Thanks for this thread! I am going to be a director next year and this was pretty helpful.

Thanks for the part about gardening to learn from it. Last year was a disaster and I don't even want to mention the common sense mistakes I made- the least of which was putting a small garden in a spot that floods when it rains. :) I will look into that book and thanks for taking the time to answer! My husband is enjoying a book he got for two bucks off Amazon that you recommended at the homeschool convention called The Rector Of Justin. (We were the Patriot fans).

I have done a lot of research about CC as I am going to help start up and direct a Foundations/Essentials this coming fall. In the paperwork they make the director agree that she understands that Classical Conversations belongs to Leigh Bortins. It is her reputation on the line with Classical Conversations groups. I believe that is why they are careful about what they teach and not deviating from it. So many people have so many different ideas. She has to somehow have quality control on her organization. She is well within her right to do so and we are free to not participate. I understand that one reason people homeschool is freedom. That will always be part of a tension with any kind of community/co-op. People need to understand that going into any group. Secondly, concerning the cost. I now belong to a co-op group with volunteers for everything. It is a mish-mash of whatever anyone is willing to teach and sometimes no one is willing to teach anything. Other times the same mom is constantly offering classes and everyone comes but doesn't serve. Also, it is not classical or even close to classical. CC is a great model to me personally. The worker is worth her hire. If a mom is willing to teach 3 hours a week, go to practicums, and prepare weekly, then a small stipend is reasonable and logical. The director does a lot of preparation and deals with a lot of stress. It isn't a money making scheme. It's a way for everyone to contribute and benefit fairly. It's a way for moms who can't afford it to pay some of the costs through tutoring. My purpose was just to defend some of CC practices. I don't think it is for everyone. They even say that in informational meetings. But I felt like there was a little bit of an indignant tone about curriculum/cost that could be addressed.:)

Thank you so much Andrew and Jami! I absolutely hate the way we are approaching science through a curriculum. It's killing our love of nature. This is so freeing. Although I'm going to HAVE to figure out how to garden... But I will try to do this from a state of rest. :)

What does a typical week look like for someone trying to nourish her child's soul on truth, goodness, and beauty from and to a state of rest when the child is 7?

Where can you go on the CiRCE site to find the past summer conference talks? I heard Mr. Kern talk this past week at a convention. If you all have a chance to hear him you should!!!

Looking for other homeschoolers doing the classical Christian method in South Carolina. I live in the little town of Manning, but do a lot in Sumter as well.