Classical Mamas Read - The Well Trained Mind Ch. 13-14

This post contains affiliate links to highly recommended products!

Welcome back to Classical Mamas Read!  I'm excited to be back here with you today to discuss chapters 13 and 14 of The Well Trained Mind.  If you want to take a look back at our previous discussions, click the picture above to take you to a list of each chapter we have talked about.

We are beginning part 2 of the book, which is about the Logic stage.  The Well Trained Mind puts this stage as the 5th-8th grades.  This is all uncharted territory for me, so I'm counting on those of you with older children to share you thoughts!

Ch. 13 - The Argumentative Child

• How do you know when your child is entering the Logic stage?  When they start to pause in the middle of reciting their memory work and as "why?"

• There are different schools of thought regarding having children memorize information vs having children use critical thinking.  I love that the classical model doesn't say either-or to that debate, but rather puts each method in it's proper place.  We have our children memorize in the grammar stage and then think critically about it all in the logic stage.

•  The logic stage student should no longer be struggling with reading, writing, and basic arithmetic.  Logic stage students have to be able to concentrate on analyzing, not comprehending.

 

"Logic trains the mind to approach every subject in a particular way---to look for patterns and sets of relationships in each subject area."

• The composition of a logic stage student will focus on the motivation behind the events they study, not on just narrating the events (like in the grammar stage). 

• While teaching your logic stage student, there will be less lecturing and more dialogue.

• For reading, your student should be using more and more original sources.

Ch. 14 - Snow White was Irrational: Logic for the Intuitive

• How do you begin logic with your children?  This chapter recommends starting out with having your 5th and 6th graders informally doing logic puzzles and then move into a formal logic program in 7th-8th grade.

 

• This chapter gives a great basic discussion of what logic is.  It teaches you how to think about information and the validity of an argument.  Here is a tidbit that I found interesting...

"Logic is concerned with the form of the argument, not its content." (page 245)

 Now it's your turn!  I don't have a lot to comment on the ideas that I pulled from these chapters, since I haven't been there yet =)  I can tell you, though, I really like logic and critical thinking, so I think I will enjoy teaching my children when they get to this stage!

___________________________________________________________________

If you don't have the book already, you can look for it at your library or get it on amazon. (The Well Trained Mind)

If you are behind, feel free to still comment on the previous discussions.  If you want to be emailed when someone makes a comment, make sure to click "Subscribe by Email" right under the comment box (right hand side), so you won't miss out on any discussion!

Classical Mamas Read Link-Up

Did you write about these chapters on your blog?  Have you been reading and blogging about another book (for you, not a children's book)?  Do you have a book club going on at your blog (once again, not for a children's book)?  I'd love for you link up here so we can all be encouraged by each other and maybe find another great book to read!

I think I'm going to keep this link-up ongoing since there aren't going to be a huge number of posts and then anyone new will be able to be encouraged by the other book reading ideas and discussions.  If the number of posts gets too large, I will fix it.

Please note, all posts must be on topic (about a book you are reading) and appropriate (think family friendly).