Classical Conversations Information Meeting
Transcript: Classical Conversations Information Meeting Purpose: The purpose of Classical Conversations® is to lead the home-centered education movement by teaching parents and students the classical tools of learning so that they can discover God’s created order and beauty— and as a result— enable others to do the same. To Know God and to make Him known Vision: We enable parents everywhere to equip their children with a Christ-centered worldview and the classical “tools of learning” in order to impact the world for God’s glory. Lisa Brizuela Foundations/Essentials Director lbrizuela.classicalconv@gmail.com About Me From Modern to Classical Classical education seeks to discover truth, goodness, and beauty by way of knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." -Hebrews 1:3 Types of Education Modern Education "Poor" Christian Education Good Christian Education Great Christian Education Classical Education Regardless of their learning style, children learn in three phases or stages (grammar, logic or dialectic, and rhetoric), known as the trivium. Age 4-12 Memorize facts to form pegs in the wall. Grammar Stage naturally want to know things. Naming Attending Memorizing Expressing Storytelling Answers the questions: who? what? where? when? Age 12-13 Challenges authority and facts. Utilize facts (pegs) to form arguments. Debate Reason Answers the questions: How? & Why? Logic Stage Ages 14-18 Poetic Age The unknown can be explored because the known is understood Use knowledge and understanding to discern the true, best or most valuable use of things Abstract and hypothetical can be explored Self Expression Connections made between the natural and the spiritual, apologetics “Hard” math and sciences are more easily mastered. Rhetoric Stage Grammar French Revolution Dialectic Example of the Trivium Reasons the Third Estate revolted, how were they being treated, why did they feel empowered, what was going on at that time? Rhetoric Are we seeing anything like that in today’s world? What can be learned from this? How can we keep this from happening again? Program Overview Founded by Leigh Bortins in 1997 in her NC home for her children. A couple years later, over 300 on the waiting list! The mission statement for Classical Conversations is “To know God and to make Him known.” Over 120,000 ‘seats’ filled internationally! Goal is to redeem two(+) generations of education! (not a drop off program) Classical Conversations Grades Prek-6th Foundations Weekly Meetings (9:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) 8 students maximum per class 24 Weeks – 12wk in fall, 12wk in winter/spring 3 Cycles, 1 Per Year (Ancient, Medieval, American) 5 Crisp Components Scope & Sequence 30-min Sections Each Week 1. New Grammar 2. Fine Arts 3. Hands-On Science 4. Presentation 5. Review 5 Crisp Components One to two experiments per week. Connected to the science fact for the week. Examples: geology study, planetary orbits, dissection, rocket launch, egg drop, etc. Hands-On Science 6-week studies Drawing Music Theory with Tin Whistle Great Artists Orchestra Fine Arts Public Speaking Skills Presentations Eye Contact Clear and Audible Speech Holding a Visual Working from Notes or Memory, Not Reading from Paper Fidgeting Grades 3rd-6th Essentials Goal: to cover the “essentials” of language arts, writing, and math for students in grades 3-6th grades. After Foundations & Lunch - 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 24 Weeks (12wks in the fall, 12wks in the winter/spring) Max. of 16 Students led by CC-Trained Tutor (CC Parent) Repeat Each Year, Going Deeper/Doing More 3 Key Components… Institute for Excellence in Writing Writing (45 min) "Our mission is to equip teachers and teaching parents with methods and materials which will aid them in training their students to become confident and competent communicators and thinkers." -IEW Mission Statement EEL Strong emphasis on sentence structure and diagramming. Essentials of the English Language (45 min) Purpose: increase speed, accuracy, and mental math Math (30 min) Grades 7th & 8th Challenge A/B 12+ Years old 12 Students Maximum/1 – 2 Tutors 30 Weeks – 2 Semesters – 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Our studies should prepare us to reason clearly, speak eloquently, calculate accurately, and write persuasively so that we have the ability to make God known to the world. Challenge programs are the heart and spine of CC. Skills, Not Grade or Subjects. Rhetoric (Challenge I-IV) Debate Exposition and Composition Research Grammar Logic Time Management – The 7th Skill! The Focus Wisdom of Adults Partnership Tutors, not teachers. Providing opportunity for kids to practice the rhetorical part of their studies: group discussions, speeches, debates, etc. Partnering with parents and student to develop an educated and integrated Biblical worldview. Preparation via baby steps. 7th Grade “The Bridge” Between Foundations & Challenge Time Management/Fire Hose