Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

How did they do it? Now you'll know!, 01 Jan 2009
The Duggar's have recently welcomed their eighteenth child into the world. Since making their television debut with "14 Kids and Counting" so many questions have surrounded Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar regarding their large family. How do they cope and how do they pay for it all?

In their book "20 and Counting..." they talk openly about their journey. From how they met, their wedding and their decision to leave the matter of how many children they were to have in the hands of God after initially being users of birth control, to how they worked and purposed to become debt free and stay out of debt resulting in their frugal lifestyle repaying them with the ability to build their own fantastic home completely debt free.

My husband and I, as parents of soon to be eight children, found this book very interesting and inspiring, not only with their financial management and organisational tips but also with their honesty regarding their faith, struggles and highlights of raising a large family.

If you are at all curious or interested in how they manage to raise their family debt free and in the general day to day questions surrounding a household of so many you will enjoy this book. Excellent!

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

How did they do it? Now you'll know!, 01 Jan 2009
The Duggar's have recently welcomed their eighteenth child into the world. Since making their television debut with "14 Kids and Counting" so many questions have surrounded Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar regarding their large family. How do they cope and how do they pay for it all?

In their book "20 and Counting..." they talk openly about their journey. From how they met, their wedding and their decision to leave the matter of how many children they were to have in the hands of God after initially being users of birth control, to how they worked and purposed to become debt free and stay out of debt resulting in their frugal lifestyle repaying them with the ability to build their own fantastic home completely debt free.

My husband and I, as parents of soon to be eight children, found this book very interesting and inspiring, not only with their financial management and organisational tips but also with their honesty regarding their faith, struggles and highlights of raising a large family.

If you are at all curious or interested in how they manage to raise their family debt free and in the general day to day questions surrounding a household of so many you will enjoy this book. Excellent!




Latin Without Tears- an excellent introduction to the language, 08 Jul 2008
I shall endeavour to keep this review concise, and to the point, with the absolute beginner in mind.

As an adult, who wasn't 'fortunate' enough to have gone to a private school as a child, I never had the opportunity to study the wonderful language that is Latin. There are many introductory books available to purchase, and lots of information to be had via the World Wide Web.

What makes this book stand out then?

Well, it provides a sound foundation from which to build upon; and does it in a way that is accessible, interesting, and above all effective. The author guides the student in a logical, and methodical manner; no pretentiousness nor stuffiness! This book makes learning Latin FUN, not a chore, and is certainly not boring. The layout is clear, and motivational. He has been kind enough to make available, free of charge, aural supplementary material (including invaluable pronunciation examples) that is available for download, from his website (is ~436MB enough for you?)- wow. In this day and age, how many authors would do that?

For more detailed reviews, visit Mr Linney's personal website: 'gettingstartedwithlatin' (surprisingly(!)). My review here is just to let ordinary fellow mortals know that this book is an excellent introduction to such a wonderful language. 'Homeschooling isn't exactly encouraged in the (Dis-)United Kingdom, but there is nothing to stop a motivated parent from giving the gift of Latin to his (or her) child(ren)...


The author replied to my email (very quickly indeed(!)) when I thanked him for the material that is available from his website- he remarked that he loves Latin, and is pleased to have been able to make it accessible.

He certainly has done...

Excellent Book!, 18 Feb 2008
I'm home educating my 13 yr old twins and we love Latin because of this book. It's really easy to use, even for someone like me who never had the opportunity to learn Latin before. It never goes too fast and leaves you lost like the other materials we have tried do. It's also really well supported with a lovely website allowing you to hear pronunciation - and we love the author's accent! It's clearly and spaciously laid out. I wish all language books were like this!

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

How did they do it? Now you'll know!, 01 Jan 2009
The Duggar's have recently welcomed their eighteenth child into the world. Since making their television debut with "14 Kids and Counting" so many questions have surrounded Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar regarding their large family. How do they cope and how do they pay for it all?

In their book "20 and Counting..." they talk openly about their journey. From how they met, their wedding and their decision to leave the matter of how many children they were to have in the hands of God after initially being users of birth control, to how they worked and purposed to become debt free and stay out of debt resulting in their frugal lifestyle repaying them with the ability to build their own fantastic home completely debt free.

My husband and I, as parents of soon to be eight children, found this book very interesting and inspiring, not only with their financial management and organisational tips but also with their honesty regarding their faith, struggles and highlights of raising a large family.

If you are at all curious or interested in how they manage to raise their family debt free and in the general day to day questions surrounding a household of so many you will enjoy this book. Excellent!




Latin Without Tears- an excellent introduction to the language, 08 Jul 2008
I shall endeavour to keep this review concise, and to the point, with the absolute beginner in mind.

As an adult, who wasn't 'fortunate' enough to have gone to a private school as a child, I never had the opportunity to study the wonderful language that is Latin. There are many introductory books available to purchase, and lots of information to be had via the World Wide Web.

What makes this book stand out then?

