The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home

by Susan Wise Bauer

Third Grade Reading 20 to 25 minutes per day of phonics work until program is finished. 30 minutes of reading (skill building), 3 times per week; one instructional, one at-level, one below-level. Literature 30 to 45 minutes, 3 days per week, focusing on literature of the late Renaissance and early modern eras; make notebook pages (narrations) once or twice per week; memorize a poem every 3 to 6 weeks. Spelling 20 minutes per day, 3 to 4 days per week. Grammar 20 to 30 minutes per day, 3 to 4 days per week. Writing Penmanship, 10 to 15 minutes per day. Dictation exercises 3 days per week (may be completed as a history or science assignment). Do a total of three narrations per week (may be completed as a literature, history, or science assignment). Mathematics 40 to 60 minutes per day (math lesson and storybook reading); try to do one real-life math project per week. History Study late Renaissance–early modern times (1600–1850). Read history books to the child; assign easy biographies and histories for the child to read; ask the child to tell you what you’ve just read; make at least one narration page for the history notebook. The child should be writing at least part of his own narrations now. Do this for 3 hours per week, divided into 2 or 3 sessions. Science Spend at least 3 hours per week, either 2 or 3 days per week, reading science books, doing science activities and projects, or asking and answering scientific questions. Help the child write out at least one of the fo...