”which organizes learning around the maturing capacity of the child's mind: the elementary school "grammar stage," the middle school "logic stage," and the high school "rhetoric stage." Using the trivium as your model, you'll be able to instruct your child in all levels of reading, writing, history, geography, mathematics, science, foreign languages, rhetoric, logic, art, and music, regardless of your own aptitude in those subjects. Newly revised and updated, The Well-Trained Mind includes detailed book lists with complete ordering information; up-to-date listings of resources, publications, and Internet links; and useful contacts. An excellent resource for any family with a desire to incorporate a classical education in their home, whether as a curriculum or as a reference. (Educational Freedom Press)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments for the First Edition	xv
Acknowledgments for the Revised Edition	xvii
What The Well-Trained Mind Does: An Overview	xix
Practical Considerations: Using The Well-Trained Mind without Losing Your Own	xxiii
Supplementing Your Child's Education: The Well-Trained Mind and Full-Time School	xxv
PROLOGUE: THE STORY OF A CLASSICAL HOME EDUCATION
Uncharted Territory: Jessie	3	(8)
A Personal Look at Classical Education: Susan	11	(10)
PART I. THE GRAMMAR STAGE: KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FOURTH GRADE
The Parrot Years	21	(5)
Now or Never	23	(1)
How to Teach the Poll-Parrot Stage	24	(1)
Priorities	25	(1)
Unlocking the Doors: The Preschool Years	26	(24)
Preschool: Birth to Three	27	(3)
Kindergarten Years: Four and Five	30	(11)
Resources	41	(9)
Words, Words, Words: Spelling, Grammar, Reading, and Writing	50	(37)
How to Do It	51	(1)
General Instructions for Grades 1 through 4	52	(18)
Overview of Language Work	70	(1)
Resources	71	(16)
The Joy of Numbers: Math	87	(17)
The Way Children Think	88	(2)
Math Tables: A Defense	90	(2)
How to Do It	92	(4)
Choosing Programs	96	(1)
Schedules	97	(1)
Resources	98	(6)
Seventy Centuries in Four Years: History and Geography	104	(53)
Seventy Centuries in Four Years	106	(2)
What If You're Starting in the Middle?	108	(1)
How to Do It	109	(10)
Resources	119	(38)
Making Sense of the World: Science	157	(33)
Priorities	158	(1)
Textbooks	159	(1)
How to Do It	159	(16)
Resources	175	(15)
Dead Languages for Live Kids: Latin (and Other Languages Still Living)	190	(10)
Why Latin?	191	(1)
How Does Latin Work?	192	(2)
How to Do It	194	(2)
Schedules	196	(1)
What about Other Languages?	196	(1)
Resources	197	(3)
Electronic Teachers: Using Computers and Videos	200	(4)
Matters of Faith: Religion	204	(3)
Resources	206	(1)
Finer Things: Art and Music	207	(24)
Art	208	(1)
Music	209	(1)
Resources	210	(8)
Part I: Epilogue	218	(13)
The Grammar Stage at a Glance	218	(4)
Notebook Summary, Grades 1 through 4	222	(2)
Whole Language and Phonics: Whole to Parts versus Parts to Whole	224	(7)
PART II. THE LOGIC STAGE: FIFTH GRADE THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE
The Argumentative Child	231	(8)
Building on the Foundation	233	(1)
Logic and the Trivium	234	(1)
Logic in the Curriculum	235	(1)
How to Teach the Logic Stage	236	(1)
Priorities	237	(2)
Snow White Was Irrational: Logic for the Intuitive	239	(13)
How to Do It	241	(1)
For the Logically Challenged	242	(7)
Resources	249	(3)
The Language of Reason: Math	252	(16)
How to Do It: Fifth and Sixth Grades	254	(3)
The Shift to Upper-Level Math	257	(5)
Resources	262	(6)
Why 1492? History and Geography	268	(67)
Organizing the Material	268	(8)
Starting in the Middle (or with More than One)	276	(2)
How to Do It	278	(23)
Resources	301	(34)
Thinking Straight: Spelling, Grammar, Reading, and Writing	335	(47)
How to Do It	336	(1)
Spelling and Word Study	337	(3)
Grammar	340	(4)
Reading	344	(15)
Writing	359	(2)
Schedules	361	(2)
Resources	363	(19)
Making Deductions: Science	382	(28)
Your Goals	383	(1)
Texts	384	(1)
Schedule	385	(1)
The Notebook	385	(3)
How to Do It	388	(8)
Resources	396	(14)
Looking into Other Worlds: Latin and Languages	410	(12)
Teaching Options	411	(1)
Which Languages?	412	(1)
Which Texts?	412	(3)
When Do I Do It?	415	(1)
Schedules	416	(2)
Resources	418	(4)
Away with Abusive Fallacies! Religion	422	(4)
Resources	424	(2)
The History of Creativity: Art and Music	426	(17)
Art	427	(4)
Music	431	(3)
Schedules	434	(2)
Resources	436	(7)
Magic Boxes: Using Computers and Videos	443	(7)