Well, it provides a sound foundation from which to build upon; and does it in a way that is accessible, interesting, and above all effective. The author guides the student in a logical, and methodical manner; no pretentiousness nor stuffiness! This book makes learning Latin FUN, not a chore, and is certainly not boring. The layout is clear, and motivational. He has been kind enough to make available, free of charge, aural supplementary material (including invaluable pronunciation examples) that is available for download, from his website (is ~436MB enough for you?)- wow. In this day and age, how many authors would do that?

For more detailed reviews, visit Mr Linney's personal website: 'gettingstartedwithlatin' (surprisingly(!)). My review here is just to let ordinary fellow mortals know that this book is an excellent introduction to such a wonderful language. 'Homeschooling isn't exactly encouraged in the (Dis-)United Kingdom, but there is nothing to stop a motivated parent from giving the gift of Latin to his (or her) child(ren)...


The author replied to my email (very quickly indeed(!)) when I thanked him for the material that is available from his website- he remarked that he loves Latin, and is pleased to have been able to make it accessible.

He certainly has done...

Excellent Book!, 18 Feb 2008
I'm home educating my 13 yr old twins and we love Latin because of this book. It's really easy to use, even for someone like me who never had the opportunity to learn Latin before. It never goes too fast and leaves you lost like the other materials we have tried do. It's also really well supported with a lovely website allowing you to hear pronunciation - and we love the author's accent! It's clearly and spaciously laid out. I wish all language books were like this!

THE WELL EDUCATED MIND, 12 Jun 2006
As a product of the stultifying 1960's - '70's comprehensive education system, books such as these form the blade that helps me cut my mind out of the belittling strait jacket imposed by short sighted and begrudging public 'educationalists. Truly a wind of change.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

How did they do it? Now you'll know!, 01 Jan 2009
The Duggar's have recently welcomed their eighteenth child into the world. Since making their television debut with "14 Kids and Counting" so many questions have surrounded Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar regarding their large family. How do they cope and how do they pay for it all?

In their book "20 and Counting..." they talk openly about their journey. From how they met, their wedding and their decision to leave the matter of how many children they were to have in the hands of God after initially being users of birth control, to how they worked and purposed to become debt free and stay out of debt resulting in their frugal lifestyle repaying them with the ability to build their own fantastic home completely debt free.

My husband and I, as parents of soon to be eight children, found this book very interesting and inspiring, not only with their financial management and organisational tips but also with their honesty regarding their faith, struggles and highlights of raising a large family.

If you are at all curious or interested in how they manage to raise their family debt free and in the general day to day questions surrounding a household of so many you will enjoy this book. Excellent!




Latin Without Tears- an excellent introduction to the language, 08 Jul 2008
I shall endeavour to keep this review concise, and to the point, with the absolute beginner in mind.

As an adult, who wasn't 'fortunate' enough to have gone to a private school as a child, I never had the opportunity to study the wonderful language that is Latin. There are many introductory books available to purchase, and lots of information to be had via the World Wide Web.

What makes this book stand out then?

Well, it provides a sound foundation from which to build upon; and does it in a way that is accessible, interesting, and above all effective. The author guides the student in a logical, and methodical manner; no pretentiousness nor stuffiness! This book makes learning Latin FUN, not a chore, and is certainly not boring. The layout is clear, and motivational. He has been kind enough to make available, free of charge, aural supplementary material (including invaluable pronunciation examples) that is available for download, from his website (is ~436MB enough for you?)- wow. In this day and age, how many authors would do that?

For more detailed reviews, visit Mr Linney's personal website: 'gettingstartedwithlatin' (surprisingly(!)). My review here is just to let ordinary fellow mortals know that this book is an excellent introduction to such a wonderful language. 'Homeschooling isn't exactly encouraged in the (Dis-)United Kingdom, but there is nothing to stop a motivated parent from giving the gift of Latin to his (or her) child(ren)...


The author replied to my email (very quickly indeed(!)) when I thanked him for the material that is available from his website- he remarked that he loves Latin, and is pleased to have been able to make it accessible.

He certainly has done...

Excellent Book!, 18 Feb 2008
I'm home educating my 13 yr old twins and we love Latin because of this book. It's really easy to use, even for someone like me who never had the opportunity to learn Latin before. It never goes too fast and leaves you lost like the other materials we have tried do. It's also really well supported with a lovely website allowing you to hear pronunciation - and we love the author's accent! It's clearly and spaciously laid out. I wish all language books were like this!

THE WELL EDUCATED MIND, 12 Jun 2006
As a product of the stultifying 1960's - '70's comprehensive education system, books such as these form the blade that helps me cut my mind out of the belittling strait jacket imposed by short sighted and begrudging public 'educationalists. Truly a wind of change.

