Where does my child fit into the EES?

I am a little hesitant in putting these books in a list of how they should be approached, because every child is different and can sometimes progress in one area more than in others. Please take these instructions with several grains of salt, and draw your own conclusions about what the best path for your child should be.

Very young children (not yet reading)
1^st McGuffey Reader

Using a bona-fied homeschool curriculum such as the Eclectic Education Series or Robinson Curriculum is not truly necessary until the child can begin to read, when the books can become the teacher. So at this point the most important thing to do is to teach the child to read. The McGuffey's books starting with the primer and the first reader can be helpful at this point since they provide simple stories and basic words for the child to read. There are many books available for teaching a child to read, a good one is “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons”.

The child can also be taught how to do basic math facts at this point. Even without the use of a book you can teach basic math simply by using objects around the home, and once they become more proficient and versed in the idea of numbers they can begin to use flash cards to do basic addition and subtraction.

Reading at a basic level
2^nd McGuffey Reader

So now the child is reading more and perhaps can begin reading silently. Writing is also part of learning how to read, and the child should be encouraged to write on his own as well as doing copybook writing.

For Math, flash cards should be used often until he/she is proficient with adding and subtracting up through the number 12. At this point Ray's Primary Arithmetic can be begun as well.

Time for more structured study
3^rd McGuffey Reader

At this point the child can become more of a student on their own without the continuous presence of mother or other teacher. Give them their own place to study, best would be an area where they are not out of sight but can quietly think and study on their own.

Ray's Intellectual Arithmetic can likely be used at this point.

Another book which may be used at this point is Longs Language for First Reader Grade, found on the Grammar CD.

Let them learn
4^th McGuffey Reader

Though I am listing the books by level according to the difficulty of the McGuffey Readers it is entirely possible that your son or daughter becomes interested in reading enough to read through the McGuffey series and want other books to read as well. There are many books available in the EES series which can be read at this point. The Progressive Course in Reading (PCR), Cyclopedia, Good Morals and Gentle Manners, and the Guide to Health found on the History CD as well as Nature Study on the Science CD can be read at this point, and the child can also be encouraged to choose books from the library that they would like to read as well. The Robinson Curriculum is a great source of books as well, providing many of the best classical works from the past couple centuries.

I would probably use Elementary Arithmetic after Intellectual. (Rudimentary Arithmetic and Elementary Arithmetic do not both need to be used, they both are very similar.) Elementary Arithmetic introduces a number of different types of measurement which are used for different purposes. Once Elementary Arithmetic is done the child can do Ray's Practical Arithmetic.

For writing the child should continue to work through Longs Language, and should do original composition as well as occasionally copybook writing from the proverbs or other such work.

The McGuffey books do not just teach how to read, but how to read aloud as well, giving instruction on how to speak and give proper emphasis to their words. This is a valuable skill, it would likely be a good idea to include time for 'public speaking' where they memorize or read a passage for you or the rest of the class/family.

Stretch their horizons
5^th McGuffey Reader

The students by now have become proficient readers and writers to some extent. Give them subjects to pursue which they find interesting. If they are interested in claymation videos, let them research it by going to the library and getting books on how it is done. Have them write you an essay about one of the first creators of claymation videos.

If they are finished with Practical Arithmetic, it's time to begin Ray's New Higher Arithmetic. This is the last book before Algebra is begun, and the problems in it can be considered to be even more difficult than those in the next book, Ray's New Elementary Algebra. They may need to spend some time to get through this book, which goes through many practical applications of math such as taxes, interest, currency exchange etc.

It is likely they will be finished with Longs Language series. If they would like to study some of the grammar books included on the CD I would encourage them, but I don't believe it is necessary to become a good writer to understand all of the technical terms for what is done in writing. Simply reading high quality books and writing themselves on a daily basis gives students an excellent understanding of how to write well.

To infinity, and beyond!
6^th McGuffey Reader

I've avoided giving grade levels up until now because they just don't have a whole lot of meaning as far as I can see. Children will progress at their own rates. However if you would like an idea of the grade levels of the books, I would say that each of the McGuffey's books can stand for two grade levels. You have 6 books, and therefore 12 grades. With the 6^th and final book, the student has reached a very high level of reading ability, and just about any book he would like to study is available for him, such as the amazing Thalheimer's Histories.

One caveat I would include is that he/she should finish Algebra before they attempt the Norton's Science books on the Science CD. It may be necessary to purchase supplemental text books for Geometry and Calculus, since the Ray's books on those subjects provide more reference and study information, and do not include problems for working out.

If a student has studied the entirety of books in the EES he or she will likely have an education greater than a 1^st or 2^nd year college student, and I believe they will be very well prepared for whatever they decide to do in their life.

A great resource for quality educational books for your homeschool is the Eclectic Education Series, a collection of books which provided Americans with some of the best educations in the world, before John Dewey and the demise of American education. Click Here to learn more.