Any opinions on Classical Conversations Challenge Program?

[yarrow]

I'm considering Classical Conversations Challenge program but I'm not sure how they measure up academically. Would you consider it a strong high school program?

 

Thanks so much!

Karen

[Aloha2U]

bumpity bump

 

:lurk5:

[yarrow]

have any thoughts on the challenge program? You can PM me if you'd rather. I don't really want to put my son in it & then later find out it's not rigorous enough.

 

Thanks!

[ScubaDo]

I am also interested in this....

 

Thanks,

Elizabeth

[Susan C.]

I know a little, I talked to the people at the booth at our local homeschool fair. They do a three-year cycle instead of four, they use Saxon Math, Lost Tools of Writing is in their catalog. I also saw some IEW subject writing at the booth. It seemed rigorous to me, just a little different than WTM. We won't be doing it, it is one grade behind us (in development), and I refuse to use Saxon Math. :)

[Chris in VA]

A friend of mine has her child in it, so this is second/third hand.

I think it's more rigorous than public high school here--depending on the courses and instructor at the ps. What was hard to get used to was only having class once a week -- I think they went to twice a week, tho--even then, it's not every day, so there is a lot of independent work required.

 

The program that is one step under Challenge seems to be fairly rigorous--even inappropriate, in my mind, as the writing is way above grade level. I think a lot of kids get used to the rigor and make a smooth transition to Challenge. It is a plus, in my book, to have kids to discuss with.

[Miss Marple]

Karen, I looked at this program a year or so ago wondering if it would offer any advantages over what we were already doing in our co-op as well as at home. I found it to be a good, solid program that used readily available materials.

 

I chose not to participate because it didn't offer anything beyond what we were already doing. The math and science used texts that are not to my liking. I didn't see anything that sent up red flags - I think it is a well designed program.

 

I think it could be beneficial to someone who doesn't have access to a co-op which offers discussion based literature or science. It might also be helpful for someone who needs to have their students accountable to someone other than mom :D

[G5052]

The book choices are very solid, but a lot depends on the tutor and the motivation/background of the other students in the class. I live in an area with many co-ops and paid classes, and the sort of criticism you'll read about Challenge is true of any paid class, so it pays to ask a lot of questions as a wise consumer. The advantage with Challenge is that you can get all of the major subjects at one place on one day with integration of the subjects, and the tutors do receive training/oversight with a somewhat standardized approach.

 

We're very happy with our campus. I am at the stage where managing that level of schooling, part-time work, family medical needs, and long-distance eldercare issues was about to do me in. Challenge has helped us to go far beyond what I could do alone at this point.

[yarrow]

for my upcoming 7th grade son. He's the youngest & with my older son's schedule, it's just the two of us most of the time. He would benefit from the social aspect (although he has extra-curricular activities) as well as the discussion times which are more challenging with just the two of us. I am a little bit concerned with the writing portion overwhelming him at first. We have just started working through IEW SWI-B & I think I'll try to complete it before Challenge A begins in the fall.

 

Thanks for all the feedback.

 

Karen