Organizing Classical Conversations Materials At Home

I’ve mentioned that I keep the 24-weeks of Classical Conversations Foundations materials in folders, and I’ve been asked what is inside them.

The folders for the current year are kept on a shelf in my office (not accessible to the children.)  I also hide the supplemental books we’ll try to read each week.  Here are some of the basic materials I prepare ahead of time:

Print-outs from the Memory Work Resource CD for history and geography, laminated for durability and longevity.  This year I used an online company (Best Value Copy.com) to print everything I needed very cheaply.  These laminated pages will be put on a stand in the classroom.  There are also un-laminated maps for labeling, coloring, cutting, or copying:

Also purchased from CC is a science card for each week.  It lists the topic on the front, and the science question and answer for the week on the back, with some supplemental information.  These are very optional.  I don’t have them for all 3 cycles.  They are handy to bring along to study in the van:

And then there are 8 history timeline cards from Veritas Press.  The CC goal is to memorize 160 history events in chronological order, 8 at a time, adding motions if desired.  (Can’t believe it’s possible?  Here’s proof.)  We are actually not using these this year.  We are memorizing 48 events of the bible, reading dozens of great historical books, and using our Book of Centuries instead.

[A note to my fellow Catholics - yes, this is a history product published by a Protestant company.  There is a little bit of historical information on the back of the cards that we would strongly disagree with.  Some people make a big deal out things like this - my response is to take a permanent black marker and cross if off.  It is otherwise a great material for the elementary level.  Classical Conversations has recently started selling their "own" version of these.  There is also a new "Catholic" version of these available at Ignatius Press, but I haven't personally seen either of these new sets.  I'm sure they're all sufficient.]

Then, there is another handy-dandy check list.  I admit to not being able to function without a checklist.  This one helps me prepare for the upcoming “CC Week”, and you can view or download it here: Prep List 2011-2012

(here’s my updated check-list for the 2012-2013 schoolyear:)

Also in the folders there are worksheets printed off to go into workbaskets.  We aim to have 24 “CC Weeks” each school-year, and during those weeks we do spelling, handwriting, and other subjects as well.  And finally, there will be a CD burned with a variety of memory work, songs, hymns, poems, and violin music.

Here’s a pdf of a history notebooking page we write on each week:

And here’s a pdf of a similar science notebooking page.  (On my pages at home I’ve typed in the CC questions, but because I assume this is copyrighted information, I haven’t included them here.)