Although HomeschoolChristian.com is compatible with most browsers, it is optimized for those browsers which are XHTML 1.1 and CSS 2 compliant. For quicker loading and a more enjoyable browsing experience, we recommend Mozilla Firefox.
Custom Search

Curricula and Learning Links - Classical Education

Classical Approach to Math

Kuma: I have purchased the 13 books of Euclid's Elements. I wanted to teach my two sons geometry from reading this book. Do you think that is possible or do I "need" a textbook? This leads me to my second question does Harold Jacob's Elementary Algebra and Geometry distinguish between the classical and the modern? Finally does anyone know of a "living book" for classical algebra?

Debbie G.: A few other suggestions for book resources.

  1. Try Dover Press. They do many reprints of classical works and you might hit on something.
  2. I have very much enjoyed Mathematics: Is God Silent? by James Nickel. He gives an historical overview of the developments of mathematical thought and how it has been influenced by philosophical, worldview considerations. The second portion of the book discusses why and how to teach mathematics from a Christian worldview.
  3. My husband has been reading The Soul of Science: Christian Faith and Natural Philosophy by Nancy Pearcey and Charles Thaxton. I have not read it yet myself but my husband finds it quite interesting. James Nickel (see above) calls it "an excellent analysis of the historical interaction of the Christian faith with physics (Newtonian and Einsteinian), biology, chemistry, and mathematics."

Harold Jacobs, author of the math texts mentioned above: Mary Leggewie kindly informed me of your questions concerning teaching geometry to your two sons. Euclid's Elements is a wonderful resource. I assume that you purchased the Dover edition with the helpful and interesting commentary by Thomas Heath.

I believe most mathematicians would be reluctant to try to teach their children geometry directly from Euclid since the Elements were not intended for children. Did you know that when the Elements was taught at the university level long ago, the course often stopped with Book 5?

I see that one of the correspondents mentions James Nickel's book, Mathematics: Is God Silent? I have a copy of this book and highly recommend it to you. Nickel is a good writer and the book is a refreshing treatment of mathematics from a Christian point of view.

The third edition of my geometry book came out last year. The first 15 chapters deal with Euclidean geometry as well as coordinate geometry and the 16th chapter is an introduction to the non-Euclidean geometries. There is an accompanying teacher's guide with all of the solutions. I am always happy to hear from homeschoolers and their parents and am glad to be of help along the way.

Find more free curricula and resources on HomeschoolChristian.com's Curricula Page Index!. See more Charlotte Mason and Classical Resources.