When I was first learning about what Classical Conversations was all about, I had visions of me having to drill all day long meaningless facts into my children’s minds until they could word-for-word recite each fact back to me. I quickly learned that is not the case at all.

While there is Memory Work involved in the Foundations program of Classical Conversations, the scenario of “drill and kill” until we are all in tears couldn’t be further from the truth. CC makes learning the Memory Work fun through songs, chants, hand motions and games. And, because this is the way little ones are wired to learn at this age, it is absolutely amazing how much of the Memory Work actually does stick in their little minds on hardly any effort at all from me! With a 30 minute block of time set aside for reviewing Memory Work 4-5 times a week and some wonderful resources, “Memory Work Review” time is fun!!

Here is how we review our Memory Work every week:

1. Classical Conversations CDs: CC sells a set of CDs that have all the Memory Work included on them. The first CD has the Timeline song. The second CD has the Memory Work by week and the third CD has the Memory Work by subject. This is probably, by far, THE BEST resource for Memory Work review. It was well worth the $30 or so I paid. Both girls LOVE these CDs and it is frequently requested when we are in the car. Sarge even likes them. A Memory Work CD was the only thing that calmed Sarge on a recent road trip! On the way to CC, we usually listen to the prior week’s Memory Work and that week’s Memory Work. Then as we are in the car throughout the week, I will play the week’s Memory Work a couple times for us to listen to while we drive. It is a wonderful, easy way to review.

2. Videos from Community Day: The next best way we have found to review our Memory Work is for me to take videos of the new grammar each week. Dave gets all the little clips of video I take of the Timeline, History, Science, Geography, English, Math and Latin and he puts them on a playlist. The first half hour of our school day after we read the Bible is our Memory Work Review time. The girls love watching the videos from class! We will usually watch that week’s video a couple times and then watch another week’s as well. This is a very good way to remember any songs or hand motions that were used to help the children remember the Memory Work.

3. Usborne Books: I had an Usborne party recently and from my party I was able to get $200 in FREE books! Usborne Books are an excellent resource for digging deeper into the Memory Work and learning more about the concepts and topics covered in the Memory Work.

4. YouTube Videos: My girls also love to watch YouTube videos about the Memory Work. There are lots of good videos out there that help us dig deeper into the Memory Work. We are doing this a lot during the break.

5. Foundations Guide: Every Friday I get the Foundations Guide out and quiz the girls on their Memory Work. I made a chart and if they have something memorized they get a star on their chart for it.

That’s how we review! Simple and effective!

- Elaine