Lori Lacey
To know God and to make Him known

So at this point in the year you maybe asking yourself " Should we or shouldn't we join a co-op this fall? " I've been there. Honestly, probably depending on the area you are located in, you've been asking yourself this question for a while. 

We’ve been part of a homeschool co-op—Classical Conversations—and we’re heading into our third year. I know. Wild.

When we first started, I wasn’t totally sure about it. Part of me loved the idea of community and shared teaching (and let’s be real—someone else handling the science experiments). But the other part of me was like… do I really want to get everyone dressed, packed, and out the door by 8:30am on a Tuesday? (Spoiler: still no. I never do.)

But we jumped in, and we stayed. And we've thrived. Since I know some of you are sitting in that “should we or shouldn’t we” space, I just wanted to share a few honest pros and cons—no pressure, no fluff—just what it’s actually been like for us and what I think about co-ops.

*Ok but first off though, this IS an important note moving forward, while we LOVE LOVE LOVE Classical Conversations, this is not an ad for it. I truly believe everyone should find the community that is best for their family. And I will always be the first to say that may not always be CC. So please do be in fear proceeding forward. I'm not trying to peer pressure you into anything!*

Pros of Joining a Co-op

1. Community.
There is nothing like talking to another mom who gets it. Ones who also forgot what week we’re on or who also made her kids cereal for dinner. Just being around other homeschool families helps remind me I’m not totally losing it. Knowing you are going to be around other adults outside of your family is a welcome reprieve in the middle of the week.

2. Group learning is actually kind of fun.
My kids love having “class” with other kids. I didn’t think they’d care that much, but turns out—they do. And there’s something sweet about watching them light up because someone else explained fractions.

3. Outsourcing is a gift.
I don’t want to do messy science. Or lead book discussions. Or honestly, plan crafts. OMG I don't want to plan any crafts. So if a co-op can take some of that off my plate? I’m all for it.

Cons of Joining a Co-op

1. It’s a commitment.
You have to get dressed, be on a schedule, and bring things. There sometimes are theme days. Which is fine! But also a lot, depending on your bandwidth. Some weeks I’m thrilled to go, other weeks I do literally have to talk myself into it. The commitment can be tough when you're in the think of kid stuff at home.

2. Not all co-ops are the same.
Just being real here—some co-ops feel like a warm hug, others feel like you accidentally walked into a high school clique. If your first one doesn’t feel like a fit, that doesn’t mean all co-ops are like that. Ask questions, go to any open house you can, and ultimately trust your gut. You KNOW when something isn't going to be a good fit for you and your family.

3. Less flexibility.
If you’re a spontaneous, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pajamas kind of homeschooler, having a set co-op schedule might feel constraining. For us, it’s been worth it—but I do miss the freedom to ditch everything and go to the zoo on a random Wednesday.

So... is it worth it? For us, right now, absolutely yes. Not because it’s perfect, but because I needed help carrying the load. Knowing that we are in fellowship and community with other like minded families has been a complete Godsend and motivator for our homeschool journey.

But if it’s not for you? That’s okay too. There’s no one “right” way to homeschool. You’re allowed to say no. Or not yet. Or maybe next year.

And if you do join one and your kid licks the whiteboard or refuses to participate or forgets their shoes? Mine has done the same. You got this!

Lori 
To know God and to make Him known

Need more information on how to start homeschooling but are completely unsure of where to start?! Start here! Check out my eBook to get you and your family started off on the best foot possible! 

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So I’ll be honest, when I first heard “Charlotte Mason,” I thought it was a Pinterest aesthetic.
You know—lace curtains, watercolor quotes, fresh-pressed nature journals, maybe a goat in the backyard nibbling on a vintage tea towel.
And look—I like pretty things. I really do. But I also live in the real world, where breakfast is often just pop-tarts and the toddler is doing somersaults on the couch while I try to remember which child I was supposed to be reading to.

So who was Charlotte Mason, anyway?

Okay. Tiny history detour (I promise I’ll keep it short because I know someone’s already climbing on the kitchen counter right now).
Charlotte Mason was a christian British educator in the late 1800s and early 1900s who believed kids are whole people—not just little buckets to dump information into. She spent her life developing an approach to education that was centered on habits, character, nature, and “living books.” She taught that kids learn best when they’re given rich ideas to chew on—not just facts to memorize.

And also? She didn’t believe in cramming in 7 hours of school a day.

Bless.

Her.

So what is Charlotte Mason homeschooling, exactly?

At its core, Charlotte Mason homeschooling is about feasting on beautiful ideas through books, nature, art, and real-life conversations. It’s slow and intentional and sometimes a little wild (in a muddy-boots-and-frogs-in-pockets kind of way).

