Rigamaroo Starter Guides
Classical
The Starter Guide
Classical education builds a mind in three stages — the trivium. Young children soak up facts and language (grammar stage), middle schoolers learn to question and connect them (logic stage), and teens learn to express and defend ideas with eloquence (rhetoric stage). The furniture is the best of what has been thought and said: great books, history told in order, memory work, and eventually Latin and formal logic.
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.
The Principles
The trivium
Teach the way children naturally develop, with facts first, arguments second, and expression third.
Memory work
Poems, dates, chants, and songs stocked early become the pegs that later learning hangs on.
History in order
Travel four chronological cycles from the ancients to the moderns, going deeper with each pass.
Great books and discussion
Read the real thing, then talk about it. The Socratic half is not optional.
Language first
Put reading, writing, and recitation before screens, and add Latin when the foundation is set.
Your First Book List
The Well-Trained Mind
by Susan Wise Bauer
The definitive map, kindergarten through graduation. Read part one now; use the rest as a reference.
Teaching from Rest
by Sarah Mackenzie
Keeps the rigor from curdling into anxiety — read it the week you feel behind.
D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths
by Ingri & Edgar d’Aulaire
For the kids’ shelf — where the ancients cycle begins.
The Story of the World, Volume 1
by Susan Wise Bauer
History as a read-aloud story; the spine most classical families start with.
Curriculum Picks, Budget First
The Story of the World
Four volumes, ancients to moderns. Add the activity book for maps and projects.
First Language Lessons & Writing With Ease
Gentle, scripted grammar-stage language arts — open and teach.
Memoria Press or Classical Academic Press
Full classical cores, and the standard homes for Latin when you’re ready (Song School Latin for the littles).
Math Mammoth
Mastery-based, inexpensive PDF math that pairs fine with a classical core.
A Sample Week
Monday
Memory work (15 min)
Recite + add new
Math (30 min)
Lesson
Language arts (30 min)
Grammar + copywork
Content subjects
Science
Latin or enrichment (15 min)
Latin chant
Tuesday
Memory work (15 min)
Recite
Math (30 min)
Lesson
Language arts (30 min)
Writing
Content subjects
History (SOTW + map)
Latin or enrichment (15 min)
Art study
Wednesday
Memory work (15 min)
Recite + review old
Math (30 min)
Lesson
Language arts (30 min)
Grammar + copywork
Content subjects
Science
Latin or enrichment (15 min)
Latin chant
Thursday
Memory work (15 min)
Recite
Math (30 min)
Lesson
Language arts (30 min)
Writing
Content subjects
History (narration)
Latin or enrichment (15 min)
Music
Friday
Memory work (15 min)
Perform for family
Math (30 min)
Review + facts games
Language arts (30 min)
Recitation
Content subjects
Free reading
Latin or enrichment (15 min)
Logic puzzles
Fridays end the week with performance and review — memory work recited proudly beats memory work merely drilled.
Five Mistakes to Skip
Starting Latin and logic too early, too hard
Grammar-stage Latin is songs and chants. Formal logic waits for the logic stage — usually age 12 or so.
Making memory work drudgery
Chant it, sing it, march to it. Five joyful minutes daily outperforms a grim half hour.
Skipping the discussion half
Facts without conversation is trivia. Ask “why” at dinner — that is the dialectic beginning.
Serving the four-year cycle instead of the child
The cycle is a tool. Lingering an extra month in Egypt because they love it is classical education working.
Buying more spine than you can carry
One history spine, one math, one language arts. Depth over breadth is the whole point.
Your First 30 Days
Get the map
Read the opening of The Well-Trained Mind. Decide where in history you’ll begin (most start with the ancients).
Start the spine
Begin Story of the World as a read-aloud with narration, and choose one memory-work piece for the month.
Add language arts
Start your grammar and writing spines. Keep sessions short and consistent — rigor lives in the routine, not the length.
Plan the year in seasons
Sketch terms with built-in review weeks, and pick your Friday tradition: recitation, presentations, or both.
However You Homeschool, Rigamaroo Plans It Your Way
Lessons, attendance, records, and day sheets for every kid, in one calm hub.
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