I have three daughters and my oldest is beginning her second year with CC. We were standing in line to buy a notebook and my four-year-old...recites that the front of her notebook is reflecting and refracting the light. At this point, my six-year-old spouts off, "You are missing one!" The four-year-old looks up, smiles, and says, "Spectrum!" They burst into giggles, make voices like the gentlemen on the PowerPoint, and recite the question and answer from Cycle 2. With CC as my safety net, I feel more confident to homeschool all my girls. Thank you, CC team!

The Dolan Family

I thank God all the time for CC's Foundations and Essentials curriculum and program. I am constantly amazed at what my children are capable of learning. I walked into my kitchen the other day and my six-year-old daughter had drawn a map of the world on our whiteboard and labeled the continents and oceans. It was awesome! Thank you for all you do! We have been blessed and blessed. I pray blessings upon you, too! Thank you.

I homeschooled my two boys who are twenty and twenty-three, and I wish I could go back and do it all over again with the CC community. Even though I have been a tutor for only six weeks, I see that not only my children, but the children in the class, are growing into leaders.

I love my CC community—the people are like family! My children are learning so much, academically, and they love it, too.

“Community” is a perfect description; the children and the moms have a wonderful bond. I love the fact that my child and I are learning things that I would not have the time or resources to teach at home.

WE LOVE IT! I have learned more than my kids have learned! I tell all my public school friends about it, and some of them are actually considering homeschooling just to participate in CC!

WOW! This has been the BEST year of homeschooling in eight years! Praise God for the Anderson Township CC community!

Wonderful mommies who take learning seriously.

I think it is a great program; I would recommend it. It was the right decision for our family.

My community is very supportive and has been extremely effective in helping me understand and use the classical model.

It would be much more difficult to homeschool apart from my CC community. My kids love the program and I love the support.

I appreciate the dedicated, committed, and loving spirit of the tutors. They strive for excellence and work to create a fun and warm learning environment.

Thank you for the hard work you put into organizing such an incredible and thorough curriculum for your family. Thank you for being willing to share it with the rest of us who were searching for something that would educate our children, but could not quite find it until CC came into our lives. I always knew what I was looking for, even though I could not describe it. I knew that if I ever saw it, I would recognize it as the exact thing I had been searching for. My children love the program and do not even consider it to be school—just fun. My daughter, who is in Challenge A this year, is so excited about the new challenge she is handed each week. Talk about gearing a child up for the real work of college! I call this her college prep course, because after she finishes all the Challenge courses, college will seem like a breeze. We are all thriving with the support we have from other like-minded families and the challenging workload we find at CC. Once again, thank you for making home education the best it can be. I am proud to be a CC member and advocate.

I just wanted to touch base with you and let you know that things are going well with us downtown. We have a wonderful group of moms and our tutors are all doing such a great job. I do not remember whether or not I told you this, but we have four students with Down syndrome in our program. Three of them are in a class with one of our tutors who is the mom of one of the DS kids. You should hear them giving their presentations! It is precious and the other kids in the class are benefiting so much from having them there. They are all doing very well. My son with DS, in the K-5 class, absolutely loves it. He goes around the house spouting the Timeline and singing the history songs. Now he has begun saying the Ephesians verses. What a blessing. It is really funny when we meet someone new and he starts in on something we have been learning in Classical Conversations and I say, "Oh, he's just conjugating a verb in Latin," or, "He's just reciting the Timeline." People are really impressed and so am I. He always talks about going to "Classical orations."

Anne Lonon, SC Director

I love your program, particularly the Essentials portion. My son learned more in one year of that class than he learned in all the other years of homeschooling combined. The ONLY challenge is participating in such a long day with two nursery-age children; it is hard on them. Thank you for your love of learning and for sharing it with others!

Thank you for sharing the gifts you have been given and the inspired vision for learning. Truly, it is a wonderful blessing for so many of us who were searching for support, but it was not forthcoming. I am a mother of ten and I have been homeschooling for twenty-two years. In all those years, I have never felt that I could “really do it,” until the last two years, since I have been part of CC. My youngest is nine. This year I have three in Foundations, two in Essentials, one in Challenge B, and one in Challenge I. My older kids tease me about how I have suddenly “arrived” in the realm of home education. They are so impressed by their younger siblings' amazing newfound abilities. I tell them that it is never too late. I am learning by the classical model and they can, too. It is a lifelong adventure. It is bittersweet for me; I wish I had been able to use CC with the older ones. The icing on the cake, though, and a great consolation, is the fact that my oldest daughter's children are now a part of CC. Five of them participate in the program. Thanks again for the impact you have had on my family and for your wonderful generosity in sharing your blessings with the rest of the world’s homeschool community.

