Customer Reviews

The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a home schooling mother of two and am following the classical model with my very young kids. We are actively involved in a Classical Conversations community and I absolutely love the program and hope to continue with it throughout our home schooling journey.

Leigh Bortins presents a very clear and persuasive argument for classical education, siting many examples and studies. She then goes step by step though different subject matter, explaining how the model can be implemented. She has an obvious passion for classical education that comes though in this book.

She speaks frequently of her own family, which I found helpful, for the most part. However, I came away from this book feeling rather overwhelmed. When I finished this book, my gut reaction was "Wow, I don't know if I can really do this." Whereas when I read Susan Wise Bauer's The Well-Trained Mind my reaction was "Wow, I think I can do this!"

I do recommend this book to anyone who would like to further their research on Classical Education. If you're just starting to look into it, however, I think Bauer's book is the best "jumping off" point.

I'd like to give a little background that I hope will aid in my book review. I am embarking on my 7th year of homeschooling. I have tried to classically educate my children since the beginning. After reading Susan Wise Bauer's "The Well-Trained Mind" I was excited, but thoroughly overwhelmed at how to implement all of her wonderful ideas. I struggled for 4 years on my own, and always felt as though I never accomplished all that "TWTM" laid out. At the end of each year I felt I had failed because we did not complete all that we "should have".

Then I was introduced to Classical Conversations. What a breath of fresh air! My children thrived. Our homeschool accomplished more, my children learned more, they enjoyed it more, and it required less effort on my part. THIS was what I had been struggling for four years to achieve.

This summer I read The Core. I believe this book can help many families who want to see their children truly educated, whether in the home, or in a brick and mortar school. For new homescholers, or those new to the idea of classical education, she explains classical education well and utilizes a common sense approach. The book is laid out by subject matter and shows how to encourage your children to truly learn. She also provides ideas that families who aren't homeschooling can use in their children's education.

As a veteran homeschooler, I was encouraged. This book reminded me to focus on the best things and not get distracted with good things. As a mom of multiple chidren, she encouraged me how to truly do a "one room schoolhouse", thereby simplifying my life. She has also graciously given us a glimpse into her own homeschool by laying out what has worked within her family. I appreciate that and am confident that I can implement something similar in our family.

I am new to homeschooling, I did kindergarten with my son last year and have been so stressed about the coming year. My daughter will start kindergarten (not too stressed about that) and my son will move to 1st grade. I wanted to be able to give him a strong base but had no idea how. Like so many, I knew my education (though I did very well) was lacking and didn't trust today's school districts to do better. The Core is amazing. I read The Well Trained Mind last year and it gave me a good starting point, but The Core breaks it down and makes a classical education feel manageable! I'm much less stressed about the coming school year and feel really confident that my kids are going to get the best education possible - and I'm going to learn a lot in the process!!

Leigh Bortins provides an organized guide to laying the foundations of classical education. The first part of the book contrasts the pitfalls of modern education and the benefits of a classical education. The second part of the book consists of a chapter dedicated to each of the core subjects: reading, writing, math, geography, history, science, and fine arts.

The author writes to equip and encourage parents in their quest of a quality classical education. This book is easy to read and is full of invaluable information. I will most likely read the entire book again at some point, but I can see myself looking back at particular chapters as a sort of a refresher down the road. Any parent could benefit from this book. After reading it, I am even more excited about the upcoming school year!

Bortins reviews philosophies of education which have held sway in the USA. She points out that the current educational assumptions and curricula short-change children.
She then describes the Classical "Core" Curriculum which she has used with her two pairs of kids and with countless other motivated families.
I have watched my boys memorize varied details about countless dozens of Pokeman cards, and with these cards engage their friends, all of their own volition. In "The Core" Bortins points out that kids are natural learners and they can easily memorize the basic building blocks (the "grammar") of all academic disciplines if their teacher and parents encourage them to do so. With that base of information deeply instilled, they become more successful learners and producers and thinkers at all levels.
Bortins reports that the prevailing educational theories in the West today assume that children cannot handle complexity and minutiae. Kids are treated to a superficial, self-centered curriculum which leaves them ill-prepared for an international, competitive world.

