This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by:

Woke and Weaponized: How Karl Marx Won the Battle for American Education—And How We Can Win It Back – A new book written by Robert Bortins and Alex Newman. Discover the shocking truth about how current education reform efforts may actually accelerate the destruction of educational freedom. Through meticulous research, Woke and Weaponized traces the philosophical roots of educational corruption from Robert Owen and John Dewey to critical race theory, while offering practical strategies for families ready to pursue genuine educational independence. Join our exclusive list to be notified the moment it becomes available — plus receive special launch updates and insider information.

 http://www.WokeAndWeaponized.com

CC Graduate Certificate in Classical Studies

Classical Conversations is excited to announce the launch of our new accredited Graduate Certificate in Classical Studies, a 12-credit hour program designed specifically for homeschooling parents who want to deepen their understanding of classical Christian education. This graduate certificate program provides academic recognition for your dedication to classical learning while offering a pathway to advanced study through our partnership with Southeastern University.

Register today to secure your spot in this transformative educational experience. 

https://ics.regfox.com/ma-certificate

The post Refining Rhetoric: 10 Things Every Homeschooler Can Celebrate This Year appeared first on Classical Conversations.

Few cities offer the diversity of learning experiences found in Los Angeles, California. From world-renowned museums and encounters with marine life to historic landmarks and outdoor adventures, Los Angeles homeschool field trips transform ordinary days into extraordinary educational journeys. For families pursuing a classical education, these educational field trips in LA offer hands-on experiences that create lasting memories under the California sun.

This guide highlights the best homeschool trips California families can take across the greater Los Angeles area. Families in Classical Conversations often plan field trips together to discover truth, beauty, and goodness in community. Whether you’re exploring ancient civilizations, marveling at God’s creatures, or discovering artistic masterpieces, LA offers unparalleled opportunities for classical homeschool experiences.

🌱 Science & Nature

Best Los Angeles Homeschool Field Trips for Science and Nature Learning

Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach)

Home to over 12,000 animals representing nearly 500 species, the Aquarium of the Pacific celebrates the world’s largest and most diverse ocean. Families can watch divers feed tropical fish in the massive Tropical Reef habitat, meet playful sea otters, and explore ecosystems from Southern California kelp forests to the icy waters of the Northern Pacific. The Moon Jelly Touch Lab offers a surreal experience of feeling these gentle creatures.

Great for: All ages

Homeschool-friendly: Special homeschool days offered throughout the year with discounted admission; no traditional school groups booked on these dates; perfect for Foundations Cycle 1 science and marine biology studies.

California Science Center (Los Angeles)

Explore the wonders of science in this interactive museum, featuring the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the World of Life gallery, which explores human biology, and hands-on exhibits covering everything from flight to natural disasters. Don’t miss the 50-foot seamless kelp forest aquarium and the High Wire Bicycle demonstrating principles of physics and balance.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Free core exhibit galleries; special homeschool days feature age-appropriate activities in the Big Lab (ages 5-16); IMAX theater available; perfect for all Foundations Cycles science and Challenge IV physics.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

One of the largest natural history museums in the western United States, featuring the Gem and Mineral Hall housing spectacular specimens, the African Mammal Hall with stunning dioramas, and the Nature Gardens showcasing Southern California’s native plants and wildlife.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Offers educational programs and self-guided exploration; excellent for all Foundations Cycle 1 for geology.

Griffith Observatory

Perched on Mount Hollywood with panoramic views of Los Angeles, this iconic Art Deco building offers visitors to explore exhibits on astronomy, physics, and space science. Peer through the historic Zeiss telescope, touch a real meteorite, and watch the Foucault Pendulum demonstrate Earth’s rotation. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium features live shows that transport viewers through the cosmos.

Great for: All ages

Homeschool-friendly: Building and grounds are free; free public telescope viewing every clear evening; perfect for Challenge B astronomy and Challenge I physical science; spectacular views of God’s cosmic handiwork.

Discovery Cube Orange County (Santa Ana)

This hands-on science center features interactive exhibits covering aerospace, ecology, earth sciences, and technology. Students can experience hurricane-force winds, explore the inner workings of the human body, experiment with physics concepts, and participate in live science demonstrations throughout the day.

Great for: Foundations – Essentials

Homeschool-friendly: Offers special homeschool days with discounted rates; engaging for kinesthetic learners; connects with various Foundations science topics, including Cycle 3 Hands-on Science.

Los Angeles Zoo

Home to more than 1,400 animals representing over 270 species, the LA Zoo offers opportunities to observe God’s creatures from around the world. Highlights include the Rainforest of the Americas, the African savanna exhibit, and interactive areas where students can learn about animal care and conservation efforts.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge II

Homeschool-friendly: Group rates available; docent-led programs; perfect for Challenge II biology studies.

Faith-Based Highlight:

Marine Mammal Care Center (San Pedro)

This rescue and rehabilitation center cares for sick and injured seals and sea lions before releasing them back to the ocean. Students witness marine biology in action while learning about stewardship, compassion, and caring for God’s creatures. Volunteers share stories of individual animals and explain the rehabilitation process.

Great for: Foundations – Essentials

Homeschool-friendly: Free admission; self-guided tours; demonstrates Christian stewardship of creation; connects science with compassionate care for God’s creatures.

🏛 History & Culture

Classical Homeschool LA Destinations for History and Cultural Studies

La Brea Tar Pits and Museum

Step back 50,000 years at the world’s only active paleontological research site in a major urban area. Watch scientists excavate Ice Age fossils from the asphalt deposits where saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and mammoths were preserved. The museum houses over one million fossils, including complete skeletons, and families can observe ongoing research in the Fossil Lab.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Educational programs available; perfect for Cycle 1 science; active excavation site demonstrates real scientific research; raises fascinating questions about creation and God’s timeline.

Autry Museum of the American West

Explore the diverse stories of the American West through art, artifacts, and interactive exhibits. Collections include Native American materials, Western films and pop culture, and exhibits on California history. The museum presents a comprehensive look at Western expansion, pioneer life, and cultural heritage.

Great for: Essentials – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Offers homeschool days; excellent for Cycle 3 American history; connects with westward expansion studies and Challenge I and Challenge III American history.

Museum of Tolerance (Los Angeles)

Through interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations, this museum examines the Holocaust and explores themes of prejudice, discrimination, and the importance of standing for human dignity. The experience is intense but profound, offering lessons about the consequences of hatred and the responsibility to pursue justice. Appropriate for mature students.

Great for: Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Educational programs available; best for high school students; connects with World War II studies in Challenge I and Challenge III; powerful lessons on worldview, ethics, and human nature.

International Printing Museum (Carson)

This unique museum preserves the history of printing and written communication from Gutenberg to modern times. See working antique printing presses, learn how books were made, and understand the revolution of movable type. Hands-on demonstrations bring history to life, and students can print their own souvenir.

Great for: Essentials – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Hands-on workshops available; connects with printing of Scripture; perfect for Challenge II studying the printing press’s impact on the Reformation.

Los Angeles Maritime Museum (San Pedro)

Housed in a restored 1940s ferry terminal, this museum chronicles Southern California’s rich maritime heritage. Exhibits include ship models, naval artifacts, fishing industry history, and displays on naval battles. The museum overlooks the Port of Los Angeles, America’s busiest port.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Free admission (donations appreciated); beautiful waterfront location.

🎨 Arts & Creativity

Field Trips for CC Families and Fine Arts Exploration

The Getty Center

This stunning architectural masterpiece houses European paintings, drawings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and photography spanning from the Middle Ages to the present. Families can view works by Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, and numerous other masters while enjoying the breathtaking Central Garden and panoramic city views.

Great for: All ages

Homeschool-friendly: Free admission (parking fee applies); family programs and interactive activities available; audio tours designed for kids; perfect for fine arts studies and Challenge II Western Cultural History.

Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens (San Marino)

This remarkable estate combines world-class art collections, rare books and manuscripts (including a Gutenberg Bible and medieval illuminated texts), and 120 acres of themed botanical gardens. The library houses literary treasures, while the art galleries feature British and American works. The gardens range from Japanese and Chinese landscapes to desert and rose gardens.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Free admission for youth 18 and under with an adult; educational programs available; connects literature, art, history, and botany in Challenge II; perfect for multi-subject learning and nature journaling.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

The largest art museum in the western United States features over 150,000 works spanning 6,000 years of artistic expression. Collections include ancient art, European paintings, modern and contemporary art, and impressive Asian collections. The iconic “Urban Light” installation of vintage street lamps makes a memorable photo opportunity.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Free admission for youth 17 and under; family programs available; connects with art history across multiple cultures and time periods; excellent for Challenge II art studies.

Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena)

This intimate museum houses an extraordinary collection of European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century, plus impressive Southeast Asian sculptures. See works by Raphael, Rembrandt, Degas, and Picasso in a manageable space perfect for focused study. The sculpture garden provides a peaceful setting for reflection.

Great for: Essentials – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Free admission for students with ID; easier for focused visits; perfect for Challenge II art history.

Faith-Based Highlight:

Sacred Art Throughout LA Museums

Many Los Angeles museums feature remarkable religious artwork spanning centuries. The Getty Center houses medieval illuminated manuscripts and Renaissance religious paintings, LACMA displays sacred objects from multiple faith traditions, and the Huntington Library contains rare religious texts. These collections demonstrate how artists throughout history have sought to express divine truth through beauty, offering opportunities to discuss theology, church history, and the role of art in worship.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Use religious artwork as springboards for theological discussions; connects art history with church history and Scripture.

🌳 Off the Beaten Path & Outdoor Adventures

LA Learning Adventures and Unique Outdoor Experiences

Descanso Gardens (La Cañada Flintridge)

This 150-acre botanical garden features the world’s largest camellia collection, rose gardens, California native plant gardens, and oak woodlands. The Enchanted Railroad miniature train delights younger children, while older students can practice nature observation and botanical sketching. Seasonal displays ensure something beautiful year-round.

Great for: All ages

Homeschool-friendly: Educational programs available; quieter alternative to larger attractions.

Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden (Arcadia)

This 127-acre garden showcases plants from around the world, organized by geographic regions. Walk through gardens representing Africa, Australia, the Americas, and Asia, see peacocks roaming freely, visit the historic Queen Anne Cottage, and explore greenhouses with tropical plants. The site has appeared in numerous films and TV shows.

Great for: All ages

Homeschool-friendly: Educational programs and plant sales; excellent for botany in Challenge II, geography, and nature journaling; connects God’s creation across continents.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (San Pedro)

This aquarium focuses on Southern California’s marine life. Touch tanks allow hands-on encounters with sea stars, sea cucumbers, and other tide pool creatures. The facility emphasizes conservation and local ecosystems, offering programs on marine biology and ocean stewardship.

Great for: Foundations – Essentials

Homeschool-friendly: Free admission; tide pool explorations available; demonstrates local marine ecosystems; teaches stewardship of God’s creation.

Olvera Street and El Pueblo Historical Monument (Downtown Los Angeles)

Experience the birthplace of Los Angeles in this historic district, which preserves the city’s Mexican and Spanish heritage. Walk brick pathways lined with traditional shops, watch artisans create crafts, taste authentic Mexican food, and tour historic buildings, including the oldest surviving structure in LA (the Avila Adobe from 1818.

Great for: Foundations – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Free to explore; docent-led tours available; connects with California and Spanish colonial history; perfect for Cycle 3 US geography.

Griffith Park

One of the largest urban parks in North America offers miles of hiking trails, the famous Griffith Observatory, the Greek Theatre, the Los Angeles Zoo, Travel Town Museum with vintage trains, pony rides, and countless recreational opportunities. The park provides breathtaking views and nature exploration within the city.

Great for: All ages

Homeschool-friendly: Free park access; combines multiple attractions; perfect for physical education, nature study, and outdoor exploration.

Faith-Based Highlight:

Wayfarers Chapel (Rancho Palos Verdes)

This stunning glass chapel nestled in the coastal bluffs was designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) and is known as the “Glass Church.” The structure’s transparent design integrates the surrounding redwood grove and ocean views, creating a sanctuary that celebrates both architectural beauty and God’s natural creation. The Meditation Garden and grounds offer peaceful reflection spaces.

Great for: Essentials – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Free to visit and explore grounds; combines architecture, nature, and spiritual reflection; demonstrates how design can point toward the divine; beautiful setting for discussing the intersection of faith and creativity.

🎉 Fun for the Whole Family

Family-Friendly Los Angeles Homeschool Field Trips and Entertainment

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament (Buena Park)

Step back to the 11th century for an evening of knights, horses, falconry, and jousting while enjoying a four-course medieval feast. This immersive experience brings Foundations Cycle 2 history to life with authentic horsemanship, swordplay, and pageantry. The two-hour show combines entertainment with historical elements.

Great for: Foundations – Essentials

Homeschool-friendly: Group rates available; perfect complement to medieval history studies; memorable way to experience chivalry, heraldry, and knightly virtues.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire (Irwindale, seasonal)

This annual spring festival recreates 16th-century England with costumed performers, artisan demonstrations, jousting tournaments, theatrical performances, and interactive experiences. Students can watch blacksmiths, glassblowers, and weavers practice historical crafts, enjoy period music and comedy, and participate in games and activities.

Great for: All ages

Homeschool-friendly: Educational and entertaining; excellent for Cycle 2 studies; demonstrates Renaissance culture, trade, crafts, and daily life; dress in costume for full immersion.

Kidspace Children’s Museum (Pasadena)

This hands-on museum designed for children features outdoor and indoor exhibits including a physics forest, climbing tower, ant tunnel, and numerous STEM activities. The emphasis on learning through play makes complex concepts accessible for young learners.

Great for: Preschool – Foundations

Homeschool-friendly: Engaging for ages 0-10; membership available; combines science, nature, and creative play.

Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park)

This historic theme park began as an actual berry farm in the 1920s and still maintains Old West theming alongside modern attractions. Ghost Town recreates 1880s California with period buildings, a working blacksmith shop, and the Calico Mine Ride educating visitors about Gold Rush mining. Seasonal events include the boysenberry festival celebrating the farm’s original crop.

Great for: All ages

Homeschool-friendly: Educational programs available; connects with California and American West history; physics demonstrations through rides; group rates available.

Sony Pictures Studio Tour (Culver City)

Go behind the scenes of a working movie and television studio. Students learn about filmmaking, visit sound stages, see props and costumes, and understand the technical aspects of production. The tour demonstrates storytelling through visual media and the collaborative nature of creative work.

Great for: Essentials – Challenge

Homeschool-friendly: Educational tour format; connects with rhetoric, communication, and media literacy; appropriate for ages 12+.

Plan Your Los Angeles Homeschool Adventures

From ocean aquariums to mountain observatories, from world-class museums to outdoor gardens, Los Angeles offers extraordinary educational opportunities for homeschooling families. These Los Angeles homeschool field trips cultivate wonder, deepen understanding, and connect academic subjects with real-world experiences.

As your family explores these destinations together, you’re training hearts to recognize God’s hand in the natural world, human creativity, and the unfolding of history. These homeschool trips California families take together strengthen classical education while deepening appreciation for the Creator behind all creation, the Artist inspiring all artistry, and the Author of history itself.

Looking for more classical field trips for homeschool families? Check out these resources:

• The Best Homeschool Field Trips in Houston, TX
• Top Homeschool Field Trips in Dallas–Fort Worth, TX for Your Family
• 20 Top Homeschool Field Trip Ideas in Atlanta
• 29 Amazing Educational Adventures: St. Louis Homeschool Field Trip Guide
• Homeschool Field Trips in Chicago: Museums, Nature, and Hidden Gems
• Washington DC Field Trips | A Homeschool Guide for Families
• 48 Best Homeschool Field Trip Ideas

The post Los Angeles Homeschool Field Trips: Museums, Nature, and Hidden Gems appeared first on Classical Conversations.

Resources:

https://cpi.org/

This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by:

CC Graduate Certificate in Classical Studies

Classical Conversations is excited to announce the launch of our new accredited Graduate Certificate in Classical Studies, a 12-credit hour program designed specifically for homeschooling parents who want to deepen their understanding of classical Christian education. This graduate certificate program provides academic recognition for your dedication to classical learning while offering a pathway to advanced study through our partnership with Southeastern University.

 Register today to secure your spot in this transformative educational experience.

https://ics.regfox.com/ma-certificate

The post Refining Rhetoric: The 22-Year-Olds Running America: Ed Corrigan on Congressional Staff and Draining 50 State Swamps appeared first on Classical Conversations.

Memorizing Latin vocabulary can be fun and engaging when you pair Classical Conversations’ Latin flashcards with active, playful games.

Many homeschool families wonder how to make Latin come alive for young children, who are full of energy and need to move and play. Classical Conversations has developed a classical Christian Latin curriculum designed specifically for homeschool families, complete with beautifully crafted Latin flashcards and games that integrate with Foundations memory work and prepare students for the Challenge grammar strand.

When children jump, draw, and sing their way through Latin words, they’re building classical Latin vocabulary through the skill of Memorization. Here are 10 fun games, developed by Kathy Donegia, the curriculum developer for the Grammar strand at Classical Conversations Multimedia, that are sure to be a hit around your kitchen table.

