Classical Conversations: Homeschooling – Mission, Model, Method

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Converging at a McAllen church, RGV parents grappled with the prospect of homeschooling, the Classical Christian Model, and the art of true rhetoric. After three days of education, equipping, and encouragement, parents left the Annual Classical Conversations free Parent Practicum feeling more empowered to educate their children at home. That day, many parents chose to take complete responsibility of their children’s education and have enrolled in one of the three Classical Conversations campuses for this fall.

Classical Conversations (CC) is an international organization with 65,000 students. 6,200 of those students reside in Texas. The RGV has campuses in McAllen, Edinburg, and Brownsville. These campuses exist to provide a scaffold and community for parents who want to homeschool utilizing the classical Christian model (based on the trivium—grammar, dialectic/logic, rhetoric) from the perspective of a Biblical, Christ-centered worldview. CC goes to great lengths to explain they are not a school. Among the many reasons parents cite as their reasons for joining CC, the aspects of community, socialization, and accountability top the list. In addition, trained parent Directors and Tutors aid parents each week in their homeschooling efforts. CC also provides assistance for their parent in the way of standardized testing and transcripts. In addition, CC is involved in their local communities, regularly inviting leaders to events such as their Excellence in Education presentations.

A quick internet search reveals that homeschoolers number in the millions. The benefits of this option are extensive. Parents have expressed academic, social, religious, and political reasons for homeschooling. Other reasons included a desire for a more individualized approached and a more flexible learning schedule. More and more parents are discovering the joys and benefits of homeschooling and find themselves agreeing with Andrew Kern of the CiRCE Institute, that the child is a “soul to be nurtured, not a product to be measured.” Homeschooling parents want to take the time to make sure that their children are not only schooled, but also educated. For anyone who is interested, they can look at the Classical Conversations alumni statistics on our local website: www.mcallenhomeschool.com

Classical Conversations is committed to helping parent raise citizen-leaders who have a Biblical, Christ-centered worldview.

“And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-8

Scripture gives the responsibility to educating children to the parent. It is the parent’s role to “Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6. Every year parents feel the tug of these scriptures as they ponder how they can fulfill them, while their children are away from them for 30-40 hours a week. They are faced with the heart-wrenching reality that whoever is spending the most time with the child is the one training him.

Perhaps you have already come to the conclusion that you want to, or need to, homeschool, and you are no longer asking “Why should I homeschool?” Perhaps you are desperately wondering “How do I homeschool? What is the best method or philosophy? What does it look like?” “What about college, and transcripts?” These questions and many more were addressed last month at the Classical Conversations free three-day Parent Practicum. If you missed the Parent Practicum, you can still get your questions answered by contacting one of the CC Directors, or attending and Information Meeting.

What others are saying about CC Parent Practicum and homeschooling:

“As a homeschool mom of the past 17 years I was delighted to see a group of homeschool families providing a true classical education for their children. It gave me such hope for the future to know that these children are developing the skills that will enable them to think deeply, communicate thought in a meaningful way, and develop a true and genuine love for learning that will last a lifetime. These children will be future leaders and stand in a world that is crying for direction. What most impressed me though was the sweet spirit exhibited between the parents and children involved in this group. I saw Christ’s love truly acted out in a tangible way and an incredible support and encouragement demonstrated between the members and the newcomers. Their passion in pursuit of homeschooling was evident! I left edified, encouraged, and inspired—Classical Conversations is a blessing to not only those within their group, but also homeschoolers in general and the community as a whole.”—Leslie Crown, three-day Practicum attendee

“I was inspired by the wonderful, like-minded families that are on the same journey as we are….[they are] on a mission to teach their children to love God, life, and learning….I chose to homeschool because I wanted to see my family go from surviving to thriving….I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to teach four different aged kids….however, after our CC Practicum I feel equipped and now I can tell people that it is possible.” – Velma Landrum, new CC participant

Classical Conversations mission is to Know God and to Make Him known, its model is to pair the lost tools of learning, the classical model, with a Biblical worldview, and its method is to equip parents and encourage students.

To maintain the integrity and quality of our programs, we purposefully limit our class size. Communities are filling up. If you would like more information on homeschooling, CC, and our local communities, please contact one of our Directors or visit the CC Event Calendar to see when our next Information Meetings are.

High School: Sadie Aldaya saldaya@classicalconversations.com

Middle School/Jr. High: Sheri Matz smatz@rgv.rr.com, Lorraine Owens lrowens7458@gmail.com

Elementary: Paige Newsom pagienewsom@hotmail.com , Mio Cabeza miocabeza@hotmail.com, Adriana Cunningham adrianacunningham@rocketmail.com

Should you be interested in starting your own community, please contact Sadie Aldaya at saldaya@classicalconversations.com

By Sadie Aldaya, 15-year Homeschooling Veteran, Certified Teacher, Classical Conversations Support Manager and Director