Late last summer, our family moved cross-country. We were just about to start “official” homeschool with our five year old, and all of a sudden we had no network of familiar homeschooling friends. Most of the families in our new church homeschool, but their kids are significantly older than ours.
I felt a little lost and alone. In the state we’d left, we had tons of friends whose kids were our kids friends, and who all wanted to homeschool together. I didn’t think I would ever need to join a co-op because we had such a good support system.
Unsure of our next step, I happened to hear about a local Classical Conversations group. Several college friends in different states had raved to me about CC, so I had at least heard of them. I knew I wanted to pursue classical education, thanks to this book. It seemed like my best chance at making new friends, developing a homeschool network, and introducing my kids to other kids their age. I figured that I could always quit before next year and do things my own way if I ended up not liking it.
I didn’t plan on loving Classical Conversations so much. I’m sure it varies from community to community, but the group I joined is so friendly, helpful, and well organized. I hope to continue with Classical Conversations for a long time! Here’s what we love about it:
1. The Social Experience.
My daughter is a social butterfly. At only 4, she would tell me how much she wanted to go to “real” school, and from what I could gather it was mostly based on social reasons. Well, with CC she gets to go to “real” school one morning every week. She has a teacher that isn’t mom (who she loves!), and 7 classmates the same age. Some of the best friends we’ve made in the area are from her class.
It makes me happy to be able to observe her social interactions- I know things I probably wouldn’t know if I had sent her to school. Girl drama apparently starts young! It is also reassuring to know her friends and their parents. I’ve had the chance to get to know them well, and see that they hold to the same essential values and convictions as us. My daughter is also way more motivated to do her school work because she knows her friends and teacher are doing the same things, and expect her to do it. This makes our daily school time at home less of a drag.
2. The Support of Like-Minded Families.
While I love Classical Education in theory, I am kind of a Type B homeschool mom. Strict order and lofty lesson plans overwhelm me. I love having the accountability and support of this community! It helps push me to follow through and carry on when the going gets tough. Other homeschool moms, both veteran and newbie like myself, have been a big encouragement.
3. The Memory Work is Set to Songs.
We love music at our house, and it is so easy to memorize facts that our set to song! There is a lot to memorize each week {one Scripture verse, and facts in geography, history, timeline of world history, math, science, Latin, and English}, but having each piece put to music makes it much simpler. Especially since I don’t have a reader yet, and memory work depends so largely on me!
4. The Flexibility.
Speaking of so much memory work, I’ve really only focused on memorizing the timeline, scripture, and history each week. Sure, we listen to the Latin, science, and English too… but because my kids are so young, will be going through the 3 cycles multiple years, and the memory work does depend so much upon me {Type B, remember?}, I’ve chosen to “follow the fun” and work through what appeals most to our interests. It is what you choose to make of it! If your family is having a particularly trying year, or your kids are younger, there is freedom to put what you want {or are able} into it. I definitely hope to work harder at things next year, especially once my daughter is able to read and work on it independently. But I love that it isn’t too high pressure.
5.The Preschool Program.
Not every community offers this, but while my youngest at 15 months goes to the nursery, my three year old son gets to go to a preschool class. His teacher is amazing! They learn a letter, do a craft, and walk to a local playground or play in the gym every week. He loves school just as much as his big sister, and I’m grateful he’s getting the extra stimulation.
6. Every Student is on the Same Page.
For homeschool families with many kids spread across different ages, it can be a real challenge to juggle the many levels of science, history, grammar, and geography. The beauty of Classical Conversations is that every kid is studying the exact same things each week, just at an age appropriate level. The only individual work they need at home is for math and English {phonics, handwriting, etc.}. I love that as they grow my kids will be able to memorize and read about their geography, history, and science together. So much simpler for busy homeschool moms!
7. How Much I’m Learning.
Earlier this year I read a book about Church History, and it was wonderful to be able to fit it into the context of the Timeline we’ve learned. My kids are learning a ton too! In our Bible reading, library times, or even watching the news they will hear something that triggers a history fact they’ve memorized. Their eyes light up, and they get so excited that they can actually relate to the information! This is at only ages 3 and 5. I cannot wait to see how the scope of their knowledge, and mine, broadens over the coming years that we remain in the program.
8. The Materials are Affordable.
One potential downside to participating in Classical Conversations is the cost of registration. For two kids to be in the nursery and preschool, and for only one to be in the Foundations program, I believe I spent just under $1,000. There are ways to offset it- being a tutor or director, for one. And the fact that its for a building, materials, and teaching for 24 weeks spread out over the school year make it worth it to me.
The plus side is that the materials are not that expensive! You only need one book for all of your kids, for all 3 cycles, and the book is only $45 {less if you can find it used!}. A one time investment that can be reused every year {as long as CC doesn’t update the materials}. Of course there are plenty of optional items to purchase- c.d’s, timeline flash cards, and laminated maps… but you don’t have to buy them. I decided to just by the app for this year’s cycle {only $15} to help us with memorization, and then we listen to the Timeline and President’s Songs on YouTube. If you want to read up more on each week’s topics, just head to the library for additional materials. That’s it!
9. Weekly Science and Art Projects.
I don’t know about you, but I’m not a big fan of the messes that come with “crafts” at our house. I love that my kids get to do messy art and science stuff each week, not at my house, with me not at all responsible for supplies and set-up. This is a HUGE perk in my book!
Classical Conversations has been a great fit for our family {they are not paying me to say this, and are completely unaware that I’m writing this post}. Granted, it’s not a fit for everyone. It might work well for you if you are desiring a little more social interaction for yourself and your kids, if you could benefit from outside structure and accountability, if you’re feeling alone in your schooling and ideals, or if your kids feel like school is a drag.
Classical Conversations is so much fun! It’s been a joy for our family to participate.
You can go to Classical Conversation’s website and search to see if their is a group in your area.
Rachel
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