Classical Conversations (CC) is a popular homeschooling program that emphasizes a classical Christian education within a community setting (though you don’t have to do a weekly CC class in order to use the curriculum).
It was founded in 1997 by Leigh Bortins, and has since grown to serve families in 50 different countries.
They “provide a clear and proven road map to success from early childhood through graduation so that you can focus on what really matters: finding joy in the homeschool journey.”
This is a curriculum that I have taught within a small homeschool co-op, and I have friends who are deeply invested in Classical Conversations and their community. For those who want a classical education for their children, this is a clear choice.
KEY FEATURES OF CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS
- It follows the classical education model, which aligns with the developmental stages of children (want to know more about classical education? Check it out here.)
- The program is grounded in a Christian worldview, integrating faith into all areas of learning.
- Weekly community days are a hallmark of CC. Families gather to participate in group learning, presentations, and activities. This provides socialization for children and support for homeschooling parents.
- Parents play an active role in their children’s education, both at home and during community days.
- CC provides resources and training to equip parents to be effective educators.
- It is a structured curriculum that covers a range of subjects, including history, science, geography, math, Latin, and fine arts.
- There is a strong emphasis on memory work. Students memorize facts, timelines, and other information, laying a foundation for later learning.
PROS OF CC
Many of the pros of CC really line up with their key features.
- It is a structured, cyclical curriculum, which means that you can use it throughout and with multiple ages. As your children go through the cycles they will delve deeper into learning, based on what they have memorized in earlier years.
- It is a Christian, faith-based curriculum (if you are looking for this).
- The emphasis on memory work in the early years can build a strong foundation of knowledge. Many of the songs for learning are catchy.
- There are many resources and strong support for parents to feel more confident. There is also a strong sense of community within CC.
CONS OF CC
- The structured curriculum can be less flexible than some families like, and it can be harder to tailor education to individual needs.
- It is a significant time commitment from parents. You are very involved in the learning process during the week, and if you are involved in a CC group then you will have the weekly commitment there too (if you are tutoring).
- It can be expensive when you add up the curriculum purchase (though you can re-use these through the years) and the cost of participating in a group (those costs vary).
- If you like classical education but don’t want faith based, then this will not be for you as you cannot just easily remove the faith components.
- Not all children like memory work. While it is a tenet of the curriculum, and you will go deeper later, in the foundational level (earliest level) you might need to also work more on reading. Some families struggle with the memory work feeling like “rote memory” work.
COST OF CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS
I am going to look at the bundles that you can purchase – because you can cut costs by buying books second hand or just what you need. But the bundles give you the best idea of cost. Don’t forget – CC follows a cycle, so you can use this curriculum multiple times, which help with cost effectiveness.
Scribblers at Home Bundle: $830
Foundations Bundle: $850
Essentials Bundle: $480
Challenge A Bundle: $775
Challenge B Bundle: $950
Challenge I Bundle: $1000
Challenge II Bundle: $915
Challenge III Bundle: $745
Challenge IV Bundle: $665
If you then decide to join a group, you have the fees involved. They will vary based on where you live and the group, but you could expect to pay anywhere from $350 to above $1000 per family for the year.
MY OPINIONS AND OTHER THOUGHTS
- I am not a personal fan of a lot of memorization without going into understanding. I get the educational foundation of this in classical education, but it is not something I like to do. I love going into depth when the interest is shown. But then, I also know children who love to memorize and have found the songs a great way to learn the timelines or facts. This is why we have different styles of curriculum.
- The regular presentation opportunities in CC are really good. They help children develop confidence and valuable public speaking skills from a young age. (When I taught it, we had fun learning many amazing things from the presentations). To me, the presentations are the best part of the weekly gathering and are very beneficial educationally.
- I do also appreciate discussion based learning, as I love to see critical thinking skills develop.
- The weekly community days, and the required home study, can be a large time commitment for families.
- In talking with friends who are actively involved in CC communities, they really feel that this is what “makes it”. They also said that being in the community helps them to stay accountable. This helps with what they want to achieve in their homeschool. But, if the community is not a good fit, the experience can be negative.
- I would highly recommend visiting a local CC community and talking to current members before making a decision. On paper it might sound like just what you want, but you need to get to know the ins and outs of it. This will help to see if it is going to be a good fit for your family.
This is going to be a good fit for you if you like a structured classical curriculum with a Christian perspective, and want to be in a community that is aligned with how you want to learn.
Check out Classical Conversations here
