The Core

Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education

By: Leigh A. Bortins

Narrated by: Laura Bos

In the past, correct spelling, the multiplication tables, the names of the state capitals and the American presidents were basics that all children were taught in school. Today, many children graduate without this 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 this book, Bortins gives parents the tools and methodology to implement a rigorous, thorough, and broad curriculum based on the classical model, including:

• 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• Reading the great books and seminal historical documents instead of adaptations and abridged editions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

©2010 Palgrave Macmillan (P)2014 Leigh A. Bortins

Awesome

This is an amazing book that has practical advice! This a turn key for classical education

Must-Read for Classical Educators

Everyone must read this. Leigh Bortins shares everything we need to know to get started educating our kids, even if we don’t homeschool! I love her ideas and inclusive perspective.

Very helpful to a new homeschooling family

I found this book incredibly helpful. While we are following the Classical Conventions curriculum, I believe this would be helpful to a homeschooling family in any curriculum.

Must read for CC Foundations parents!

If you are a Foundations parent, I strongly urge you to listen and read The Core! It thoroughly explains the Foundations program and the reasons why Leigh Bortins designed the program the way she did. So many questions (I never asked) were answered by this book! Don't wait to read it! This audiobook is a huge blessing for a busy mom like me!

LOVe this book!

Thank you Leigh for continuing to remind us of the purpose of education and with the tools you consistently equip us with as their primary, most influential teachers!

Must Listen

The classical model explained through encouraging words with wisdom, grace, excitement and hope. Must read (it listen) for all parents.

must read

a must read for parents of loved children. ask your self, what is education for?

This is the best!

I have read quite a bit about teaching in preparation for homeschooling an older child. This has by far been the most practical and helpful. Watching my own children develop, I disagree with the idea of strict stages of development because I have seen higher level thinking come and go in fits and starts all along. Also, I have seen memorization fail when not tied to some understanding or conceptual framework, so in these regards my observations are at odds with a strict classical teaching model. But that said, the sheer lack of copy work, memorization, mechanics, grammar and practice in my child’s time in public school has resulted in stalled learning and knowledge gaps that are painful to watch. “Pre-school” that I had provided for my child before kindergarten was far more classically modeled then I had realized, as the methods simply seemed like the best, and most well-tested methods to teach simple preparatory matter. It is too bad I was unable to homeschool all along, but life is winding, and best understood only in hindsight. While I don’t plan to follow the authors model perfectly, I will be incorporating and adapting many techniques and lesson plans. I bought the Audible which is wonderful and can be “read” doing other chores at whichever speed works best, but later bought the kindle version as there are many concrete lists and recommendations that I would like to refer to more purposefully and copy directly. Most home education books are very thin on actionable information. Be forewarned.

Wonderful introduction to Classical Education

Would you consider the audio edition of The Core to be better than the print version?

My answer to this question will always be yes.

What other book might you compare The Core to and why?

Douglas Wilson's "The Case for Classical Christian Education"

What does Laura Bos bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She does a good job, but the pacing was maybe a little rushed.

Any additional comments?

I loved this book. If you are thinking of homeschooling or if you want to develop healthy habits of mind for yourself or your family, this is a tremendous tool.

Excellent Overview of the Classical Model

I have a teaching degree, am a mother of six, and homeschool.

I thought this was one of the best teaching resources that I have read.

Even if you choose not to use the classical model, this book offers an excellent history and discussion of education through history and gives many insights into approaching education with your child.

This book also is a good resource for the parent of a child who is enrolled in traditional school. They are plenty of ideas that can be done with your child on evenings and weekends.