The final word: Starting in the Middle

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Cornell Notes

Main Notes

  • The chapter provides guidance on how to start homeschooling a child who is beyond the early elementary years
  • It's generally better to quickly review foundational materials before moving to grade-level content
  • The Resources section in each chapter offers information on teaching/learning tools
  • The book provides suggestions for starting various subjects 'in the middle' throughout its chapters
  • For reading difficulties, start with a beginning primer to review basic phonics
  • Many children struggle with reading due to lack of phonics instruction
  • Phonics is sometimes used remedially even in whole-language approach schools
  • Grammar programs can usually be started at grade level, as they typically review previous material
  • Students struggling with writing should begin with dictation and narration exercises, regardless of age
  • Math placement can be determined by grade level or diagnostic tests offered by most programs
  • Logic should always be started at the lowest level and progress from there
  • Latin is recommended as the first foreign language for at least a year, unless there's interest in a specific modern language
  • History can be started at any year, using age-appropriate resources and continuing chronologically
  • Science can be chosen to fit into the curriculum as desired
  • The Great Books curriculum can be started in any year and progress to the present
  • Research papers should only be introduced when a student is ready, after completing systematic grammar and short writing assignments
  • It's acceptable to delay research papers until 11th or 12th grade if catch-up work is needed
  • For homeschooling multiple children, individual work is recommended for math, grammar, writing, spelling, and vocabulary
  • Content areas like history, science, and reading can be synchronized for children of different ages
  • When teaching multiple children, use materials of differing complexity for the same subject
  • Older students should be required to do more writing, read more difficult texts, and create more complex outlines
  • The number of times a student goes through the four-year history cycle doesn't significantly impact academic achievement
  • The appendix provides a simplified version of an Oral History Interview Outline
  • The oral history outline is adapted from the Charles City County Historical Society
  • The oral history interview should record the interviewer's name, date, time, and place
  • The interviewee's name and general description should be recorded
  • The oral history questions cover topics such as birth, childhood memories, schooling, leisure activities, health, and transportation
  • The oral history questions are designed to capture personal experiences and historical context
  • The oral history outline provides a structured approach to gathering personal and social history
  • The inclusion of an oral history outline suggests the importance of preserving personal narratives in classical education

Cue Column

  • How does one determine the starting point for a child entering homeschooling at a later grade?
  • Why is reviewing foundational materials important when starting 'in the middle'?
  • What is the significance of phonics in reading instruction?
  • How should writing instruction be approached for struggling students?
  • What factors should be considered when placing a student in a math program?
  • Why is Latin recommended as a first foreign language in classical education?
  • How can history and science instruction be managed for multiple children of different ages?
  • What prerequisites should a student meet before starting a research paper?
  • How can parents balance individual and group instruction when homeschooling multiple children?
  • What is the purpose of including an oral history outline in a classical education guide?
  • How does the approach to teaching multiple subjects differ for children of different ages?
  • What is the significance of the four-year history cycle in classical education?
  • How can parents adapt the curriculum for children at different levels studying the same subject?
  • Why might delaying the introduction of research papers be beneficial for some students?
  • How does the book suggest balancing the needs of multiple children in a homeschool setting?
  • What role does logic play in the classical education curriculum?
  • How does the book address the challenge of starting a classical education 'in the middle'?
  • What is the importance of diagnostic tests in placing students in appropriate levels?
  • How does the book suggest approaching the Great Books curriculum?
  • What insights can be gained from conducting an oral history interview?

Summary

This chapter from 'The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home' addresses the challenge of beginning a classical homeschooling curriculum with older children who are beyond the early elementary years. The authors provide a comprehensive set of guidelines for parents to navigate this transition across various subjects, emphasizing the importance of establishing a strong foundation even when 'starting in the middle.'

The chapter stresses the significance of reviewing foundational materials in subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics. It suggests that for students struggling with reading, returning to basic phonics instruction can be beneficial, regardless of age. The authors recommend starting grammar at grade level, as most programs include review sections. For writing, they advocate beginning with fundamental exercises like dictation and narration for students who find writing challenging.

In subjects like history, science, and the Great Books curriculum, the authors provide flexibility, allowing parents to begin at any point and progress chronologically or thematically from there. They emphasize using age-appropriate resources and adjusting the complexity of assignments based on the student's level. The chapter also offers guidance on when to introduce more advanced skills, such as research paper writing, suggesting that it's acceptable to delay these until high school if necessary.

For families homeschooling multiple children, the chapter provides strategies for managing instruction across different age groups. It suggests keeping certain subjects (like math and grammar) individualized while synchronizing others (like history and science) to streamline the teaching process. This approach allows parents to teach the same general content to multiple children while adjusting the depth and complexity for each child's level.

The inclusion of an oral history interview outline in the appendix underscores the importance of primary sources and personal narratives in a classical education. This practical tool not only serves as a resource for history projects but also emphasizes the value of connecting academic learning with real-world experiences and family histories.

Overall, the chapter provides a flexible and practical approach to implementing a classical education curriculum for older beginners, emphasizing the importance of strong foundations, individualized instruction, and the integration of various subjects and skills.

Action Items

    • Review basic phonics for reading difficulties
    • Begin grammar programs at grade level
    • Start with dictation and narration exercises for writing
    • Use diagnostic tests to determine math level
    • Begin with the lowest level of logic

    • Consider Latin as the first foreign language
    • Select a starting point for history and progress chronologically
    • Choose a science subject that fits into your curriculum
    • Begin Great Books curriculum at any year and progress to the present
    • Delay research paper until grammar and writing skills are sufficient

    • Keep individual, grade-level work for math, grammar, writing, spelling, and vocabulary
    • Synchronize content areas (history, science, reading) for different age groups
    • Adjust difficulty and expectations for older students in synchronized subjects

    • Prepare interview logistics (record interviewer name, date, time, place)
    • Ask questions about personal history (birth, childhood, education)
    • Inquire about historical events and their impact (wars, social movements, technological changes)
    • Explore personal experiences (marriage, children, career)
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