Fun Latin Learning: From Stairs to Success

Years ago, when my son was full of energy, we lived in a house with a split staircase—5 carpeted steps up to a landing and 7 steps up to the second story. I didn’t dare let him play on the 7 steps, but the 5, well, they were fair game! They became our memory work stairs for history facts, math facts, or anything that required active engagement to learn.

My eager young learner would bound up the steps to reach the first memory work card, flip a card, shout the answer, then jump down to the soft carpet below. Another answer, another jump, again and again, until he reached the landing, then slid down, triumphant. He loved it, and it helped him learn. It was play, not work.

That’s the secret to beginning a journey learning Latin, something that has a reputation for being “serious” and “academic.” However, Latin vocabulary can be wonderfully playful for young children. When you bring out the Latin flashcard games, some creativity, and lean into the natural tendencies of children, learning vocabulary can be fun!

Read Why Learn Latin? The Top 3 Reasons It’s Worth It

Homeschool Latin Activities for Young Learners

Latin Nouns: “Mater is cooking dinner!”

Nouns are a great starting point for young Latin learners because they are concrete things. Children love naming things, even in another language. While Latin is an inflected language (meaning the forms of the words change depending on how they are used in a sentence), for now, just use the vocabulary words as you see them on the flashcards.

Simple examples:

• Mater (Mother) is cooking dinner.
• Agricola (the farmer) plowed his field.
• Equus (the horse) jumped the fence.

Here are some engaging Latin flashcard games that make learning nouns fun and memorable using the Latin Nouns and Pronouns Flashcards set.

Pictionary

Grab a stack of Latin nouns and a piece of paper.

How to play:

• One player picks a card and sketches the noun on paper without using any words
• The others guess the Latin word, not the English one!
• For example, someone might draw a house, and another shout “domus!” (house, home)

Tip: Be sure to choose nouns that are concrete, like window, daughter, star, or cave. The abstract nouns would be difficult to draw. How would you draw fides (faith)? Or vita (life)?

Go Fish

This one is a favorite among children because they love snagging the “fish.”

What you’ll need:

• A paperclip on each flashcard
• A magnet tied to a string and taped to a ruler or stick (your “fishing pole”)

How to play:

• Spread the “fish” (cards) on the floor
• The parent or older sibling calls out a word: “Find terra!”
• The child fishes for the correct card by attaching the magnet to the correct word
• When she catches it, she shouts the word aloud and its English translation for everyone to hear: “I caught terra—earth, land!”

For those Latin scholars out there, yes, you could argue that terra should be terram, accusative case for the direct object. But that’s beyond the scope of fun games for young children. For now, we’re simply linking the English word to the Latin word.

Switcheroo

Challenge your child to use a Latin noun in a sentence, then switch nouns. The sillier, the better!

Examples:

• Mater (Mother) is cooking dinner. > Frater (brother) is cooking dinner. > Bestia (the beast) is cooking dinner. Oh my! What is the beast cooking!
• Equus (the horse) jumped the fence. > Bestia (the beast) jumped the fence. > Esca (the food) jumped the fence. What? Did you see the zucchini jumping the fence? How silly!

The goal in noun games is not translation, but immersion by naming things and playing with words.

Discover Tips for Teaching Latin

Latin Verbs: Action Words for Active Kids

If nouns are about naming, verbs are about doing—and that makes them perfect for active children who need to move. The Latin Verbs and Conjunctions Flashcards set includes verbs like amō (I love), orō (I pray), portō (I carry), and dō (I give).

The great thing about these verbs is that they are already in a form ending in “o” that means “I” am doing something. It’s perfect for acting out! Here are three games that bring verbs to life.

Charades

This game is fun for the whole family.

How to play:

• Shuffle verb cards and allow one person to draw a card and pantomime the action
• The other players try to guess the action by naming the Latin word

What crazy antics might ensue?

• Someone racing around the room? Curro! I run!
• Someone cupping their hand to their ear? Audio! I hear!
• Someone flapping their arms like a bird? Volo! I fly!

Linking physical movement with language strengthens recall and creates fun family memories.

Act it Out!

Flip charades around for a simple activity that is great for getting the wiggles out. Read a Latin verb aloud and have your child shout it out while doing it.

Action ideas:

• Curro! I run! The child runs around the room or the yard.
• Ambulo! I walk! Let’s slow down a little and walk around the room.
• Canto! I sing! Sing one of the Latin memory work songs or the timeline song.
• Adoro! I worship! Open folded hands as if reading the Bible at church.

Try ending with Lego! I read! Then, sit together for a Kings of Rome story.

Latin Larry

Latin Larry is a fun twist on the old hangman game and is a perfect quieter activity.

How to play:

• Start a sketch of Larry by drawing a stick-figure on scrap paper or a whiteboard
• Present a Latin verb flashcard to the child
• If he can give the English meaning, he gets to add clothing or accessories to Larry
• If the child misses the word, have Larry lose something

Creative possibilities:

• Will Larry get his sword and shield today? Whom will he defend?
• Does Larry love his new shield—Amo! (I love!)
• Oops! You dropped your sandals, Larry! Can you curro (run) in your bare feet?

The child’s imagination is the only limit to Larry’s treasures and what he does with them.

Listen to Latin and Other Lessons on the Everyday Educator podcast

Memory Games for Classical Education

Latin Flash Card Games for All Levels

Once your child knows a few nouns and verbs, more challenging games help their vocabulary grow. Combine nouns, verbs, and other parts of speech for more practice. The Latin Adjectives, Adverbs, and Prepositions Flashcards set provides a variety of words to learn.

Beat the Clock

This fast-paced review game is exciting as your child tries to beat her last score.

How to play:

• Place a stack of flashcards on the table and set a timer for one minute
• How many flashcards can she complete before the time ends?
• Award one point per correct answer
• Can she beat yesterday’s score?

Add competition: Have siblings compete against each other with their own set of flashcards. How many of the Challenge student’s flashcards can he do in one minute? How many Foundations Latin flashcards can the younger children do in one minute?

Having each child work through only the cards that they have studied makes the competition equitable for older and younger students to play together. I once did something similar with a summer reading contest, logging pages per week for prizes, where each child chose books at or slightly below their own personal reading level.

Sock Toss

This is a more competitive game that siblings can play together.

How to play:

• Spread the cards out on the floor with the Latin words facing up
• The children take turns tossing a rolled-up sock or bean bag
• Wherever it lands, they must read the word and give the translation
• If they get it right, they get a point and go again
• If they miss, it’s the next person’s turn

Pro tip: You can make this game approachable for different ages by creating zones. An older sibling must toss to the more advanced words farther away. The youngest sibling can choose a word in any zone.

Slap Game

This game is similar to the sock toss, but cards are spread out on a table, English side up.

How to play:

• Call out a Latin word, and the child must slap the card with the correct translation
• Because the “caller” needs to know which Latin words to say, having an older sibling lead this game is a great review for him
• He needs to know the Latin word for each English word he sees on the table in order to call it out for his younger sibling to slap

Conclusion: Make Latin Fun, Make it Stick

Thinking back to those review days on the shorter staircase with my son, I realize how much the lively climbing and jumping helped him focus and memorize. The process of learning felt like playing, not like work.

With Latin, the joy of translating will come later along with charts and grammar rules. For now, make Latin a game. Let your child move, draw, slap, and sing while using Latin words. The Classical Conversations pre-printed flashcards plus a few creative activities make it enjoyable to keep Latin alive in your home.

So, grab your Latin flashcards. Grab a sock. Grab a magnet on a string. And let’s make Latin fun, one jump, laugh, and “Canto!” at a time.

The post 10 Latin Flashcard Games That Make Homeschool Memory Work Fun appeared first on Classical Conversations.

Join Lisa Bailey, Delise Germond, and Alicia Clark for an honest, refreshing conversation about navigating the holiday season with grace. These three homeschool moms get real about the joys and stressors of the holidays—from gift-giving anxiety and packed schedules to tricky family encounters and teaching kids about Santa (or not!).

You’ll laugh, nod along, and maybe even tear up as they discuss:

• The tension between materialistic pressure and generous gift-giving
• How to set expectations early (before the post-turkey bombshell!)
• Managing the “busyness of good things” while leaving margin for rest
• Teaching children to focus on Jesus when culture is screaming something else
• Practical ways to love your neighbors during emotionally tender seasons
• What to do when relatives press hot-button issues at family gatherings
• Creative approaches to Halloween that honor your values

Whether you’re a holiday enthusiast or someone who dreads the stress, this conversation offers wisdom, solidarity, and actionable ideas for making the season truly about loving God and loving others well. Plus, you’ll get some genius life hacks (double batch those favorite recipes!) that just might save your December sanity.