History at it's best, 19 Jul 2008
I am home schooling and bought this book 6 months ago to teach history to my 6 year old. I have not been disappointed. He has really enjoyed learning about the Egyptians and how much a part the River Nile played in their initial survival. I would recommend buying the activity book that is used alongside this as we have enjoyed making scrolls, writing hieroglyphs, making pyramid models and a makeshift river nile in the garden. I don't think I would have come up with these ideas on my own! The two definitely go hand in hand. The activity book is "The Story of the World: Ancient Times Bk. 1 [Paperback] by Wise, Bauer S". It took me a while to decide from the amazon search results which one it was as it's not labelled as an activity book.

An excellent starting point for history, 02 Sep 2006
This book is brilliantly written in a direct and child friendly way. It is written in the 'voice' of a story teller, asking the children for their points of view throughout. It assumes you are reading to your child/grandchild and interacting. This book is aimed at children between the ages of five and nine and so don't be put off by the advanced nature of the subject (including Sumerians and other cultures not well served by children's books usually). Although, having studied history of art at university, after only covering sciences at school, I would have loved this book to give me the background in history which I pretended to have.
There is an accompanying activity book which has maps, puzzles, plenty of colouring, some fantastic activities (such as mummyfying a chicken), and some excellent book refernces to take the child's interest further. It is worth buying if you are home educating or have a long summer holiday.
This book would be wonderful as a stand alone book for children who are missing out on the pleasure of history at school. Unlike the 'Horrible Histories' which people give their children to try and make history fun, try this book which gives children a geniuine pleasure in 'real' history.

All the bits that primary schools miss., 23 Feb 2006
I am home educating my children and first learned of this book through 'Well Trained Mind". It is designed for use with children aged about 6 (American first grade). The book is a chronological, narrative account of History from the first nomads through to the last Roman emporer. There are a few black and white line illustrations - so not exactly Dorling Kindersley and there are lots of questions contained in the narrative so that it sounds a bit like a Witness study text but apart from that is very engaging and makes sense of the rather fragmentary history studied in UK primary schools. The book is supposed to be used as the basis for a history curriculum supported by other texts (Kingfisher, Usborne), blackline maps and an activity book. Many of my peers have complained to me that they have an incomplete picture of the chronology of history. With this book you can learn (along with your child) how all the pieces fit together.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

How did they do it? Now you'll know!, 01 Jan 2009
The Duggar's have recently welcomed their eighteenth child into the world. Since making their television debut with "14 Kids and Counting" so many questions have surrounded Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar regarding their large family. How do they cope and how do they pay for it all?

In their book "20 and Counting..." they talk openly about their journey. From how they met, their wedding and their decision to leave the matter of how many children they were to have in the hands of God after initially being users of birth control, to how they worked and purposed to become debt free and stay out of debt resulting in their frugal lifestyle repaying them with the ability to build their own fantastic home completely debt free.

My husband and I, as parents of soon to be eight children, found this book very interesting and inspiring, not only with their financial management and organisational tips but also with their honesty regarding their faith, struggles and highlights of raising a large family.

If you are at all curious or interested in how they manage to raise their family debt free and in the general day to day questions surrounding a household of so many you will enjoy this book. Excellent!




Latin Without Tears- an excellent introduction to the language, 08 Jul 2008
I shall endeavour to keep this review concise, and to the point, with the absolute beginner in mind.

As an adult, who wasn't 'fortunate' enough to have gone to a private school as a child, I never had the opportunity to study the wonderful language that is Latin. There are many introductory books available to purchase, and lots of information to be had via the World Wide Web.

What makes this book stand out then?

Well, it provides a sound foundation from which to build upon; and does it in a way that is accessible, interesting, and above all effective. The author guides the student in a logical, and methodical manner; no pretentiousness nor stuffiness! This book makes learning Latin FUN, not a chore, and is certainly not boring. The layout is clear, and motivational. He has been kind enough to make available, free of charge, aural supplementary material (including invaluable pronunciation examples) that is available for download, from his website (is ~436MB enough for you?)- wow. In this day and age, how many authors would do that?

For more detailed reviews, visit Mr Linney's personal website: 'gettingstartedwithlatin' (surprisingly(!)). My review here is just to let ordinary fellow mortals know that this book is an excellent introduction to such a wonderful language. 'Homeschooling isn't exactly encouraged in the (Dis-)United Kingdom, but there is nothing to stop a motivated parent from giving the gift of Latin to his (or her) child(ren)...


The author replied to my email (very quickly indeed(!)) when I thanked him for the material that is available from his website- he remarked that he loves Latin, and is pleased to have been able to make it accessible.

He certainly has done...

Excellent Book!, 18 Feb 2008
I'm home educating my 13 yr old twins and we love Latin because of this book. It's really easy to use, even for someone like me who never had the opportunity to learn Latin before. It never goes too fast and leaves you lost like the other materials we have tried do. It's also really well supported with a lovely website allowing you to hear pronunciation - and we love the author's accent! It's clearly and spaciously laid out. I wish all language books were like this!

THE WELL EDUCATED MIND, 12 Jun 2006
As a product of the stultifying 1960's - '70's comprehensive education system, books such as these form the blade that helps me cut my mind out of the belittling strait jacket imposed by short sighted and begrudging public 'educationalists. Truly a wind of change.

