The history was very different and very interesting. The result of reading my history book, and Dante has been that my vocabulary has increased. Classical has revealed to me more of God’s character and how He works. I am pleased with all of the knowledge I have gained, and I have grown closer to Christ.

End of the Year Response - Year One Student (age 10)

During the past school year, I have experienced many different emotions, such as excitement, fear, nervousness, annoyance, and anticipation.

I personally think that the hardest subject was writing, since I was used to writing little two sentence summaries and Mr. G. made us do two to five pages on them. The best subject was history, since I had never studied it chronologically before.

This year has been challenging, but still fun, and I eagerly anticipate next year.

End of the Year Response - Year One Student (age 10)

Throughout this year I have learned many things, but the most important thing in my mind has been the skill of time management. Before I came to Classical I was in public school, and was used to having assignments due the next day. In Classical the assignments are due a week or more after they are given, which forced me to plan out what I was going to do and when. The first few weeks were pretty hard, because I didn’t plan my time very effectively, and was always rushed on the day before class.  I also had difficulty with my memory verse, John 1:1-14, and my literature memory, Ozymandias, because I didn’t try to memorize them until a couple of days before they were due. Luckily, with a little help from my mom and Mr. Gilchrist I was able to get things under control and have only had a small amount of mishaps in my management.

Among my studies, my favorite part was studying Rome. I am not sure why I like our study of Rome better than that of the Middle Ages or Greece, but whatever the reason, I have thoroughly enjoyed the study of Rome. Among the chapters about the Romans, some of my favorite parts are: the Roman Legions and how they are set up, the Roman government, originally a republic, and later an empire, and the Roman roads, all paved straight, for the easy movement of travelers and legions. I think that the way the Roman Empire stayed together through civil war and turmoil is amazing, and I find it very interesting that many countries’ laws, like our Constitution, are based partly on the Roman laws.

Another thing that I have learned is about how to memorize. Since the first week we have had Bible and literature memorization pieces, and not only have they improved my memorization skills, but they have also improved my ability to speak in front of people. Although my class of seven people could not be called a crowd, saying my memorizations in front of them has certainly helped me. The first time that I had to say one was week four, when we had to say John 1:1-14, and I was very nervous because I had never spoken in front of anyone except for my family before. I did fine, and that one time improved my courage, so that I could do very hard pieces like Luke 2:1-21. I think that that ability will serve me for the rest of my life, and am thankful that I have had a chance to work on it.

I have learned about many other interesting topics, but have only written down what I think were the most important. I have had an awesome year so far, and look forward to the rest of our classes, and to next year.

What I Have Learned  - Year One Student (age 10)

I enjoyed the trip to Washington DC immensely. I thought it was great how we got to learn so many interesting facts in such a great environment. I thought the time was balanced out between free fun time and structured learning time nicely. Since I have only been to DC one other time (and that time I didn’t really get to see the city) I found that everywhere I looked (and not just in museums) I was seeing something new and learning at the same time. It was sobering to see how the heinous acts of September 11 affected the people in DC.

My favorite museum was the Newseum. I would love to be a reporter when I grow up. I also liked the Mount Vernon Inn.

I noticed while touring DC how much history affects our daily lives. A man who doesn’t know his history won’t know his future. Since history affected our lives we are affecting history. Going to DC gave me a better understanding of how history is important, and also how the future is important.

Truthfully, I didn’t expect to have as much fun and fellowship on the trip as we did. Every person contributed the perfect amount of personality.

Response to Washington, D. C. Trip - by a Year Two Student (age 11)

I enjoyed our trip to Williamsburg immensely. I found it to be extremely well organized and very educational.

Williamsburg, which we visited almost every day, was itself very well run. There, we were able to experience Colonial life during the year 1774. We were also informed of every detail through hands on experience. It was rather difficult, and a bit distracting, to hop around from 1774 to 1607 (the founding of Jamestown) then back to 2001. However, the benefit of this was that we were able to tie together all of the ideals from each time period and witness how they affected the Constitution as well as the true American spirit.

Among my favorite activities were: [talking with the historical interpreters], Jamestown, the jazz concert, and the lawyer at Williamsburg. I was a little disappointed, however, that Williamsburg was not very decorated for Christmas.

Our trip to Williamsburg helped me understand more about how the colonists lived before the Revolutionary War. It also opened my eyes to the fact that the great men and women who founded our country were merely ordinary people like ourselves who saw the opportunity to create a whole new world for themselves and their families. Some let go and allowed God to accomplish great works through their willingness. Others, like Thomas Jefferson, used their own power entrusted to them by God to further their country. We should never forget that men made our country and men can take it down, thus we should trust in God whose [purposes] never fail and never be afraid to condemn any wrong. If we can do this, I believe we could be as good or better patriots for our country and our God [as those who came before].

Response to Williamsburg Trip - by a Year Three Student (age 13)

The Landing of the Pilgrims is a book about the first settlers in the New World and their journey across the ocean in hope of religious freedom. It also tells the story of their good times, troubles, and hardships. The author, James Daugherty, vividly tells their story by giving evidence of truth through real documents and their journals. In my opinion, there is no better way to learn about them.

