As the name implies, Classical Conversations [aka: CC] uses the classical model of education. There are 3 levels of learning, [Foundations, Essentials & Challenge] and they all build on one another. In Foundations, [the elementary years] students memorize a bunch of short facts from six different subjects: Latin, History/timeline, Math, Geography, Science & English Grammar. This is called their weekly memory work, and new facts in each subject are presented/learned each week... so it's a lot of memorizing in a short amount of time. However, the early years are perfect for this style of learning - it's a time in life when it's so easy to memorize! [especially when most of the memory work is in song form] Later on in Essentials, [middle years] students begin to understand all the facts they learned in Foundations... and finally, in Challenge, [upper years] students learn how to explain & apply all of their knowledge from the previous levels.
In addition to the weekly memory work, CC provides Fine Arts education. Students enjoy six weeks of learning in each of these areas: Drawing, Tin Whistle, Art/Art History and Music/Composers. CC clearly offers a lot, but it's still only part of the boys' education... at home we add in Spelling, Reading, Writing & more Math.
This is our 4th year with CC ... we started when Matthew was in Kindergarten, Hudson was 3, Eli was 1 and I was pregnant with Hollis. It was an interesting year! At that time, there was only 1 location in Tallahassee. The following year there were 2 locations, and at this point there are 4. Once locations max out, another has to open up [provided there is someone to direct it] to accommodate more families. From what I understand, the growth in this area is tremendous since Tallahassee isn't all that big.
Each CC meets one day a week - our group happens to meet on Mondays. We meet from Labor Day to Thanksgiving, have a long winter break and then meet again from January to April... 24 weeks total. That's obviously less than half of the year, but we school at home in between. In fact, we school year-round @ our house. That way when someone is sick, we go on vacation or we just want a break, we don't get behind. This also allows us to stretch out school work, so we aren't schooling for hours and hours each day... Perfect for this stage in our life with little ones :)
Here's what I love about CC: [in no particular order]
1. the classroom experience with a different teacher [other than myself!]
2. our directors [They are top-notch.]
3. our regular "mom's night out" where we can visit without interruptions :)
4. the monthly field trips [Even if we can't participate, to have that planning off my plate is huge.]
5. the nursery/pre-school workers ... Eli & Hollis are so loved & well taken care of.
6. the weekly requirements that "push" the boys ... presentations, map drawing, reciting bible verses, memory work, etc.
7. the treasured friendships I've gained [and those I'm enjoying getting to know better]
8. the accountability
9. the motto: "to know God and make Him known"
10. the curriculum
Mrs. Wilson's class posing with their vertebrae models they made.
Gotta take a silly photo with this group of boys :)
Matthew and his partner interviewing each other, so they
are prepared to introduce one another to the rest of the class.
I'm so excited to have come across your blog! Yay for bloggy friends :)
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