1/18/15
We have been out of Classical Conversations for half of a school year now, after participating for 6 years. When we started the program, it was because we saw a way to get through middle and high school. Ironically, when our oldest was ready to leave the grammar stage and head in to 7th grade, we found the program didn't align with where she was academically, and the overall path wasn't going to provide what we wanted. Those 6 years we'd enjoyed in the Foundations program were spent developing our own educational vision, which ended up leaving us with a student above the Challenge level in math and Latin, and quite sensitive to bonding in a Christian way with people who may not share our beliefs.
While the program offered some good classes and ideas, it changed along the way as well. When we began, students could take only a few Challenge courses if they wanted, and could flex in to different classes so they were advancing according to their abilities. That changed so no flexing happened and the whole program had to be taken--a few classes were no longer permitted. They joined the evangelical churches idea on community being extremely important-- above the academics aligning better for the individual student. (Community is has an important place, but for my kids I want it to be with spiritually like-minded people since friendships are formed in close communities and God is clear on being careful about who your friends are...)
CC's math plan is not that rigorous when compared to other classical schools or even the better public schools advanced ideas, therefore it was not going to give the support we needed. We also wanted support in Latin, and our daughter was heading in to her 5th year by 7th grade. Our plan has been to finish Latin in 9th grade so she can then focus on a more modern language. The idea that repetition produces a more solid learner is a tough sell when you look at the cost of the program and the reality that there is only so much of Mom to go around...so when the help wasn't given for the classes we needed, we'd have to still pay money for those classes or find the time to teach ourselves. Why give an entire day to a program, and the cost, when we'd still need to fit in and pay for Latin class and have Dad teach math completely? I'd rather have 5 days to get the academic work done. For these reasons and others in regard to the theological differences we started to see, it wasn't a good fit, but what were we to do???
With two other children to teach, my covering every subject wasn't possible. We've always hired a teacher for Latin, and my kids have taken it online starting in 3rd grade for our oldest, and 4th grade for our younger two. We continued with this plan, and had her take three additional classes online: General Science (Apologia), Logic I, and English I. Her dad taught her Bible and Math. It was a solid, challenging 7th grade year and one we will not likely replicate. It met the needs and gave her an excellent season to master time management and responsibility. I'm very blessed to have an oldest who loves learning, enjoys structure and a challenge, and takes her educational responsibilities seriously. She has the ability to handle something like that. It has nothing to do with me, it is how God has created her and my guess is, He's got a plan for those traits for the work He'll call her to.
Other options in my area--an umbrella type school with paid teachers but for homeschoolers, and co-ops. Before deciding, sit down on the HSLDA website and explore the college entrance information. There is tons of helpful information, and entering middle school is the time to sit down with your husband and map out where you want your student to end up in 12th grade. As the old adage says: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Having a general vision does not mean you are inflexible; on the contrary, it defines where you can be flexible. As I learned early on in Mary Kay: if you shoot for nothing, you'll hit it every time.
Try to get a basic framework of the math level you believe your student should reach, the science you believe needs to be taken, how many years of foreign language you want (this is all high school) and anything else you all consider to be essential to a well-rounded education. HSLDA has the guidelines for basic college entry requirements, mid-level, and "I want to be an engineer or doctor" type standards. We can pretty well tell where our kids' aptitudes are and gear their education in that way.
I felt strongly that our student not have her remaining schooling be spent in an online classroom. Even though it is fun, controlled, as rigorous as we want (there are many schools to choose from) and offers interaction with the teacher and other pupils, it is just not something I'm interested in. Prayer has been key, and each year we pray and seek the Lord's wisdom and direction. For 8th grade we dropped back to only 2 online classes-Latin and Omnibus, with Mom and Dad teaching the rest: math, Physical Science, Grammar, Writing and Bible. 9th grade will be different yet again ;).
