Cheryl Swope's Blog

What is a beautiful education for any child? How can we begin to implement something richer, deeper, and more inspiring than the education children might receive elsewhere? Can a child with dyslexia, autism, or Down syndrome receive a beautiful education? How do we adapt for a struggling child in a classical classroom? How might we create a more beautiful setting for our children with severe disabilities?

Join us to ponder these questions. We’re tucked away in a quiet little corner of Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/CherylSwopeConsultingLLC, where I share new presentations exclusively, new workshops, and new articles only to patrons. When you join, you receive access to the entire library. When you stay at least 12 months, you receive a complimentary 45-minute phone consultation for your own child, homeschool, classroom, or school.

I look forward to seeing you there —

Cheryl

For the Simply Classical Book, Curriculum, & free Journal: SimplyClassical.com

On our Patreon page, we recently shared a list of Christian classical schools on continents beyond North America!

The research was as intriguing as it was encouraging. To my knowledge there is no other comprehensive list. You will receive links to the schools, the missions, and photos.

Other recent additions to our Patreon library include these:
– auditory processing tips & resources
– reflections from 4 nights on a remarkable St. Louis hospital’s covid floor with my son
– encouragement on measuring our children’s achievements in “Small Steps”
– the video featuring a sacred poem my daughter penned & narrated while a theater guild choreographed its interpretation
– my 2022 speaking schedule and events.

Access the full library of podcasts, lectures, and more by partnering to further classical education, faith, Christian special education, and family.

“The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace” (Psalm 29:11).

This year may our Advent and Christmas seasons be an especially fortifying time of strength and peace.

Select from any of these beautiful Read-Alouds, all available from Memoria Press.

Age or Ability 3-5
• The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown
• The Animals’ Christmas Eve: A Little Golden Book, Little Golden Book
• The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by Jan Brett
• Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
• Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening illustrated by Susan Jeffers
• The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats
• The Friendly Beasts by Tomie dePaola
• Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls
• Winter on the Farm by Laura Ingalls
• Little House Christmas Treasury by Laura Ingalls

Age or Ability 6-9
• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski
• Lucy’s Christmas by Donald Hall
• Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect by Richard H. Schneider
• An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco
• The Nutcracker with CD by Stephanie Spinner
• Twas the Night Before Christmas ill. by Matt Tavares
• Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck

Age or Ability 7-10
• Good King Wenceslas by John M. Neale
• Papa Panov’s Special Christmas by Leo Tolstoy
• A Promise Kept: The Story of Christmas passages of Scripture from Isaiah to John
• The 12 Days of Christmas by Helen Haidle
• I Saw Three Ships by Elizabeth Goudge
• Christmas Around the World by Emily Kelley
• St. Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend by Julie Stiegemeyer
• The Nutcracker with CD by E.T.A. Hoffmann

Age or Ability 11 and up – because you’re never too old to share a book as a family
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke
• Journey through Advent by Dr. Carol Reynolds
• The Christmas Story From the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, The Christmas Story is told with the words of Scripture and depicted by wondrous sacred art.

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you His peace.

For more read-alouds to share any time of year, Simply Classical Read-Alouds.

SimplyClassical.com

photo: Christmas Eve (1885) by W. C. Bauer.

When I began homeschooling my adopted daughter and her twin brother, the nearest classical Christian school had said it could not accept them due to their learning disabilities, autism, and other diagnoses. They were four years old. Through homeschooling, the children have thrived academically and in additional, unexpected ways. This story is told in Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child (Memoria Press, 2nd edition, 2019).

My daughter began writing poignant, delightful poetry for others to read. She said she wanted her story to help other children like her. In the book we share the story of both children, the benefits of classical and Christian education, and provide resources, strategies, and adaptations for home and school.

A year after Simply Classical was published, we began releasing packages to provide an entire Simply Classical Curriculum from ages 2 to 21 for schools and homeschools. We are unspeakably gratified that these packages for reading, math, writing, and all other areas of study have been voted #1 for Special Learners consistently from 2014-2020.

We now provide the Simply Classical Journal, a free catalog with accompanying articles. All of this seems more important now than when we began.

Throughout the past decade I’ve served on the Board of Directors for a consortium for classical education and have spoken at various conferences across the country. We continue to share the message that a classical Christian education offers benefits to any child.

My daughter now travels with me, which is something I never would have dreamed when we began homeschooling so many years ago. Audiences tell me that my daughter gives them hope.

We appreciate partners! When you become a patron you receive behind-the-scenes content, exclusive posts, new workshops, and a free private consultation at the end of each year’s support.