History at it's best, 19 Jul 2008
I am home schooling and bought this book 6 months ago to teach history to my 6 year old. I have not been disappointed. He has really enjoyed learning about the Egyptians and how much a part the River Nile played in their initial survival. I would recommend buying the activity book that is used alongside this as we have enjoyed making scrolls, writing hieroglyphs, making pyramid models and a makeshift river nile in the garden. I don't think I would have come up with these ideas on my own! The two definitely go hand in hand. The activity book is "The Story of the World: Ancient Times Bk. 1 [Paperback] by Wise, Bauer S". It took me a while to decide from the amazon search results which one it was as it's not labelled as an activity book.

An excellent starting point for history, 02 Sep 2006
This book is brilliantly written in a direct and child friendly way. It is written in the 'voice' of a story teller, asking the children for their points of view throughout. It assumes you are reading to your child/grandchild and interacting. This book is aimed at children between the ages of five and nine and so don't be put off by the advanced nature of the subject (including Sumerians and other cultures not well served by children's books usually). Although, having studied history of art at university, after only covering sciences at school, I would have loved this book to give me the background in history which I pretended to have.
There is an accompanying activity book which has maps, puzzles, plenty of colouring, some fantastic activities (such as mummyfying a chicken), and some excellent book refernces to take the child's interest further. It is worth buying if you are home educating or have a long summer holiday.
This book would be wonderful as a stand alone book for children who are missing out on the pleasure of history at school. Unlike the 'Horrible Histories' which people give their children to try and make history fun, try this book which gives children a geniuine pleasure in 'real' history.

All the bits that primary schools miss., 23 Feb 2006
I am home educating my children and first learned of this book through 'Well Trained Mind". It is designed for use with children aged about 6 (American first grade). The book is a chronological, narrative account of History from the first nomads through to the last Roman emporer. There are a few black and white line illustrations - so not exactly Dorling Kindersley and there are lots of questions contained in the narrative so that it sounds a bit like a Witness study text but apart from that is very engaging and makes sense of the rather fragmentary history studied in UK primary schools. The book is supposed to be used as the basis for a history curriculum supported by other texts (Kingfisher, Usborne), blackline maps and an activity book. Many of my peers have complained to me that they have an incomplete picture of the chronology of history. With this book you can learn (along with your child) how all the pieces fit together.

A thorough guide to home education with excellent resource lists, 18 Aug 2008
I wish to enhance my daughter's education rather than homeschool. This book gives some advice on this, but obviously is mostly aimed at home education.

The book clearly expounds its education philosophy. It gives WHAT, HOW and WHY for its program. It is very much aimed at the liberal arts - using history as a framework to build English teaching around. Strongly recommending Latin study before other languages. For my personal taste, I would like to build more around science and mathematics as the vital thinking toolkit for children before Latin. However, as previous reviews have stated, the book gives examples of curriculum rather than pure prescription.

The book has comprehensive resource listings for each subject. Ones I have bought include the excellent Bob Books First! (Bob Books) as well as Mudpies to Magnets: A Preschool Science Curriculum. The resource strengths and weaknesses are given as well as alternatives.

Other reviewers have commented about the lack of a specifically Christian ethos. The book recommends religion in its place in the curriculum, but is a book about home schooling rather than about Christianity. Some of the resources recommended are from Christian publishers. This is made clear, along with other recommendations where this is not the desire of the parents. The authors are Christians.

One thing that could enhance a future edition is more on the mechanics and psychology of teaching. For example:- my daughter often does not want to sit down with me and read. Advice on when to leave off for a day or two - or until she is older - or to persevere so she realises that it is not a choice - would be very helpful, along with some guidance as to how to encourage the "right choice".

Great as a resource- but not Christ-centred, 06 Jan 2007
I've had this book a couple of years and used it quite frequently. It takes classical education seriously and it is worth getting for the author's well-explained views on how to homeschool and for the excellent resources recommended (though a lot are not available easily in the UK). There are many glowing testimonials on the web to this and the related language and history books. My reservation would be that this is Classical education but not Christ-focused. Looking through the contents pages, I can see no reference to teaching Bible, for example, or how our Christian faith influences the different subjects taught; this holds up for the earlier part of the book which I know best. For great Christian Classical homeschool books, try Doug Wilson. For resources, I like this plus Home Learning Year by Year, by Rebecca Rupp.

The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!, 29 Aug 1999
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.

An absolutely fantastic guide for the home educator!, 21 Jun 1999
I was able to read some of this book at the Virginia Homeschooler's Conference in Richmond, VA, from 17-19 June 1999. You will find it a fantastic resource to guide you in classically educating your children at home.

Susan Wise Bauer, the co-author, was classically home educated by her mother, Jessie Wise, the other co-author. Susan is living proof of the success of this classic home education philosophy! I pray that my children, who my wife and I will begin to home educate this year, are as well-educated as Susan when they leave our home. I believe if we follow the classic model as outlined in this book and continue to teach them in the ways of the LORD, they will be.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

How did they do it? Now you'll know!, 01 Jan 2009
The Duggar's have recently welcomed their eighteenth child into the world. Since making their television debut with "14 Kids and Counting" so many questions have surrounded Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar regarding their large family. How do they cope and how do they pay for it all?

