People homeschool for many different reasons. When my husband and I first met, we discussed wanting kids and wanting to homeschool them- someday. I couldn’t pinpoint an exact reason at the time. Afterall, I didn’t have kids then. I was 22 and I thought I knew so much. I wasn’t homeschooled and I wasn’t a teacher (unless you count my Myers Briggs personality type). I had an inkling, even then that it would be the right move for us.
Fast forward a few years. When Silas was 2, Belle was born. I had severe pre-eclampsia and she was born at just 30 weeks. After a 5 week stay in the NICU (at the hospital where I worked in fact), she was able to come home. However, this tiny little 2# girl had some issues we dealt with long term.
One of the hardest challenges was her weakened immune system. She spent countless nights back in the hospital and at times, the ICU due to breathing issues, often caused by a “simple cold.” If my husband brought Silas to church on Sunday, by Thursday, Belle would be back in the hospital. We had to social distance before it was a real thing. She was on a control inhaler and a rescue inhaler before she was even 18 months old. It was a very difficult time, to say the least.
It took until about the time she was in first grade for her immune system to “catch up.” I couldn’t fathom sending her to a public school or a daycare, where she’d catch who knows what. It just made the most sense then for us to homeschool.
I started with Homeschool Light when Silas was about 3. My mom has been a preschool Montessori teacher for more than 2 decades and she was a wealth of knowledge on basics and getting started. The year Silas began Kindergarten, we moved to Texas. Different states have different homeschooling regulations. At the time, South Carolina didn’t require reporting to the state until 1st grade. Texas is quite different. I may be a little biased, but I believe it is the easiest state to homeschool in, regulation-wise. We don’t have to report; we just have to Do It.
I used a combination of Sonlight and My Father’s World, as well as Montessori principals and curriculum for our Preschool and Kindergarten years. But when we moved to Waco, we made a change.
Silas was going into the equivalent of 2nd grade and I made a contact with a local Classical Conversations campus. We missed the shadowing day, so we weren’t able to experience what the community was actually like. Life was busy and hectic and I was constantly wondering if I was missing the mark. I may have been homeschooling for about 4 years by then, but I was definitely suffering from imposter syndrome.
That summer, I attended a Practicum locally in Waco and learned so much just that day. I couldn’t wait to homeschool with new friends- instead of just trying to do it all on our own. So we prayed about it and then took a leap of faith and joined a fantastic community site-unseen. That was Five Years Ago!
Classical Conversations works like this: We meet at a church one day a week for Community Day. There, the kids split into groups based on their learning level. There is typically a nursery for younger ones, but students 4 years old through 12 years old go to different classes (we call this level FOUNDATIONS). Each class has a Tutor (another parent from the community) who leads and introduces new material to the kids. As a fellow homeschooling parent, you sit in the class with your child and help and engage. You pay attention in class too because you will be continuing and expanding the material at home!
Kids do memory work in History, Science, Math, Latin, English, Geography, and more. They also do a science experiment or project and have time to study visual or fine arts together. Each student also participates in Presentation. Presentation is like an advanced Show and Tell; they stand up in front of their peers and present on something from home, something they’ve recently learned, an experience they’ve had, a book they’ve read and so much more. Everyone has an opportunity to public speak and share something important to them. We’ve seen kids bring in their favorite stuffed animal and say just 3 words about it. We’ve also seen kids bring intricate Lego builds and intense dioramas of the solar system. Presentation is a child’s time to share; it helps to practice presentation at home and not wait until Community Day to decide what to present on!
After class, we break for lunch and recess. Our kids love to socialize and play ga-ga ball or go on the playground. On rainy days, we bring boardgames and play inside.
Our campus loves to host Fun Days as well every quarter. While studying Medieval history, we might dress like medieval characters or try medieval dishes. Studying modern history, one year we had a Little House on the Prairie style party, complete with Prairie crafts, costumes and potluck. In our ancient history year, we donned togas and laurel wreaths! Fun Days are just that. We still do our learning, but then at lunch and recess, we celebrate as we learn about other cultures and times.
In the afternoon, younger families go back home, but those with children in 4th-6th grade stay for ESSENTIALS. Essentials is an in-depth study of English and Grammar, and further expands Math. A tutor leads the Essentials class and introduces the new material and home work (very similar to the morning session, but geared toward the older elementary and younger middle schoolers in transition). Kids work hard and learn so much in essentials. Half way through the year, they begin a comprehensive research project on a notable person in history. They write a research paper in 3rd person, then re-write it in 1st person. On a given night, they dress like that historical figure and deliver a speech to the community and celebrate their year of diligence.
Students 12 years and older are invited to join Challenge. Challenge A&B are for the equivalent of 7th and 8th grade. Challenge I, II, III, and IV are for High Schoolers. Many families decide to keep their kids in Classical Conversations all the way through completion of High School!
While at home, we use our Foundations Guide to reiterate what they learned on Community Day. Our Essentials Guide is exactly that. It’s a step-by-step guide to leading my 6th grader through his work. I’ve also created some helpful printables to offer to other CC families who want a cute way to practice their memory work at home throughout the week. (Click the images below for the link to the printables)
Families do their memory work in different ways. These printables and clipboards (no shame; I got them each at dollar tree) make it easy for our family to learn what we need.
Homeschooling isn’t right for everyone, but it Is right for us. (specifically, CC has been the answer the Marshalls needed). The freedom to choose how much or how little time we school each day- the freedom to go on vacation and take our learning with us; the freedom to not have to sit in a classroom with 20+ other kids for 9 hours a day, catching sicknesses and learning new bad words… But also, homeschooling with friends! Sharing the load with other like-minded moms and dads, committed to giving their kids an excellent education. Meeting with our community once, sometimes twice a week- starting clubs and putting on plays, eating and playing together, learning and serving together. Doing life together makes all the difference.
I no longer feel like an imposter, and living in this post 2020 world, I no longer homeschool out of fear of sending my kids to a germy school . (We actually did that for one school year and learned quickly that it was not the right path for us).
Homeschooling with a great CC (classical conversations is a mouthful) community makes a Huge difference. It rescued me when I felt like I was drowning. If you think it might be a good fit, I’d love to talk. You can find a campus local to you through this link: Find a CC Community
softandsouthern.com 