Pax et Bonum (“Peace and Good”), Montse Vittitow

I just want to thank you for all of your prayerful effort in creating CC. I feel very blessed to be able to direct a Foundations program and truly consider it a ministry to local homeschool families. I am amazed as I consider all of the families across numerous states that are being impacted by your vision and efforts. Last year when we joined CC, it was not an easy year; however, it was the year that I finally “turned a corner” with my homeschooling. I am no longer a curriculum junkie and I am finally learning to persevere in this homeschooling endeavor. My motto this year is from Sheila Taylor (Foundations training this past summer), “A little bit, every day.” God continues to perfect the good work He has begun. I hope to meet you in person someday—I hear only wonderful things about you, your vision, and your faith.

May God richly bless you and your family,
Carol Eichert, Foundations Director, Classical Conversations of Anderson Township (Cincinnati, OH)

I have taught in a variety of environments including public school, pre-K, and even in some of the top day cares in the country, and nothing matches the CC curriculum! Even better, is the Bible-based foundation that my children will have which my church, family, and school combined never offered me. I guess the best part is that this is not a “school” with "teachers," but a community with tutors who are also homeschool parents with the same struggles that I face daily!

It is not school, just a means to learning to better teach our children.

I have been so pleased with the program. We spent last year in a classical school three days a week. My year's tuition at CC was one month’s tuition at the school, and my child is learning more.

It is an awesome environment which not only helps the children, but the parents as well, to learn about this wonderful world which God has given us.

Love it! Love it! Love it!

The CC community in Niceville, Florida is a wonderful help to us as a new homeschool family. We love the classical model and our son is thriving in the Essentials program. The tutor for his class is great—very interested in finding ways to engage the children. I am so thankful for this wonderful accountability and support group.

I love my CC community. I probably would not consider homeschooling through high school if it were not for Classical Conversations. Thanks, Leigh!!!!

The Christian community here is phenomenal and the academic program is extremely organized and well-done.

I am in the Fredericksburg group. I love it so much I see myself never doing anything differently. As a tutor I am learning so much. As an attendee of Essentials under Maria Copeland, I am learning far more than I ever dreamed possible. I have NEVER been confident in English. I am becoming so, now. Until recently, I was afraid I might have to enroll my children in public school when they are older. Through CC, I am growing in the knowledge and courage needed to see them through their entire scholastic career. Thank GOD for CC.

It is wonderful! I have been in two different groups: Yadkinville, NC and Conway, SC. The people are so kind and loving, and the teachers are professional, accountable, and fun. This is the best curriculum I have found. I also believe CC is part of God's plan for this generation in these last days. As many school systems go from bad to worse in the number of responsible young adults they turn out, CC is raising the standard and, obviously, based on CC enrollment, many are joining and following that standard. Praise God!

Young Nicolas declared, "If I had a choice between going to Labor Day (Last Fling) and getting a (toy) sword or going to Classical Conversations, I would pick Classical Conversations." This was then heartily echoed by his brother, who said: "If I had a choice between going to Labor Day (Last Fling) and getting a hundred (toy) swords or going to Classical Conversations, I would pick Classical Conversations!" I think I would have to agree!

Carol, Foundations Parent in Illinois

I am passionate about Classical Conversations because it made providing classical learning to my children very manageable. I read The Well-Trained Mind two years ago and tried to do its classical recommendations at home without accountability and fell flat on my face! Classical Conversations has helped me to decrease my planning time and by providing accountability. It has created a fun learning environment; I have enjoyed learning with my boys. I love the fellowship with other families too!

Cathy York, Foundations Director

I was a skeptic about the classical approach to homeschooling. I like creativity and exploratory learning, and thought the classical method would smother any excitement about learning. The only reason I even ventured a gamble on Classical Conversations is because of the recommendation of another highly creative homeschool friend. It was a gamble I am glad I took. Classical Conversations does involve a great deal of memorization; however, this information is learned through games, songs, chants, and pictures that captivate most kids. Even my most reluctant child loved the learning that took place this year. And I loved learning alongside my kids. The history is particularly fabulous, and we all have a great framework for talking about world events. Additionally, wonderful, creative tutors and the regular interaction with a peer group blessed us. Ironically, I found myself really loving the structure provided by Classical Conversation. Weekly goals and assignments were already planned out. I have spent less time creating lesson plans and more time getting to plan the fun, enrichment activities that I really love. After four years of homeschooling, this is the first year I have completed without feeling completely exhausted. I have moved from skeptic to whole-hearted advocate for Classical Conversations!

Debbie Childers

Why I like Classical Conversations:

I love having the ability to teach my kindergarten through sixth grade children the same material at the same time. It allows us to explore things together at the level that is appropriate to our interests and ages.

I love the opportunity to learn and memorize things along with my children.

I love to watch Jeopardy in the evening and have my six-year-old come up with an answer that the contestants miss.

