Luanne Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I'm wanted to self-educate. My daughter will also be doing this (she is 23). We are wanting to use the books (or similar books) listed in the Well-Trained Mind. What we are trying to decide is whether to do the WTM books the WTM way, the Robinson way (just read though them), or the Charlotte Mason way. Which way do you think would be the most effective without taking all day every day since we have other things we also need to do each day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I self educate based upon my interests at the time. The method of study varies. For example: Algebra - a couple of years ago I wanted to brush up my Algebra before my son started the subject, so I worked through the Keys to Algebra booklets. Bible Study - I almost always have an inductive Bible study going - I prefer Precept study material for this, but sometimes I also do my own book study using inductive methods. Literature - I read voraciously. At any given time I am reading a non-fiction book and a fiction book. I try to read the books my son will be reading the following school year during the summer. Our discussions are much richer that way. Sometimes I annotate as I read (similar to TWEM) and sometimes I read for pleasure. Science - This purely interest led. When I read or hear of something that interests me, I find out more. I use a variety of resources to do this. There are many writers who write on specific topics in a way that most people can understand. Examples of this would be The Disappearing Spoon by Kean and Gunpowder by Kelly. History - When I read history, I read for pleasure. Beginning this summer (I hope) I am going to make my own timeline. It will incorporate all disciplines, plus whatever else I decide to put on it (including family birthdays). On my agenda this summer is Boorstein's trilogy on American History and possibly Bennett's America the Last Best Hope series. These are fighting for priority as I also want to read Dr. Bauer's history books and may push them ahead in line. Oh, and there's When the Irish Saved Civilization. I could go on and on here. Arts - we have a museum membership and go at least once a quarter. Current Events - Read two different newspapers (at least twice a week). One is our local paper and one is The New York Times. I have the following reference books available, most of which were recommended by people on these boards, in TWEM or in TWTM): History: The Definitive Visual Guide (published by DK) The Timetables of History by Bernard & Grun The Elements by Theodore Grey The Annotated Mona by Strickland Family Reference Atlas of the World (published by National Geographic) The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History by Curtis, Lang & Peterson The NPR Listener's Encyclopedia of Classical Music by Libbey How to Read a Book by Adler & Doren How to Read Slowly by Sire The Well Educated Mind by Bauer What Smart Students Know by Robinson A Self-Teaching Guide: Chemistry Concepts & Problems by Houk & Post Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide by Kuhn If you have not read The Well Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, I highly recommend you start there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I think to begin, you should plan to just read through books, but be critical. I do not own the WEM, but in an article, SWB suggests reading through books 3 times. I think that's daunting. I suggest read through them if possible use a good edition that includes some pointers in terms of what to look for. If you are able supplement and listen to the Teaching Company's tapes on the works you are reading. I got a bunch more from Elizabeth Vandiver's talks on various works of antiquity and I am now setting out on a series on Machivelli in preparation for reading The Prince. Then later, you'll want to circle back to some works again for a second even more critical look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army Chaplain Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) I started with a class NT Greek offered by a Bible college. I then taught myself Hebrew, then Latin and German. About that time I discovered classics programs offered at big universities and came across the graduate reading lists in Greek and Roman writers. So I decided to start with Homer and read chronologically through the Graeco-Roman writers. About a year into reading the classics, I discovered the reading list at St. John's College and learned about Mortimer Adler, Robert Hutchins, and the Great Books. So I decided to read those as well. Next I discovered Doug Wilson. By the time I bought Bauer's book on self-educating, I had known about most of her recommendations. Edited April 12, 2012 by Army Chaplain typos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnbacademy Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I discovered the Worldview Academy camp from this forum. They have a curriculum and a recommended reading list on this website. I think I will investigate that reading list this summer and then pre-read dc's texts for next year's narrations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Personally, I would use the WTM books and read them using the Robinson method. It seems to me that for an adult, the most efficient route to self education would be to just read the books, hence Robinson. This is what I would do anyway. ;) Lavender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I think the WEM is more suited for self-ed than the WTM. I don't follow it exactly, but I get encouragement from WEM. Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I think it depends what the point of your self study is. If you are trying to deepen your critical reading skills, you'll need to do more than read the book. If your aim is awareness of content, reading only would be just fine. I use the WEM for my reading schedule (plus I've joined the Shakespeare focus group) but I haven't found a book I've been willing to read more than once as yet! I shouldn't have started with the autobiographies... Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 I think it depends what the point of your self study is. If you are trying to deepen your critical reading skills, you'll need to do more than read the book. If your aim is awareness of content, reading only would be just fine. So what do you do when you are reading to be more critical and deep? I know this is an area I could work on. I use the WEM for my reading schedule (plus I've joined the Shakespeare focus group) but I haven't found a book I've been willing to read more than once as yet! I shouldn't have started with the autobiographies... Rosie There are books I'd like to read again, Crime and Punishment which I loved, but who has time and I find I have a never ending list. I'm getting ready to read The Prince which is nice and short. Only to learn in my TC Lecture that really you should read the Discourses, too, sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 So what do you do when you are reading to be more critical and deep? I know this is an area I could work on. I'm using the WEM and others have recommended "How to Read Like a Professor," which I keep hoping someone will buy me for Christmas. :p I'd be making more progress if I was reading enjoyable books, but the information I need is on offer in the WEM ;) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 I self educate based upon my interests at the time. The method of study varies. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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