I hope this will give you some ideas if you find yourself jumping ship from Challenge,
Ann
We have been out of Classical Conversations for half of a school year now, after participating for 6 years. When we started the program, it was because we saw a way to get through middle and high school. Ironically, when our oldest was ready to leave the grammar stage and head in to 7th grade, we found the program didn't align with where she was academically, and the overall path wasn't going to provide what we wanted. Those 6 years we'd enjoyed in the Foundations program were spent developing our own educational vision, which ended up leaving us with a student above the Challenge level in math and Latin, and quite sensitive to bonding in a Christian way with people who may not share our beliefs.
While the program offered some good classes and ideas, it changed along the way as well. When we began, students could take only a few Challenge courses if they wanted, and could flex in to different classes so they were advancing according to their abilities. That changed so no flexing happened and the whole program had to be taken--a few classes were no longer permitted. They joined the evangelical churches idea on community being extremely important-- above the academics aligning better for the individual student. (Community is has an important place, but for my kids I want it to be with spiritually like-minded people since friendships are formed in close communities and God is clear on being careful about who your friends are...)
CC's math plan is not that rigorous when compared to other classical schools or even the better public schools advanced ideas, therefore it was not going to give the support we needed. We also wanted support in Latin, and our daughter was heading in to her 5th year by 7th grade. Our plan has been to finish Latin in 9th grade so she can then focus on a more modern language. The idea that repetition produces a more solid learner is a tough sell when you look at the cost of the program and the reality that there is only so much of Mom to go around...so when the help wasn't given for the classes we needed, we'd have to still pay money for those classes or find the time to teach ourselves. Why give an entire day to a program, and the cost, when we'd still need to fit in and pay for Latin class and have Dad teach math completely? I'd rather have 5 days to get the academic work done. For these reasons and others in regard to the theological differences we started to see, it wasn't a good fit, but what were we to do???
With two other children to teach, my covering every subject wasn't possible. We've always hired a teacher for Latin, and my kids have taken it online starting in 3rd grade for our oldest, and 4th grade for our younger two. We continued with this plan, and had her take three additional classes online: General Science (Apologia), Logic I, and English I. Her dad taught her Bible and Math. It was a solid, challenging 7th grade year and one we will not likely replicate. It met the needs and gave her an excellent season to master time management and responsibility. I'm very blessed to have an oldest who loves learning, enjoys structure and a challenge, and takes her educational responsibilities seriously. She has the ability to handle something like that. It has nothing to do with me, it is how God has created her and my guess is, He's got a plan for those traits for the work He'll call her to.
Other options in my area--an umbrella type school with paid teachers but for homeschoolers, and co-ops. Before deciding, sit down on the HSLDA website and explore the college entrance information. There is tons of helpful information, and entering middle school is the time to sit down with your husband and map out where you want your student to end up in 12th grade. As the old adage says: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Having a general vision does not mean you are inflexible; on the contrary, it defines where you can be flexible. As I learned early on in Mary Kay: if you shoot for nothing, you'll hit it every time.
Try to get a basic framework of the math level you believe your student should reach, the science you believe needs to be taken, how many years of foreign language you want (this is all high school) and anything else you all consider to be essential to a well-rounded education. HSLDA has the guidelines for basic college entry requirements, mid-level, and "I want to be an engineer or doctor" type standards. We can pretty well tell where our kids' aptitudes are and gear their education in that way.
I felt strongly that our student not have her remaining schooling be spent in an online classroom. Even though it is fun, controlled, as rigorous as we want (there are many schools to choose from) and offers interaction with the teacher and other pupils, it is just not something I'm interested in. Prayer has been key, and each year we pray and seek the Lord's wisdom and direction. For 8th grade we dropped back to only 2 online classes-Latin and Omnibus, with Mom and Dad teaching the rest: math, Physical Science, Grammar, Writing and Bible. 9th grade will be different yet again ;).
I hope this will give you some ideas if you find yourself jumping ship from Challenge,
Ann
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