Another Classical Education thread

[Brisen]

I'm looking for some info about classical ed (preferably websites). The Well Trained Mind is *always* on hold at our local library, but if I ever manage to get it, I'll read it.

I remember being intrigued by classical ed when I first started researching hsing (when my oldest was under a year), and thinking I had so much time before I had to start thinking about it. Then I forgot to come back to it. I would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who likes both unschooling and classical ed. I guess I'm torn between the idea that letting them learn through life and experiences etc. will foster a love of learning and they will learn what they need to learn, vs. a rigorous education with high standards and making sure they are well grounded in areas I think are important.

[suziek]

Even though it is pricey, WTM is worth buying. It's a reference you'll use again and again. Maybe you and a friend could go in for it together. I'm new at this too--my oldest is in kindergarten so now we are focusing on reading, fun math and lots of science (a favorite family subject)--but I use that book once or twice a week for one thing or another.

[Girl Named Sandoz]

I'm someone who is drawn to both classical education and the philosophy of unschooling.

I have a great book called 'Creative Homeschooling for Smart Families' by Lisa Rivero that is supportive of child-directed learning in its stance. The author discusses different appraches to home education, including unschooling/ child-directed learning, unit studies, classical education and studying individual subjects.

The book does a good job IMO of presenting a balanced picture of the advantages and disadvantages of the different appraoches, and in pointing out ways in which each approach can be tailored towards the individual child and how to support/ facilitate child-directed learning within each appraoch.

What I got from it was a positive outlook on the possibility of combining a relaxed classical approach with child-directed learning.

For instance, I like the idea of using history as the overarching framework/ time line for studying the other subjects in context. Within that framework, I think there is a lot of scope for flexibility and focussing on my son's specific interests.

[muttix2]

We're just starting out so I'm still trying to figure out what works best (for now) and while I plan to do (and am doing) classical education I'm also leaning towards a relaxed version of it. For instance my sister (14) is beginning to drift away from reading because of the books I have her reading (we're on ancient times) so I'm thinking of letting her pick the next one out (of an approved list that I give her, no "sabrina" or stuff like that). For my own kids I'd like to do classical but also unschool. Sounds crazy but what I mean is that we'll likely follow a classical approach but when they find something they like, if they choose to, they can take as long as they want to explore it. As they get older I'll let them choose the "extra" subjects that they have, etc. There's more to it than that but it is VERY early and I've not yet had coffee.

[zonapellucida]

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by Brisen

I remember being intrigued by classical ed when I first started researching hsing (when my oldest was under a year), and thinking I had so much time before I had to start thinking about it. Then I forgot to come back to it. I would be particularly interested in hearing from anyone who likes both unschooling and classical ed. I guess I'm torn between the idea that letting them learn through life and experiences etc. will foster a love of learning and they will learn what they need to learn, vs. a rigorous education with high standards and making sure they are well grounded in areas I think are important.

The Well-Trained Mind was revised in early 2004; you could probably find a copy of the original edition very inexpensively on Amazon. The revisions included updated curriculum suggestions (many books suggested in the first edition are now out of print) and new websites, but overall the feeling of the book is the same. You can get the new information from their website, as well as other classical parents.

Classical and unschooling-- I can't say that I"m drawn to unschooling, but I am drawn to what I see as the most basic tenant of unschooling: Trust that our children can and will learn. I believe in child-led learning to a great extent-- if a child is ready to learn to read, I think that they should be taught. If a child is not ready to learn to read, I don't think that attempting to teach them will work. I mean, you can coerce just about any healthy child to read at the age of four, but if they're not ready for it they're not going to read on their own for pleasure, nor will they see reading as something enjoyable and satisfying, and in my mind that's a huge tragedy. In other words, I believe that children will let you know what they're ready to learn/do and when.

So I believe that children should lead the way, and when they are ready to learn something I believe that parents (particularly home educators) should teach it to them. I like the classical curriculum becuase it offers a framework and a logical progression through not only education but through child development-- grammar, logic, rhetoric. It all makes so much *sense*. History being told as a story, starting at the beginning and working through to the present... who knew that something so simple and logical could be done with kids?! I just felt a strong resonance reading TWTM, everything just made so much sense to me and felt so right.

Here's my sole issue with the book (and it's not enough to keep me from using a classical approach): The authors imply (in some cases they outright *state*) that it's just about impossible for a child to learn anything if they're not taught. There's a strong undercurrent of "this is better than unschooling, if you really love your children you won't leave them alone to suffer and wallow in ignorance for the rest of their lives." I could see it turning a lot of people off to classical education entirely, and I think that it's really sad. Contrary to what the authors state, unschooling is not necessarily antithetical to classical education (though many unschoolers will tell you the same thing ). One can introduce new material to a child at a pace with which they are comfortable, and even ask their child to learn things which, on their own, they never would have looked for, without standing over them with a whip and forcing them to do worksheets all day long and without taking the joy of learning and the love of real life away from them. You can respect and love your child, cherish their individual spirits and pay attention to their needs and desires while implementing a classical curriculum. It may require a bit of creativity on your part (depending, of course, on your kid/s) but it certainly can be done.

[Lillian J]

Ann Zeise's "A to Z, Home's Cool" site has a whole page packed with links and things having to do with Classical Homeschooling: . TWTM is only one fish in the sea. Classical Education. Lillian

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

Contrary to what the authors state, unschooling is not necessarily antithetical to classical education (though many unschoolers will tell you the same thing ). One can introduce new material to a child at a pace with which they are comfortable, and even ask their child to learn things which, on their own, they never would have looked for, without standing over them with a whip and forcing them to do worksheets all day long and without taking the joy of learning and the love of real life away from them. You can respect and love your child, cherish their individual spirits and pay attention to their needs and desires while implementing a classical curriculum. It may require a bit of creativity on your part (depending, of course, on your kid/s) but it certainly can be done.

: Although, if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't even bother with asking that certain things be learned - that kind of learning simply isn't the same as learning that comes in a more natural way. I would, however, go ahead and introduce handwriting in the way I did - writing out a short, funny sentence in large handwriting with a colored pencil so that my son could go over it in a contrasting color. When a child is young and curious, you can introduce things without having to be coercive. If you have to be coercive, then the thing you're trying to introduce probably should be put on hold or dropped. I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record... Anyway, I think you'll enjoy Ann Zeise's classical ed page - lots of stuff in there that could be enjoyable to explore alongside a child.
- Lillian

[zonapellucida]

Lillian, you have such great links! I think I spent far too much time on finding worksheets rather than in theory.

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