Classical Conversations

Well, I did say in my homeschool post about 3 posts back, that we are starting something new this year.  People have asked for me to go into detail.....so here you go!
After 15 years of homeschooling, I needed a change.  Actually, after I had Patrick I was sweetly convicted by the Holy Spirit as I sat nursing him one evening.  I felt like the Lord impressed on me that he had given me a treasure that is actually an empty vessel.  As parents we are responsible for their education and we are responsible for what we "fill them up" with.  We have the awesome responsibility to fill them with the understanding, knowledge and wisdom of the Lord.  Not the world's wisdom.  And while I knew all of this as a homeschooling mom, I felt that many times I was just trying to "get by" with our schooling or do what was expected by the public school and just slide through.  
My older children have graduated from a Classical Christian school that they went to after middle school.  At Ben's graduation from this school, I was so impressed with what they had learned and how the younger ones had learned it.  I started to ask around and do some research.  So after a few months of this I came across a friend doing Classical Conversations and I was truly impressed.  I felt like the Lord was gently leading me and even though it was a pretty major change for us, I had such a peace.  It really has gone smoothly and I love what we are doing!  My kids needed to be challenged more and I needed more structure.  Below are some of the things we are doing and we are meeting once a week with the Classical Conversations community for classes. It is an all day thing for us, but it is so good.  Check-out their website and read some of their books (the library around here has many of them).  So this is what we are doing now, I'll keep you posted on how it goes this year : )

 This is Foundations and is what I use for everyone, but it's primarily for K-6th grade.  This above book last for 3 years, or cycles as they call them, and then you repeat.  I can't believe all my kids have learned in just 4 weeks of school.  

 This is a writing and grammar class for 4th-6th graders that I am doing with my 5th grader.  It's intense...it's even challenging me!

The 7th-12th grade programs are called Challenge and there is one for every year.  It covers 6 subjects (this year for 8th grade Christian is doing Logic, Latin, Debate, Algebra 1, Literature, and Science History/Theory.)

First Day of Homeschool 2011-2012

 School Photo

Yes, we started up school already.  Today was our first day back in the swing of things.  We do a quarter system, with 9 weeks on and then 2 weeks off.  This goes with my high-schooler who is in a private school.  Plus, we are a bit tired of the summer and the heat and lack of a schedule (see previous post, but I'm not complaining, really : ).  So, we did our annual homeschool candle lighting service last night and were excited to get back to "the books."  We are changing things up a bit this year and adding Classical Conversations for the first time.  That will have to be another post.  Anyway, we started up slowly and didn't add all subjects today.  Here was our somewhat easy schedule of the day:

6:30  I went out for a quick jog.

7:30  The boys were up and eager to start   something, so they watched their Latin DVDs.

8:30  Breakfast, clean-up, and get dressed for day.

9:30  All together for Bible, reading and memory work.

10:30 Grammar and Math for everyone.

11:30 All done....Lunch prep

 I saw this idea on another blog.  I made these "flag cups" from card stock, skewer sticks, and plastic cups.  When a child needs to talk to me or ask a question about their work, then they grab a cup and wait.  Then when I have a break I answer the question or deal with the problem in the order of the cups.  Worked great today until my 13 year old hid the #1 cup!

Chunky Monkey Behaved Himself : )

School Has Started!

Will is all moved into the dorm at UNC (here it is before we unpacked and made it look somewhat cute-not that boys care about that :o) He starts classes today!

Ben and Anna have started Cary Christian School and so far so good.  Ben is a Senior and Anna is a Junior-hard to believe!  Ben is playing football and their first game is Friday night.  We can't wait!

And my little homeschool students are off and running!  Every year for probably the last 10 years, the night before we have scheduled HS to start we have a candle lighting service.  I know, it sounds like a sorority or something :)  But my husband thought this up years ago.  He talks to them about why we homeschool and about obedience and doing our work as unto the Lord.  He shares some scripture and then I share our goals for year and go over our schedule.  Then each child lights their "candle of learning" while giving their commitment to try their best.  My older kids think it's kind of cheesy now, but my younger ones really get into it.  It's a great evening before starting school the next day.