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by Judson College:

At Judson College, North Carolina’s only four-year accredited confessional Christian institution, we equip passionate students with over 25 majors and exceptional faculty to pursue God’s calling in ministry, missions, or the workplace. Experience vibrant community through our unique House System while receiving comprehensive scholarships and special SBC church member discounts to make your divine calling affordable.

Ready to answer your calling? Apply to Judson College today and step into God’s plan for your life. https://judsoncollege.com/distinctives/

The post Everyday Educator: Planning Now for a Grace-Filled Holiday Season appeared first on Classical Conversations.

Picture this: You’ve just survived another wonderful, exhausting day at your Classical Conversations community. Memory work was reviewed, presentations were given, and someone definitely spilled something on the floor (probably you). Now you’re pulling into your driveway at 3:47 PM, and that familiar pit forms in your stomach as you realize you have absolutely no idea what’s for dinner.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone, friend.

Every homeschool mom knows the post-community day struggle. Between Challenge students debating government policies and Foundations kids reciting the timeline, community day is a beautiful whirlwind that leaves us feeling accomplished—and completely drained. The last thing any of us wants to do is stand in the kitchen for an hour crafting an elaborate meal while fielding questions about homework and refereeing sibling disputes.

But here’s the good news: meals for community day don’t have to be complicated, expensive, or require a culinary degree. With a little planning and some tried-and-true recipes, you can have dinner on the table without losing your sanity or breaking your budget.

Let’s dive into some realistic, family-tested solutions that will transform your post-community chaos into peaceful family dinnertime.

The Magic of Set-and-Forget Crockpot Homeschool Dinners

Nothing beats the peace of mind that comes from knowing dinner is already cooking while you’re out conquering conjugations and chemistry. These crockpot homeschool dinners are perfect for those long community days when you need something reliable waiting at home.

All-Day Slow Cooker Roast

This is the ultimate “throw it in and forget it” meal. Place your roast in the slow cooker, season with spices, top with onions, set it to low, and walk away. The beauty of this recipe? You literally cannot overcook it—it just gets more tender as the day goes on.

Serve alongside instant pot potatoes (15 minutes on high pressure) and whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Try these tested recipes:

• Easy Slow Cooker Roast – The Kitchn
• Perfect Slow Cooker Pot Roast – Cooking Classy
• Crock Pot Roast with Gravy – The Cozy Cook

“Clean Out the Fridge” Soup

Start this one in the morning by tossing a whole chicken (yes, even frozen) into a large pot with water. Let it simmer all day while you’re at community. When you return, pull out the chicken, shred the meat. Add whatever vegetables need to be used up, season to taste, and you’ve got a nourishing soup that practically made itself.

Perfect whole chicken soup recipes:

• Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Soup – The Kitchn
• Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup – Budget Bytes
• Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup – Spend with Pennies

Quick Family Meals Homeschool Moms Actually Make

When you need something fast but don’t want to resort to drive-through dinners for the third time this week, these quick family meals homeschool families love will save the day.

15-Minute Build-Your-Own Bowls

This might just be the most genius dinner solution ever invented. Cook rice in your Instant Pot (4 cups rice, 6 cups water, 15 minutes). While that’s cooking, brown ground meat using the “frozen meat hack”—place frozen ground beef in a Dutch oven with a cup of water, cover, and let it cook while you prep toppings. Every few minutes, flip the meat and scrape off what’s thawed.

Set out bowls of toppings: chopped onions, lettuce from the garden, salsa, olives, corn, cheese—whatever your family enjoys. Everyone builds their own bowl, which means everyone’s happy and you only used one pot for the meat.

Get the full recipe here:

• Beef Bowls – The Delightful Homeschool
• Easy Homemade Burrito Bowls – Iowa Girl Eats
• How to Make a Rice Bowl – Good Cheap Eats

Lightning-Fast Baked Potato Bar

Whole potatoes cook in just 13 minutes in the Instant Pot. While they’re cooking, prepare simple toppings: shredded leftover roast, seasoned ground meat, steamed broccoli, or even canned chili. Set everything out buffet-style and let family members create their own perfect potato.

This meal is especially wonderful because it feels special and customizable, but requires minimal effort from you. Plus, kids love anything they can build themselves!

Complete baked potato bar guides:

• Ultimate Baked Potato Bar – Fed & Fit
• Baked Potato Bar with 25+ Toppings – Platings & Pairings
• The BEST Baked Potato Bar – Thriving Home

One-Pot Meals Homeschool Families Depend On

When the thought of washing multiple pans makes you want to cry, these one-pot meals homeschool moms swear by will be your new best friends.

Amazing One-Pot Pasta

Here’s where dinner gets really fun: throw uncooked pasta, jarred marinara, ground beef, and your favorite vegetables into one pot. That’s it. No pre-boiling pasta, no separate saucepan, no straining. Everything cooks together, creating a rich, flavorful meal in about 20 minutes. The pasta absorbs all the delicious flavors as it cooks, and you’re left with just one pot to wash.

You can customize this endlessly—add mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, or whatever vegetables need to be used up. Stir in some cream cheese or heavy cream at the end for extra richness.

One-pot pasta recipes to try:

• 3-Ingredient One Pot Pasta – Kim’s Cravings
• One Pot Creamy Tomato Beef Pasta – RecipeTin Eats
• 30 One-Pot Pasta Recipes – The Kitchn

Wild Rice Wonder Soup

Don’t let the fancy name fool you—this soup is surprisingly simple and kid-approved. Start with that all-day simmered chicken broth we mentioned earlier. An hour before dinner, add rinsed wild rice to the broth along with chopped onions and carrots. When the vegetables are tender, return the shredded chicken to the pot and stir in a block of cream cheese, mashing it against the sides as it melts.

The result is a rich, satisfying soup that looks like you spent hours perfecting, but actually requires minimal hands-on time.

One-pot meal collections:

• 93 One-Pot Meals – Food Network
• Easy One Pot Meals – The Recipe Rebel

Getting Kids to Help with Dinner Prep

Here’s where the magic really happens: when kids help with dinner prep, everything becomes easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Plus, you’re teaching valuable life skills that will serve them well beyond their homeschool years.

Age-Appropriate Kitchen Tasks

Four-year-olds can wash vegetables and tear lettuce. Eight-year-olds can chop soft vegetables with supervision and measure ingredients. Teenagers can follow complete recipes from start to finish.

The key is to start small and be patient. Yes, it takes longer initially, but the investment pays off when you have capable kitchen helpers who can actually contribute meaningfully to family meals.

Make It a Learning Experience

Turn meal prep into an extension of your homeschool day. Practice fractions while measuring ingredients, discuss nutrition while choosing vegetables, or explore geography by cooking foods from different cultures. Dinner preparation becomes another opportunity for connection and education.

Easy Homeschool Meals for Busy Seasons

Sometimes life gets extra complicated—maybe you’re dealing with a sick child, preparing for a move, or juggling an unusually busy season. During these times, you need easy homeschool meals that require absolutely minimal effort but still nourish your family well.

Freezer Prep Game-Changers

On your less hectic days, double any slow cooker recipe and freeze half for later. Pre-brown ground meat in large batches and freeze in meal-sized portions. Chop vegetables and store them in freezer bags, ready to dump into soups or stir-fries.

Having these building blocks ready transforms a potential dinner disaster into a simple assembly job.

More freezer meal ideas:

• Freezer Meal Prep Tips – Budget Bytes
• Crock Pot Freezer Meals – Sidetracked Sarah

Emergency Backup Plans

Keep a few “emergency meals” in your back pocket for those days when even your easiest recipes feel overwhelming. Simple sandwiches with good bread and quality ingredients can be surprisingly satisfying. Boxed soup with crackers and cheese provides comfort without guilt. Breakfast for dinner—pancakes, eggs, or oatmeal—can be exactly what your family needs after a particularly challenging day.

And let’s be honest here—there’s absolutely no shame in swinging by Sam’s or Costco on the way home from community and grabbing their rotisserie chicken, a bag of pre-washed salad, and some crusty French bread. Boom. Dinner is served. Your kids will think you’re a genius, and you can save your energy for tomorrow’s Latin conjugations.

Or maybe it’s one of those days where even the Costco run feels like climbing Mount Everest. Enter DoorDash, that magical app that brings sustenance directly to your doorstep. Yes, homeschool mamas, sometimes the most educational thing you can teach your children is that even the best-laid meal plans sometimes need a pizza intervention. Consider it a lesson in flexibility and resource management—very classical, really.

Quick 15-minute meal inspiration:

• 55+ Easy 15 Minute Dinner Recipes – The Adventure Bite
• 15 Minute Meals – RecipeTin Eats

Accommodating Dietary Needs Without Extra Stress

Many homeschool families deal with food allergies, sensitivities, or dietary preferences. The good news is that most of these recipes are naturally adaptable.

