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onemoretracy
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| Posted: Oct 24 2009 at 8:14pm | IP Logged
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denise3578 wrote:
"All of the physical sciences, with all their information observations and discoveries, lead us no further than the present life. "
"The natural sciences as we know them today were not unknown to the ancients, they were undesired. As the study of the wisdom-seeker was directed at the elevation of the soul, the value of the study of the physical world was understood to be limited. This is the source of the necessary balance in science education. "
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Hope this helps,
Denise |
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This is a quote I will be mulling over. I have some kids who really enjoy science topics (mostly the natural sciences) and I need to think on this for awhile.
I do see his point and tend to agree as long as it is a matter of priorities, not exclusions.
Still thinking...
Thanks for sharing CLAA ladies!
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BrendaPeter
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teachingmyown wrote:
However, as I consider my younger kids, I am stuck. I am a relaxed, CM-ish type of mom in my heart. I have a hard time seeing my little guys (9 and under) doing CLAA. I am much more inclined toward read-alouds and nature study, lots of free reading and interest-led learning, a "better late than early" philosophy. I am looking at Jennifer's (Mackfam) morning basket post and wanting that atmosphere for my family. So, I am really torn.
Is this a shift in philosophy for you CLAA moms? Am I over thinking about this? Do your little guys still enjoy "school" and have time to be young and free?
What if I choose to let me young ones run wild (not quite) and then have them settle down and start CLAA at a later age?
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Great questions, Molly.
There's no reason why your 9 & unders have to start CLAA now. Our 6 1/2 year old is enrolled because she's an excellent reader & was chomping at the bit to do this. She's loving it. She does Grammar I, Miquon Math & Seton Religion 3 everyday for school so she has PLENTY of free time and there's also plenty of time to do nature study, read alouds, etc.
It wasn't much of a shift in philosophy for me as I've been on the classical bandwagon from day one and we've always kept Latin, Religion & Math at the center. Part of me is a CM "wanna-be" but truthfully it's a challenge for me to get us to daily Mass most days, run the home well, follow the liturgical year, be a good wife and mother and maintain my spiritual life. I've had to face that reality & mortify myself from lurking into what everyone is doing in their homes as it had become a big distraction. I rarely visit here either but this time it seems to have been perfect timing  .
Keep in mind that CLAA is as flexible as you want it to be. There's nothing that you have to do. If the courses don't work out, you will receive a full refund.
We were planning to enroll our oldest in MODG on May 1st when CLAA came across our path in April. I wanted to cry. It looked like a dream come true but I so did not want to go through making the decision. I asked my husband (who has the necessary graces to make such a decision) to help me & we prayed. It was scary at 1st but it's truly the best decision we have made about homeschooling in 10 years. Our kids are concretely growing in wisdom but also in virtue as they practice patience & perseverance.
The best advice I can give you is to spend the next week praying (a novena to St. John Bosco or St. Ignatius?) and reading the posts on the forum.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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BrendaPeter
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| Posted: Oct 24 2009 at 8:21pm | IP Logged
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onemoretracy wrote:
This is a quote I will be mulling over. I have some kids who really enjoy science topics (mostly the natural sciences) and I need to think on this for awhile.
I do see his point and tend to agree as long as it is a matter of priorities, not exclusions.
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Just wanted to share Tracy that Mr. Michael is a huge fan of natural science as his family lives on a farm.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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Martha
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Hmm you know the Robinson curriculum says pretty much the same thing about science. Ideally that science shouldn't even be bothered with until after Saxon calculus. So that idea really doesn't bother me for the lower grades. In our house below 7th grade isn't textbook formal science anyways.
It's very hard for me to picture my 7 or 8 year old on the computer for several hours. ESP as neither of them have EVER been on a computer before.
Does anyone know if there's something like this that is not computer based?
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denise3578
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Martha,
The lessons can be printed out, so you don't have to actually sit at the computer. Some of the lessons have audio or visual parts and have to be viewed at least one time at the computer, but then you can print it out and work on it wherever.
Brenda, thanks for clarifying the natural science thing!
I don't know about Brenda,but I feel much more organized and in control than I did before. The pressure is off me to run around looking for books, planning curriculum decisions, and always wondering if there was something better. I still hand the kids books if they pertain to their studies, but I don't HAVE to, so if it's a bad week and I don't get around to it, well they are still on track.
Also, there are sample lessons you can take for all the basic courses, including the Petty School.
Denise
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teachingmyown
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Petty school- this is pre-readers? At what point do they pass from petty school? Would I have older kids do the handwriting if they didn't get a good foundation?
How do they handle teaching reading? My understanding of what was on the website is that they learn to read in Latin first, is that right?
Are any of your kids doing the World Geography? Would it be okay to pay for my oldest to take it but let the younger ones listen in? 
I need something to take the pressure off. It sounds very freeing. Now to start selling off my shelves of curriculum to pay for some courses. (Gee, maybe I will even get my house cleaner, too! )
Okay, now I am really going to bed.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Erin
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If you r children had no previous experience with a rigorous program such as this where would you start them? For example would you start a 16yr old back at grammar and simply move through quickly or would you start them at rhetoric?
