Classical Conversations creates a community-based homeschool experience where families meet weekly for tutored classes while parents direct the remaining learning at home, making it ideal for families seeking Christian classical education with built-in accountability and social interaction. Rooted in the classical trivium model, the program progresses through grammar stage memorization (Foundations for ages 4-12), dialectic reasoning skills (Essentials for ages 9-12), and rhetoric presentation abilities (Challenge for grades 7-12), with students memorizing facts through songs, chants, and group activities during weekly community gatherings.
The curriculum covers history, science, geography, math, Latin, language arts, fine arts, and presentations during the weekly meeting—typically lasting one morning for younger students or a full day for older students—while families add their own math and reading programs at home. Parents appreciate the structured accountability, ready-made lesson plans, and vibrant community support, though the program requires significant financial investment (typically $500-$2000 annually per child including tuition, materials, and fees) and weekly attendance commitment. The classical method emphasizes memorization of facts before understanding context, which resonates with some families but feels overwhelming or developmentally inappropriate to others.
The faith-based content is woven throughout, and the quality of your experience depends heavily on your local community's director and tutors. Some note the curriculum repeats on a three-year cycle and may feel Eurocentric or require parents to adapt the volume of work to suit individual children. Consider visiting a local community day and reviewing sample materials to assess whether the classical approach, weekly commitment, and community culture align with your family's learning philosophy and schedule before the substantial investment.
History Science Math Language Arts Geography Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Faith-based
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Other Curricula to Consider BookShark Bookshark delivers a complete literature-based homeschool curriculum where children read approximately fifty carefully selected books each year across history, science, language arts, and math, making it ideal for families who want their children to learn through engaging stories and real books rather than textbook memorization. This secular, faith-neutral curriculum spans pre-K through high school with fully planned instructor guides that follow a four-day weekly schedule, giving families built-in flexibility while covering more material in four days than many programs cover in five.
The all-subject packages arrive as comprehensive boxes containing every book, map, timeline, and resource needed for the entire year, requiring minimal parent preparation since each day's lessons are scripted with discussion questions, reading assignments, and activity instructions clearly laid out in the instructor guides. History lessons integrate geography and culture through historical fiction and biographies following Charlotte Mason principles, while science includes hands-on experiments with supplies provided. Parents spend focused time reading aloud and facilitating discussions with younger students, though upper levels transition to more independent reading with guided comprehension questions. The curriculum works well for multiple learning styles and can accommodate siblings close in age who share history and science while completing math and language arts at their own levels.
Families appreciate the open-and-go convenience and high-quality book selections that engage even reluctant readers, though the significant upfront investment and heavy reading load may feel overwhelming for families with children who struggle with chapter books or prefer workbook-based learning. Some parents note the curriculum requires active parental involvement for discussions and read-alouds rather than independent student work, which may not suit working parents seeking self-directed options. The BookShark Virtual add-on provides digital access to schedules and auto-graded assessments for families who travel frequently. Sample instructor guides are available on the website to preview the teaching approach and daily structure before purchasing.
Crash Course Crash Course delivers high school and college-level content through fast-paced, engaging YouTube videos that condense complex topics into digestible segments, making it ideal for visual learners and independent students who need supplemental material for AP courses or struggle with dense textbooks. Created by bestselling author John Green and science communicator Hank Green, this free video platform covers over 45 subjects from world history and biology to economics and computer science with witty hosts who transform traditionally dry academic content into entertaining lessons perfect for sparking curiosity in reluctant learners.
Each course consists of multiple videos running between ten and fifteen minutes, requiring no parent prep since students simply watch and absorb the content through the platform's YouTube channel or website. The secular curriculum works well as a supplement to traditional homeschool programs rather than a standalone complete curriculum, and the self-paced format allows multiple children at different grade levels to access age-appropriate courses simultaneously. However, the passive video format means students need additional worksheets, discussions, or activities to move beyond surface-level understanding and truly master the material.
Families appreciate the completely free access and the entertaining presentation that keeps teenagers engaged, though some note the rapid delivery can overwhelm students who need more time to process information or prefer hands-on learning experiences. The content occasionally includes mature topics suitable for high school audiences that younger students should skip, and without built-in assessments or accountability, parents must create their own structure for ensuring comprehension. Consider pairing Crash Course videos with tools like EdPuzzle to add interactive questions, or use the videos as introductions before deeper study through traditional methods.
Evan‑Moor Homeschool Evan-Moor Homeschool offers skill-building workbooks across language arts, math, science, and social studies for toddlers through grade 8, designed for families who want a secular, traditional approach where children practice concepts through repetition and can work independently. The curriculum shines as either a complete solution for straightforward academics or as targeted supplemental practice, with individual workbooks available by subject or comprehensive grade-level bundles that include an editable digital planner for pacing guidance.
The workbook format requires minimal parent involvement since exercises are clear and self-explanatory, making it manageable for families teaching multiple children who can benefit from the reproducible pages in print or PDF format. Most materials feature primarily black-and-white pages with varied activity styles, though some series like Skill Sharpeners add full-color illustrations. Parents can also subscribe to TeacherFileBox to access thousands of pages across hundreds of titles, mixing and matching activities across grades. This traditional, highly structured approach suits families comfortable with consistent workbook practice rather than those seeking project-based learning, living books, or Charlotte Mason methods.
Families appreciate the affordable pricing, ease of use, and how students can progress independently through daily practice, though the heavy workbook emphasis may feel repetitive for children who grasp concepts quickly or families preferring hands-on exploration. While Evan-Moor excels at targeted skill reinforcement through varied exercise formats, some parents find they need to supplement with literature, field trips, or richer content for depth. The curriculum works particularly well when used selectively for specific skill gaps or as part of an eclectic approach. Browse free samplers on their website to evaluate whether the traditional workbook format and practice-based learning style match your family's needs.
