The Well-Trained Mind MP3 CD – Audiobook, July 5, 2016

My kids are in public schools, and I'm using WTM to do a home enrichment program. Kids are 6 and 9.I give this 4.5 stars. As this is well-reviewed, and I agree with most of the positive reviews, I'll start with my one big CON.The recommendations for early science curriculum are straight-up garbage. My husband is a science professor at an Ivy, and I have a strong STEM background. While I appreciate the idea behind connecting the science and history curriculum, it doesn't really work from a education standpoint. Kids are terrific observers at this early age, but less good at abstract thought. IMO, the Montessori curriculum is far stronger at utilizing a child's basic kinesthetic and observational strengths. The author here recommends starting with bio, then earth science, then chemistry, then physics. IMO, it should work in the opposite direction. Of these topics, physics and chemistry are the ones that lend themselves most to observation and concrete work. Chemistry, inasmuch as external observation reflects things like "atoms" and other abstract ideas, is less appropriate than physics. Compare these to the body (for example), where there are few experiments you can reasonably execute. A chlid must take on faith that what she is learning is real.If one were learning merely about science history (which is also appropriate), then the author's choices would make more sense. But it's perhaps one of the most foundational aspects of education to learn how to ask, observe, and understand. Something like simple machines, basic forces and motion, etc., lend themselves far better to experimentation and learning by observing. I do like the recommendations for memory-work.(I will say, this is hardly unique to WTM. The only early-education science curriculum that really addresses this issue is Montessori. So, I only take off half a star for it.)Outside of that critique, I found the book very adaptable and useful. Some things that others haven't talked about as much:- The book is optimistic about learning. The author presumes children learn, and the book imbued me with confidence in my ability to teach my children, and for them to learn some pretty complicated things. I'd probably be considered a relatively educated person, but I recognize some holes in my education, and in some cases, I've been learning along with my kids. She suggests lots of curriculum that can be bought, but also gives great recommendations for using free and cheap resources. Overall, there's a sense of "I can do this" about the book. She is honest, however, that this is an assertive program, pretty much the opposite of unschooling, and it's information-led rather than child-led.- The book does a good job of sorting out religious v. secular resources. I'm a Christian myself, as is the author, but I'm not evangelical, and I prefer my church-learning to be separate. THere are so many homeschool resources now, that it's not always easy to find. She seems often to prefer Christian resources, but she always makes note of it, and gives secular alternatives.- The author IMO correctly understands that the act of reading, the act of writing, composition, and other language arts, do not always develop on the same time-line. I like that she talks about separating these, so that a child struggling with the act of writing will not necessarily be held back in narration and composition, etc. I have a son with high-functioning ADHD, and her suggestions helped unpack his dislike of composition as an issue of handwriting rather than composition.- While this book has a reputation as being somewhat strict and inflexible, I didn't find it that way, perhaps because I went into it intending to adapt the materials to my own use. My impression of her philosophy is that it's important for children to develop confidence with language and math, and, espeically as to language, that leaning on audio-visual material is a mistake. I suspect her feeling is that it's easy to get lazy about this, or to forget that at the end of the day, children must have confidence with the written word. Personally, I occasionally use online interactive materials and very occasionally use documentaries for the history curriculum, but only AFTER beginning with reading and talking. Once I feel like my kids have a strong connection to the material, I don't mind letting them increase their knowledge by watching a documentary. I don't think the author's point is that videos are terrible, only that children need to work toward confidence with language as a primary source of information. In my family, serious restriction of media means that my kids view media as a treat rather than a meal.Finally, I found this book useful for my needs as a part-timer. I don't use that many of the resources she suggests, but I've used the overall structure and organization of material. I was a bit overwhelmed before I read this, in terms of not feeling like I could be thorough, particularly with history and language arts. As to history, I did end up using the author's history series (which is excellent, with some qualifications), and used her suggested literature list (tied to the history series), which has been excellent. For math, I used the information she gave on math programs to choose a program that she did not suggest.. but her suggestions made it easier to figure out what I cared about for math systems.Overall, outside the science chapter, I think this is a useful book. It gives a sense of scope, and has a lot of information on what sorts of choices you might make.

