This will be our 6th year homeschooling. Each year I evaluate our school year from the year prior. What worked, what didn’t, what do I need to change, etc. With 5 kids, two of them little it can get hectic while I homeschool the older kids. I put out toys, learning activities to try to keep the little ones busy or school during the little ones naps so there are less distractions but life happens and some days do not run as smooth as others. This year our homeschool year will be very different and we are SO excited about it! We will be doing Classical Conversations!
Classical Conversations supports homeschooling parents by cultivating the love of learning through a Christian worldview in fellowship with other families. With three keys to a great education: classical, Christian, and community.
Classical education is ideally suited to children’s natural learning style. The classical model divides the learning process into three stages: grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric. In the grammar stage, children devour facts. In the dialectic stage, children ask many questions as they sort and evaluate these facts. In the rhetoric stage, teenagers synthesize their knowledge and apply it. The Classical Conversations curriculum is founded on the Bible as the inerrant Word of God. Classical Conversations teaches that all subjects are not only interconnected but that God is the author and creator of each subject. Each subject informs us more about the true nature of God, and a better understanding of God informs us about each subject that is taught. Classical Conversations plants and supports local communities who meet once a week.
So why did we make this big decision? Structure, accountability and the need of a supportive community. Even though we get our homeschool curriculum completed every year and my kids are learning we need more structure. Accountability because one day a week my children go to their own individual classes and then the rest of the week I teach what was reviewed in their classes. I AM still their teacher. Each Classical Conversations community meets one time a week (24 weeks during the school year). Parents participate in the program either as helpers or tutors. The rest of the week I continue to teach what they were introduced to in Classical Conversations.
Our schedule will look like:
9:15-9:30 Large group time & family presentation
9:30-10:00 New memory work is introduced (Science, History, Latin, English, Time Line, Geography, Math)
Cycle 1: Ancient through Modern World History; Geography of Africa and the world; Biology & Earth Science; Verbs & Prepositions; Latin noun endings; Exodus 20; Renaissance & Post Renaissance Artists; Baroque & Classical Composers)
10:00-10:30 Science Experiments or Projects
10:30-11:00 Student Presentations
11:00-11:30 Fine Arts Or Music 11:30-12:00
12:00-1:00 Lunch
1:00-3:00 My 10 year old and I will go to his Essentials class, while my other children will go to afternoon classes. Some will go to ballet, Lego, guitar lessons and music/crafts.
There several different age levels to Classical Conversations. The 1st is Foundations which has 3 cycles is for elementary age (4 to 11 years). All of the lessons are taught by memorization. Many of the mom’s teach by music. Kids tend to like this way of teaching because it’s fun. We went to 2 classes last year to see what it was like before making any decisions. I was amazed how much my kids retained even my 4 year old! He walked around singing history facts he learned from those 2 days!
For years I would hear other homeschool mom’s praise Classical Conversations. I just did not get it, why would anyone spend the money to join this. I listened to other homeschoolers bad mouth it too. I regret listening to people bad mouth it. I regret not educating myself sooner because if I had we would have started Classical Conversations years ago. Sometimes you have to find things out for yourself instead of listening to what others say, because it might not work for their family does not mean it will not work for your family!
We are so excited about this new change. I look forward to this new style of teaching and seeing how my kids respond to it. As well as my family making new friends in a homeschool community! How about you, do you homeschool? Have you considered Classical Conversations?
Stay tuned for more to come on Classical Conversations!
This sounds like a great program for homeschoolers. It’s great the it brings God into the education as well. I’ll have to pass this along to my homeschool friends.
I like the idea of incorporating the structure into the program. I know homeschooling can provide a challenge there because it’s so easy to be flexible. Good luck with your program!
Hopefully the program is a success for you! Kudos for the homeschooling. I’m sure you hear this all the time, but I look up to you that you can do this. I just don’t have the patience!
We used Classical elements in our homeschooling too. I especially liked the Latin we used. It made learning French and Spanish so much easier.
I really look up to home schoolers, I just don;t think I could do it. I think incorporating this into your lesson plan is essential.
I am in awe of parents who can homeschool. My son is way smarter then me so I can not do this. He is currently taking college courses while in high school so he amazes me daily.
I admire parents who homeschool their kids, I have thought of this before, but I wasn’t so sure, so it didn’t push through. Good luck with the program.
What a great program!
We do not homeschool but I sure do supplement what they learn at school.
With so many ESL students my kids get left behind a lot and it’s quite frustrating.
I am going to look into this further and see if we can use this with our kids.
This sounds facinating. Sounds like a great school year.
How interesting. I love music and I know the kids have always picked up things faster through songs. Shoot remember Schoolhouse Rock when we were younger. I’m eager to see how it fairs in your curriculum over the year.
Good job with your home schooling. I admire moms that are able to do this.
This sounds awesome. Come September I will only have 1 homeschooling, but I think this is a great idea!
I know a few people who have “attempted” home schooling. They have had no schedules whatsoever for what they are trying to accomplish. You seem to have it together, however. Nice job!
I think that is awesome. I know if I had kids, I’d be homeschooling them.
That is a great idea. I admire you for being able to do this. I don’t have the patience.
I think that it’s great that you evaluate each year after teaching your children. I have heard that a lot a parents use classical things such as this when teaching their children.
I have to hand it to all you home schoolers. I could never have done it.
We homeschooled for two years and my son is returning to school in the Fall. You never know- we might be back. Thanks for the tip!
