The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home, Revised and Updated Edition

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.

Although I had a little trouble with the idea of teaching very formal academics to a younger child, I liked the progressive nature of the Trivium, I liked the clear structure of the curriculum, and the extensive resource lists, and I liked the emphasis on classical works. The trivium, as she states, is language-based and not image based, so there is very little hands-on and art and music mentioned. I think the problem with this approach is if you have a child with another type of learning style. There is a lot of reading and writing. It may not work well with all kids. I also note that there is little if any discussion on how to teach multiple children, or where to start if you don't do this from the beginning, and a lack of discussion in building loving family relationships. It sounds like 12 years of academics with little time for much else. I think if you use this book, you need to soften the process with good relationship building and family skills.

The principle is this: The first years, grades 1 through 4 are the "grammar" stage where the mind is supplied with facts and images (rules of grammar, math facts, phonics, poems, songs, stories in literature and history). And I was glad to see that these four years were just an introduction to facts, not a deep delving. Then, the"logic" stages, in grades 5-8 where the child is given tools to logically organize those facts (including learning outlining, paragraph constructions, organizing skills and analysis) , and the third stage is the "rhetoric" stage, grades 9-12 where the child is equipped to express conclusions forcefully.

The other part of this process is the repetition ever four years. The first ,5,th and 9 th grades study the Ancient times (4000 B.C - 400 AD) and the grades 2, 6, 10 study the Medieval and Early Renaissance (400 AD - 1600 AD) , and the grades 3, 7, 11 study the Late Renaissance and Early Modern (1600-1850)and the Modern to Present times is studied in grades 4, 8, 12. The science is divided also this way: The first time period is Biology and Human body and Classification (Ancients), the second is Earth Science and Astronomy (Medieval times), the third time is Chemistry (Late Renaissance), and the Modern times studies physics and computer science. History is studied with the same four time periods, as is the literature. Everything in a whole year follows the time period. After four years, you repeat the cycle, but with more emphasis on analysis and logic and creativity.

A couple of other things she says: she believes that peer socialization should not take such a precedence in children's lives. That family and neighbors should come first. She doesn't believe in dating in high school. She does throw her personal ethics in here a lot. She also says that children can learn to do more than we think. We can challenge them. She has a lot to say about the literataure and movies that most educators let our kids use for academics. She has a section on testing, transcripts, lists of resources, how to use certain books and resources, complete step by step ideas on developing notebooks, how to prepare the mind to think. I think this book is very good, BUT, like other homeschooling books, it could make you feel inadequate as a homeschooling parent. ON the other hand, if you need some guidance on classical studies, and want someone to lay out a good curriculum for you complete with resources, this is a good book to own.


One blueprint for achieving academic excellence   April 2, 2000
 295 out of 306 found this review helpful

My family long ago adopted a "so many books, so little time" approach to learning. If you and your family are also stimulated by great books, the lessons of history, the wonders of science, and the magic of learning another language, then you will discover treasures in this volume, to say nothing of superb recommendations for mastering a program of academic excellence. Jessie Wise has assembled THE reference book for people who choose to blend the best of family-centered, home-based learning with a rigorous quest for academic excellence. Her own experience is obviously Christian in perspective, but, where appropriate, she presents excellent alternatives for secular homeschoolers in her year-by-year approach to classical education, including books, schedules, and resources. So stop wandering the library, bookstores, teacher supply stores, and Internet. Save yourself time and money by referring to the meticulously researched resource lists presented in The Well-Trained Mind. (Note that movements exist within movements, and homeschooling is no exception. Unschoolers, school-at-homers, unit study devotees, John Holt fans - the list goes on and on, and the dissension among the ranks grows louder (and nastier) as each submovement asserts its preferences and points its finger at the shortcomings of the others. But while Wise's book is decidedly not one for those who subscribe to pure child-led learning and unschooling, she does not denigrate the choices these homeschoolers make.)


Homeschooling for the rest of us   November 29, 1999
 189 out of 211 found this review helpful

The Well Trained MInd describes a system of home education reminiscent of old-fashioned tutor systems drawing on classical literature and subject matter, including the early study of logic and Latin for 'building the mind.' It will appeal to parents (and students) already interested in an early, firm start in math and reading and its practical ordering of subject areas with precise resource recommendations. It may offend parents concerned about 'the hurried child' syndrome and who would rather 'let kids be kids' a little longer. It is possible that the success the authors describe with themselves and others is due to other factors not carefully studied, such as high motivation and high intelligence. (In fact, the other two children in the family are not described much; it may be that they turned out like Susan (the daughter, product of this program) & the authors are merely protecting their privacy. Still, as a reader, I wondered how the siblings turned out.) It may offend parents concerned about overly-coercive 'programming' of the young child into a highly academic, studious life. Although the Wises certainly tout the importance of early attention to art and music, there is some risk here of over-emphasis on the three R's. Its greatest appeal is perhaps its emphasis on drawing on the whole cycle of human history, from the dawn of Man to the present. Devotees of Ed Hirsch ('Cultural Literacy') will highly appreciate the emphasis on keystones of human culture. Children who successfully follow this program would indeed turn out firmly grounded in 'culture.' Because this is a home education program, families of different backgrounds might choose to emphasize different cultures as focal points although such resources could be harder to find. The central focus of the Wises' program is identifiably Western European but perhaps one must forgive them this unfortunate necessity--is it bias? That could be argued elsewhere. They point out that it is a family's job to incorporate the subject matter of faith and religion & otherwise shy away from prescribing in this area except to include it in the schedule. I appreciated this ecumenical view. Parents timid about homeschooling will appreciate the explicit timeframe described in terms of age; school grade; and daily, weekly, yearly overviews. But one could easily feel intimidated by the caliber of the academics--you'll be looking for a Latin tutor, music teachers, etc., as needed. The program itself appeals to me personally; I was already doing similar activities with my children. However, we follow a more 'Attachment Parenting' lifestyle. So we will not follow the Wises' recommendation of using cribs and naptimes to secure home-education time. We will take a more relaxed approach while incorporating some of their ideas. The danger is always that some parents will go whole-hog without being willing to reject unsuitable portions. I hope readers will be critical and astute, choose what they need, and tailor the Wises' recommendations to fit their family, not vice-versa. One more caveat: I was raised in a very similar fashion to this strict 'classical' approach. Although I welcome the idea of seeing more young adults turn out highly educated in history, logic, and language skills, it is an awkward fit with today's society that fosters quite different values. To choose this program or homeschooling at all, parents need to be responsible about supporting their children through some awkward years of figuring out how to fit in with a world (i.e., beyond college) that has run amok with very different values and ideas.