Gluten-Free Solutions

The rice bowls, baked potato bar, and most soups are naturally gluten-free when you use certified gluten-free ingredients. Focus on whole foods rather than processed substitutes, and you’ll find meal planning becomes much simpler.

Dairy-Free Adaptations

Skip the cheese and sour cream on build-your-own meals—they’re just as delicious without them. Use coconut cream instead of dairy cream in soups. Many of these meals are already dairy-free or easily adapted.

Allergy-Friendly Options

Template-style cooking makes accommodation much easier. When everyone builds their own bowl or plate, individuals can easily avoid their trigger foods while the rest of the family enjoys their favorites.

The Real Goal: Connection, Not Perfection

Remember, the goal is to nourish your family well while preserving your sanity and creating space for memorable, meaningful moments together. These meals aren’t fancy, but they’re real. They’re the kind of dinners that happen in actual homeschool homes with actual budgets and actual time constraints.

So the next time you’re driving home from community day, wondering what on earth you’ll make for dinner, remember: you’ve got this. With a little planning and these trustworthy recipes in your back pocket, you can transform the joy of a full community day into a peaceful family dinnertime.

Looking for more Community Day resources? Check out these helpful posts:

• Pack Like a Pro: The Ultimate CC Community Day Survival Guide
• 111 Awesome Homeschool Group Activities to Connect with Community
• Special Needs in Homeschool Community: How CC Communities Support Every Learner

The post Quick & Easy Meals for Homeschool Community Day appeared first on Classical Conversations.

‘Memory Master’ is an honor bestowed on a Foundations student who has mastered all of the memory work from the current year. To receive this honor, a student must recite all the information from history, geography, English grammar, Latin, math, and science first to their parents, then to another adult, then to their Foundations Tutor, and finally to their community’s Licensed Director.

What It Means to Be a Memory Master

At Classical Conversations^®, we define ‘mastery’ of information as having committed that information to long-term memory. This is different from cramming for a single test and then immediately forgetting that knowledge. We do not focus on test scores, but instead on what is really in a student’s head to stay for the long term.

In this post, we’ll tackle some common questions about pursuing the title of Memory Master and then cover several practical tips to help your Foundations student achieve that goal.

What Do Memory Masters Need to Memorize?

The amount of information we ask Foundations students wishing to strive toward the title of Memory Master is lengthy. In total, a Memory Master should recite:

• the entire timeline of 160 events from creation to modern times;
• 24 sentences about history;
• 24 science questions and answers;
• multiplication tables through the 15s plus squares and cubes, conversions, and math laws;
• continents, countries, states, capitals, and physical features from around the world;
• 24 definitions or lists from English grammar;
• Latin vocabulary lists, conjugations, declensions, and John 1:1–7 in Latin;
• and the 46 U.S. presidents.

Some of the information, like the history timeline and math facts, is repeated every year in Foundations. Other subject areas, such as history, geography, science, Latin, and English, rotate their focus on a three-year cycle. Cycle 1 explores ancient world history and related geography, biology and earth science, and Latin noun declensions. Cycle 2 highlights medieval world history and related geography; ecology, astronomy, and physical science; and Latin verb conjugations. Cycle 3 introduces U.S. history and geography, anatomy and chemistry, Latin vocabulary lists, and John 1:1-7 in Latin.

To read more about what’s covered in each of the three cycles, visit the Foundations program webpage.

What Ages Can Students Participate in Memory Master?

We recommend all students ages 11 and 12 years old strive to achieve Memory Master. If your student is around these ages but is in their first year of Foundations, it’s still doable for them to achieve Memory Master if you and your student are motivated, although it will take much effort, practice, and patience.

Many Classical Conversations families encourage their students to participate in Memory Master during their final three years in Foundations—generally speaking, the years when the students are also in the Essentials program—so that they will have mastered the information from all three cycles before graduating to Challenge A.

What About Younger Students?

Perhaps surprisingly, many six year olds in Foundations have been known to be entirely capable of reciting all the memory work confidently. If your student is 10 years old or younger and is motivated to memorize the entire year’s worth of information, don’t hold them back!

If you and your student are willing to put in the time and effort, it is certainly possible for them to participate in Memory Master and there is definitely no rule against it. After all, with Classical Conversations, you remain your child’s first teacher. Whatever works to best educate your child, do it. Your Tutor or Director won’t stand in your way!

What Is National Memory Master?

Students who receive the title of Memory Master are then invited to compete in the National Memory Master competition. This is an opportunity for Memory Masters to compete with their peers from Classical Conversations communities around the nation for a grand prize of $10,000.

The 2025 National Memory Master competition took place prior to our National Conference events in Southern Pines, NC, on May 16. In the video below, Evangelene, the 2025 national champion, and her parents describe their journey as they all worked together to help Evangelene succeed.

If your student is interested in competing in our National Memory Master competition next year, consider reading our blog post Why Our Families Love National Memory Master.

10 Tips for Helping Your Child Become a Memory Master

Leigh Bortins, founder of Classical Conversations, has a simple formula for committing information to long-term memory—repetition over time.

If you and your student have been reciting new memory work three times a day as soon as it is introduced while also reviewing all the past memory work starting with week one, your student will probably already have mastered most of the year’s information. Just add a little more repetition over a little more time, and the end result will be mastery.

Here are a few practical tips to secure the repetition your student needs and to make the journey toward Memory Master all the more effective, fun, and rewarding.

1. Use the Foundations Memory Work Apps

Did you know that there is a Classical Conversations app for the three Foundations cycles? Available on iPhones and iPads, the CC Lite app adds the fun of a touch screen and the ability to take your memory practice wherever you learn, whether on a long road trip or at your local park. Another helpful resource is CC Connected where you can create a Personal Playlist curated to exactly what works for your student’s needs.

Download the CC Lite app on iOS and log in to CC Connected to access the Personal Playlist feature.

2. Make a Rebus for Tricky Dates or Lists

A rebus is a picture, image, or puzzle that represents words. Using this technique, your student can create silly pictures that remind them of the words or the sounds of the words. For example, a rebus for “Neil Armstrong” might be a drawing of a nail, an arm, and a really strong man.

3. Make a Memory Route

Flash cards are a common yet effective way to incorporate memory repetition. But there is no reason why your family can’t get more creative and combine flash cards with an interactive game.

For example, one Classical Conversations family made enormous flash cards on construction paper and taped them in a route around the house. The students would journey along this “memory route,” practicing the memory work at each flash card. When they recited it later in front of judges, the students could mentally revisit each stop along their memory route, helping them to recall the memory item from that location.

4. Call Out the Questions at Bedtime

Several research studies have found that studying information immediately before a good night’s sleep can significantly improve memory retention. So, why not harness the power of this finding to better help your child achieve Memory Master? Right before bedtime, ask some of the memory work questions and have your child recite the answers back to you. Obviously, you don’t want to overwhelm your child right before bed, so just stick to just a few simple questions.

5. Design Colorful Memory Posters

Leigh Bortins, the founder of Classical Conversations, once taped Latin charts to the bathroom mirror so her boys could study while they brushed their teeth. In a similar way, your child can create colorful, attention-grabbing posters of the memory work and place them around the house so that they are consistently reminded of those memory items.

6. Invent Songs, Chants, and Hand Motions

While we have our own songs at Classical Conversations to help your child memorize Foundations information, there’s no one stopping your family from writing your own songs! Inventing hand motions to go along with your song will also reinforce the information for your student.

7. Recite While Active

A fun way to practice memory work while also getting in some exercise is to incorporate your memorization practice into physical activities, like jumping on the trampoline, swinging, or throwing a frisbee or football. As any parent of a little learner knows, they need to move! So, why not learn while moving?

8. Reward Milestones for Each Subject Mastered

Set milestones for the memory work in each subject with rewards so that your student will stay motivated. These rewards can be anything — going out for ice cream or dinner, spending more time outside or playing video or board games, or watching a movie. Also, make sure to keep track of the milestones reached so that you and your student can see their progress on the journey toward Memory Master.

9. Occasionally Borrow Time From Other Subjects

Some weeks may require more time doing memorization practice than other weeks. For example, the week right before Memory Master testing starts, you might choose to do one math lesson and spend the majority of the day on memory work, taking breaks to read or play outside. The Foundations program only lasts 24 weeks, so your family has plenty of time to resume other studies after the last week if needed.

10. Make a Mini-Memory Master Goal

This is similar to the tip about rewarding milestones. Especially if this is your first year in Classical Conversations, you may need to focus more of your time on reading and writing needs rather than memory work. So, just choose one or two subjects as a mini-Memory Master goal, and reward your student when that goal is reached.

Becoming a Memory Master Is Worth the Hard Work!

