Description

The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education, written by Classical Conversations founder Leigh Bortins is everything you need to know to understand the value of homeschooling your children with a classical, Christian model.

In the past, correct spelling, the multiplication tables and the names of countries and capitals in Europe were basics that all children were taught in school. Today, many children graduate without this basic and essential knowledge. Most curricula today follow a haphazard sampling of topics with a focus on political correctness instead of teaching students how to study. Leigh Bortins, a leading figure in the homeschooling community, is having none of it. She believes that there are core areas of knowledge that are essential to master. Without knowing the multiplication tables, children can't advance to algebra. Without mastery of grammar, students will have difficulty expressing themselves. Without these essential building blocks of knowledge, students may remember information but they will never possess a broad and deep understanding of how the world works. In The Core, Bortins gives parents the tools and methodology to implement a rigorous, thorough, and broad curriculum based on the classical model, including the following:

• Rote memorization to cement knowledge
• Systematic learning of geography, historical facts, and timelines
• Reading the great books and seminal historical documents instead of adaptations and abridged editions
• Rigorous training in math and the natural sciences

What families are saying:

“The Core provides an altogether practical curriculum, a handy reference work for busy parents who want their children to enter adulthood fully equipped with the knowledge and skills possessed by responsible citizens, discerning consumers, and ethical selves.” — Mark Bauerlein, author of The Dumbest Generation

“In a time when many parents are rediscovering the classical methods of education, whether at home or in the classroom, it is heartening to see more and more educators studying, applying, and refining these methods.” — Douglas Wilson, author of The Case for Classical Christian Education