Classical Conversations Home Page

Welcome to Classical Conversations website

Classical Conversations was founded in 1997 by Leigh Bortins in order to provide academic programs, communities, training, and services for home school families everywhere. Since then, it has grown from Leigh’s living room and a handful of students to thousands of students and teams of home school parents across the United States and beyond.

Our once-a-week, supplemental, academic programs provide a committed Christian community of structure and support, along with great fellowship for the students and parents. Each of our programs utilize the classical tools of learning and emphasize life-long learning skills.

Birthed from a heart of ministry and a desire to equip parents in the teaching of their children, Leigh has developed free Parent Practicums, which range from one-day to three-day events with economically-priced academic camps for students. Our 1-Day Practicums are led by state teams in various cities and states throughout the year. Our 3-Day Practicums are led by CC's trained practicum facilitators in the spring/summer months in select states.

If you have been looking for a community of home schoolers who follow the Classical Model, value a Biblical worldview, and love learning, come and visit us at one of our programs or practicums.

For more information, please contact the State Manager for your area.

excerpt from Leigh Bortins's book...

Echo in Celebration: A Call to Home-Centered Education

Chapter Four

The Tools: Recovering the Classical Model

“Do you ever find that young people, when they have left school, not only forget most of what they have learned (that is only to be expected), but forget also, or betray that they have never really known, how to tackle a new subject for themselves?”
—Dorothy Sayers,The Lost Tools of Learning, 1947

In the 1990’s, I was fortunate enough to read classical educator Doug Wilson’s Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning around the same time that John Gatto, who quit teaching after winning NY Teacher of the Year, was writing books about the ineffective teaching techniques currently used in US schools. A glimmer, a very small ray of light hit my
heart like a laser beam. I began to question all that I knew about learning. I began to recognize ingrained thoughts that were lies. I began to see how to use my natural learning strengths to bolster the areas where I was weak. I had a hope in my heart that I could teach Robert and John the study skills I had begun to learn, though I didn’t understand them, in college. more

Classical Conversations exists to empower parents in the academic teaching of their children through Parent Practicums; as well as establish and support Classical Christian Communities that enable parents everywhere to equip their children with (1) a Biblically-based world view and (2) the classical “tools of learning”, in order to impact the world for God’s glory.

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