Classical Conversations Challenge Level??

[Samiam]

I am considering CC next year.

 

I have looked at it in the past, went to a few meetings, etc, but with the cost, couldn't justify it, plus didn't think that I needed that extra workload of school stuff on MY plate, let alone DS's.

 

Now, though, a couple of years later, a slightly different perspective. We have moved to a new state, and have joined a few HS groups. One is HUGE, mainly a support group but they do have a 6 week co-op every semester. We didn't do the co-op this fall as none of the classes struck me as worth getting out the house every Friday at 9 a.m. Other than that, that HS group does some activities for younger children, and some gatherings for high schoolers, but not much for middle school. Another group we joined is JUST for Middle schoolers, but it just started this fall, so doesn't have alot going on besides weekly park days, which DS12 is not that interested in attending. We've went to a few, but it's nothing that he looks forward to every week.

 

So anyway, my point is, I am finding it harder and harder to find a group/friends for him to "click" with.

 

Then, I look at our family, and now I have DS4, 7 and 12, so by next fall, all three could fully participate and get something out of CC (whereas a few years ago, youngest DS would just be in the nursery, and middle DS would have been a struggle as he has, still, very little interest in anything related to school work).

 

Also, having done co-ops in the past, one positive to a weekly meeting that people have invested $$ into is that THEY SHOW UP! My children will see the same children every week, which just helps solidify an actual relationship versus "maybe we will see you at the park next week or maybe it will be another month, and when we do see you, both Moms will talk about how we need to get our children together, but then neither Mom actually makes the effort to do it". So I think that attending CC will help DS12 form a group of peers that he can relate to and see on a regular basis.

 

Plus I do "get" the CC theory and think it has some very solid points.

 

I have put my name on the list to be a tutor (this is a new CC group, off shooting from a current group in the area), so that will help defray some costs, plus I can plan in advance now and put away some tax refund to cover it.

 

But then I know that we won't be changing our Math to Saxon as CC uses.

 

I am not 100% sure I will want to change our Latin to what CC uses as I am liking what we use now.

 

So.....I guess my question is: Has your child done CC Challenge and what was your overall impression of it? Did you use the same materials as your core at home or use something different? Did it add alot of extra work to your week at home? Any other thoughts about it from those who have done it?

[SonshineLearner]

Hey There :)

 

I would think about... doing the Henle Latin with CC instead of the Latin's Not So Tough. Saxon depends on how your tutor teaches. I think the class can be good, regardless of the math you choose...

I think that the rest of the Challenge Classes can be beneficial. You have to weigh what you can get him to do at home and how much he's missing a classroom situation. The Tutor makes a big difference in the class, too. If you can meet the tutor and talk with them.... that really can help :)

 

The students in CC are typically really nice... at least all the groups I've heard of...

 

:)

(Your 4 year old being in it.... the success of that ... is your son's personality... and the Tutor that is there...)

[amtmcm]

 

So anyway, my point is, I am finding it harder and harder to find a group/friends for him to "click" with.

 

Also, having done co-ops in the past, one positive to a weekly meeting that people have invested $$ into is that THEY SHOW UP! My children will see the same children every week, which just helps solidify an actual relationship versus "maybe we will see you at the park next week or maybe it will be another month, and when we do see you, both Moms will talk about how we need to get our children together, but then neither Mom actually makes the effort to do it". So I think that attending CC will help DS12 form a group of peers that he can relate to and see on a regular basis.

 

You are 100% correct about CC Challenge classes providing a group of friends to "click with." My DD13's classmates are all wonderful and she enjoys being with her peer group every week. She is inspired and encouraged by them and I see her pushing herself to do her best in this class. It's like "iron sharpening iron." The other Moms I've spoken with have commented about the same thing.

 

 

But then I know that we won't be changing our Math to Saxon as CC uses.

 

I am not 100% sure I will want to change our Latin to what CC uses as I am liking what we use now.

 

My DD13 uses another math program, but she still attends the Saxon class with CC and the reinforcement and discussion is beneficial. As PP mentioned, Henle Latin (which CC begins using in Challenge 1) is excellent. You might handle the Latin the same as the math, using CC for reinforcement. There are samples of Latin's Not So Tough on the publisher's website which might help you decide about Latin.

 

So.....I guess my question is: Has your child done CC Challenge and what was your overall impression of it? Did you use the same materials as your core at home or use something different? Did it add alot of extra work to your week at home? Any other thoughts about it from those who have done it?

 

 

You can see from my signature that we do CC, on top of quite a few other classes too. DD10 is extremely social, so I have to get her out of the house frequently and DD13 is highly academic, so she actually enjoys a heavy school load.

 

My overall impression:

:thumbup: Both Foundations and Challenge have been a blessing to our family. I enjoy lesson planning and have a good education myself, so I'd be happy to homeschool on my own, but CC enriches our homeschool with friends, discussion and a community.

 

Same materials as your core at home or use something different?

For DD10, I have specific goals for her and we both enjoy using open & go curriculum, so we use our own core at home and CC Foundations is mostly a supplement. The Science & Geography in Foundations is probably complete enough for a 7 year old - just add a few Usborne-type books for science.

 

Did it add alot of extra work?

When DD10 (who is not highly academic) gets to Challenge A, then CC will be her core curriculum and I may add BJU Science as we are a science oriented family (a history oriented family might add a history course). Every child in DD13's CC class is totally unique. For some, CC is all they can handle, and for others, they are adding courses on top of CC.

 

Any other thoughts?

I also agree with the PP about meeting the tutor in advance.

 

Hope this helps. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

Edited December 7, 2010 by amtmcm

[G5052]

Of course there have been bumps along the way, but overall it has been extremely positive. I've tutored Foundations and Essentials in various combinations for five years, and it looks like probably just Essentials next year.

 

Challenge A was plenty for my oldest. The tutor gave possible extension work, and we did most of it. I added some novel studies in the fall, and we did math on our own.

 

Challenge B hasn't been as rich as I'd hoped, so I've assigned more depth and detail at home and we are doing an outside Latin class and our own math. CC is reworking the Latin for Challenge for 2011-2012 (details to come out shortly), so don't assume anything there yet.

 

Challenge I should be enough from what I know of the director, but I'm guessing that we'll need to outsource Latin again. My oldest is really into it, and he's way ahead of the Challenge B students he's with now. We'll probably do our own math again.

 

Next year will be our last with Foundations/Essentials, and I've always loosely matched the history and science topics at home. We used Sonlight Cores and Science as a loose fit (i.e. Core 3+4 and Science 5 with CC Cycle 3), and now use BJUP History 7 and CLE Science 6 as written which approximate the topics.

 

And yes, the tutor makes a difference, so I'd recommend meeting and getting to know the Challenge Director before signing up. Challenge is really just a set of books and assignments with a few helps, so the Challenge tutors have to come up with a lot from their own background, resources, etc. You need someone able and ready to do that.

Edited December 7, 2010 by GVA