This historical fiction book opens up in 1607 with the main character, William Bradford, as a boy, and goes through his life to the death. The reader learns of Bradford’s fellow believers and their journey to Holland, life there, and their long pilgrimage across the great Atlantic, to America. The reader is also shown the hard work and effort put in by these people so that we can have what we do today. I think this is a good, well-written book that conveys the elementary message of the reasons and purposes the Pilgrims had in coming to “New England”.

Daugherty makes the reader feel as if he were in Virginia over 350 years ago sharing the new knowledge and experiences with Bradford and the early settlers. He does a great job constructing sentences and he really describes things very well. I think Daugherty did a good job with the details as well. He answered almost all the questions a reader could ask and he could answer about the life of the early settlers. But I think he probably could have included more about what the pilgrims did for leisure and play. At one time he mentions that they worked six days a week and they worshiped most all of Sunday with just a little time for play. Perhaps they didn’t do anything for fun during the week? If the latter is not the case then I wish he had been more detailed in that area.

One thing that I learned about was the charter companies and their contracts with the new settlers. The company provided them with goods and transportation and in return the Pilgrims would send them furs, fish, and other new products of America. The company worked like the modern day stock market.

Overall it was a good book and very enjoyable. Considering its length and content I would recommend the book to 5th graders. It could also be a good tool for learning how to write well-constructed sentences. I hope Daugherty has written other books like this one (only at a higher reading level). If so, I will definitely read more of his work!

Book Review of James Daugherty's The Landing of the Pilgrims - by a Year Three Student (age 12)

I think that Classical School has been an interesting, but challenging and beneficial course.

Before I started the class, I didn’t really think much about relationships or connections in history. I just learned the facts and that was about it. However, since I have been taking this class, I have learned how to think about things, to reason, to look for patterns and to see the philosophies and events that brought about different times in history. By constantly going back and comparing or applying the things we are learning to things that we have already learned, I have seen how so many things relate and impact each other.

Usually, we just have one main point that we are focusing on, but we learn about it in many different ways. Bible, history, and our literature especially work together to help us grasp different points. The DC Trips were always fun and I enjoyed being able to actually visit different places that relate to our studies.

Sometimes the assignments and papers are tough, but they help me use and remember the information in class. They also make me try new things or discover new abilities. For example, the allegorical story seemed like torture at first, but I then began to enjoy it and managed to create something that I probably never would have thought possible for me to do.

It hasn’t always been easy, but I have enjoyed this class.

End of the Year Response - Year Three Student (age 14)

I have really enjoyed being in the Classical School. It has been very challenging, but that’s one of the things I like about it. When I started it I was a pitiful writer. I am now much better than I was, though still not great! Writing never was and still isn’t my favorite thing to do, but now it is easier than it was. Reading is one of my favorite things about Classical. The Greek myths and Shakespeare were a couple of my favorites. It is really neat to see how all of our reading relates to what we are studying in the other subjects, especially history. In fact, all of our studies relate to one another.

My least favorite assignment was the allegory, where we had to write a 30 page allegory with 300 vocabulary words in it. We had two months to do it, but to someone who isn’t a very good writer, (like me!), it was practically impossible.

I have learned tons in Classical. Sometimes it does feel a little odd to be using an eleventh grade history textbook in seventh grade, but if I can do it, why not! I’ve really appreciated the study skills I’ve learned (such as not procrastinating!). I would rather be in this class than in any other!

End of the Year Response - Year Three Student (age 13)

Long-term memory plays an important role in Classical Education.  In this essay I will discuss three memory aids that have been valuable to the development of my long-term memory.  These three are: writing words and definitions on cards; organization of my time and assignment schedule; attending a study group.

Writing words and definitions on cards is a very helpful memory aid in classical education.  In Classical School we write our Greek roots on cards and our study guide words for history on cards to help as we study them for our test.  Sometimes we write our Wordly Wise words on cards, too.  This memory/study aid is very useful when studying for tests and it helps put the words in our long-term memory.

At Classical School we learn to organize our time by having an assignment schedule.   I have a schedule at home telling me when to do my assignments and I have a sheet telling me what my assignments are and when they are due.  The schedules help me set goals for learning.  Also, these schedules are very helpful to me so I can get my work done quickly, but diligently and have more free time.  An organized mind can learn better.

Every Friday I attend a study group with three friends.  My friends and I can get a lot of work done.  First, we work silently together and then we discuss and recite our memory work.  By using physical movement while reciting, discussing our work, and breading our material into smaller segments, we can develop our long-term memory.  Attending a study group is very helpful when you want to have fun while getting work done!  

One of the goals of Classical education is the development of long-term memory.  Although there are many memory aids, I have found these three to be the most valuable to me: writing words and definitions on cards; organization of my time and assignment schedule; and attending a study group.

End of the Year Response – Year One Student (age10)