In their book "20 and Counting..." they talk openly about their journey. From how they met, their wedding and their decision to leave the matter of how many children they were to have in the hands of God after initially being users of birth control, to how they worked and purposed to become debt free and stay out of debt resulting in their frugal lifestyle repaying them with the ability to build their own fantastic home completely debt free.

My husband and I, as parents of soon to be eight children, found this book very interesting and inspiring, not only with their financial management and organisational tips but also with their honesty regarding their faith, struggles and highlights of raising a large family.

If you are at all curious or interested in how they manage to raise their family debt free and in the general day to day questions surrounding a household of so many you will enjoy this book. Excellent!




Latin Without Tears- an excellent introduction to the language, 08 Jul 2008
I shall endeavour to keep this review concise, and to the point, with the absolute beginner in mind.

As an adult, who wasn't 'fortunate' enough to have gone to a private school as a child, I never had the opportunity to study the wonderful language that is Latin. There are many introductory books available to purchase, and lots of information to be had via the World Wide Web.

What makes this book stand out then?

Well, it provides a sound foundation from which to build upon; and does it in a way that is accessible, interesting, and above all effective. The author guides the student in a logical, and methodical manner; no pretentiousness nor stuffiness! This book makes learning Latin FUN, not a chore, and is certainly not boring. The layout is clear, and motivational. He has been kind enough to make available, free of charge, aural supplementary material (including invaluable pronunciation examples) that is available for download, from his website (is ~436MB enough for you?)- wow. In this day and age, how many authors would do that?

For more detailed reviews, visit Mr Linney's personal website: 'gettingstartedwithlatin' (surprisingly(!)). My review here is just to let ordinary fellow mortals know that this book is an excellent introduction to such a wonderful language. 'Homeschooling isn't exactly encouraged in the (Dis-)United Kingdom, but there is nothing to stop a motivated parent from giving the gift of Latin to his (or her) child(ren)...


The author replied to my email (very quickly indeed(!)) when I thanked him for the material that is available from his website- he remarked that he loves Latin, and is pleased to have been able to make it accessible.

He certainly has done...

Excellent Book!, 18 Feb 2008
I'm home educating my 13 yr old twins and we love Latin because of this book. It's really easy to use, even for someone like me who never had the opportunity to learn Latin before. It never goes too fast and leaves you lost like the other materials we have tried do. It's also really well supported with a lovely website allowing you to hear pronunciation - and we love the author's accent! It's clearly and spaciously laid out. I wish all language books were like this!

THE WELL EDUCATED MIND, 12 Jun 2006
As a product of the stultifying 1960's - '70's comprehensive education system, books such as these form the blade that helps me cut my mind out of the belittling strait jacket imposed by short sighted and begrudging public 'educationalists. Truly a wind of change.

History at it's best, 19 Jul 2008
I am home schooling and bought this book 6 months ago to teach history to my 6 year old. I have not been disappointed. He has really enjoyed learning about the Egyptians and how much a part the River Nile played in their initial survival. I would recommend buying the activity book that is used alongside this as we have enjoyed making scrolls, writing hieroglyphs, making pyramid models and a makeshift river nile in the garden. I don't think I would have come up with these ideas on my own! The two definitely go hand in hand. The activity book is "The Story of the World: Ancient Times Bk. 1 [Paperback] by Wise, Bauer S". It took me a while to decide from the amazon search results which one it was as it's not labelled as an activity book.

An excellent starting point for history, 02 Sep 2006
This book is brilliantly written in a direct and child friendly way. It is written in the 'voice' of a story teller, asking the children for their points of view throughout. It assumes you are reading to your child/grandchild and interacting. This book is aimed at children between the ages of five and nine and so don't be put off by the advanced nature of the subject (including Sumerians and other cultures not well served by children's books usually). Although, having studied history of art at university, after only covering sciences at school, I would have loved this book to give me the background in history which I pretended to have.
There is an accompanying activity book which has maps, puzzles, plenty of colouring, some fantastic activities (such as mummyfying a chicken), and some excellent book refernces to take the child's interest further. It is worth buying if you are home educating or have a long summer holiday.
This book would be wonderful as a stand alone book for children who are missing out on the pleasure of history at school. Unlike the 'Horrible Histories' which people give their children to try and make history fun, try this book which gives children a geniuine pleasure in 'real' history.

All the bits that primary schools miss., 23 Feb 2006
I am home educating my children and first learned of this book through 'Well Trained Mind". It is designed for use with children aged about 6 (American first grade). The book is a chronological, narrative account of History from the first nomads through to the last Roman emporer. There are a few black and white line illustrations - so not exactly Dorling Kindersley and there are lots of questions contained in the narrative so that it sounds a bit like a Witness study text but apart from that is very engaging and makes sense of the rather fragmentary history studied in UK primary schools. The book is supposed to be used as the basis for a history curriculum supported by other texts (Kingfisher, Usborne), blackline maps and an activity book. Many of my peers have complained to me that they have an incomplete picture of the chronology of history. With this book you can learn (along with your child) how all the pieces fit together.

