The Well-Educated Mind...A Journey

I mentioned in my previous blog that our homeschool loosely follows Susan Wise-Baur's book The Well-Trained Mind.

She has also written a book for adults who wish to improve their minds and read challenging classic literature.   I purchased The Well-Educated Mind some time ago and fully intended to work my way through all the novels, autobiographies and poetry.  There is a recommended list of books and directions on how to read them... I got stuck on this one:

Unfortunately, this is the first book...So, I am challenging myself to read this book and blog about it.  I will be forced to complete it or be shamed in public.



Here is a short list of some of the first books in The Well-Educated Mind:

Don Quixote
Pilgrim's Progress
Gulliver's Travels
Pride and Prejudice
Oliver Twist
Jane Eyre
The Scarlett Letter

Ms. Wise-Bauer recommends reading the novels first before moving on to other genres. Anyone want to take the challenge with me?

Join the Well-Educated Mind Book Club!

Home School Review

It's that time again...Back to School.  It means something a little different for me and the girls than for most families.  Most moms are buying back to school clothes and school supplies and getting ready for a bit of freedom...

Well, our school clothes consist mostly of PJ's and our school supply list is quite a bit longer than most. 


This year's curriculum consists of:


Little Girl

Math-U-See Beta
Singapore Math 2A and 2B
Growing With Grammar 3
Institute for Excellence in Writing
History Odyssey
Singapore Science Early Bird
Trail Guide to World Geography
Spelling Power
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Art-Meet the Masters


Big Girl

Math-U-See Zeta
Singapore Math 5A and 5B
Singapore Science 5A and 5B
Trail Guide to World Geography
History Odyssey
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Institute for Excellence in Writing
IEW Grammar Fix-Its
Art-Meet the Masters
Life of Fred-Fractions

My new favorite book is Life of Fred Fractions...I'm not sure you could call it a full-year curriculum.  More of a supplement.  It is a humerous, fun look at math with quick assignments.  It reads like a story book.  Big Girl has really been enjoying it and did 3 chapters in one day.  I highly recommend for ALL students.  It begins at Fractions for about 4th or 5th grade and goes up to higher math.  Some of the books have a Home Companion for extra practice.  http://www.stanleyschmidt.com/FredGauss/index2.html

I am also really looking forward to History Odyssey.  We are covering Early Modern Times.  We will be doing lots of projects and using quality literature of the era. 

We loosely follow the classical model of homeschooling.  I follow the advice of Susan Wise-Bauer of the Well-Trained-Mind.  I use a lot of her recommendations with a few adapations of my own.

Looking forward to another great year!