Prologue: The story of a classical home education

Part I: The grammar stage : kindergarten through fourth grade. The parrot years ; Unlocking the doors : the preschool years ; Words, words, words : spelling, grammar, reading, and writing ; The joy of numbers : math ; Seventy centuries in four years : history and geography ; Investigating the world : science ; Dead languages for live kids : Latin (and other languages still living) ; Electronic teachers : using computers and other screens ; Matters of faith : religion ; Finer things : art and music

Part II: The logic stage : fifth grade through eighth grade. The argumentative child ; Snow White was irrational : logic for the intuitive ; The language of reason : math ; Recognizing the patterns : science ; Why 1492? : history and geography ; Thinking straight : spelling, grammar, reading, and writing ; Looking into other worlds : Latin and languages ; Away with abusive fallacies! : religion ; The history of creativity : art and music ; Texts and technology : how to use screens in the logic stage ; Moving toward independence : logic for life

Part III: The rhetoric stage : ninth grade through twelfth grade. Preparing for high school : an overview ; Speaking your mind : the rhetoric stage ; Skill with words : grammar and writing ; Great books : history and reading ; Comfort with numbers : math ; Principles and laws : science ; Learning other worlds : foreign languages ; Looking behind the curtain : technology skills ; Apologizing for faith : religion and ethics ; Appreciating the arts : art and music ; The specialist

Part IV: Coming home : how to educate your child at home. The kitchen-table school : why home-educate? ; When learning doesn't improve : difficulties and challenges ; The confident child : socialization ; The character issue : parents as teachers ; And just when do I do all this? : schedules for home schoolers ; Paper proof : grades and record keeping ; The yardstick : standardized testing ; Where's the team? : athletics at home ; The local school : dealing with your school system ; Yelling for help : tutors, online resources, distance learning, cooperative classes, and colleges and universities ; Going to college : applications for home schoolers ; Working : apprenticeships and other jobs ; The final word : starting in the middle.