A thorough guide to home education with excellent resource lists, 18 Aug 2008
I wish to enhance my daughter's education rather than homeschool. This book gives some advice on this, but obviously is mostly aimed at home education.

The book clearly expounds its education philosophy. It gives WHAT, HOW and WHY for its program. It is very much aimed at the liberal arts - using history as a framework to build English teaching around. Strongly recommending Latin study before other languages. For my personal taste, I would like to build more around science and mathematics as the vital thinking toolkit for children before Latin. However, as previous reviews have stated, the book gives examples of curriculum rather than pure prescription.

The book has comprehensive resource listings for each subject. Ones I have bought include the excellent Bob Books First! (Bob Books) as well as Mudpies to Magnets: A Preschool Science Curriculum. The resource strengths and weaknesses are given as well as alternatives.

Other reviewers have commented about the lack of a specifically Christian ethos. The book recommends religion in its place in the curriculum, but is a book about home schooling rather than about Christianity. Some of the resources recommended are from Christian publishers. This is made clear, along with other recommendations where this is not the desire of the parents. The authors are Christians.

One thing that could enhance a future edition is more on the mechanics and psychology of teaching. For example:- my daughter often does not want to sit down with me and read. Advice on when to leave off for a day or two - or until she is older - or to persevere so she realises that it is not a choice - would be very helpful, along with some guidance as to how to encourage the "right choice".

Great as a resource- but not Christ-centred, 06 Jan 2007
I've had this book a couple of years and used it quite frequently. It takes classical education seriously and it is worth getting for the author's well-explained views on how to homeschool and for the excellent resources recommended (though a lot are not available easily in the UK). There are many glowing testimonials on the web to this and the related language and history books. My reservation would be that this is Classical education but not Christ-focused. Looking through the contents pages, I can see no reference to teaching Bible, for example, or how our Christian faith influences the different subjects taught; this holds up for the earlier part of the book which I know best. For great Christian Classical homeschool books, try Doug Wilson. For resources, I like this plus Home Learning Year by Year, by Rebecca Rupp.

The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!, 29 Aug 1999
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.

An absolutely fantastic guide for the home educator!, 21 Jun 1999
I was able to read some of this book at the Virginia Homeschooler's Conference in Richmond, VA, from 17-19 June 1999. You will find it a fantastic resource to guide you in classically educating your children at home.

Susan Wise Bauer, the co-author, was classically home educated by her mother, Jessie Wise, the other co-author. Susan is living proof of the success of this classic home education philosophy! I pray that my children, who my wife and I will begin to home educate this year, are as well-educated as Susan when they leave our home. I believe if we follow the classic model as outlined in this book and continue to teach them in the ways of the LORD, they will be.

Just what I needed, 05 Feb 2008
If you're new to homeschooling and thinking, 'where do I start? How do I know what to teach?' Then this book is for you. I was terrified that I wouldn't cover everything that my son needed to learn, but this book lays it all out clearly and concisely. It alleviated my worries and my confidence has grown. Many of the resources listed are American and some of the links provided didn't work, so I wouldn't recommend it as a list of resources, but more of a curriculum reference that you are free to ammend or add material to.

A very helpful book, clearly laid out, with lots of ideas, 24 Mar 2001
Ms Rupp's year by year, subject by subject layout is very useful as a child can be a year up in a few subjects so I can gauge each subject group. The layout also encourages dropping in on chapters.

The web links have been very interesting and provided many topics for the children.

The books rec. are priced in US$ but some titles are available in the UK.

A book I will be referring to for many years as I design my curriculum. I have a 3, 2, and 9m. that I intend to home school.

Self-directed learning, 27 Oct 2008
This approachable and accessible book covers most aspects of informal and self-directed learning at home.

The authors interviewed 26, mostly British, home-schooling families, and their outcomes go some way towards rebutting conventional arguments that education cannot exist beyond the structure of schools, curricula, and testing.

Sections on the acquisition of literacy and numeracy are particularly well researched. The children concerned learn almost by accident through their everyday experiences, when they feel like it and are ready for it. Some of them receive input from their parents, while others learn with complete autonomy.

The families and the authors describe how the majority of the children observed are actively engaged in their own learning and, therefore, establish their own learning agendas guided by what suits them best. The removal of competition, restrictive curricula and the time-wasting built into the school day create the space for children to develop their self-motivation and thereby enable them to learn more efficiently.

As a retired teacher with thirty years experience, I find that this book provides me with evidence of the value of home schooling and throws out a powerful challenge to the skeptics.