I love to dazzle my husband and parents with things that we learned together during the week.

I love the fellowship with other moms who have a passion for Christian homeschooling and a love of being part of their child’s education.

I love to see what the other families in the program share in the opening assembly time and what the children share in their presentations.

As for the Challenge program, I am extremely thankful and amazed that I am able to continue to homeschool my high-school-age children with the assistance of wonderful tutors who can answer the tough questions.

Cindy Beck, Foundations tutor and mom to four children ages sixteen months to fourteen years

Callie and I enjoy the presentations the children give each week. Organizing information and presenting it verbally has been a great experience for Callie. We have both learned many interesting facts from Callie’s classmates’ presentations.

Kim Burkhalter

I love all of the people who participate in Classical Conversations and my teachers. I have made so many nice friends. Every week I learn new things. My teacher makes it so fun to learn. I thank God for the person who started Classical Conversations.

Sarah Walt, ten years old

Our family has been truly blessed by the Classical Conversations Foundations program. Our grandson fell in love with learning again. The tutors, the parents, and the director have been very helpful. I learned from Essentials along with my grandson. Every child should have a Mrs. Thomas in its learning environment; she makes it so much fun!

Carrie Williams

I love Classical Conversations because my kids love it, and it is a great time of fellowship and learning for all of us.

Kim Gentry

Classical Conversations takes the guesswork out of my homeschooling development. All of the curriculum materials that have been chosen have been exceptional, and I doubt that I would have stumbled on all of them in my limited time for research and development. I can also relax knowing that my children are exposed to an excellent academic program; even if I accomplish just the minimum, as is necessary on some very busy weeks, they are not falling behind. The peer support and group effect of the seminars has spurred motivation in both my children that has been very good. I have really enjoyed the other parents, but also feel like the education of my children is still being steered by me. It truly is the best of both worlds. I am so glad to have found Classical Conversations.

Sarah Lackey

One of my favorite things about Classical Conversations is the history sentences, because it is the easiest for me. What makes it easy are the songs and pictures we learn in class. They help me remember the words. I just have to remember the songs and the history sentences come right out.

Brian Gold, eight years old

I like Classical Conversations because of the Latin. The different songs that go with the Latin tenses help me remember them. I have learned a lot of geography this year, and now I know where all the foreign coins in my collection come from.

Melissa Gold, eleven years old

I like Classical Conversations because there are lots of good teachers there. There is lots of really educating stuff there. My favorite subject is the Timeline cards because they are really hard and I like hard stuff. I am the champion in my family at Timeline cards.

Owen Gold, six years old

There are three reasons that I like Classical Conversations. These three reasons are science, history, and geography. Science helps us unlock the wonders of nature. History allows us to explore the wonders of the ancient world. Geography allows us to learn the names and locations of many places. In conclusion, Classical Conversations is a great mixture of learning and fun.

Silas York, eight years old

Thank you so much for allowing me to come to your Classical Conversations meeting today. I found it very interesting. The curriculum has depth and it is challenging and impressive. I went home feeling as though I have been failing Kelley somewhat with her lack of breadth in some areas this year. Leigh Bortins is impressive. What an amazing woman. She certainly has done the homeschool community a wonderful service. Please thank her for me for taking time to answer my questions.

Liz Violett

I have been grateful for my two years with Classical Conversations. I envision turbulent years ahead for us as Christians. I believe this program will empower my children for what they might face in the near future. Scripture teaches us to be "wise as serpents." A classical education instructs children to think for themselves and not blindly take what others say as truth. My prayer is that they will, as Proverbs tells us, "search out a matter." I desire for my children to live by the heartbeat of Classical Conversations: "To know God and to make Him known."

Proverbs 24:3-4 (NIV) tell us that "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." By God's grace this is the prayer of my family. I believe Classical Conversations to be the vehicle that God is using to accomplish this goal.

Daphne Reichard

This year is our fifth year of homeschooling. Our son is now a sixth grader and has been homeschooled since second grade. Our daughter is in the third grade and has been homeschooled since kindergarten. In all the years that we have been homeschooling, I struggled with feeling inadequate in providing my children with all they needed. Classical Conversations has made a big difference for us this year. We have been part of other groups before, but CC has given me a freedom that I had not felt in the past.

CC helps me to focus on the most important academics. Using a classical education model was quite a change for us from the traditional education model we had been using. As a matter of fact, I did not even really know what a "classical" education was until I was introduced to CC. It is not about teaching the classics, which is what I always thought.

CC has made this school year our best by far. I feel more confident in what my kids are learning, and I have more confidence in my ability to be able to continue homeschooling even as they grow older. CC helps me to focus on what is most important the other four days of our school week. It is also a great community of homeschool families that I can lean on for support and fellowship.

Lisa Cox, Essentials Tutor, Cincinnati, OH