Reviews
Two other movements
Two other movements form the climax of the Church's activity during the Middle Ages. The development of Scholasticism meant the revival of Greek philosophy, and in particular of Aristotle; but it also meant that philosophy was now to serve the cause of Christian truth. Men of faith and learning like Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas, far from dreading or scorning the products of Greek thought, sought to make them the rational basis of belief. A synthesis was thus effected between the highest speculation of the pagan world and the teachings of theology. Scholasticism, moreover, was a distinct advance in the work of education; it was an intellectual training in method, in systematic thought, in severe logical reasoning, and in accuracy of statement. But taken as a whole, it furnished a great object-lesson, the purport of which was that, for the keenest intellect, the findings of reason and the truths of Revelation could be harmonized. Having used the subtilities of Greek thought to sharpen the student's mind, the Church thereupon presented to him her dogmas without the least fear of contradiction. She thus united in a consistent whole whatever was best in pagan science and culture with the doctrine entrusted to her by Christ. If education be rightly defined as "the transmission of our intellectual and spiritual inheritance" (Butler), this definition is fully exemplified in the work of the Church during the Middle Ages. - from the entry on Education in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Who was Charlotte Mason?
Charlotte Mason (18?? - 1923) was a Protestant educator who is often considered a pioneer of the homeschool movement. While I would recommend using some care in reading books by and about her philosophies, her common sense and understanding of how children learn have made her ideas very helpful to many homeschoolers - whether Protestant or Catholic. Her ideas on the use of narration and dictation for reading comprehension and the use of the very best in music, art and literature are particularly insightful.
Who was Maria Montessori?
Maria Montessori (1870 - 1952) was a Catholic pioneer in the area of early childhood education. Her methods have met with unprecedented success and were highly praised by several Popes. Many of her ideas, although designed for a specialized classroom setting, will be useful to Catholic homeschooling parents today. Her ideas of the "three period lesson", "practical life exercises" and "sensitive periods" are particularly helpful. Her philosophies about how children learn and "the prepared environment" are very applicable to the homeschool setting.
The following books are written by or about Maria Montessori and her educational ideas.
Why mental math?
The authors state that "two common problems found in all levels of math classes are the inconsistencies of math terminology and the lack of self confidence in students when answering simple math questions." This series of books was written to address these problems and to provide practice in solving math problems both mentally and quickly. The use of terminology from standardized tests is also beneficial; my children have been confused by different terms even when they understood the concepts well. To a first-grader, "add" doesn't always mean the same thing as "plus".
This series of math supplements is available for grades 1 to 5, and is designed to be used each day of the school year for the first 10 minutes of math class. These courses provide practice and review, but no direct instruction; this is not a complete math program. In addition, these courses require the active participation of the teacher; Mental Math cannot be considered an independent program. From my perspective, this is a particular strength for homeschoolers. Many students work on their math independently, and these courses give the homeschool teacher an opportunity to casually and regularly assess the progress of their student. First graders begin in the second semester of the school year while the other grades start at the beginning of the school year. With the exception of the first grade book, each book begins by reviewing material from the previous grade level.
The instructions for each book clearly state that the teacher is to read the questions to the student twice and then to go on to the next question. The student is not permitted to ask questions, to talk, or to request that the problem be repeated. The student is also not permitted to use scratch paper. Because these courses were designed for the classroom, the student is instructed to write the answer. In a homeschool setting, the answers could be given orally as well.
The only confusing part of the program to me was the numbering system used on the daily worksheets. Each sheet is coded with the grade level and the types of problems being practiced. A key is provided to explain it, and the system makes sense, but I floundered a bit until I developed some experience. This is done to provide flexibility; the program does not have to be used in a specific order. My children have enjoyed these books, and they look forward to showing me just how much they have learned. Sometimes they are quicker to find a solution than I am.
Reviewed by S.K.