Throughout their journey to become a Memory Master, your student will learn to work hard, to memorize a lot of information using different methods, and to experience the well-earned reward of achieving a difficult goal. What’s more, they will firmly cement all the information into their long-term memory to draw upon throughout the Challenge levels, whether in writing a research paper, engaging in conversation during a seminar, or delivering a presentation or debate. Working to become a Memory Master is a great gift you can give your child and the time you spend working together will bring you closer together, too.

Whether your student is participating in Memory Master or not, reach out to your community’s Licensed Director to see when you can visit and observe the participants reciting their memory work to the judges. This is truly a joy to watch and is a true testament to the effectiveness of the classical model of education!

Learn more about the connection between Memory Master and classical education in this article: National Memory Master: Witnessing the Fruit of Classical Education

Don’t miss out on all the benefits of your CC Connected membership resources: How to Get the Most Out of CC Connected: A Beginner’s Guide

Not yet a Classical Conversations member and interested in our community-based approach to homeschooling? We’d love to hear from you! To learn more about us, click here.

The post How to Become a Memory Master appeared first on Classical Conversations.

As you settle into college, many of the skills you develop will come as you learn by doing.

However, you can take a few practical “common sense” steps right now to prepare for college and build your confidence before you arrive on campus.

College Communication Skills: Stay on Top of Your Email

As a college student, chances are, you’ll get dozens of emails every week, from event reminders and enrollment information to updates from professors. In fact, emails aren’t just a college thing—so making this a habit now will benefit your whole adult life. Yet, specifically in college, staying on top of your inbox will help you be organized and make sure you don’t miss important meetings, activities, events, or homework assignments.

Navigating all the communication may seem intimidating at first, but you will feel so much more in control from the start if you take charge right now. You can begin by going through your personal inbox and deleting and unsubscribing from irrelevant emails. Commit to checking your email every day to build the habit. Your life as a student will feel much less cluttered when you stay on top of communication.

How Homeschool Can Prepare Students for College

Time Management Skills: Use a Calendar to Stay Organized

Time management is vital for ordering your life as a college student. But you don’t need to wait until you’re juggling a full course load to start practicing time management! You can start right now by building a routine for yourself.

• Turn in your homework on time.
• If you have a job, be punctual for your shifts.
• Utilize a planning system or digital calendar to organize your tasks and even send you reminders. This helps you avoid forgetting anything and makes it easier to visualize when to get things done.
• Consider designating time just for studying or homework.
• Set boundaries as part of your time management strategy.
• Make space for your top priorities to provide more clarity for the rest of your schedule.

Beginning these habits now makes it easier for you to adjust to whatever life looks like in college.

How to Pick a College that Prepares for Life and Faith

Social Skills: Initiating and Maintaining Relationships in College

You will encounter hundreds of new faces in college, which provides countless opportunities for new friendships. However, for many, the process of making friends feels overwhelming and intimidating. By becoming more comfortable initiating and maintaining friendships right now, you can become more prepared for social life as a college student.

Be the person who extends an invitation and get comfortable reaching out to others. You don’t have to become close with every person you meet, but the practice of initiating meet-ups and following up with people will serve you well as you begin to make friends in college.

This vital life skill will also assist you as you engage with professors and build a network of professional relationships. Even if it takes you outside your comfort zone, your confidence and courage will cause you to stand out.

How to Prepare for Adulthood: 6 Crucial Tips

Practical Life Skills: Chores and Responsibilities Every Student Should Know

One of the best ways we can love the people around us, specifically a roommate, is by keeping our space and belongings clean. Now is an excellent time to make sure you feel confident doing certain chores on your own.

Learn how to do laundry, wash dishes, and clean a bathroom. You’ll feel more competent and reap the benefits of having a livable, clean space. It can also be helpful to know some basic car maintenance, such as checking your oil or putting air in your tires. Consider getting your tires rotated and oil changed before you leave for school so you won’t have to think about it while you’re away.

CC Plus: College Credit for Homeschoolers

Healthy Habits: Building a Strong Foundation for College Success

In college, it becomes easy to live life on autopilot. The busyness of a hectic schedule can make it challenging to eat well (not skipping meals!), sleep, and exercise. However, these habits are important for a well-rounded and effective life.

While certain seasons do require sacrifices, sometimes those sacrifices are less necessary than we think. Make an effort to know yourself–what makes you feel rested and what values you want to prioritize.

Identifying and addressing stressors is a huge asset when life gets busy and overwhelming.

You may find that spending a little time going for a walk or quietly enjoying a cup of coffee is a worthwhile investment. And don’t forget to prioritize time in God’s Word! Time spent with Him is never wasted.

Words of Wisdom for Challenge Students on Everyday Educators

Skills Learned Before College Pay Off

Developing these skills will help you feel more prepared when you begin life as a college student. Now is an excellent time to begin treating and respecting yourself like the adult you are! It’s possible to have a measure of control over your life, so take advantage of it. There’s always plenty of grace along the way as you figure things out.

If you are interested in learning more about Covenant College, a Christian liberal arts college located amidst the rolling hills of Georgia and Tennessee in Lookout Mountain, GA, visit their website covenant.edu.

Looking for more ways to prepare for college? Check out these resources:

• Your College Visit Strategy: Before, During, and After Campus
• 9 Remarkable Books Christian College Students Need to Read
• 5 Ways Homeschooled High Schoolers Can Prepare For Their Calling

The post Top 5 Common Sense Skills Every Student Should Learn Before College appeared first on Classical Conversations.

One of the most important milestones of your child’s education is learning how to read. Unfortunately, another increasingly common mile marker seems to be when your child ceases to read—usually immediately upon graduation, when it’s no longer required—replacing reading’s role in leisure and lifelong learning by the attention-grabbing gremlins of our screens.

In the battle of books vs screens, books are fighting an uphill battle against our dopamine-driven addictions. Screens have flashing lights and colors and sounds to grab our attention, and they require nothing from us once they have it—no long attention span, no deep focus, no critical thinking. As much as we may love books, admit it. This is not a fair fight.

If we want our children to be lifelong learners, and if we believe books to be a vital source of that self-education, then it’s a bleak thought to imagine that our children’s literary exploration will end as soon as no one is forcing their hand.

So how do we get kids to love reading—raising bibliophiles that look to the classics for wisdom instead of the internet for entertainment?

Three Steps to Interest Your Child in Reading

Why This Battle for How to Get Kids to Love Reading?

Before I begin, I need to first answer the question of “why this battle?” Parenting already comes with plenty of opportunities for conflict; why should helping kids love reading be where you stand your ground?

Besides the simple fact that literacy is key to participating fully in society, reading provides the added benefits of deep focus, cultural literacy, and empathy.

• Deep focus: because one must give sustained attention to a book to learn from it. The book does not demand our attention the way devices do; we must give our attention, just like we need to give our attention in deep work, prayer, and relationships.
• Cultural literacy: because our Western culture was formed by those who came before, those whose words have been deemed important enough to record but may be forgotten if we neglect to read them.
• Empathy: because reading takes one out of his narrow worldview and gives access to the world outside of himself, both geographically and chronologically.

Learning to Read: A Bibliophile’s First Steps

When teaching your children to read, keep the end in mind. Teaching your children to read is a time to plant deep roots so that their love of reading will be far-reaching and long-standing.

Read aloud—and don’t stop

You’ve probably heard about the reading aloud benefits when children are young. But the key is not to stop reading aloud to them! Here are some ways to make family reading time meaningful:

• Take on long chapter books above their reading level to keep it interesting for you. They don’t have to understand all the details to enjoy quality time with Mom and Dad!
• Ask questions to keep them engaged like “What happened last time we read the book?” “What do you think is going to happen next?” “What does this scene smell/sound/taste/feel like?” Have them use all their senses to enter fully into the story.
  • If they’re having trouble answering these questions, model it for them. E.g., “Last time, Goldilocks was about to eat the bear’s porridge. I think she is going to split them all out! What do you think she’ll do?” Don’t be afraid to guess the wrong thing; it teaches your young readers it’s okay not to know! Curiosity is the name of the game.

The Magic of Reading Aloud

Balance Reading with Play

If you’re reading before bed, your kids might just want to sleep. Great! But if you’re reading during the day (which I highly encourage), you might have some antsy kids on your hands.

• Keep their hands moving with Play-Doh, Legos, or fidget toys.
• Have them act out the stories! It’s a great way to keep them interested in the story and get their energy out.
• Take breaks when needed. Remember, you’re trying to teach them to love reading, not to resent it.

Books, Books, and More Books

In sight is in mind, and you want books to be constantly on their minds!

