Andrew Kern

Finally, a program that could handle my challenging dyslexic child! We sought classical education as a method of helping his weak language skills and while we have succeeded in many places, English grammar and composition have remained the weakest. Grammar is now being helped by a more intense Latin program but we repeatedly struggled through every popular writing program. Most were not flexible enough for my child's rambunctious imagination or were too sterile and relied on sequence and memorization which he is inherently weak in. Next to spelling, I think we've literally attempted and failed almost every program available.

I met the Circe Institute at the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention and the program impressed me enough that I came back a second time to inquire about it again. Since then, I have listened to the audio CD's twice (teacher workshop) to give me the knowledge required to teach composition since my non-traditional learner has a way of cracking my attempts at teaching him. I discovered my questionable student needs more grammar skills before attempting the program so we are currently in a crash-course with Warriner's English and Composition.

This program is specifically designed for secondary education but can be adapted for grammar (elementary) students with a slower pace. I am currently giving my younger children a solid foundation in grammar skills so they will be prepared for this program in a 2-3 years.

The reason I believe this program is going to be successful where others left off is the the way it tackles the subject matter. I enjoyed the popular Institute of Excellence in Writing program but the read-and-copy technique in the beginning stages did not work well with my dyslexic and the others were not too happy about it either but more compliant once they figured out how to elaborate.

This program assumes nothing and demands a bare-bones composition in the beginning with the 'flesh' being added step-by-step. Unlike many other programs, the subject is not assigned but may come from a history or literature lesson or personal interest (as the teacher deems necessary). Unlike any other composition program I have reviewed, this program takes full advantage of the "logic" or dialectic skills of children this age and gradually draws their abilities into a higher level of rhetoric with time and practice. This is why we will succeed with "The Lost Tools".

Much to our relief, this program requires three days a week of disciplined lessons during a traditional school year calendar. This fits well into our schedule for continuity but not kill-and-drill.

Mr. Kern brings an enduring Christian perspective to the teacher's workshops and backs it up with classical logic and rhetoric from the trivium but the content of the books themselves appears to be secular and appropriate for any denominational belief. I did not encounter any questionable material in this course and had a great many laughs as I recognized my own faith beliefs in his discussions and points.

DVD of the teacher workshops are also available. I highly recommend one format or the other. I listened to the workshop over a period of weeks in my car while commuting and had no problem with this format.

Copyright permission is granted to teachers for personal use and for student use (from the teacher's manual). Purchase an audio-visual teacher's workshop, Teacher's Guide, Module Guide and Student Workbook. All are necessary for home education. Additional modules are available form the Circe Institute website.… (meer)