I really didn't think I was going to like this book. I guess I thought a classical education sounded stiff and boring. But a page or two into this book, I realized that I completely agreed with the authors about how to teach children, and how they learn. When they described teaching your child to read, I realized it was exactly the way I taught my kids -- a method that worked great! This book is very thorough for those who are starting homeschooling and wondering how to do it. I really appreciated the section on high school and grading, and how to apply for colleges. My eldest is still just in sixth grade, but I think it's good to be prepared, especially since I plan to homeschool her through high school. It helped encourage my husband, too, with our decision to do this because he could see how homeschooling will not put her at an academic disadvantage -- by any means.This book is definitely an excellent reference for those considering the homeschool option because it lays everything out so clearly. I appreciated how the authors give different options for curriculum, and highlight the strengths and weaknesses therein.Still, I do have some issues with TWTM, especially now that I've been using it for a year. I disagree with teaching Latin. I see the point the authors are making about why it's important, but I think it's much more valuable to teach living languages. The spelling workbooks we are using provide background on where words come from, and I think that as my children learn languages such as French or Spanish, they will be able to find the patterns and the Latin base.I also don't know, having done science this way this year, if TWTM's got the best plan. My eldest especially wants to have more of a book to study. We're doing what they recommended and using science kits and library books, etc., but have had terrible luck with the kits that were recommended by the authors. So many times I've had to say, "So what this experiment was supposed to demonstrate is..." which doesn't seem to me like a good way to teach science. Also, I don't think that teaching just one subject (i.e. physics one year, chemistry one year, etc.) for the whole year is that great of an idea because it can get... well, a bit boring after a while. My kids, four years apart, have both been working on Earth Science/ Astronomy this year. They are growing weary of it. Granted the year's almost over, but I can't count the times they've said, "Can we plant something for science?" or "When are we going to study... (some living organism, or a human body issue)?" They are really inquisitive and do lots of reading outside of school, but it would be nice if that work counted for their work this year.Basically, though, my biggest critique is with some of the suggestions the authors make for curriculum. As I mentioned, the science kits have been disastrous. But also, when I was trying to decide what encyclopedia to get for my 6th grader's history, I found that the authors' suggestions were not the best-reviewed. We have liked Saxon Math, but the Language Arts I've been doing with my 2nd grader (Primary Language Lessons) is not one I plan to use for my youngest -- at least not when she's in 2nd grade (maybe 1st, we'll see...). But that's another review. It's interesting, though, because I've spoken with a good friend who is thinking of starting TWTM with her pre-K son, and she has had the same feelings about the suggestions.Anyway, this is a valuable starting point. But I think that in the coming years, we're going to tailor it to meet our needs and interests a little better.

Great book if you are interested in Classical Education program. I do not homeschool my children but do a lot of extra activities after school with them. I follow Classical Conversations method and focus on grammar/maths/reading/writing. This book is great and gives a detailed content and how to apply the method. I cannot recommend enough.

This has been like a bible to me. I have not followed it to the letter but its guidance has been invaluable. I refer back to it when I feel like I am losing my way and it puts me back on track. It can be used verbatum - very comprehensive, or as a general guide. Glean from it what you want. Curriculum/source suggestions. Have recommended it and will do again.(Whilst it is faith based it does not push faith in any way and can be used for non-christians just as well.)

This book never fails to amazes me. So far whatever I have followed until my child's age... has worked wonders. So excited to use this as a guidance to support my child's education. Includes loads of references for texts to buy to support the child's learning....

I'm using this book for home schooling. It's really well written and a good grammar book. It explains points well. However, you will still need other additional resources to supplement it.

As someone exploring the option of a Classical Education, this book was a real gem. A must buy for anyone interested in some specifics re. this approach.