We start homeschooling Kindergarten this year, and I have been searching through curriculum and trying to find the perfect fit for us. I hasn’t heard of Classical Conversations before, and this sounds like something I NEED to check out. I am so thrilled to have come across this post today!
That is great! What a wonderful choice you have made! If you have any questions please feel free to let me know. I would be happy to help!
Sounds like you are really on top of your planning for the year. Glad to see you have lots of questions.
I’ve always liked the idea of Homeschooling Children and admiring Parents who do. I like how short each subject is and that you keep it interactive
Although I’m not a homeschooler, I can definitely see the benefits of having a supportive community engaged in the same learning styles. I’ll be curious to see what you think of this curriculum when you are finished.
We did CC with my 4 yo last year and this year I signed on to tutor his class! I love the scope and structure of the program and am thrilled to get to tutor his group this coming year!!! It’s a great program that added a new level to our preschool/homeschool! I think you’ll really enjoy it!
As an educator, I support having a structured curriculum like this one. It allows kids to progress academically and to have rigor in their routines.
IT sounds like it just wasn’t the right time for you before, but it is now. I’m glad you’re so excited about the changes!
That’s great that you homeschool! I will be possibly doing it this year
We also homeschool and are in a group of homeschool parents. I have heard lots of good things about the Classical Conversations. We might look into it in the future, we are just in kindergarden and have something that is working well for us right now. I can not wait to hear how their system works for your family.
I love that there are these kinds of blog posts too. It’s nice to read what others are doing that could relate to or influence our own experiences.
what a cool program. i love the interactive and it looks like it will keep the kiddies attention. very nice.
I really like this. I wish I had known about it when I homeschooled my son. It would have been perfect.
My children are in public school but there are so many times that I have thought about homeschooling. I always enjoy reading what homeschooling parents are doing. Thanks for sharing!
My best friend do CC for years, she loved what they represented. She even directed her district for a little while. I checked it out when my son was starting school, but I knew I didn’t have the commitment to do it! Highly recommend it for those just starting out.
I love that there are so many different options for home schooling these days as far as curriculum goes. My son will not begin school until 2016, but I’ve already been contemplating whether to do home schooling or not. I’m just fascinated at the options that are available.
That’s wonderful that you found a new program you are excited about for the upcoming school year! I find the idea of homeschooling pretty fascinating, especially since we live in one of the worst districts in our area.
There’s really so much that goes into homeschooling isn’t there? I always enjoy reading articles on all the different things you need to incorporate into your curriculum.
It is good to see that you have some structure to your home schooling. I think that home schooling is good, but f it is just haphazardly thrown together, it doesn’t benefit the kids at all.
Way to go for homeschooling – that is not an easy task. I don’t do it, but it looks like the classical conversations program is interesting.
This sounds like a great program. I have always been interested in Homeschooling.
I would just love to integrate this program into our homeschooling program. I wish I could afford them!
Kelly, It can add up and be pricey and with 5 kids t is almost a small fortune however, the money I have been making towards my blog has gone to pay for the classes and curriculum.
This seems like a great faith-based homeschooling curriculum.
That is awesome to see them learning that you surly don’t learn those values in a public school. I really wish we had home schooled sometimes but I take some home schooling things and teach her things here at home because she isn’t learning things that are life kills important at school so I teach at home things like history, geography and music and oh so much more so I like reading about home schooling ideas other parents use.
You are truly SUPER MOM! This was a very insightful and interesting read <3
I think this is awesome! I’ll have to look into this.
I’m always impressed with moms who also find the time to teach! For me, just being a mom is almost a full time job in itself!
Very interesting concept and approaches to education. All the very best with it!
My sister-in-law is homeschooling, as well as a lot of my cousins. I wonder if they have seen this curriculum. They are also looking for conservative Christian sources.
This sounds like a great program to use for homeschooling. Good luck this year!
Its always fun to try out new homeschool curriculum. You never know if it will be a perfect fit for your family until you try it out. Hope CC turns out to be that perfect fir for your home.
I am not a homeschooler, but know many who are and have heard great things about this. It sounds like you are on the right path and I wish you all the luck 🙂
This sounds like a great program for homeschooled children! Good luck to an awesome school year!
i have heard many families who are into homeschooling and it works for them.
It is nice to see how your day is broken down for teaching lessons. It is wonderful to see that you partner with other home schoolers to further your children’s education. Best of luck in the upcoming school year.
i give you a ton of credit for homeschooling. I can imagine how must additional work it is along with the regular days of running the household. looks like you have a great plan. hope you have a wonderful and successful school year!
Sounds like a great program for home schoolers. You have scheduled it so well. We are planning about home schooling for my kids & this post could really help me a lot. Thanks for sharing your great ideas.
A good schedule is important and your schedule looks great. While I love the idea of home schooling, personally I think I would find it difficult to focus on school work and avoid the distractions around me. But that is probably because I have not had the opportunity to try it out. Good luck with the new school year.
Classical Conversation sounds like a great program. Having a good schedule and strictly following it is important for things to get done.
We don’t homeschool, but I think about it at times. Tools like this really seem like it would be a great way to help organize and structure the day!
I have thought about homeschooling before. I don’t think I could do it though. Homework time for our family makes me want to pull out my hair. I can’t imagine having to work with them on everything they have to learn.
It looks like you’re doing well with your home schooling – great structure and schedule!
I think its great you guys were able to find a curriculum that works so well for your family!! I bet you are excited to try it out with the upcoming school year!
I have a lot of friends who enroll their kids into classical conversations and they absolutely love it. I hope the same thing applies to you as well.