By the time my oldest kid was 4, I knew I wanted to give my children a classical education at home.
But I had no idea how to go about doing it. I googled, I read, and I searched.
It wasn’t until I started reading these 13 amazing classical education books that I understood how I could give my kids a classical education at home.
13 Classical Education Books to Get You Started
So if you’re looking to learn more about classical education, these classical education books are the place to start!
1. The Well-Trained Mind
While I knew I wanted to give my kids a classical education, The Well-Trained Mind was the book on classical education that gave me the vision. I could see how to educate my kids and how to start on the path.
It’s not a book on the philosophy of classical education, but rather a how-to book that will hold your hand as you educate your children.
The Well-Trained Mind has set on my desk for the last 18 years.
2. Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style
Teaching the Trivium has a different approach to the early years than the Well-Trained Mind. They believe in a relaxed education for young kids. You teach kids basic reading, writing, and math but focus on exploration and character.
The idea is to save the heavy academics until the kids are older.
Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style is an excellent book to read, especially as a comparison to The Well-Trained Mind.
3. The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education
The author of The Core is one of the founders of Classical Conversations. I enjoyed reading The Core, although it deals specifically with grammar stage memorization.
It also gives you insight into the philosophy behind Classical Conversations.
The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education is well worth reading, especially if you’re interested in Classical Conversations.
4. Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum: A Guide to Catholic Home Education
Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum has been on my reading list for a very long time. I think this year is the year to actually read it, as I’ve heard wonderful things about it through the years.
Laura Berquist walks you through how to design and pull together your own liberal arts curriculum.
If you’re looking for classical education books that will give you guidance on how to pull a classical curriculum together for your kids, check out Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum: A Guide to Catholic Home Education.
5. The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Christian Classical Education
I’ve read The Liberal Arts Tradition a couple of times now. The Well-Trained Mind is a how-to give your kids a classical education. The Liberal Arts Tradition gives you the philosophy behind a Christian classical education.
It’s one of those books that has you writing comments and thoughts in the margin.
The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Christian Classical Education is a book you’ll read and reread over the years.
6. Climbing Parnassus: A New Apologia for Greek and Latin
I read Climbing Parnassus years ago. It’s an inspiring and memorable book. The author speaks of why we need to teach Latin and Greek to our children.
It inspired me to attempt Greek in my homeschool and to put a greater emphasis on Latin.
Climbing Parnassus: A New Apologia for Greek and Latin is an excellent book to read to understand why classical education puts such an emphasis on learning Greek and Latin.
7. The Devil Knows Latin: Why America Needs the Classical Tradition
The Devil Knows Latin is another fascinating book I read years ago. Like Climbing Parnassus, The Devil Knows Latin argues that you must add Latin and Greek back into the curriculum.
By removing the languages America has severed ties with our literature, history, political, and philosophical traditions.
The Devil Knows Latin: Why America Needs the Classical Tradition promotes a radical change to the elementary grades.
8. The Latin-Centered Curriculum
Read The Latin-Centered Curriculum after you’ve read Climbing Parnassus and The Devil Knows Latin.
Climbing Parnassus and The Devil Knows Latin give you the philosophy and why of putting Latin and Greek at the center of the curriculum.
The Latin-Centered Curriculum tells you HOW to do it.
9. Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child
Everyone thinks classical education is only for gifted children, and that’s simply not true.
Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child lays out an inspiring story of how her family used classical education to homeschool their special needs children.
Cheryl Swope lays out a convincing argument that classical education is for all children.
10. Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition
Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition explores how Charlotte Mason used the classical tradition as she developed her educational philosophy.
This is not a how-to book on homeschooling and classical education.
Rather this is a book that will bring clarity to your homeschool.
11. The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason
The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason Have you ever considered keeping a commonplace book or having your kids notebook their way through history and science?
Then The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason is the book you need. It walks you through why and how to set up keeping notebooks.
And why keeping notebooks will help your children engage with their studies.
12. Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace
I love Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace. Sarah Mackenzie teaches classical homeschoolers how to stop being a slave to your curriculum and take control of your homeschool.
You are no longer focused on adding rigor and more lessons to the day.
Instead, you’re guided in how to create a vision for your homeschool so you can focus on what’s truly important.
13. Better Together: Strengthen Your Family, Simplify Your Homeschool, and Savor the Subjects That Matter Most
One of the techniques Sarah Mackenzie recommends in Teaching from Rest to simplify your homeschool is to add morning time to your homeschool.
Pam Barnhill teaches you how to add morning time to your day. She walks you through the 3 critical components of morning time and how to implement morning time with your kids!
Better Together gives you the guidance you need to transform your classical homeschool!
So if you want to know how to give your children a classical education, read these 13 classical education books. They will give you the guidance and vision you need to create an amazing homeschool for your kids.
Which classical education books have you read?
Check out The Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists for more awesome books to read!
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