Recent posts:
Dyslexia & Classical Education – a new, exclusive 40-minute lecture
Introducing Children to Opera – a new article with resources for all children
11 Tips to Organize Bulging Bookshelves – behind-the-scenes in our home
Deep Work Weekend – behind-the-scenes at my recent writing weekend

Immediately upon sharing your support, you unlock the entire library of more than 80 items including audio & video lectures to encourage you as you reclaim the benefits of a classical and/or Christian education in your own home or school. Become a patron and serve others together with us!

On our Patreon page this morning we shared five distinct ways to learn more about classical education.

This resulted from a recent dinner conversation at a convention in Cincinnati with five influential people in the field.

The insights and reflections reminded me that there is always more to learn, not merely in knowledge but also in depth of contemplation.

Each spring and summer I travel to various conferences speaking and reconnecting with schools, homeschools, and fellow classical education proponents. Now in fall and winter I begin the gratifying work of reading, writing, and thinking anew.

If you would like to join in the exploration, see the link for suggested readings and video lectures from five classical ed advocates who gathered unexpectedly one evening….

Intro to Classical Ed: Five Minds

Cheryl Swope, M.Ed.
Simply Classical

Where to Complete Coursework in Classical Education

Not long ago earning a minor or full degree in classical education seemed destined to remain in the realm of imagination, but today formal classical pedagogy programs can equip all of us, including next generations.

Note: These are distinct from Classical Studies programs which classical educators also heartily applaud and which are increasingly popular in classical circles. The following classical education coursework and degree programs seek to restore proper order, authority, beauty, and efficacy specifically to teacher training and the art of teaching.

To my knowledge there is no other such list compiled to date.

Please let me know if you know of others! We will gladly add them. I have been deeply gratified to learn that several of the programs listed above include Simply Classical as part of the required reading.

For easy hyperlinks to the programs below and for related posts, see my Patreon page.

Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas

Classical Concentration for Education Majors “The impetus of the new idea came from a student’s parent who sought to discuss the huge recent success of classical education programs for students from elementary to secondary education. What was needed is teachers at these popular new schools.” 1

Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado

Bachelor of Arts in Classical Elementary Education “The Classical Education program comprises an interdisciplinary course of study in classical studies and classical teaching methods, grounded in the liberal arts tradition with a strong foundation in the traditions of the historical Christian faith.” 2

Concordia University in Chicago, Illinois

Classical Pedagogy Minor “The Classical Pedagogy Minor will equip students to work in Christian Classical schools and to apply for teacher certification with accrediting organizations, such as the Association of Christian Schools International and the Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education.” 3

Concordia University in Irvine, California

Classical Education Minor at Christ College includes fundamentals of Latin or Greek, Scripture, history, and literature, and a practicum at the Classical Academy. 4

Liberal Arts Major with Classical Languages Emphasis in the school of Arts and Sciences includes coursework in art history, world literature; mythology, theology, and philosophy; and Latin and Greek. 5

Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin

Minor in Classical Pedagogy“Students can anticipate engaging the liberal arts at all levels of the program. You will gain a solid foundation in classical culture and the Christian intellectual tradition. You will explore the history, theory and practice of a classical approach to curriculum and pedagogy.” 6

Bachelor of Arts in Classical Education “Some might argue the classical approach to education is outdated, but we beg to differ. In today’s world—where endless knowledge is accessible at just the click of a button—it’s more important than ever to teach students how to learn and how to think. And that’s exactly what classical education does. You’ll be well equipped to teach others in a manner that’s been around for centuries.” 7

Hillsdale College in Michigan

Minor in Classical Education “Studying Classical Education at Hillsdale College will challenge you to develop a vision for teaching that is grounded in the time-tested curriculum and pedagogy of the liberal-arts tradition and encourages students to grow in wisdom and virtue.” 8

Memoria College

5-Week Summer Courses 2021:

Saving Western Civilization: An Introduction to Classical Education We discuss what education itself consists of, how classical education differs from other, modern definitions of education, how classical education fits in to the history of education, the relevance of classical education to STEM education, and the relationship of classical education to religious belief. 9

Order and Inspiration: An Introduction to Classical Pedagogy The student learns the best method of approach to teaching specific subjects such as the basic skills of reading, mathematics, and penmanship; classical languages; the trivium subjects of grammar, logic, and rhetoric; as well as the proper teaching of the humanities and the natural sciences. Participants gain a basic knowledge of important modern pedagogical debates, with an emphasis on the debate between traditional education and modern progressivism. (9)

New Saint Andrews

Master of Studies (in Classical Christian Studies) “If education is a kind of warfare, then educators are the blacksmiths. They forge and sharpen the minds of the next generation. We wouldn’t send soldiers out with faulty armor and dull weapons. We shouldn’t do so with our students.” 10

