[Does anyone else think Classical Conversations is neither?]

This is our fourth year with CC. My son is 7, so our experience is limited to the Foundations program.

 

To answer your question, yes, CC has been both classical and a conversation for us. Other posters have given this a good going over, so I won't repeat our similar experiences or knowledge of classical education. I will share, however, that seeing the value of CC required persisting through the first semester snark phase, and coming to some pride stripping realizations about my treasured education.

 

The first semester snark phase -- I engaged in heavy generalization. Our tutor's slight mistakes set off the academic police siren in my head. My esteem for the program hinged on the correct pronunciation of Dvorak.

 

Second semester humility -- the formerly generalized denim jumpered woman with 14 children saw something beautiful in my son I was blind to. (That I didn't at once appreciate the parenting wisdom of a woman with 14 children is one of my less than intelligent moments). I confidently explained atmospheric pressure to my son, which my husband later informed me was entirely inaccurate. Thankfully, my graduate degree and the respect of my violin students doesn't hinge upon my ability to pronounce Betelgeuse.

 

And this is where the value of CC became apparent to me. It isn't about a mass of knowledge... It's about parents humbling themselves so that they might take on the awe of a new thing in tandem with their child. CC has presented me with an abyss of what I don't know, quite frankly. I can walk outside tonight and take in the Leonids meteor shower. But I have to know it exists first, and I love that CC has done that for us.

 

It may not be the program for you. But if it isn't, that doesn't mean it is without merit or "unhealthy." That seems like a hasty assessment in search of a desired outcome.

 

Peace,

Stella

 

Hi Stella! I love this!! But I always love what you have to say. Great to see you here!

 

I have been in CC more than 10 years now, and felt the same way my first year. I almost didn't come back after the break that first year. I almost quit at the end of the year.

 

It's not for everyone, but I am glad we stayed with it.

 

I have heard a lot of people be critical of CC very openly both within and outside of CC about issues with CC.

 

To answer the OP's question - there are different opinions what what makes an education classical. The classical approach that CC uses is a valid classical approach. It's not the only one, but it is classical.

The conversations aren't in the Foundations classroom. It's about engaging in "The Great Conversation" and not about what they do on a single day. And CC started with Challenge first. Challenge is very conversational.

I do find it to be both.

 

[TMI Q about little girls and horse riding]

I'd check the TP when she wipes and see if it could be a bad UTI. It has also happened to my kids (and me) after having food poisoning. The perian@l area has really delicate skin, so it may be more likely to be from there.

I would suspect a UTI too.

[Moms with hardwood floors: how do I clean this?]

A Norwex enviro cloth might take it out. I have used to ge Sharpie off my floors.

[Fustration over Craigslist grrr]

There are realtors that list rentals.

We always used a realtor to find our rentals because nearly all the landlords were a pain to work with. No showing and not communicating.

[CC app. Users, I have a question]

Oh wait you mean the CC cards. Sorry you want the Cycle 1 app

[CC app. Users, I have a question]

The VP timeline wasn't included in the Cycle 3 app.

[Classical Conversations Directors-need advice!]

I agree with Toni!
Get to a practicum and talk to your SM.
 

[Lively Latin Videos]

We haven't had a problem at all with them.

[Zero Retention: APD? ADHD?]

Get her her own copy of the book so that she can read along with you or have her read the material on her own and see if it makes a difference. Maybe she is more of a visual learner. I retain information (at least short term) when I read it myself, but totally zone out on lectures and audiobooks no matter how hard I try. We've played the SOTW audiobooks in my car scores of time, but I've only ever heard small bits of them, because while I want to listen, I will suddenly discover that I'm planning dinner or something else and haven't heard a thing.

 

Another thought would be to have her take notes. I have done that in the car when my dh has been driving and it is the only thing that keeps me engaged in listening.

 

 

This is me. I can retain it if I read it but not if you read it to me. My dd is the opposite. She is an auditory learner - she comprehends and retains better listening than reading. I am visual, and I have to see it.

[Why do people drink out of Ball jars?]

Plastic is bad. Glass jars break. Canning jars last through thick, thin and kids, and are easy to find for cheap at garage sales.

 

This is why we now use them.

[Weird call from HSLDA (update)]

I would call them back and ask. We have never received a call from HSLDA.

It could have just been a misdialed number directed at a co-worker.