Excellent- well researched & highly informative, 16 Oct 2008
This is a very interesting book about the theory of how children learn in the home environment by comparison to school. Based predominantly on academic research it is a very through and well referenced piece of work which makes the content that much more useful. If you're fed up with books that peddle 'dribble theories' which have no scientific backing, then this book is for you. It's very well grounded in solid academic research.

In terms of content, it can be a bit repetative if you're reading it as leisure reading, but as it seeks to be an authoratative piece of work i don't think it is excessively over done.

The style if very accessable, and its easy for a reader to relate it to their own experiences both as a child and as a carer/parent, demonstrating how people (adults and children) learn outside the formal classroom.

I would recommend this book to anyone who's contemplating homeschooling, and to anyone who's involved in the business of education (whether of children or adults) as it gives a new perspective on teaching.

How did they do it? Now you'll know!, 01 Jan 2009
The Duggar's have recently welcomed their eighteenth child into the world. Since making their television debut with "14 Kids and Counting" so many questions have surrounded Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar regarding their large family. How do they cope and how do they pay for it all?

In their book "20 and Counting..." they talk openly about their journey. From how they met, their wedding and their decision to leave the matter of how many children they were to have in the hands of God after initially being users of birth control, to how they worked and purposed to become debt free and stay out of debt resulting in their frugal lifestyle repaying them with the ability to build their own fantastic home completely debt free.

My husband and I, as parents of soon to be eight children, found this book very interesting and inspiring, not only with their financial management and organisational tips but also with their honesty regarding their faith, struggles and highlights of raising a large family.

If you are at all curious or interested in how they manage to raise their family debt free and in the general day to day questions surrounding a household of so many you will enjoy this book. Excellent!




Latin Without Tears- an excellent introduction to the language, 08 Jul 2008
I shall endeavour to keep this review concise, and to the point, with the absolute beginner in mind.

As an adult, who wasn't 'fortunate' enough to have gone to a private school as a child, I never had the opportunity to study the wonderful language that is Latin. There are many introductory books available to purchase, and lots of information to be had via the World Wide Web.

What makes this book stand out then?

Well, it provides a sound foundation from which to build upon; and does it in a way that is accessible, interesting, and above all effective. The author guides the student in a logical, and methodical manner; no pretentiousness nor stuffiness! This book makes learning Latin FUN, not a chore, and is certainly not boring. The layout is clear, and motivational. He has been kind enough to make available, free of charge, aural supplementary material (including invaluable pronunciation examples) that is available for download, from his website (is ~436MB enough for you?)- wow. In this day and age, how many authors would do that?

For more detailed reviews, visit Mr Linney's personal website: 'gettingstartedwithlatin' (surprisingly(!)). My review here is just to let ordinary fellow mortals know that this book is an excellent introduction to such a wonderful language. 'Homeschooling isn't exactly encouraged in the (Dis-)United Kingdom, but there is nothing to stop a motivated parent from giving the gift of Latin to his (or her) child(ren)...


The author replied to my email (very quickly indeed(!)) when I thanked him for the material that is available from his website- he remarked that he loves Latin, and is pleased to have been able to make it accessible.

He certainly has done...

Excellent Book!, 18 Feb 2008
I'm home educating my 13 yr old twins and we love Latin because of this book. It's really easy to use, even for someone like me who never had the opportunity to learn Latin before. It never goes too fast and leaves you lost like the other materials we have tried do. It's also really well supported with a lovely website allowing you to hear pronunciation - and we love the author's accent! It's clearly and spaciously laid out. I wish all language books were like this!

THE WELL EDUCATED MIND, 12 Jun 2006
As a product of the stultifying 1960's - '70's comprehensive education system, books such as these form the blade that helps me cut my mind out of the belittling strait jacket imposed by short sighted and begrudging public 'educationalists. Truly a wind of change.

History at it's best, 19 Jul 2008
I am home schooling and bought this book 6 months ago to teach history to my 6 year old. I have not been disappointed. He has really enjoyed learning about the Egyptians and how much a part the River Nile played in their initial survival. I would recommend buying the activity book that is used alongside this as we have enjoyed making scrolls, writing hieroglyphs, making pyramid models and a makeshift river nile in the garden. I don't think I would have come up with these ideas on my own! The two definitely go hand in hand. The activity book is "The Story of the World: Ancient Times Bk. 1 [Paperback] by Wise, Bauer S". It took me a while to decide from the amazon search results which one it was as it's not labelled as an activity book.

An excellent starting point for history, 02 Sep 2006
This book is brilliantly written in a direct and child friendly way. It is written in the 'voice' of a story teller, asking the children for their points of view throughout. It assumes you are reading to your child/grandchild and interacting. This book is aimed at children between the ages of five and nine and so don't be put off by the advanced nature of the subject (including Sumerians and other cultures not well served by children's books usually). Although, having studied history of art at university, after only covering sciences at school, I would have loved this book to give me the background in history which I pretended to have.
There is an accompanying activity book which has maps, puzzles, plenty of colouring, some fantastic activities (such as mummyfying a chicken), and some excellent book refernces to take the child's interest further. It is worth buying if you are home educating or have a long summer holiday.
This book would be wonderful as a stand alone book for children who are missing out on the pleasure of history at school. Unlike the 'Horrible Histories' which people give their children to try and make history fun, try this book which gives children a geniuine pleasure in 'real' history.

