Modern Pioneers in Classical Education: Susan Wise Bauer

One of the first Classical Pioneers of the 21st Century is an English Professor from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

Susan Wise Bauer first entered the homeschooling community as a student. Though homeschooling was mostly unheard-of at that time, her parents not only created a solid educational environment, they followed a neo-classical style of their own design (including teaching Susan Latin at the age of 10). She was a good student, devouring everything that they offered her. Books were the central feature of her education and weekly trips to the library were a special treat. By the time Susan was 17, she had completed her studies at home and was accepted into college as a Presidential Scholar and National Merit Finalist. While in College, Susan earned a B.S. in

Using a Camera in Your Homeschool

Today, just about everyone has a digital camera or a mobile phone that takes pictures. Why not use this handy tool in your homeschool? Here are some ideas:

Field trips:

Take photos of animals at the zoo, aquarium, or natural history museum. Create a notebook with one photo per page. Have your students label the photo with the name of the animal, as well as write a short report that includes the animal’s classification, natural habitat, diet, and other facts of interest.

Take photos of historical sites. Have your students write a short report about the historical significance of the site or a biography of a famous person connected to the site. Include photos in the report. For younger children, create a matching game. Using a large poster board, paste photos on the board along

Opal Wheeler Biographies

One of my favorite series of biographies was written in the 1930s and 40s by Opal Wheeler. For a long time, they were out of print and you could only find used copies. Now, they are back in print! 

Each book tells the story of a famous composer from his childhood to his death. Here are the titles in the series:

• Ludwig Beethoven and the Chiming Tower Bells
• Sebastian Bach, The Boy from Thuringia
• Mozart, The Wonder Boy
• Handel at the Court of Kings
• Joseph Haydn, The Merry Little Peasant
• Robert Schumann and Mascot Ziff
• Franz Schubert and His Merry Friends
• Frederic Chopin, Son of Poland, Early Years
• Frederic Chopin, Son of Poland, Later Years
• Stephen Foster and His Little Dog Tray
• The Young Brahms

Simple, pen and ink illustrations add

Learning With the Movies - Review

Learning with the Movies
 by Beth Holland includes a listing of cinema movies and made-for-TV movies that will enrich any unit study or lesson plan.