I had heard Classical Conversations (CC) offered a High School option that was unable to be done at home. A previous CC director had shared that with me.... The other levels, practically speaking, could be done at home but Challenge levels require discussions, interaction, and thinking skills. "Conversation" takes place here.
I observed the Challenge II class with Diana Harer. I heard words, phrases, and sentences from the students such as the following:
"I'm fasting for Lent."
"The media portrays what they want to portray."
"The media could twist any scenario."
"ACLU"
"Utilitarian"
"Worldview"
These conversations I had seen nowhere else! High school students were comfortable speaking publically, displaying their feelings, and communicating their thoughts. The students watched a video segment 9 of a series from Francis Schaeffer's How Should We Then Live? See here for the corresponding book. The tutor then discussed the segment and asked questions drawing points about the author's purpose.
The students followed with a lab on the Embryology of Eggs. The students do a lab after reading a Module in their Apologia Biology Curriculum. The tutor is responsible for creating the lab setting for the students; they used a note-booking technique the day I was there. They kept an ongoing notebook for science. Students research their science module prior to coming to class for discussion and actual labs.
Math or Logic is dependent on the students in the class; depending on the level of math the students are proficient, determines the lessons for the week. Saxon is recommended but not required. Parents are in full control of their math education and are responsible for the student's learning. With different math levels occurring in the classroom, the tutor may go over a formula, solving for an unknown, or an algebra concept. Algebra II is the goal for the students in Challenge II, but not necessary. This will change depending on the group of students and in which Challenge they are placed.
Reading and writing are quite impressive. Here is a reading list of British Literature books available for purchase for 2017-18 (the catalog that I have was updated for the new school year; CCs 20th anniversary).
Beowulf
Selected Canterbury Tales
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Paradise Lost
The Pilgrim's Progress (the original version)
Gulliver's Travels
Pride and Prejudice
A Tale of Two Cities
Jane Eyre
Animal Farm
Favorite Father Brown Stories
The Hobbit
The Screwtape Letters
These books are not all simply read but are utilized as an interval of three weeks worth of simultaneous writing activities. Characters are studied; plot and setting discussed. An essay on each book is written during the three weeks. The tutor teaches to write a simple essay and a new element is added each week to complete a goal for writing a substantial essay by the end of the school year (with a thesis, antitheses, and synthesis. For more information on this, click here).
The biggest question for many will be where does the money go? I had disliked the idea that money would be paid for these lessons; however, after spending the day at CC with the amount of preparation that I observed from these tutors, it could be well worth the money. The tutor is paid for their preparation, "grading" (although the parent is responsible for actual grades and the degree to which the tutor oversees the work), and labs or activities. The tuition covers their prep time for the lesson and for the actual day of lesson presentation. This cost could be seen as astronomical, but for the preparation that I saw, it could be well worth the investment. These essays and reading lists are not seen anywhere else! College English 101 is basically essay writing, and, with the right tutor, a student could easily pass an English 101 after sitting in this Challenge course for one year.
Diana Harer would be well worth the money/investment. She is humble, calm, approachable, intelligent, and cheerful. She realizes the parent is the real teacher; she does not act haughty even though she is going through this level of High School, learning right along with them.
These CC days are also filled with music, art, Latin, and debate, but I did not observe these on my day; I wish I had a more time in the day to spend listening to these mature teens as well as their lovely 'tutor'. I'll see if I can squeeze more time into observe another wonderful and fulfilling Beckley campus day. Enjoy this short video of the discussion time!
*There is an option for dual enrollment through Southeastern University. For more information, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment