Explain Classical Conversations, please?

[Catalytic]

Can anyone explain Classical Conversations to me, please?  Or provide a link that spells it out?

 

I saw a CD on a FB B/S/T group, and it had skip counting songs.  Someone had already bought it, but I wanted to hear the songs, so I Google'd and found this site.  So...I bought the app for kiddo's iPad, installed it while he was at school.  He found it the next morning when he woke up (on the weekends, he gets iPad and cuddles up in bed with me until the house starts waking up), and almost immediately found the ski-counting songs.  This morning, he got up, got iPad, and proceeded to watch/listen to every week of every subject, and then rewatch the US President song about 100 times.

 

I don't understand what CC is, exactly, or how the app works...could anyone explain it to me?  Trying to read on their website, it seems it's only meant for groups?  The closest group to our new home is over 75 miles away.  

 

TIA for any assistance, DS6 is LOVING this app, but it seems very disjointed to me without other materials? to go along with it.

[MeganW]

I joined CC with low expectations. My kids have some learning challenges, and I didn't expect them to be able to hang with the memory work, so we truly just joined for the social / class experience. My kids have really surprised me though. They have done GREAT with it! They have learned WAY more than I ever imagined.

I am seeing the memory work really pay off. None of my kids could remember ANYTHING before this. Now, they can remember dance routines, follow instructions with several steps, etc. The practice memorizing has really improved their ability to memorize, if that makes any sense. The other real benefit is that they are SO interested in our history and science when it overlaps something we have learned previously at CC. Even if they can't quote the memory work exactly, they perk up and get all into it when they have been exposed to it before!

The campus south of me is extremely fundamental Christian. The one north of us is much more hippie, and doesn't seem religious at all. Ours is somewhere in the middle. One of these campuses has tons of Memory Masters (kids who have learned 100% of the material) every year. Another has never had a Memory Master, and there is no emphasis on it at all. One campus somewhat near us has had 100% turnover several years in a row. 100% - can you believe that? Another has had 100% retention.

My point here is that it is REALLY important to visit and check out the other families and the director to decide if the campus is a good fit for you and your family. The curriculum is the same, but it is a vastly different experience depending on the campus. I love ours b/c I fit in well with the director & other families, but would not be happy at all at some of the other locations near me.

Our group meets from 9 to 12 for Foundations.

• 9 - 915 - big group assembly - pledge, prayer requests & prayer, announcements - a different family leads each week

• 915 - break up into classes & walk to classrooms (classes have 7 or so kids who are roughly grouped by grade level / age)

• 30 minutes - new "grammar" - memory work in 7 areas - timeline (high-level), history sentences (details about one event), geography, math (skip counting, conversions, etc.), science, English grammar, and Latin - taught using songs, jumping jacks, etc.

• 30 minutes - fine arts - 1st quarter drawing, 2nd quarter music/tin whistle (which is like a recorder), 3rd quarter art, 4th quarter orchestra/composers/music appreciation

• 30 minutes - science experiment / demonstration - they walk through the scientific method every single time - older kids write up a lab report

• 30 minutes - each child gives a presentation to the class (basically show-and-tell in lower grades, gets more academic as they get older)

• 30 minutes - games reviewing the memory work from prior weeks

• there is a snack/bathroom break in there as well, so that gets us to noon

We then go back to the gym where we had assembly, and everyone eats lunch together.

At 1:00, kids 4th grade and up go to Essentials. Some of the youngers leave, others stay for either martial arts or a lego class from 1-2.

From 2-3, optional enrichments for youngers are art and Playball (sort of like PE).

The format from 9-12 should be the same at most campuses. The afternoon programming varies a lot - some campuses have several options, some have none.

We also do a fair number of field trips together - we have group children's theater tickets and that kind of thing.

Some families from our campus are also planning next year to add a second day each week, patterned after this:
http://solagratiamom...ns-week-13.html
It will of course be optional for families at our CC - just a way to fill out the memory work a little more, as well as get together with others more. (It will probably be 2-3 hours, not another full day.) I always have great intentions of doing this kind of thing with my kids at home, but don't get around to it as much as I'd like, so my family is definitely participating!


As for what you'd need -
- Foundations Guide
- one tin whistle per child
- we primarily review in the car, so for us, the audio CDs with the memory work on them are essential. You could download it all off CC's website (if you pay to subscribe - $6 per month for people who attend a CC campus). Personally, though, I like having the labeled CDs with the box so it is easy to find what we want.
- you could get away with not getting the timeline cards, but your kids will be asking you "who is Confucious?" and "what's the Council of Trent?", and it is really nice to be able to just flip that card over and give them a summary rather than having to look it all up!
- we used the flashcards to play games a lot last year, but haven't done so this year for some reason
- I bought the maps, but HATE them, so we haven't used them at all. They are black & white, and would be SO much easier to use if the water was colored blue. All those tee-tiny black outlines are just impossible to distinguish.
- science cards - I have them and haven't even opened the pack yet, so I can't comment on what they are like, but they would be an extra, not a necessity
- the resource CD is basically a power point of all the memory work. My kids would never sit for that, but I have a friend who really likes it.
- I have not used the Latin trivium tables at all. Maybe someone with older kids would? 

[Catalytic]

So it's absolutely not something that can be done in the home?  The closest group to my new house is 75 miles away, that's barely doable during summer, I can't see even attempting it in the winter :-(

[Targhee]

So it's absolutely not something that can be done in the home? The closest group to my new house is 75 miles away, that's barely doable during summer, I can't see even attempting it in the winter :-(

It's essentially a standardized classical Christian co-op (or weekly cottage school). I think people have used materials independently, but the materials are intended for a group setting.

