Our Community
Homeschooling with Classical Conversations of South Frederick means being plugged in to a group of like-minded families who endeavor not only to learn together but do life together.
Our weekly gathering in Frederick, Maryland is where tutors present the week's information. Students are engaged and learn with songs, dancing, motion, and hands on ways to make the information not only come to life, but easily memorable.
Outside of our weekly gatherings, our families meet for regular field trips, service opportunities, and fun activities. Learning is made part of everyday life and lifelong friendships are made - not only amongst the students but between parents as well!
If you are looking for true community, we would love to meet you!
Hear from parents like you!
The
Classical
Model
Our curriculum and instruction are based on the classical model of education, which breaks down the learning process into three parts: grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric phases.
What is the classical model?
Check out this essay written by Dorothy Sayers to learn more about the classical model!
Classical education is broken down into three main parts: the grammar, dialectic, and the rhetoric phases. This is called the "Trivium". The approach is not only comprehensive in nature, but each phase reflects the nature of the student at that point in his or her life. The purpose of the Trivium is to equip each student with the tools of learning so that upon completion, he or she can either enter university level education or enter the real world prepared to interact with information in a meaningful way.
The first phase of the Trivium, grammar, corresponds with the natural propensity of young people to absorb information well. Students in the grammar phase are establishing a foundation of nomenclature. Understanding of the material is not emphasized, rather the student is encouraged to capitalize on his or her joyful ability to memorize.
After this foundation has been built, students move to the dialectic phase. The dialectic phase is about logic and disputation. Students are able to use the language and nomenclature they have memorized to construct an argument and detect logical fallacies. Typically, young people at these ages enjoy detecting and pointing out fallacies in what they hear and read and they are learning to properly engage with the information around them by constructing cohesive and valid arguments.
The final phase is rhetoric. At this point, students naturally wish to express themselves and the rhetoric phase of learning utilizes that. A strong foundation has been developed and tested and the young learners are encouraged use the previous building blocks of tools to engage in self expression.
Education with a Christian worldview
Classical Conversations' curriculum is based upon a biblical worldview. Biblical history and world history are intertwined, scripture is intertwined with various subjects, and the foundation of everything learned is through the lens of seeking to know God and to make Him known.