[Socialization and dogs]

:lol: First, If I can't get them to obey in my own home, how will sending them anywhere else make a difference? Second, I want my dogs to be true to who they are and not influenced by peer dog pressure, ykwim? Last, I think there is enough bullying going on in my own dog family to give them the experience they need.

 

 

It's because you are not an expert in doggie obedience. You need to send them to the experts who are trained to train dogs. You can't possibly think that you are able to teach a dog all they need to know about obeying your or being a dog because you don't have a degree or proper training. If you knew more about dog training theory and dogs in general - you know like you get in a classroom with other adult people taught by other adult people, you would be better able to teach your dog to obey. We should leave dogs to those people who learned about dogs from other people.

 

So you really should look all day doggie school after all how will they learn proper dog behavior. They don't just know how to dig, sniff, chew and bark! :tongue_smilie: :001_rolleyes: :rofl:

[Can a "dumb" phone be used as a hotspot?]

My phone can act as a hotspot if I pay a $45 a month charge for it. I don't do that although it would be great to have.

[Is there a REFORMED social group?]

There was a Reformed social group on the old site. There isn't a thread on the new site yet that I have seen.

[I love the changes!!! Thank you!]

I love the new site!

[Feeling sad over family fall-out]

That's hard. I am sorry.

[What do you say when your spouse says, "Why Latin?"]

Well, not my spouse, but when my Mom asked "Why Latin?" I told her:

 

a) English is about 60% (I could have made that up - I don't remember the exact amount) Latin based - vocabulary will be easier

b) French, Spanish, Italian, etc. are all Latin based, so it will help them to learn those languages

c) it will help with understanding scientific terms

d) it's fun and I want to. ;)

 

:iagree:

 

In addition to what has been said, here are some good facts for him.

 

52.6% of all English words come from Latin.

90% of words 3 syllables or more come from Latin.

 

All the Romance languages come from Latin.

 

According to Dorothy Sayers "The best grounding for education is the Latin grammar. I say this, not because Latin is traditional and medieval, but simply because even a rudimentary knowledge of Latin cuts down the labor and pains of learning almost any other subject by at least fifty percent. It is the key to the vocabulary and structure of all the Teutonic languages, as well as to the technical vocabulary of all the sciences and to the literature of the entire Mediterranean civilization, together with all its historical documents."

[s/o: so did you eat a cupcake?]

But it was my son's birthday.

[The great debate: Sams vs Costco]

Costco!

[And another travel question -- NYC peeps, how long would this take? Roughly?]

I'm not sure why they are sending you into New York. You can get the Ferry to the Statue of Liberty from Liberty State Park in Jersey City. The lines are usually shorter than from Manhattan and it's only about 30 minutes from the airport and a much less expensive cab ride.

 

:iagree:

 

How much carry-on luggage do you plan to have, and what will you do with it during this excursion?

 

:iagree:

 

You can wait for hours to get on the ferry to the statue in the summer and hours again to get inside unless you are there first thing in the morning.

 

:iagree:

[I'm thinking of pulling the plug on ds14's Latin]

Personally, I would stay with Latin and add Japanese.

[Admit it: how many educational books do you have on your shelf that youve nver read?]

I have lots! (Not sure how many.) But I inherited them by the boxful (banana boxes) and we will get to them. The kids have looked through everyone single one. They spent weeks going through their cousins books when we first got them.

[Can you freeze avocados and bacon grease?]

Agreeing that you can freeze avocados. I usually freeze it as guacamole though.

[Anyone ever heard of a "Trash the Wedding Dress Party"]

Well, I am one who LOVES this!

 

There are some amazing trash the dress photos out there. Some I don't care for, but overall I love this tend.

 

I didn't trash my own wedding dress because it never occurred to me. But if I had thought of it, I would have done it at the beach. But I have been part of trashing dresses - it's amazing! It's so much fun. I have had my kids trash their flower girls/jr bridesmaids dresses with beach photos. We have trashed 5 now, and the photos are some of my favorites. I agree that name "trash the dress" doesn't really apply because we actually have never ruined a dress beyond repair.

 

One time, I had a surfer come up and offer me his board for photos! I love those photos. In fact, we used them as a Christmas card that year. After we were done, all of the outfits were cleaned, mended and donated. No permanent damage was done - they were dirty and some decorations came undone but they were in better condition than my niece's who didn't "trash" her dress. My niece just spilled on it during the reception and ruined it. :tongue_smilie:

[Am I crazy or is this a positive pregnancy test?!?!]

My lab wouldn't tell me the results, but I learned that they would give me a copy of the lab results paperwork.