Classical Conversations Founder Leigh Bortins Releases New Classical Education Book, The Core

June 15, 2010 - PRLog -- West End, NC, June 11, 2010:  Leigh Bortins, founder of Classical Conversations, Inc., has released a new book on classical education:  The Core:  Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education.  In her book, Ms. Bortins outlines the core knowledge needed to provide students a classical education.  She answers two fundamental questions about education:  “What should educated people know?” and “How should students acquire this knowledge?”  
Just two days after its release, the book is already in reprint and is currently the #1 Education book on Amazon.com.  Ms. Bortins’ book The Core has sparked fresh debate about modern American education in major national publications.
The Core begins with a brief look at the problems with modern educational methods and then moves into a history of older educational methods used in classical education.  Ms. Bortins demonstrates how a classical education can address these modern problems.  
The subsequent chapters offer practical applications of the classical methodology in core subjects:  reading, writing, math, geography, history, science, and fine arts.  The final section lists schedules for home study and educational resources.
Ms. Bortins’ book, The Core, grew out of her experience in home-educating her own family, designing and implementing classical curriculum, and mentoring other home-educating families.   Ms. Bortins’ company, Classical Conversations Inc., has assisted parents with home-centered, classical education since 1997.   Her company has now established classical communities in 30 states which provide services to 30,000 students.
Students in K4-6th grade participate in Foundations classes to learn and practice memory work.  The memory work is divided into six subjects: timeline/history, geography, math, science, Latin, and English grammar. In addition to the memory work, students also participate in a fine arts project/lesson, a science project, and an opportunity to practice oral presentation skills each week.
Students in 4th-6th grade also gather for Essentials classes.  Each week, students learn English grammar through board work, written work, and games.  Students write history-themed compositions and play games to drill math facts.
Students in 7th-12th grade participate in Challenge classes.  On a weekly basis, they study foreign languages such as Latin and Spanish, discuss great books and present essays, conduct science experiments and present science research, and debate current events, politics, history and economics.
Families who are searching for education solutions can find answers through Ms. Bortins’ book and her company’s website www.classicalconversations.com