Resources for the Classical Conversations Teacher (Mom…That’s You!)

We have loved the last five years homeschooling in communities with Classical Conversations. Since I was not classically educated, I often found myself feeling inadequate to pull off what was being asked.  I've realized that all I need to do is be a learner, and everything else falls into place.  This doesn't mean simple submission to a program, but entertaining ideas until you find the value of them and deciding how they help or hinder your homeschool.  Everyone will implement these ideas differently, so with that, here's some of the resources I've complied after my time learning more about classical education and how it's supported by Classical Conversations.

Resources for Foundations

There are three Cycles for Foundations.  Since this year is Cycle 1, the resources relate to this cycle.

This one is for the mom of young students.  Life will be very different when you have older students.  Enjoy the young years while you're there!

I love learning with games.  Memory work doesn't have to be pure drilling.

In our fine arts studies, we study classical music.  Homegrown Learners has developed SQUILT guides that supplement your classical composer studies.

Resources for Essentials:

Chart copying is an important element of the Essentials program.  This is a simple game to keep it fun.

In your last couple of years of Essentials, it's good to start looking forward to Challenge.  This list is not a "You should do every single one of these things" kind of list, rather some options for getting yourself prepared.

Latin scares so many people.  I know I was terrified when we looked at moving on to Challenge.  Easing into your Latin studies in Foundations is a great way to make it all less scary!

Resources for Challenge:

I love Challenge A.  So many wonderful things to learn are captured in this transition year.

There are so many things that are learned in the Challenge programs that don't make it on the list of what's studied.  Here are the top three skills gained in Challenge A.

Challenge B challenged me!  I never imagined I could learn that much, but I did.

Want to know what a Challenge student thinks about the program?  Here's his thoughts:

Helps for Latin:

This year I'm tutoring Challenge I.  I'm continuing to expand my own education, and the biggest lessons for me are in Debate.

Classical Conversations at Home:

Sometimes the hardest thing to figure out is how to translate what happens at CC to home life.  This is my schedule for my Foundations/Essentials students...revisited from when I first posted it with updates about how the schedule is actually working.

This is my Challenge student's schedule, also with edits from when it was planned to what has really happened!

There are so many more wonderful resources for Classical Conversations families brought to you by some of my favorite bloggers:

• Homegrown Learners
• Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood
• Recipes For Family Life

Betsy

Betsy Strauss is an unexpected homeschooler, mother of three, who is in a relationship with a sweet man for life. She loves reading books, drinking coffee, and learning anything with her kids.