• Have bookshelves in all rooms of the house, not just the living room.
• Keep a basket of books by their bedside (and yours!). Bedtime is a great time to build a habit of winding down with books. And if they see you do the same, that means a lot!
• Keep books in the car for long (or even short) trips. If motion sickness is an issue, audiobooks are your best friend to keep the whole family engaged together in the car.
• Give books as gifts to create the association of books with something exciting, not just something for school. And give beautiful books so they come to love not just the content but the physicality of books—the look, the feel, the smell—which cannot be replaced by technology. (Check out our book lists at the end!)

The Deep Connection of Reading

Make a nook

If you build it, they will come—if you make reading a special activity with a special space, they will seek it out.

• Make the space comfy with a blanket nest and lots of pillows.
• Leave enough space for you to join them there! Reading together in that space will make it feel even more special.
• Fill it with books at their reading level so it’s comfortable and accessible.
• But plant some beautiful, harder books there, too, so they have something to look forward to and to strive for! Children are often more capable than we—or they—think. Give them a goal, and they’ll often rise to the challenge.
• Keep it screen-free. This is a sacred space for reading, and in the battle between high-stimulation screens and low-stimulation reading, screens will always win. So don’t let the battle happen!

Homeschool Room Ideas: Practical, Fun, and Focused on Learning

Consider the Reading Level

Meet your readers where they are. Always pushing them will only breed resentment. Remember, we’re cultivating a love of reading here, not just a skill. Plus, children learn at different paces. You don’t need to be stressed by the expectations set by others. As long as they learn eventually, the timeline really doesn’t matter.

• Use Lexiles to find their reading level. A Lexile is a measure assigned to students when they take standardized exams. You can match your child’s Lexile measure to a book’s Lexile measure to find reads right at their level! The Lexile Hub has thousands of books listed by Lexile measure. Note: These books are not vetted, so do your own research before giving them to your kids! The staff at CLT put together our own CLT Book List with beautiful and appropriate classics for 2nd-12th grade reading levels.
• Have “easy reads” to fall back on when your child becomes frustrated. We want to encourage the love of reading, not make it feel like a chore.
• Incentivize your “lazy” readers to read more challenging books by offering to buy them the next books if they start tackling a hard series.

Keeping Them Reading: Charting the Bibliophile’s Course

Teaching your children to read is only half the battle, and in many ways, it’s the easier half. As our kids grow and mature, their interests and loves naturally diverge from ours and become their own. But they aren’t all on their own just yet. It’s still the parents’ responsibility to guide and cultivate this growth towards healthy loves and away from the mindless entertainment that the world offers.

So how do we encourage reading in our teenagers, once we’re no longer the only voice telling them how to spend their work and leisure?

Read aloud—I mean it!

It can be surprising how much of what makes our young ones avid readers stays relevant for keeping our teenagers reading. It doesn’t matter how old they get—the companionship fostered by reading aloud is an evergreen good.

• Get the whole family involved. Your teen may no longer want to sit on your lap while you read The Chronicles of Narnia, but if the whole family comes together to listen, he can get all the satisfaction of hearing the adventures of Reepacheep while maintaining his “coolness.” If other adults are just as engaged as the kiddos, he’ll see that these are stories worth listening to.
• Rotate who reads. It’s still good to read aloud to your teens, but have them take on some of the responsibility, too. Have your teen read aloud to their younger siblings (which has the added benefit of freeing up some of your time) or even to the whole family. Make reading aloud a sign of maturity that your kids can grow into.
• Let them pick the book. As wonderful as Narnia is for all ages, your teen may want to try something new. As long as it’s age-appropriate for all the listeners, encourage your teen to find something they’re interested in and share it with the family.

Everyday Educator podcast: Reading…Together

Make Time for Family Reading, and Make It Special.

Reading has to be more than just another school subject. Work the habit of reading (because it is a habit that you have to build like any other) into your daily lives, far beyond just school assignments.

• Go everywhere with a book. Bring them in the car for long road trips or short errands to the grocery store. Have them in your purse to read while waiting at the dentist. Bring them on walks so in case you run into a friend, your kids can read instead of looking at screens or incessantly tugging on your sleeve.
• Talk about books. You can tell what’s important to someone by what they talk about. If you want reading to be a staple of your family’s culture, you have to set the example. Share a great quote you read at family dinner. Ask your teen what the latest plot update is in her novel. Make book recommendations to your teens based on your interests and theirs.
• Read independently, together. Connection through reading can happen outside of read-aloud time. If you need some quiet time, invite your kids in to read their own books beside you on the couch. Or better yet, if you see your teen reading, ask if you can join, not disturbing her space, but supporting her and joining her as a peer.
• Go on reading dates. You can make anything extra special by adding ice cream. So do that with reading! Bring your books to an ice cream shop, a cafe, a park, or pick out some new book at a bookstore and curl up on the couches to dive in together.

Dig Deeper

• Learn about the authors. Make the books real by learning about the real people that wrote them. Do the authors’ lives sound similar or different from the things they write about? What might that mean for the story? These kinds of questions can reveal otherwise unexplored depths in the books.
• Encourage re-reading. Reading a book is like having a conversation with the author. While friendships may be formed after just one conversation, it wouldn’t be a very good friendship if you left it to just that one conversation. Whether they love a book or are utterly confused by it (and those two things coincide more than you’d think), encourage them to revisit it and become better acquainted with it.
• Practice textual analysis. It may seem over your head, especially if you haven’t formally studied literature, but anyone can practice textual analysis. I can’t dive into a “how-to” here, but there are so many resources for this! Textual analysis is like the algebra of literature—it’s a more advanced skill, but your high schooler can take it on, especially with the help of a tutor, an online class, or even YouTube videos. Many times it’s the challenge of digging deeper than kindles the life-long love of literature.

The Rhythms of Reading: Preschool to Post-School

Be Flexible

Probably the best and worst part about watching your kids grow up is seeing how very different they are from you. Their interests will divert from yours in some very big ways, which is a growing pain, but a necessary one.

• Let them explore genres. While some books are objectively better than others, it is wonderful to let your teens explore their interests in the safety of the home. If there’s a book they want to read that you’re not quite sure about, read it together and have a discussion about the themes and values, what is good and what may be misguided.
• Balance entertainment with content. Just like there are picky eaters, there are picky readers. Sometimes your teen just wants to read “chicken nuggets” books instead of “beef stew” books. While we can battle this out, like for picky eaters, at some point, the priority just becomes making sure they eat! The same goes for reading. You can still introduce and encourage those “beef stew” books using the tips above, and with any luck, your teen will develop a taste for them!
• Fall back on audiobooks. If your child has trouble with sitting and reading—whether it’s dyslexia or ADHD or just simply high energy—work with it! If they would rather listen to an audiobook while climbing a tree, so be it. Being active is good, too, and not every child will be a “blanket and tea” reader.

The Copper Lodge Library Classics-Perfect for Families

Remember the goal: The Bibliophile’s Finish Line

Among all the tips above, don’t lose sight of the goal! You want to raise a bibliophile, someone who loves books and will always return to them for inspiration, education, and leisure. When we’re fostering a love of something, it cannot be forced. The best we can do is to love it ourselves and share that love with our children—it’s up to them to carry that torch into the rest of their lives.

Classic Learning Test exists to reconnect knowledge and virtue through meaningful assessments and connections to seekers of goodness, truth, and beauty.

CC members: Login to your CC Connected account to access 25% off any CLT exam! You can find CC-specific resources on CLT’s CC landing page.
Non-CC members: Be sure to check out CLT’s main website at CLTexam.com.

Need some great Read-Aloud book lists? Here are our favorites!

• 10 Great Read-Alouds for the Homeschool Family
• Our Favorite Read-Alouds for Every Level
• The Best Christmas Read-Alouds for Every Student
• Your Definitive Summer Reading Guide

The post How to Get Kids to Love Reading: Raising Bibliophiles in a Screen World appeared first on Classical Conversations.

Resources:

https://libertysentinel.org/

This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by:

CC Plus Concurrent Enrollment:

The Concurrent Enrollment Program is a flexible opportunity to earn college credit from an accredited Christian university while honoring homeschool families and program parameters contained in the Challenge Guide. Your student can remain in community while earning college credit for the work they are already doing which means community and mentoring stay in place while practicing the skills of learning through college! 

Register now or learn more by going to classicalconversationsplus.com/concurrent-enrollment-program.

The post Refining Rhetoric: Woke and Weaponized: Why Government Schools Are Destroying Faith, Family, and Freedom appeared first on Classical Conversations.

Looking for meaningful, memorable St. Louis homeschool field trips? You’re in the right place. From world-class museums and nature preserves to local history and fine arts, this Midwestern city offers a wealth of educational trips St. Louis families will love—many of them free!

Whether you’re a local or visiting for the week, this homeschool St. Louis guide is full of enriching destinations that support your child’s classical education. Families in programs like Classical Conversations often plan these trips together, sharing not only the experience but also the joy of discovering truth, beauty, and goodness in community.