Rigorous AND Fun   December 11, 2004
 103 out of 109 found this review helpful

Wow... some funny reviews below. I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend whose homeschooled Kindergartner loves learning and has been reading for close to two years. I've been an English teacher for ten years and have grown increasingly disenchanted with both public and private schools; I've watched bright, creative, passionate young people have the love of learning sucked out of them by a flawed and over-burdened system, or, worse, fall between the cracks because they have learning differences, despite the fact that they have amazing minds.

To the readers who assert that this book is for rigid, obsessive parents, I would urge them to read it again. It's not about rigidity, but about fostering excellence, which does take some hard work. I'm sure that this style of homeschooling is not for every child and every family, but it provides hundreds of resources, and I think there's something here for everyone. Granted, if you're not interested in a Classical approach, you may want to look elsewhere. But I would urge you to consider it, even if it sounds foreign or daunting.

And now for my snotty asides: the reviews that are rife with spelling and grammar errors, and insist that the methods in this book are too demanding for children, are a bit hard to take seriously, you know? Other reviews are clearly written by parents who are intimidated because of how little education they themselves have... but the wonderful thing about homeschooling is that you get to learn WITH your children. It should be exciting to you, and if it's scary to confront all of the science, math, history and literature that you don't know, so much the better! Don't we want to teach our children to seek knowledge, and to try things that are difficult? And what better way to do that than to model it ourselves? If you are a lifelong learner, your children will be too.

I have the greatest respect for those deeply religious Christians who indicated that while this book has much to offer, it's lacking in religious education, and they make up for on their own with Biblical study, many of whom include Biblical languages in said study.

I have less respect for the reviewers who are worried that the lessons of those evil Pagan Greeks (their words, not mine) will teach their children to question. Here's my favorite quote from a reviewer below: "I pray God will open the blind eyes of those lusting after intelectualism (note the spelling error) and lead them to True Wisdom of God! What good is Homer and Shakespeare to the soul?"

What good is Homer and Shakespeare to the soul!?! Don't you actually mean What good ARE Homer and Shakespeare to the soul? I don't even know how to begin to answer that. It's a clear case of "If you have to ask..."

I begin to see why literacy rates amongst the middle class are declining, and most high school students will never take Calculus. Buy the book if you're a homeschooler or teacher interested in educating thoughtful, interesting, interested critical thinkers.


The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!   August 29, 1999
 82 out of 83 found this review helpful

People choose to teach their children at home for many reasons. If you are running away from a formal school environment because you don't like "rigidity," then perhaps the system described in this book is not for you.

If, on the other hand, you are contemplating teaching your children at home because public (and even private) traditional schools have watered down the content of your children's academic learning, and you truly want to give your child a world-class education at home in the classical tradition, you need look no further than this remarkable resource.

The authors have compiled a complete list of what to teach, where to find the resources with which to teach it, and, if you need it, some suggestions for working out a schedule that will accomplish it all (The authors acknowledge that the schedules in the book won't work for all families, but are merely meant to be examples).

Mind you, this book describes a system of rigorous education that requires dedication on the part of both parent and student. Any parent who has chosen to homeschool their children, though, already has proven that they have the necessary dedication to follow this program. The authors do not give credence to popular notions that children need watered-down, video- and photographically-enhanced stimuli to learn. They encourage parents to teach their children to read early, read constantly, and eventually to learn to search for answers to questions on their own. Children of the video age may find it difficult at first to actively learn, but if they are to be well and truly educated, and become lifetime learners, they cannot learn any other way.

You can use this book in many ways. If you want an all-encompassing guide, complete with suggested schedules, the authors have included them. The beauty of home education, however, is that you have the freedom to modify your curriculum.

So, what if there is a fabulous exhibit at your local art museum, but doesn't fit into the historical period you're studying that year? You go! You CAN go because even the rigorous program described in this book takes far less time than children typically spend in school and doing homework. What if your child has passion for art or dinosaurs? At home, you have the freedom to allow their exploration without sacrificing any other component of their education. Because even if you do everything described in the book, you'll still be finished with time to spare for these "passions."

But if you don't give your child the education described in this book, how will they ever have enough information about their world to know what they truly are passionate about?

Jessie Wise and her daughter, Susan Wise Bauer have been living the homeschool experience for more than 25 years, first as Jessie taught Susan and her other children, and now as Susan teaches her three children. There are few families in America that have this kind of experience from which to draw. I am using this book as the core of my homeschool curriculum (in fact, have used the program for a full year already, having used Mrs. Wise as our curriculum consultant before the book came out), and highly recommend it to parents who choose to homeschool to ensure that their children receive a quality education -- one that is simply not available in public (and even good private) schools anymore.