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BrendaPeter
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Erin wrote:
| If you r children had no previous experience with a rigorous program such as this where would you start them? For example would you start a 16yr old back at grammar and simply move through quickly or would you start them at rhetoric? |
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Hi Erin,
There's a progression so a student wouldn't be able to start Rhetoric until he has completed Grammar, Humanities & Dialectic. My 15 yo is currently enrolled in Humanities & Dialectic only because he's 1/2way through Henle & is concurrently learning the 2nd 1/2 with a Memoria Press online class. Once completed, that will be his Grammar. He's doing fine with Dialectic but Humanities is a challenge, primarily because of the amount of memory work. He's taking Dialectic in English but down the road it will also be available Greek for those students who started the program at an early age.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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BrendaPeter
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teachingmyown wrote:
Petty school- this is pre-readers? At what point do they pass from petty school? Would I have older kids do the handwriting if they didn't get a good foundation?
How do they handle teaching reading? My understanding of what was on the website is that they learn to read in Latin first, is that right?
Are any of your kids doing the World Geography? Would it be okay to pay for my oldest to take it but let the younger ones listen in?
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We don't do Petty School yet (maybe for our youngest) but, like all the courses, it's at the student's pace so they finish when they finish. Yes, they learn to read Latin 1st but that's because Latin is so phonetic that it actually makes things easier. You can enroll any age student in any course but the handwriting course is designed for young students to learn the basics. It's not really a focus of the curriculum.
We're not doing World Geography but are chomping at the bit. Your younger children can definitely look on.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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BrendaPeter
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Erin wrote:
| If you r children had no previous experience with a rigorous program such as this where would you start them? For example would you start a 16yr old back at grammar and simply move through quickly or would you start them at rhetoric? |
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Hi Erin,
There's a progression so a student wouldn't be able to start Rhetoric until he has completed Grammar, Humanities & Dialectic. My 15 yo is currently enrolled in Humanities & Dialectic only because he's 1/2way through Henle & is concurrently learning the 2nd 1/2 with a Memoria Press online class. Once completed, that will be his Grammar. He's doing fine with Dialectic but Humanities is a challenge, primarily because of the amount of memory work. He's taking Dialectic in English but down the road it will also be available in Greek for those students who started the program at an early age.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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BrendaPeter
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Martha wrote:
It's very hard for me to picture my 7 or 8 year old on the computer for several hours. ESP as neither of them have EVER been on a computer before. |
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The tests take anywhere from 5-10 minutes (& they are not taken daily) & the prelections take about 15 minutes. That's the most my younger kids are on the computer for CLAA.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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Martha
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Oh now see that's at least imaginable to me.
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Oct 26 2009 at 9:26am | IP Logged
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Thanks, Brenda! Hope we didn't stress you out with all these questions waiting for you this morning!
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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MarieA
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Very interesting topic! I've been lurking here and checking out the CLAA website.
Brenda, have you taken the praeceptor training?
Marie 
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Syncletica
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It was mentioned that Latin and Greek are learned, and that a certain topic or subject was easier when it was read in Greek. Does this mean, as the mom and teacher, that WE (the moms)would have to learn Latin and Greek? That seems like an insurmountable feat for me, at least at this time in my life.
Also, would these courses qualify as a complete education? I realize that it is superior than modern education, and more desired, but once this was all completed, a child could 'graduate' and be able to find a job, right? When they're looking for a job, this would be recognized as a legit education?
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denise3578
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Moms are not required to learn Latin or Greek - not at all. That is the beauty of the whole thing - we don't have to do it all.
Denise
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Martha
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I'm not sure what you mean by legit.
They do say that if you are in state that needs to prove correaltion to standards they can provide that.
If you mean have core knowledge neccessary to get a job out of HS or move onto college - He does address some lack. For example he specificly says lab sciences required should be taken at a cc and encourages AP courses exams as well. I'm thinking American history and govt as possible needs to be met.
Actual users opinion?
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BrendaPeter
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MarieA wrote:
| Brenda, have you taken the praeceptor training? |
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Hi Marie,
Not yet but that's my hope & prayer. I think Denise is taking it along with several of the other moms. Some of the moms are taking the actual courses as well. One mom who has very young children is taking the Grammar course in the meantime.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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BrendaPeter
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Syncletica wrote:
| Also, would these courses qualify as a complete education? I realize that it is superior than modern education, and more desired, but once this was all completed, a child could 'graduate' and be able to find a job, right? When they're looking for a job, this would be recognized as a legit education? |
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Hi Syncletica,
This is a very good question & I asked Mr. Michael about this in terms of acceptance into college right in the beginning. I'm thankful for the opportunity to post what he said here.
Also, Mr. Michael is a big fan of the SAT. He says it's actually an excellent test and the fact that schools (particularly very expensive private schools  ) do not prepare children well for it is a major indicator that there is a problem with the school. He offers an SAT prep course, also for $125.
From Mr. Michael:
Many families (and school administrators) ignore the details of the colleges’ admission guidelines. For example, this is from Boston College:
Which high school courses do you recommend to make me more competitive in the application process?
"While specific courses are not required, the Undergraduate Admission Office recommends that students pursue a strong college preparatory program including four units of English, mathematics, foreign language, laboratory science, and social science. The Committee on Admission also looks at the rigor of your high school program. Students challenging themselves with Honors, AP, IB, and/or college-level courses tend to be more competitive in the admission process".
You will find similar statements from every good college. Most adults, however, read that and immediately focus on “four English, mathematics, foreign language, laboratory science, etc…”. However, they miss the opening line “While specific courses are not required” and that the college “looks at the degree of rigor of your high school program”. You can feel the tension in the statement between (a) what is best in the college’s eyes and (b) what is the normal route taken by most students. The CLAA is designed to satisfy their highest hopes for prospective students.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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BrendaPeter
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Here's a recent post over on the CLAA on affordable computers.
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Brenda (mom to 6)
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: CLAA for high school