Software	444	(1)
The Internet	445	(1)
Videos	446	(1)
Resources	447	(3)
Moving toward Independence: Logic for Life	450	(11)
Part II: Epilogue	453	(8)
The Logic Stage at a Glance	453	(8)
PART III. THE RHETORIC STAGE: NINTH GRADE THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE
Speaking Your Mind: The Rhetoric Stage	461	(12)
A General Guide to the Rhetoric Stage	462	(1)
The Study of Rhetoric	463	(1)
How to Do It	464	(6)
Debate	470	(1)
Schedules	470	(1)
Resources	471	(2)
Skill with Words: Grammar and Writing	473	(11)
How to Do It	474	(5)
Schedules	479	(1)
Resources	479	(5)
Great Books: History and Reading	484	(37)
How to Do It	486	(10)
How to Talk about the Great Books	496	(1)
Writing Projects	497	(5)
What about American Government?	502	(1)
Starting in the Middle	503	(1)
University Sources for Great-Books Curricula	504	(4)
Schedules	508	(1)
Resources	508	(13)
Comfort with Numbers: Math	521	(13)
Possible Sequences	523	(4)
Outside Help	527	(1)
Advanced Placement	528	(1)
Schedules	528	(1)
Resources	529	(5)
Principles and Laws: Science	534	(21)
An Overview of Rhetoric-Stage Science	535	(1)
How to Do It	536	(7)
Outside Help	543	(1)
Sample Schedules	544	(2)
Resources	546	(9)
Learning Other Worlds: Foreign Languages	555	(14)
Which Languages?	556	(1)
Texts and Courses	557	(4)
Schedules	561	(3)
Resources	564	(5)
Mastering the Magic Box: Computer Skills	569	(7)
Generally Speaking	569	(3)
Practically Speaking	572	(1)
Schedule	573	(1)
Resources	573	(3)
Apologizing for Faith: Religion	576	(3)
Resources	578	(1)
Appreciating the Arts: Art and Music	579	(11)
Art	580	(3)
Music	583	(1)
Schedules	584	(1)
Resources	585	(5)
The Specialist	590	(10)
General Guidelines	591	(3)
Flexibility	594	(1)
Specific Guidelines	595	(3)
Evaluation	598	(1)
Schedule	599	(1)
Resource	599	(1)
Some People Hate Homer	600	(11)
Part III: Epilogue	604	(7)
The Rhetoric Stage at a Glance	604	(7)
PART IV. COMING HOME: HOW TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILD AT HOME
The Kitchen-Table School: Why Home-Educate?	611	(12)
Why Should You Home-School?	612	(2)
Encouragement for Parents	614	(2)
First Steps	616	(2)
Taking Your Child Out of School	618	(1)
The Realities of Home Schooling	618	(1)
A Personal Word from Jessie	619	(1)
Resources	620	(3)
The Confident Child: Socialization	623	(6)
Resources	628	(1)
The Character Issue: Parents as Teachers	629	(4)
Resources	632	(1)
And Just When Do I Do All This? Schedules for Home Schoolers	633	(15)
How Much Time Does It Take?	635	(1)
Yearly Planning	636	(2)
Weekly Planning	638	(1)
Daily Planning	639	(1)
Jessie's Method of Organizing: A Personal Account	640	(1)
Good Use of Time	641	(1)
Home Schooling with Babies and Toddlers	642	(1)
Schedules for Home Schoolers	643	(4)
Resources	647	(1)
Paper Proof: Grades and Record Keeping	648	(11)
Notification	649	(1)
Elementary School and Middle School: Portfolios	649	(1)
High School: Transcripts	650	(7)
Diploma	657	(1)
Resources	657	(2)
The Yardstick: Standardized Testing	659	(12)
Yearly Testing	660	(3)
AP and Clep Exams	663	(1)
PSAT, SAT, and ACT	664	(2)
Resources	666	(5)
Where's the Team? Athletics at Home	671	(4)
Resources	673	(2)
The Local School: Dealing with Your School System	675	(4)
Resource	678	(1)
Yelling for Help: Tutors, Online Resources, Correspondence Schools, Cooperative Classes, and Colleges and Universities	679	(9)
Tutors	680	(1)
Online Resources	681	(2)
Correspondence Schools	683	(1)
Cooperative Classes	683	(1)
Community Colleges and Local Universities	684	(1)
Resources	684	(4)
Going to College: Applications for Home Schoolers	688	(10)
Planning for College	689	(2)
Choosing a College	691	(1)
The Application Process	692	(1)
The Portfolio	693	(1)
One Successful Application	693	(2)
Transcript Help	695	(1)
A Word about Early Admissions	695	(1)
Resources	696	(2)
Working: Apprenticeships and Other Jobs	698	(3)
Resources	700	(1)
More Stuff: The Annotated Catalog List	701	(7)
General	702	(1)
Elementary Grades	702	(1)
History	703	(1)
Classics, Latin, Logic	703	(1)
Shakespeare	703	(1)
Language: Reading, Writing, Grammar, and So Forth	704	(1)
Science	705	(1)
Mathematics	706	(1)
Used-Curricula and -Book Vendors	707	(1)
The Final Word: Starting in the Middle	708	(63)
APPENDICES
1. Taking an Oral History	713	(3)
2. Home-Education Organizations	716	(23)
3. National Science Competitions	739	(6)
4. Sources	745	(26)
Selected Bibliography	771	(2)
Index	773