All the bits that primary schools miss., 23 Feb 2006
I am home educating my children and first learned of this book through 'Well Trained Mind". It is designed for use with children aged about 6 (American first grade). The book is a chronological, narrative account of History from the first nomads through to the last Roman emporer. There are a few black and white line illustrations - so not exactly Dorling Kindersley and there are lots of questions contained in the narrative so that it sounds a bit like a Witness study text but apart from that is very engaging and makes sense of the rather fragmentary history studied in UK primary schools. The book is supposed to be used as the basis for a history curriculum supported by other texts (Kingfisher, Usborne), blackline maps and an activity book. Many of my peers have complained to me that they have an incomplete picture of the chronology of history. With this book you can learn (along with your child) how all the pieces fit together.

A thorough guide to home education with excellent resource lists, 18 Aug 2008
I wish to enhance my daughter's education rather than homeschool. This book gives some advice on this, but obviously is mostly aimed at home education.

The book clearly expounds its education philosophy. It gives WHAT, HOW and WHY for its program. It is very much aimed at the liberal arts - using history as a framework to build English teaching around. Strongly recommending Latin study before other languages. For my personal taste, I would like to build more around science and mathematics as the vital thinking toolkit for children before Latin. However, as previous reviews have stated, the book gives examples of curriculum rather than pure prescription.

The book has comprehensive resource listings for each subject. Ones I have bought include the excellent Bob Books First! (Bob Books) as well as Mudpies to Magnets: A Preschool Science Curriculum. The resource strengths and weaknesses are given as well as alternatives.

Other reviewers have commented about the lack of a specifically Christian ethos. The book recommends religion in its place in the curriculum, but is a book about home schooling rather than about Christianity. Some of the resources recommended are from Christian publishers. This is made clear, along with other recommendations where this is not the desire of the parents. The authors are Christians.

One thing that could enhance a future edition is more on the mechanics and psychology of teaching. For example:- my daughter often does not want to sit down with me and read. Advice on when to leave off for a day or two - or until she is older - or to persevere so she realises that it is not a choice - would be very helpful, along with some guidance as to how to encourage the "right choice".

Great as a resource- but not Christ-centred, 06 Jan 2007
I've had this book a couple of years and used it quite frequently. It takes classical education seriously and it is worth getting for the author's well-explained views on how to homeschool and for the excellent resources recommended (though a lot are not available easily in the UK). There are many glowing testimonials on the web to this and the related language and history books. My reservation would be that this is Classical education but not Christ-focused. Looking through the contents pages, I can see no reference to teaching Bible, for example, or how our Christian faith influences the different subjects taught; this holds up for the earlier part of the book which I know best. For great Christian Classical homeschool books, try Doug Wilson. For resources, I like this plus Home Learning Year by Year, by Rebecca Rupp.

The most complete educational resource for homeschoolers!, 29 Aug 1999
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.

An absolutely fantastic guide for the home educator!, 21 Jun 1999
I was able to read some of this book at the Virginia Homeschooler's Conference in Richmond, VA, from 17-19 June 1999. You will find it a fantastic resource to guide you in classically educating your children at home.

Susan Wise Bauer, the co-author, was classically home educated by her mother, Jessie Wise, the other co-author. Susan is living proof of the success of this classic home education philosophy! I pray that my children, who my wife and I will begin to home educate this year, are as well-educated as Susan when they leave our home. I believe if we follow the classic model as outlined in this book and continue to teach them in the ways of the LORD, they will be.

Just what I needed, 05 Feb 2008
If you're new to homeschooling and thinking, 'where do I start? How do I know what to teach?' Then this book is for you. I was terrified that I wouldn't cover everything that my son needed to learn, but this book lays it all out clearly and concisely. It alleviated my worries and my confidence has grown. Many of the resources listed are American and some of the links provided didn't work, so I wouldn't recommend it as a list of resources, but more of a curriculum reference that you are free to ammend or add material to.

A very helpful book, clearly laid out, with lots of ideas, 24 Mar 2001
Ms Rupp's year by year, subject by subject layout is very useful as a child can be a year up in a few subjects so I can gauge each subject group. The layout also encourages dropping in on chapters.

The web links have been very interesting and provided many topics for the children.

The books rec. are priced in US$ but some titles are available in the UK.

A book I will be referring to for many years as I design my curriculum. I have a 3, 2, and 9m. that I intend to home school.

Radical stuff... but ultimately depressing., 22 Sep 2008
A huge fan of John Holt's "How Children Learn" and "Never Too Late" I bought this, described by some as his most radical work yet. And it is radical. At points it feels a little like "pie in the sky" though; I'm sure the society he paints could work, but no government would be willing to even try.

And what if you can't home school f