Here’s the basic gist:

• Living books (which just means well-written, engaging books—not dry textbooks that make your eyes glaze over)
• Short lessons (especially for little ones—like 10–20 minutes tops)
• Nature time every day if you can swing it (but also, no guilt if it’s raining and you’re surviving)
• Art and music and big ideas—but not turned into worksheets with bubble letters and color-by-number composer facts
• And most of all? Respecting your child as a person.
  Not a project. Not a product. A person.

We’re not hardcore Charlotte Mason purists over here BUT I do believe her style of education has so much to pull from and we’ve borrowed a few things from her style. We love the nature walks that turn into bug hunts. Or reading a chapter of a really good story instead of doing ten pages of a workbook. I have Sam narrate back to me the stories we read but its not that serious.

If you’re coming from public school—or you’re Type A (like so many moms I know)—Charlotte Mason might feel a little… too soft at first.

Like, “What do you mean we’re just reading and going outside and talking about art?” But if you’re craving a slower, more connected kind of learning—it’s worth exploring. It’s not about perfection. Or adding more. Honestly, it gave me permission to do less—and still feel like we were actually learning. Deeply.

And no, you don’t need to buy watercolor paints or go to the woods every day. You don’t need to churn your own butter or start pressing wildflowers between pages of Pride and Prejudice.

Start small.

Read a story.

Step outside.

Look at a flower.

Wonder out loud.

That’s it. That’s the vibe.

And on the hard days (because oh yes, there will be hard days), just know this: You’re doing just fine. You’re loving your kids. You’re building something slow and sacred and lasting.

You’ve got this. 💛

Lori
To know God and to make Him know

P.S Find all sorts of Charlotte Mason curriculums here! You can also find a direct link to her 20 points.  Go check it out now!

Also, are you still interested in homeschooling but really still don't know what it is. Go check out my eBook, it's all about how to start homeschooling.
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My love affair with classical education started many years ago, when I first started going to the Great Homeschool Convention. My absolute favorite session was when Martin Cothran from Memoria Press read a chapter from Anna Kerenina and 200 people discussed it in a classical way. I was enamored by the depth we were able to achieve in such a large group. I went home and read the 900 page book myself.

And it was AMAZING.

So in full honesty, I have always known we would use the classical model in homeschool. No other method seemed like it would be the right fit.

Ok, so the big question… What is classical education? 

Classical education is a method that teaches kids how to think by teaching and following three stages of learning: memorize (Grammar), understand (Logic), and express (Rhetoric).
It’s all about building a strong foundation with facts, then helping kids connect ideas, and finally teaching them to communicate clearly—through great books, big questions, and meaningful conversations.

These 3 stages together are called the Trivium. Which sounds vaguely medieval and a little intimidating. But once I actually looked into it, it made SO. MUCH. SENSE. It’s basically teaching kids how to think, not just what to think. And I love that.

Ok so let's look at each of these 3 stages of the Trivium:

• Grammar stage (the early years): all about memorizing facts, chants, and songs. Think multiplication tables, geography songs, and Bible verses with motions.
• Logic stage (middle school-ish): kids start asking why, and now they’re learning how to reason through stuff instead of just memorizing it.
• Rhetoric stage (teen years): this is where they learn to communicate ideas clearly and persuasively. Like, make an argument that isn’t just "because I said so" (which honestly I still use regularly, but whatever).

What does this actually look like in our house?

Well… some days it looks like joining our Classical Conversations (CC) group once a week, coming home feeling inspired (and slightly overwhelmed), and then re-listening to the week's memory work in the car while everyone’s eating Veggie Straws. Other days, it’s just singing skip-counting songs while folding laundry. Or reading a library book about Ancient Rome, and then watching a random but surprisingly educational YouTube video about gladiators.

It’s messy. It’s flexible. And honestly, it’s kind of beautiful.

I won’t pretend I have it all together. I’ve definitely forgotten which week we’re on in our CC guide more times than I want to admit. Some weeks we do memory work in the car, other weeks I completely forget to print the maps. Some days it’s just math and a read-aloud and calling it good. Other days the kids ask big questions and we chase rabbit trails and somehow that feels more valuable than anything I planned.

If you’re thinking about classical homeschooling and you feel like you have to have a Great Books list printed out, a Latin curriculum ordered, and a 10-year plan ready to go—I just want to say: you don’t.

Start small. Try one thing.

Play a song. Read a book. Watch a video.

Let curiosity lead you.

You don’t have to do all the things at once. Honestly, you shouldn’t.
A few memory songs, some good stories, and a lot of grace?
That’s classical homeschooling, too.

And no—you don’t need to know Latin. Unless you want to. (In which case, I fully support your nerdiness and also need your help translating something from my CC guide.)

You’re doing great. Keep going. With you in the mess + the magic,

Lori
To know God and to make Him known

Want some ideas on Classical curriculums? Click here to see what we recommend!