The reader gets contrasts and comparisons, credible data, and practical helps along with real-world-tested resources.

Leigh Bortins has hit the nail on the head with her new book, The Core. No matter in what educational format your child is learning--public, private, home school-- their education can be better. Leigh shares from her heart, her experience, and from a wide variety of sources. She helps the reader to see that not only has our education missed the mark, and that it should be better, she also shows the reader how our children's and our own education, CAN be better. Full of thought-provoking information and practical suggestions, this is a must read for anyone who has a child, or loves a child.

clearly written with practical advice that can be implemented at any stage and age with the proper attitude, desire and willingness to work hard and require your children to do the same. Excellent resource and encouragement from a mom who has been where I am at a done what I ought.

This book is wonderful! It doesn't matter if you are sending your child to public, private or home school, this book is a MUST for any parent/caregiver! Leigh explains why our children can't remember anything from school and gives you tools on how to implement classical education for your child's advancement. I was completely confused as to why or even WHAT classical education was, and Leigh explains that as well! I am so pleased with this book and am already seeing improvements in my daughter's attitude toward school, not to mention her school work. Thank you Leigh!! Oh, Amazon shipped this fast and the book was in perfect condition when I received it. A++!

Ms. Bortins does an excellent job of not only explaining the classical model of education, but provides realistic suggestions to easily implement it at home. Great resources are listed as well -most can be used at any age. If you are curious about classical education in general, this book will break it down for you. It might be a little overwhelming if you are completely new to the idea, but just start with a little bit of it in your homeschool program and work your way into more. Reading classical literature and discussing philosophy with the family can be a benefit whether you homeschool or not! Many of the ideas presented in the book can be implemented to undergird any type of education program for your children. Bortins shows the reader many ways of making the world your classroom -rather than simply replicating the classroom environment in your home. If you are familiar with the trivium, you're going to love this! I hope dialectic and rhetoric stage books are soon to follow!

There are a few books that I believe all parents should read, and The Core is one of them. Whether you follow the classical model exactly or simply want to incorporate some of its methods, here's a book that will get you started.

I've never been taught nor taught using the classical method; but after reading this book, I am positively intrigued. Although I don't agree with everything the author, Leigh Bortins, says, I do believe that were I to homeschool all over again, I would incorporate many of these ideas in my homeschool program. In fact, without knowing it, I actually did. The main difference between the way I educated my children and Classical Conversations is that I didn't use all "classical" literature, and I still wouldn't today. The reason: there is only so much time in a day. There are many books not considered "classics" that are worth reading, and there is some "classical" literature that I consider less than "edifying." In addition, I prefer to assign literature based on the specific needs of children. My two children were very different, and I assigned reading based on their specific abilities and interests. I included classics, as well as modern literature, nonfiction, and vocation-related, how-to books. They are now adults and have the same love of learning and thinking ability as those educated on the "classics."

As a family, we did read some "classical" literature together. As suggested in The Core, we spent time on rote memorization. We put history and science in context rather than learning isolated facts. We spent time analyzing why and how, not just filling in blanks. Had I read this book, however, I would have had even more resources from which to choose and ideas for implementing this type of instruction in my homeschool. I would have spent more time on geography, too. I love the ideas presented here on learning geography. The bottom line: The Core is a gem!

The first three chapters explain what a classical education is, why we need it, and how it can help you, whether you are a single parent, working parents, homeschooling parents, or teachers in a school. Part two describes the skills learned and how to teach them. Finally, the last chapters provide scheduling and resource ideas.

If the book sparks an interest in you for teaching a Classical education, but you have no idea where to start, look for a Classical Conversations community in your area and give it a try. That's how I would start. You can find these groups listed on Bortins' Website at [...]. Once you learn the program and how it works for you and your family, you can continue the program or spin off a program of your own that incorporates some of these same ideas. You won't be sorry you spent the time to learn the methods used in a classical education. It will only make your own program better.

Leigh Bortins is the founder and CEO of Classical Conversations, Inc. She homeschools four children.