[Bics]

So it's absolutely not something that can be done in the home?  The closest group to my new house is 75 miles away, that's barely doable during summer, I can't see even attempting it in the winter :-(

I was part of a CC Community for one year.

The second year I tutored my daughter's class.

The third year I had a new baby and along with it being a difficult drive for us I just didn't want to make the time commitment to a group.  You absolutely can use the materials at home.  K-6 (Foundations and Essentials level on the CC website) have the same memory work, so it is easy on a family.  Download the songs or whatever you are planning to use, or go through the curriculum guide suggestions and print out whatever you are going to use to reinforce the memory work through the week, and enjoy yourself.

Now, the website portion that you join is expensive (I think $50ish-per-month) if you are not a part of a community group, (that price drops to less than 10 if you are part of one) but still, if you get your ducks in order and refill your printer ink, you could join for one month and go through all the files members have uploaded for community use.  Download the memory songs you want to use, print off the copywork, or mapwork, or whatever--and then quit the site.  You get all your materials for the cost of one month. 

I never used the app, so I don't know what all is on that.

They sell audio cds that set most everything to music.  Some things are just chanted, but my kids still learn it.

We keep it in the car. They ASK for it.

We have been out of group now for two years, and my children still ask for CC materials. We have the timeline cards and timeline song that are their favorites.

[Mrs Twain]

CC Connected (the website where you download files) changed their access to the official songs they produce so that you have a pay monthly to listen to them. There is no way (that I could figure out) to download the official CC memory work songs such as the timeline song. You can still download the songs and files individual members post.

 

If you have access to the songs with the app or the CD, you shouldn't have an issue, though.

[smarson]

You can absolutely do CC at home, without a group.  I would imagine it would be a bit more complicated and unclear if you haven't experienced a group, but I know people who do CC at home and do great with it.  I would just say, since you already use the app for the weekly memory work, you might want to get the guide (which contains all the memory work and some other useful details.)  You could also sign up for a CC Connected account (for a nominal monthly fee) to flesh out the weekly work with things other moms and tutors have downloaded for use either in their classrooms or at home.  Absolutely you can do it at home. 

 

Or, if you're wanting a group, you could consider starting one?  I'm sure there's some contact information on line for someone in your area to help you figure out that part.

 

Best of luck!!!

[importswim]

So it's absolutely not something that can be done in the home?  The closest group to my new house is 75 miles away, that's barely doable during summer, I can't see even attempting it in the winter :-(

It is ABSOLUTELY doable at home. 

 

My kids did CC for 2 years. The second year I was a tutor. This year I'm doing it at home with them as I figured out that I'm just not a CO-OP hs'ing Mom. I can teach my kiddos the CC memory work in 15 minutes a day. I need that extra day at home to keep on track with my kids. 

 

Having tutored for a year I can see how easy it is to hs the CC work AND I get to teach it to my own children who memorize easily (and not 4 and 5 year olds who I have to come up with fun ways to remember things).

 

We will miss the community, but it's expensive to pay that much for less time out of the house and they don't get a huge amount of time to play with their friends. It was a God send when we first moved to a new area, but now we have lots of friends and play dates outside of CC.

 

I will also miss the presentations. My DS, through having to get up and present at CC, has shown a talent for public speaking. I'm looking into other ways to fill that void. I never would have known that this was a talent of his if we hadn't done CC, so I'm thankful for that!

 

If you don't have a community nearby just get the CD's and the Foundations Guide. Do your own science and art. You'll have a great time.

[Mrs Twain]

If I were going to do CC at home, I would not buy the Foundation Guide or the tin whistle, or subscribe to CC Connected online.

 

I would probably buy the stack of memory work flash cards. I would also consider buying other items from CC such as the history timeline cards, science cards, laminated map, and multiplication flash cards (if your child is old enough).

 

In addition I would do a good quality English program such as R&S English to take advantage of the English grammar memory work. I would also read history book(s) that correlate with the history memory work.

[fourisenough]

If I were going to do CC at home, I would not buy the Foundation Guide or the tin whistle, or subscribe to CC Connected online.

 

I would probably buy the stack of memory work flash cards. I would also consider buying other items from CC such as the history timeline cards, science cards, laminated map, and multiplication flash cards (if your child is old enough).

 

In addition I would do a good quality English program such as R&S English to take advantage of the English grammar memory work. I would also read history book(s) that correlate with the history memory work.

I agree, heartily. After two years in a community, we 'did' CC at home this year. We primarily used the memory work flash cards and the set of audio CDs. We also used the geography trivium table for the map work. Didn't once look at the Foundations Guide and I sold my History Acts and Facts cards and didn't miss them a bit. Skip the tin whistle and look elsewhere for art projects & science experiments- they were unremarkable, at best.

[Catalytic]

i honestly have no idea what the app is about, it seems really random without some sort of supporting stuff?  (I totally bought it for the skip counting songs)  But, my son now knows (after 2-3 days), the US Presidents by name and official photo, so...I think I'm pretty interested?  But I really have no clue what exactly it is. 

 

I did buy the Foundations Cycle 1 CDs (they're on clearance right now), the memory cards, and some trivium tables.  Unfortunately, we're moving in like 3 days lol, and I don't have time to listen to the CDs and trying to figure it out.

 

Anyway, I already knew he learned well by music and verbal, but this is pretty darn amazing, so I am just really curious what I need to use it to the fullest.  

 

(I have NO desire to start a group, and by and large we stick with secular curriculum, but if they have a lot of song/verbal that my son will learn from, we can make an exception.)

 

Hope this makes sense, sorry, dashing off a post in between cooking dinner and organizing boxes for the move, ugh.