Today we're talking about… learning styles.

Let’s just go ahead and say it — figuring out how your kid learns can feel like a mystery wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a tantrum. One day they love worksheets. The next day they sob over a pencil like it betrayed them. The third their recall over a book they just read was the best you've ever heard! But then the following day they can't read.

If you’ve been wondering:
“Do I have a visual learner? Or auditory? Or maybe they just learn by osmosis while chewing on a crayon?”

You’re not alone.

We’ve been there. Honestly, we’re still there sometimes. 😅 But here’s what I’ve been learning the messy, slow way — your kid does have a natural way they take in information. And when you pay attention to it (instead of just doing what the book says)... things just click more.

👀 Visual Learners

These are the kids who love pictures, charts, color-coded anything. They might:

• Love flipping through picture books
• Be drawn to diagrams, maps, or doodles
• Remember what they saw on the page

What helps:

• Colorful books
• Visual schedules
• YouTube videos or animations
• Highlighters (so many highlighters)

Curriculum Ideas: 

• The Good and The Beautiful
• Apologia Science
• Math-U-See
• All About Reading/All About Spelling
• Sonlight

👂 Auditory Learners

These kiddos are all about sound. They remember what they heard, not what they read. They might:

• Repeat things out loud to themselves
• Love music, rhymes, or read-alouds
• Struggle with written instructions but totally get it when you explain it out loud

What helps:

• Audio books
• Singing songs for memorization
• Talking through concepts
• Read-alouds (even for older kids!)

Curriculum ideas:

• Classical Conversations ( Especially Foundations)
• Story of the World
• IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
• Compass Classroom
• Veritas Press (Self Paced)

✋ Kinesthetic Learners

These are the movers. The touchers. The kids who have to get their hands on something to figure it out.
They might:

• Wiggle constantly
• Build, climb, act things out
• Remember what they did, not what they saw or heard

What helps:

• Hands-on activities
• Flashcards they can move
• Acting things out
• Drawing while listening

Curriculum ideas

• Handwriting Without Tears
• RightStart Math
• Gather Round Homeschool
• Five in a Row
• Real Science Odyssey

So How Do You Figure Out What They Are?

Here’s what worked for us: Just… watch them. Seriously. Don’t overthink it. Sit back and notice:

• What are they drawn to?
• When do they light up?
• What frustrates them?

And spoiler: most kids are a mix.

Mine? Totally auditory and kinesthetic. So we do lots of fidget toys and songs with hand movements and sometimes snacks. Because why not.

You don’t have to put your kid in a box. You’re just figuring out what helps them connect with the material better. And that’s not cheating. That’s teaching.

Final Thought:There’s no perfect style. No perfect curriculum. No perfect anything. Just a mama doing her best with the kids God gave her.

So take a breath. Watch your child. Adjust as you go.

You’re doing better than you think.
—Lori 💛

To know God and to make Him known

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Ok so this is an essay I wrote for an application I filled out. My son does Classical Conversations and we are starting the process of forming our own community. A part of that process is my applying for a community director role to be able to form a CC community. 

I have two main observations from Dorothy Sayers essay. The first, is, that it does absolutely blow my mind just how relevant her essay is to today. And while, I would like to think she was an alarmist in how the education system was dying at the time, we can see the proof of its death over the last 2 generations since she wrote her essay. Her warning “Christian ethics which are so rooted in their (Atheists, unsaved,etc) unconscious assumptions that it never occurs to them to question it. But one cannot live on capital for ever. A tradition, however firmly rooted, if it is never watered, though it dies hard, yet in the end it dies” forces you to accept that the tradition of learning from before is dead.

The problem with modern education is that students are simply not taught how to learn. By learning each subject in isolation, our youth never see how learning and knowledge are so inner-connected. And by the removal of Christ from our learning, they never see how all learning and knowledge is actually coming from God himself.

My second observation after reading this essay, and also about who just was Dorothy Sayers, I believe she would loathe being compared to Charlotte Mason and what Mason has done for education. Sayers never claimed we needed to start with the classical tradition anew, she proposed we go back 300 years and pick up where we left off with some modifications. Those modifications were about starting to teach children who are younger to learn. She still saw the child as a whole person capable of learning for themselves. 

The Trivium is not the curriculum. It is the tool. All persons are capable of learning anything when we teach them the trivium. In order to understand any subject, we must understand grammar first. In order to learn the grammar of anything we must observe and remember what we are learning. The second phase of learning is the dialectic stage. This is where students learn to reason what it is they’re learning. And then finally there is the Rhetoric stage, where students present and defend their thoughts. Learning to tackle their subjects in this manner sets them up to actually be life-long learners.

What do you think? Do you agree Dorothy would hate being compared to Mason today the way she has? Let me know!

Lori

​To know God and to make Him known.
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