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Additional Curriculum Requirements

Classical Conversations Foundations Program is a complete curriculum for K-6th grade covering:

 

  • World Timeline & History

  • Geography

  • Science

  • Latin

  • English

  • Math facts and drills

For grades 4-6, CC adds the Essentials Program which covers:

 

  • IEW (institute for Excellence in Writing)

  • Essentials of the English Language

  • Math Speed Drills

For all levels, you will need to provide your own choice of:

  • Phonics/Reading/Spelling (age dependant)

  • Math daily instruction

  • Any additional Bible study/memorization/teaching

Please click here for a sample of a general schedule and my personal curriculum choices for our family.

Classical Conversations does very little direct-teaching from the Bible in the Foundations program, preferring to integrate God and scripture into each subject seamlessly as it may come up.  This leaves each family free to teach according to their own family's particular doctrinal beliefs, and teach the Bible to their children as called by the Lord.

Below are listed many resources that many homeschoolers have found to be very useful! 

Math Curriculum

  • Saxon

We use Saxon math, and I used it when I was homeschooled, so I am most familiar with this program.  We enjoy the slower approach and feel that it fits well within the Classical Model

  • Kindergarten level uses no written work at all, only a calendar, verbal lessons and strong use of manipulatives.  Very fun and engaging for 4-5 year olds.  

  • 1, 2, 3rd grade uses calendar, workbooks, flashcards and manipulatives.  Intermediate 3 available if student is not quite ready to transition to 5/4.

  • Grades 5/4, 6/5, 7/6 , 8/7 makes use of workbooks, with separate fact sheets, tests and answer key.  Teaching DVDs available.  Transitional 4 & 5 available.

  • Algebra 1/2, 1, 2, Geometry, Advanced Math & Calculus make use of hardcover student book, test booklets, answer keys, Teaching DVDs available. 

  • Great descriptions available at CBD, but most are cheaper from Rainbowresource.com

  • Singapore Math

(copied from CBD description)

Singapore Math's Primary Math, 3rd Edition series features the Concrete> Pictorial> Abstract approach. Students begin by learning through concrete and pictorial means before moving into abstract thought and development, which encourages an active thinking process, communication of mathematical ideas and problem solving. Lessons are designed for a mix of teacher instruction and independent work, and students are encouraged to discuss ideas and explore additional problem-solving methods.

Here is a link to a great video comparing Saxon to Singapore Math.  

I had never seen Singapore before, and this video was great!

  • Math U See

DVD based teaching at all levels.  In depth description available at their website.

Saxon, Singapore & Math-U-See are the 3 curriculums I hear the most about from my homeschooling friends.  There are many others available making use of more color, less color, more scripture, completely secular, etc.  Start here then ask around to find a good for for your family!

Phonics Curriculum

  • Saxon Phonics

We used Saxon Phonics and found it to be a very thorough and comprehensive program.  We did not use the Phonics 2 program, as the kids were both reading well enough on their own by the end of first grade!

 Saxon is not writing based - meaning that there are only a few blanks to be filled in on each worksheet, and most of the work is visual and verbal.  This allows children to learn to read without waiting for their fine motor control to develop or causing unneccessary frustration for early readers.

  • Phonics K Kit includes teachers manual, student workbooks, color flashcards (many types), word games and readers, plus a few odds and ends.  4 lessons per week all on the same letter.  Very easy to grasp for reluctant learners or younger 4s.  Fully scripted teachers manual gives you exactly what to say and how to teach the lesson.

  • Phonics 1 starts again with the alphabet, but 1 letter per lesson before progressing on to digraphs, suffixes, etc.  Lessons rotate through types of learning - alphabet manipulation, word manipulation, listening exercises, etc.  Fully Scripted, includes weekly spelling lists.

  • Phonics 2 is the final level, and may not be necessary if the student is already reading well.  Moves at a faster pace than Phonics 1.  We chose to skip Phonics 2 and just move on to reading level-appropriate books. Scripted Teacher's Manual.

  • A-Beka Books

  • Kindergarten 4 & 5 levels available.  Many pieces, all sold separately or as a kit allow you to customize.  Teacher manual and tests sold separately.  Full color and engaging, but quite a bit more expensive.  Available ONLY through A-Beka.  All levels available in manuscript or cursive, and writing is a large part of the program.  Perfect for children who have good pencil control and who are ready to learn to write a the same time as to read.

  • 1st grade Language Arts Child Kit, Parent Kit (starting in first grade, phonics and math are available as separate kits)

  • McGuffey's Readers

After Saxon Phonics 1, we began to use the traditional McGuffey's Readers.  A simple approach, the student works on the same lesson each day until they (you) decide that they have it well enough to move on.  These books do not teach any phonics, but are level-appropriate books for practice - which is why I used a phonics program first.  NEW edition is available, but rumored to have many of the moral lessons and mentions of God removed.  We have the ORIGINAL set.

  • Writing Road to Reading

​More of a teaching concept, the book teaches the parent how to teach phonics.  Handbook also available.

  • All About Spelling

Teaches phonics and reading WHILE teaching spelling.  See details in the box below.

There are many other phonics resources available!!  Ask around.  Ask me about something you've heard about, and I'll try to find information for you!

Other Language Arts

  • Handwriting

  • Writing Road to Reading - see above

  • A Reason for Handwriting - K-6.  Short daily lessons based on scripture, 4 lessons per week, with day 5 for copying full scripture onto decorated border paper/coloring sheet.  Teacher's Guide  which covers all grades is available, but we only use the basic workbook with any additional instruction coming from me.  I remember using this cursive curriculum as a kid!

  • Pre-Scripts - available through Classical Conversations only, suitable for about 1st grade and up.  Levels to roughly correspond with each cycle.  Orange is the lowest level, beginning with cursive letter formation.

  • Spelling

  • Spelling Plus - available on regular HS supply sites AND at CC Practicums.  K-6 book with 1000 most common words, meets state standards.  Simple program builds each week, groups similar words together and alerts teacher to possible problem words/sounds.  We tried it in first grade, but dropped it (Saxon Phonics 1 has spelling).  I'll be adding this book for second grade.  This series also has a dictiation book and homophones book, if you want them later.

  • All About Spelling -  Uses a flashcard teaching and review system similar to the saxon Phonics.  Lessons are scripted for the teacher, and makes use of letter tiles and other milti-sensory items.  If you have a struggling speller, this system may give you a bit more than just a simple list to study.  Levels are not attched to grade, so student simply begins where he places and works forward.  See this page for YouTube demos. Available from Rainbow Resource.

These are the only resources that I have personal knowledge of.  Please let me know if you'd like to add in a great report of another curriculum!

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