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Classical Conversations
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Do any of you have any experience or opinions to share with me? I have been using SCM (loosely) this year, and was gearing up for a more structured year next year. Our Mom’s group recently heard a speaker from a local CC group and I am intrigued, but not thouroughly convinced. Rote memorization seems so dull, but the video clips on the website show everyone having fun(of course!). So, I just would like to hear from any of you all, like I said, with either experience or just an opinion. I originally said no to the program, and to much of the formal ‘classical’ educating in general, now I am waffling. I think partly because I am homeschooling my youngest (9 dd) and she is the only child in the house now, so I worry about having friends…I feel like she’s missing out somehow…we do go to church but we haven’t been as consistent in attending as we could be.
Bleesings,
Paula
CC is popular around here. There’s pros and cons, of course:) I tried a similar classical co-op and didn’t like it because I had already picked out different curriculums I wanted to use and I didn’t want to change my plans and give up a day of schooling. I felt more pressured when we were doing that co-op w/homework, keeping to their schedule, not being able to have another day as lighter because we missed that school day, etc. I love the flexibility of doing our own thing:)
However, we do have another co-op and friends there. If I didn’t have that and wanted social time, more structure to my school, and wasn’t particular about using a 4yr. vs. 6yr. cycle and wanted to do the things they were doing, I would strongly consider it. My friend loves it…esp. the presentation time and having somebody else teach writing. I think the thing to weigh is whether or not this co-op would take things off your plate or add too much to it. I personally wouldn’t make that big a commitment just for social time…but that’s just me:) Gina
I have several friends in CC, and they love it. One friend in particular has an 11YO daughter who was really craving some more time with her peers, and she loves it.
I’m not crazy about the rote memorization, the price was too expensive for us (with four kids), and I didn’t want my two little ones in childcare all of that time. For your situation, though, your daughter may really thrive!
I don’t know about your CC, but ours is only once a week.
My children and I did CC. I will mention that we didn’t start until they were a bit older. While we enjoyed the social aspect, I did not find it to be worth the money. I didn’t like losing an entire day of the week for something that didn’t really seem to give much benefit. My daughter particularyl seemed bored (she was 11). Also, I’ll mention that my children have no problem speaking in front of people, so the presentations were not really any sort of challenge for them. For others in our group that were more shy, giving the weekly presentation did give them great practice and we saw improvements for them through out the year. Also, my kids didn’t find the memory work to be enough, so we were always reading books and adding to it.
I was the tutor for the Essentials class (writing, grammar, and math drill) that they offer to 3-6th graders. It is a good program but not a good fit for us.
Over all, if you have the money to pay for it and want it to be the master of your schedule, it is fine. Otherwise, I’d just do my own thing or stick with the SCM guides.
I have alot of friends that do CC and love it. We were involved one year in just the Essentials writing and grammar part. It was a good foundation for my dd and she/I learned alot. That being said, the program is very rigorous. I would strongly suggest that you look at their philosophy/goals and see if it matches the goals you have for your homeschool. For some people, it is a great match. For our family, not so much…it is just not my style and cost too much for something that isn’t the perfect fit. If it is social interaction you are looking for for your dd, are there any other co-ops around? Maybe some other alternative…like 4H?
Thank you all for your responses. I have come to realize that I do not want any more structure to my days, and I don’t want someone else choosing my curriculum, or setting the pace for us. As for ‘socialization’ mostly I just want her to have an opportunity to make some friends, to do ‘normal’ things, like have a friend over to play, or a sleepover, or a birthday with friends…perhaps I want these more than she, as she doesn’t mention it?
What I really need is to use a schedule, not just make one, but actually discipline myself (and my daughter) to follow one. If we could do that I would feel like we were progressing. The structure of CC would probably not fit either of us. But we do need more…something…structure I suppose, the discipline to start a lesson and finish it in a timely manner. I started the year with a schedule for history, reading, math, spelling, with some writing and geography as well. We are not close to finished for the year ( I only wanted to bring us up to the time of Columbus (roughly) using HE Marshalls Our Island Story, and some good literature…we still have much to read. Math…well, we are progressing, at a snails pace, but she’s learning…Spelling, well, there are lists, she performs well, then tends to forget…Geography? not so much, Writing? very little.
So, forward to next year…stongly considering actually purchasing the SCM Guide – Early Modern & Epistles, and Spelling Wisdom, maybe switching from Singapore Math to Teaching Textbooks (or not…)
Sorry getting a bit rambly.
Again, thank you all for all your input. This is such a lovely place to come for advice.
Blessings,
Paula
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