Do I want to read The Core?

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

It has finally come up on my Paperbackswap List, but now I don't know if I want to read it. I'm already sold on classical education, I'm not a Christian, and I'm relatively happy (if a bit overwhelmed) with the WTM method these days. Every time I've strayed, I've ended up back at the WTM method and recommendations, anyway, so I've learned my lesson!

 

So should I bother ordering this book? Is there anything in it that might enlighten me, or would it just be preaching to the converted?

[MeaganS]

I found it redundant, for the reasons you listed (minus the Christian part, although we are mostly secular homeschoolers). I do highly recommend the Geography section because I found it unique and interesting though. I've considering buying it for that section alone.

[Alte Veste Academy]

Totally agree. Just the geography section. But you could probably Google that or do a search here and get a good enough idea of what's involved.

[tearose]

I agree about the geography--it really should be titled "Awesome Ways to Learn Geography" :)

Can you get it from a library just to peruse it?

[EmmaNZ]

I enjoyed it. Whilst I agree that bits of it are repetiton, I found it highly motivational. The Core gave me renewed drive to keep on doing what we are doing already, and even to try and step it up in some areas (memory work, geography).

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

OK, I went ahead and ordered it. If I love it, I'll keep it. If I don't, I'll send it back out into the PBS universe.

 

Thanks everyone!

[sditz1]

I agree it is worth reading for the geography alone. But I did enjoy reading the rest as well.

[KeriJ]

I'd love to hear more about the geography part. (I plan to read the book eventually, just hadn't gotten it yet.)

[GSOchristie]

This is the first hs'ing book I read, I enjoyed it and it was a super fast read. Obviously I like her methodology since we chose to do CC :).

[LizzyBee]

Other than the geography chapter, I was pretty disappointed with it. Leigh is an engineer, not a writer, and the book was not well written. WTM is worlds better in terms of articulating both the theory of and a plan for implementing classical education.

 

We did CC for a year and couldn't wait for it to be over.

[tearose]

The geography chapter suggests teaching the subject by having kids learn to draw maps freehand. Each grade level focuses on a different continent, and they practice drawing a few times a week. The sample drawings in the book are pretty inspiring!