PHANEROO \fan-er-o-oo\Greek: to manifest in word or deed.


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

What I'm Reading Now

This one will probably take me the rest of the summer to get through. It's called The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home written by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. Thanks to my dear friend Chris who highly recommended this book. Here's a nice summary of its purpose (Amazon website):


Two veteran home educators outline the classical pattern of education—the trivium—which organizes learning around the maturing capacity of the child's mind. With this model, you will 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.


Although I've only begun reading this epic-sized book, I can already see how it's going to give me confidence to tackle home education. Even as trained educators for institutionalized education, these authors get straight to the point by emphasizing that parents are more than capable of homeschooling their own children. There's no need to have an early childhood development or educational psychology background in order to educate your own children. I'm so glad to know that since my educational and professional background are merely a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and about 5 years with a Fortune 500 corporation. Funny how homeschooling is making me more nervous than the days when I faced a room full of business professionals or when I wrote talking points for the CEO before he gave a speech or made a company-wide announcement. How can facing my three little ones with an elementary level book with ABC's be more intimitading than that? But it truly is! I have one shot at this and I want to get it right. This is way more important to me than all the work I did with a corporation. This is lasting...this is a legacy!

I'll give a virtual back pat to the first person who can point out the misspelling on Amazon's page about this book!

8 comments:

Kristy said...

Love this book. I recently recommended it to a family member. The Well-Trained Mind is what got me really excited about homeschooling our boys. When I am having a bad day (or week or month) I get it out and read parts of it again.

Amanda said...

Looking forward to reading it, too.

Anonymous said...

"The hand that rocks the cradle..."
Our children have large tasks ahead and we should do all we can to prepare them. I applaud your determination, diligence, and vision. About the nervousness and resulting tendency to push your children and everyone else in the pursuit of that excellence, please remember that God is in control and will train them for what He has prepared them to do. Included in His "classical" education is deep experiential knowledge of hard knocks and opportunities for compassion along with Spirit led training sessions in Scripture. Sometimes you have to drop the curriculum and go with what's really happening. Pursue the well laid plan and relax because He directs our paths.

chris perkins said...
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chris perkins said...

I am so excited for you as you embark on this amazing journey! You are going to be such a great homeschool mom.
I re-read WTM every year and I learn something new every time.
If you need to see any resources, give me a holler!:)

Staci said...

hey friend....miss you!
:)

The Moody Newlyweds said...
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The Moody Newlyweds said...

I have already contacted the Illinois homeschooling, I'm definitely getting this book. Only problem is -- our baby boy isn't even BORN yet!! I think I am jumping the gun!

Still can't find any spelling errors!