Let’s explore the best classical education field trips and Missouri homeschool activities St. Louis has to offer.

🌱 Science & Nature

Educational Science Trips in St. Louis for Homeschool Families

St. Louis Science Center
One of the few free science centers in the nation! Explore space, physics, agriculture, and more. Add-ons include Omnimax and the McDonnell Planetarium.
Great for: Foundations – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Free admission; hands-on exhibits; excellent for small groups.

St. Louis Zoo
Regularly ranked among the best in the U.S., the zoo offers immersive habitats and interactive learning. Extras like stingrays, train rides, and sea lion shows are worth it!
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Free entry; the Missouri Association for Creation offers a Biblical worldview tour each April.

World Bird Sanctuary
Get up close with owls, hawks, eagles, and falcons to learn about God’s design for flight and function. Experience how they care for injured birds and protect endangered species.
Great for: Foundations – Essentials
Homeschool-friendly: $12 per car; educational tours available.

Grant’s Farm
Ride a tram, visit the Clydesdales, and explore exotic animal enclosures. Bonus: Visit Ulysses S. Grant’s cabin and learn about his German-American cultural ties.
Great for: Foundations – Essentials
Homeschool-friendly: Family-friendly pricing per vehicle.

St. Louis Aquarium
A hands-on aquatic experience featuring touch tanks, STEM exhibits, and regional river ecosystems.
Great for: Foundations
Homeschool-friendly: Offers dedicated Homeschool Days.

Missouri Botanical Garden & Butterfly House
Explore a wide variety of plants and ecosystems; then marvel at live butterflies in a tropical conservatory.
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Combo tickets available; adjacent playground and carousel in Faust Park are a bonus.

Audubon Center, Busch Wildlife & Lone Elk Park
Ideal for practicing the skill of Attending with quiet nature walks, birdwatching, and biology studies.
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Free or low-cost; great for self-guided study.

🏛️ History & Culture

Classical Education Field Trips in St. Louis and Surrounding Areas

Gateway Arch & Old Courthouse
Tour the Arch, then step into history at the Old Courthouse site of the Dred Scott trials.

Great for: Essentials – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Free admission; perfect for Constitution and Civil War study.

Missouri History Museum
Learn about westward expansion, early settlers, and Missouri’s changing culture with rotating exhibits from Lewis & Clark to St. Louis sports.
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Group classes available upon request.

Historic Daniel Boone Home
Step into pioneer life and learn about 18th-century homesteading and frontier expansion.
Great for: Foundations – Essentials
Homeschool-friendly: Offers homeschool-focused events and guided tours.

Lewis and Clark Boathouse Museum
Explore replica keelboats and learn about the Corps of Discovery. History, geography, and character-building all in one. Great for Cycle 3 history.
Great for: Essentials – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Located near historic downtown St. Charles.

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
Marvel at one of the world’s largest mosaic collections and reflect on sacred art, architecture, and church history.
Great for: Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Free to visit; group tours available.

Jefferson Barracks
Includes the Missouri Civil War Museum, National Cemetery, and historic trails. This is a rich site for studying military history and honoring veterans.
Great for: Essentials – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Open year-round with educational exhibits.

🎨 Arts and Creativity

Fine Arts Destinations in St. Louis for Homeschool Families

St. Louis Art Museum
A world-class art museum that offers ancient to contemporary works in classical, medieval, modern, and non-Western styles. Perfect for Foundations fine arts and Challenge history, and theology studies.
Great for: Foundations – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Free entry; educator guides available.

Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Modern art meets critical thinking. Pair with logic or rhetoric discussions.
Great for: Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Free entry, rotating exhibits, and walking distance to other Grand Center museums.

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Let students experience orchestral music in a formal concert setting. The Symphony offers Missouri homeschool activities including educational concerts and youth programs.
Great for: Essentials – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Family concerts and group discounts available.

Laumeier Sculpture Park
Sculpture meets nature. Let students walk, think, and sketch while engaging with public art.
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Free admission; no reservation needed; great for a picnic.

The Muny & The Fabulous Fox Theater
Enjoy live theater from two of St. Louis’s most iconic venues. The Muny offers free seating in the summer, and the Fox hosts touring Broadway productions year-round.
Great for: Foundations – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Educational tours available at the Fox; early arrival recommended for Muny seating.

🌳 Off the Beaten Path & Outdoor Adventures

Unique St. Louis Homeschool Field Trips with Outdoor Learning

Big Joel’s Safari
Hands-on animal encounters in a petting zoo-meets-education park.
Great for: Foundations
Homeschool-friendly: Small group visits encouraged.

Katy Trail & County Parks
Biking, hiking, and nature observation along Missouri’s iconic trail system and many St. Louis and St. Charles County parks.
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Free and flexible for nature study days.

Kinetic Park
The ultimate outdoor PE field trip. Kids can skate, bike, climb, and burn energy in a safe and exciting setting.
Great for: Essentials – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Great for a community PE day.

Lakeside 370
Rent kayaks, canoes, or surreys and explore God’s creation through movement and play.
Great for: Foundations – Essentials
Homeschool-friendly: Nature exploration and physical fitness in one.

Hidden Valley (Winter Only)
Skiing and tubing offer winter fun and a break from the books.
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Group rates and weekday availability.

🎒 Fun for the Whole Family

Well-Loved St. Louis Attractions for Classical Homeschoolers

Magic House
A top children’s museum with STEM, history, and imaginative play.
Great for: Foundations–Challenge A
Homeschool-friendly: Group bookings and special homeschool programs.

Myseum
An engaging and often overlooked play-based museum that mixes science with fun.
Great for: Preschool – Foundations
Homeschool-friendly: Great for rainy days. Budget-friendly and easy to supervise.

City Museum
A wild, creative, indoor playground of tunnels, slides, and art installations.
Great for: Essentials – Challenge
Homeschool-friendly: Best with adult supervision and a buddy system.

Transportation Museum
Trains, planes, and automobiles—plus a Creation Station play area.
Great for: Foundations
Homeschool-friendly: Special room for ages 5 and under.

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate Factory Tour
Learn about food production, packaging, and flavor chemistry, then enjoy lunch on The Hill, St. Louis’s famous Italian neighborhood.
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Tasty and educational. Ideal for sensory learners.

Six Flags & St. Louis Sports Teams
Enjoy a fun break with rides or cheer on the Cardinals, Blues, or St. Louis City SC. Consider extending the trip with a stay at nearby Jellystone Park.
Great for: All ages
Homeschool-friendly: Group ticket options available.

St. Louis Homeschool Field Trips: Growing Together Through Discovery

As your family explores museum halls, walks historic grounds, and marvels at God’s creatures, something beautiful unfolds—you’re cultivating wonder together and training your hearts to recognize the fingerprints of the Almighty in every corner of His world.

These St. Louis adventures become sacred moments where parent and child stand side by side, both students in the grand classroom of creation. In cathedral architecture, butterfly wings, or historical courage, your family discovers fresh reasons to worship the God who orchestrates all things for His glory and our good.

Check out the other amazing field trip destinations in our Homeschool Field Trip series:

• • The Best Homeschool Field Trips in Houston, TX
  • Top Homeschool Field Trips in Dallas–Fort Worth, TX for Your Family
  • 20 Top Homeschool Field Trip Ideas in Atlanta
  • Homeschool Field Trips in Chicago: Museums, Nature, and Hidden Gems
  • Washington DC Field Trips | A Homeschool Guide for Families
  • 48 Best Homeschool Field Trip Ideas

The post 29 Amazing Educational Adventures: St. Louis Homeschool Field Trip Guide appeared first on Classical Conversations.

Resources:

Emily’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emilythehomeschooler Blessings and Motherhood episode with Emily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJGep_dcueU

This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by:

Judson College:

Judson College, North Carolina’s only four-year accredited confessional Christian institution, equips passionate students with over 25 majors and exceptional faculty to pursue God’s calling in ministry, missions, or the workplace while experiencing vibrant community through our unique House System. We’re committed to making your divine calling affordable through extensive scholarships and special SBC church member discounts, so you can give your life for Christ’s cause without overwhelming financial burden.

Ready to answer your calling? Find out what makes Judson College experience different. https://judsoncollege.com/distinctives/

CC Plus Concurrent Enrollment:

The Concurrent Enrollment Program is a flexible opportunity to earn college credit from an accredited Christian university while honoring homeschool families and program parameters contained in the Challenge Guide. Your student can remain in community while earning college credit for the work they are already doing which means community and mentoring stay in place while practicing the skills of learning through college! 

Register now or learn more by going to classicalconversationsplus.com/concurrent-enrollment-program.

The post Everyday Educator: From Overwhelmed to Organized: Finding Peace in Your Homeschooling Schedule appeared first on Classical Conversations.