Though I've been aiming at a classical Christian education for well over a decade, I'm never bored, and I'm frequently encouraged, when I hear great men and women answer the question, What IS classical education?

Thanks to our partnership with Classical Academic Press, we're delighted to offer a series of posts from their new, FREE venture: ParentU.

If you're a Silver Member, you can access all the ParentU classes through ClassicalU. Otherwise we'll post a selection of them here. They're short and edifying and are highly recommended for scholé families.

Are you looking for a credited civics class for your 10th through 12 grader?* Prairie Scholé is offering a stimulating class with plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate."

Offered by veteran homeschooler and instructor Dara Ekanger, and a perfect follow up to American Government, Constitutional Literacy will delve into details of the Supreme Court cases that have shaped our nation. In addition the class will learn important legal terminology (such as Supremacy Clause, de jure, Original Intent, Establishment Clause, Lemon Test, Conflict of Laws, etc.) that will enable them to become participatory citizens in our country. The class will also examine current cases pending before the Court and discuss how the Court's decisions have and will impact their lives. 

Specs:    

• Fridays, January 6 through May 12 (with two breaks).
• 1pm to 2:30 pm
  
• $150 per students/$110 per additional family member plus a $20 registration fee per family for non-members and the workbook (students whose families are enrolled at the drop-off level for afternoons pay just $100)
  
• The class can be audited (work not graded by the instructor) for $50 per student plus reg fee & workbook.

HSLDA offers this class online for $379 for HSLDA Members / $429 for non-members, making this in-person learning experience a true value. Plus, *you* don't have to buy the DVDs! If the cost is a hardship, please contact our director Katy Schaff.

*Ninth graders can participate based on a parents' discretion, but there will be several hours of work on average outside of class.

There are many fine definitions of a commonplace book. I like the word "repository." It is a curated collection and you, oh joy!, are the curator. In your own, perhaps carefully chosen notebook, you record words phrases, maybe even whole paragraphs that have leapt out of mouths or pages and grabbed you. It is a repository of moments, images or word pictures that you don't want to forget. Sometimes you're not sure why they've seized you, but you feel yourself being nudged to remember.

Beginning September 2022 Prairie Scholé students from middle school to high school are asked to bring a commonplace book to classes. Here they can record prayers, Bible verses, Latin phrases, "a-ha moments" from teachers or classroom discussions, or even sketch. We're beginning to incorporate this practice now so we can enjoy the fruit our labors years down the road.

Here are some resources you might enjoy investigating.

The Common Place Book Project is self described as an informalities and scholarly resource for writing, teaching, collecting and studying commonplace books. Be sure to check out Lewis Carroll's stunning commonplace book

The Gentleman Stationer on commonplacing

John Milton's Commonplace Book

Physical science, Latin, Shakespeare, Art, Botany and so much more. We're very excited about the 2022-2023 academic year. Enrollment is open and early bird registration is discounted until July 13. Click on Enrollment to start the process or message us with questions any time.