Templeton Honors College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Master of Arts in Teaching “This distinctively classical approach to training teachers takes formation in virtue as the central task of education. To this end, the program charts a course between the exclusive focus of most education programs on method and technique and the exclusive focus of most liberal arts programs on content alone. Through study of the Great Books in Socratic seminars, students will approach foundational questions about education by integrating considerations of history, philosophy, and pedagogy.” 11

University of Dallas in Dallas, Texas

Classical Education Graduate Program “By providing foundations in classical principles and pedagogy, the Classical Education Graduate Program aspires to form educators as master teachers. Students in the program explore the historical, philosophic, literary, aesthetic, rhetorical, and scientific roots of the liberal arts in the Western tradition.” 12

1 https://www.benedictine.edu/press-roo... accessed 2/19/2021

2 https://www.ccu.edu/undergrad/classic... accessed 5/17/2021

3 https://www.cuchicago.edu/academics/c... accessed 2/16/2021

4 https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/... accessed 5/17/2021

5 https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/... accessed 5/17/2021

6 https://www.cuw.edu/academics/program... accessed 2/16/2021

7 https://www.cuw.edu/academics/program... accessed 2/16/2021

8 https://www.hillsdale.edu/academics/m... accessed 2/16/2021

9 https://memoriacollege.org/ accessed 5/17/2021

10 https://nsa.edu/ccs/ accessed 5/17/2021

11 https://templeton.eastern.edu/academi... accessed 2/16/2021

12 https://udallas.edu/braniff/academics... accessed 2/16/2021

Image by Pexels of Pixabay

Last night I joined Peggy Ployhar from SPED Homeschool for a live video conversation she entitled “Wisdom from the Trenches with Cheryl Swope”. We chatted about what to do when a child hits a “plateau,” how to manage the household while homeschooling, and what to do when you feel inadequate.

You can access the free, recorded conversation via the link above.

If you are here for the first time or need resources, see SimplyClassical.com for the curriculum consistently Voted #1 for Special Learners by homeschoolers.

We are creating an entire library of my reflective posts, professional lectures, and topical articles.

I LOVE the format, ease, and intimacy of Patreon. I find the setting superior to other options, especially as those other “options” come under increasing scrutiny.

Everything in our Patreon group feels private, personal, and secure. This affords me the ability to gather the best from all corners of forums and emails, websites and new experiences into one place.

Recently we shared …

– Our Good Friday and Easter Morning
– An Accountability Challenge to patrons (and to myself)
– My Special-Needs Sports story from last week
– Photos from my daughter’s first GHC convention. She rose to the occasion!
– My son, who teaches me to focus on what a child CAN do
– A new, growing list of colleges/universities offering programs in classical education
– and more

Membership gains full access to everything. Take a peek.

For a child with a weak, distractible, or recalcitrant mind, rules can seem difficult to remember and impossible to follow. It is as if every situation involves a new door through which entering guarantees only impending pitfalls.

In our private post we share what we decided to do about this for our son. Join us to view, comment, or share, https://www.patreon.com/CherylSwopeConsultingLLC. On Patreon we share personal behind-the-scenes tools, exclusive content, and a more intimate way to connect. Your partnership strengthens this unique service. We love and appreciate our patrons, so we share extra tidbits found nowhere else.

If you are ready to dig in and begin addressing this area on your own with specific instructions day by day, you may teach immediately from 14-week courses for children young and old, consider these open-and-go packaged programs well suited for children or teens on the autism spectrum, with bipolar or other mental illness, oppositional defiant disorder, or ADHD. The sets give you a point of reference throughout your day and teach directly from literature to impact wisdom while improving an awareness of (and appreciation for) rules and expectations in different contexts:

Myself & Others: Lessons in Social Understanding, Habits, & Manners, for ages or maturity levels of age 4-13. (Simply Classical resources from Memoria Press)

See also the book with an entire chapter devoted to Behavior Strategies within the elevating context of classical education and parenting, Simply Classical: A Beautiful Education for Any Child (2nd edition, Memoria Press, 2019).

image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

One cold and bitter night,

Christ the Son of light

Was born for me and you

To save, redeem, renew.

His holy Father gave

Beneath the sky so blue

A name versed well above you,

A name both far and true.

A name, a gift, He gave us,

A Savior named for thee;

A light of love, of justice

Above all names indeed.

Holy is the Son,

The Godhead Trinity,

Born and ne’er forgotten

On that blessed Nativity.

Lo, the angels cry

And all the heavens too,

“Christ in low estate,

Hath come to rescue you.”

“Holy is the LORD,”

Yet as He is to say:

I was born in meekness,

My people, world to save.

Michelle Swope

Christmas 2020

Wishing a merry Christmas to all!