Classical Conversations Parent Practicum is a free, one-day homeschool teacher training event where parents practice the classical arts of learning, connect with community, and renew their vision for guiding their children’s education.
On average, a homeschooling parent spends 180 days per year investing in their child’s education. That’s over 1,400 hours! Some of those days, we feel like we’re on top of the world and can conquer anything thrown our way. Other days, it feels like everything is written in another language (and we don’t just mean Latin).
This one-day classical homeschool workshop provides an opportunity for us to gather together and intentionally refocus our vision for the upcoming year and ignite our passion as lead learners on our home education journey.
What Makes Parent Practicum 2026 Special
This year’s homeschool practicum brings something particularly meaningful: Latin study that breathes fresh life into this ancient language. Under the theme “preserving the timeless, preparing for the timely,” Parent Practicum 2026 invites us to discover why Latin is more relevant to our homeschool than ever before. We’ll leave with renewed confidence and a clearer vision for our family’s learning journey.
Classical education has been shaping minds for centuries, and at Parent Practicum events near you, we get to experience firsthand how these time-tested methods equip our children for the challenges and opportunities of today’s world.
“Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.”
— Abigail Adams
Refocus: Parent Practicum Helps Us Remember Why
We all come to homeschooling for different reasons, but parents in Classical Conversations community typically share a few important convictions:
- We recognized that the modern school system’s method of teaching was not the right choice for our family.
- We wanted a Christ-centered curriculum that would help develop and strengthen our child’s faith, not just check off another subject of the day.
- We long for families who share our heart for raising children to think clearly and live purposefully, to join us in encouragement and accountability to one another.
CC Parent Practicum is where we are reminded of why we started this journey in the first place. Our vision for what classical education looks like gets refreshed every summer through passionate speakers and families with whom we have made bonds during the course of our homeschool journey. This homeschool community gathering becomes a powerful preparation event for many of us, a chance to step back before the academic year begins and see the bigger picture again.
When we attend a classical education equipping event like Parent Practicum, we’re not just learning about Latin or the trivium; we’re also learning about the broader classical education approach. We’re reconnecting with our deeper purpose: to train our children to know God and to make Him known. We’re reminded that our role as primary educators is not a burden to carry alone but a calling to embrace with joy and confidence.
The 2026 theme, “preserving the timeless, preparing for the timely,” captures this beautiful tension. We preserve ancient wisdom through Latin study and classical methods while preparing our children for the unique calling God has for them in this generation. Parent Practicum helps us hold both truths together with renewed clarity.
Learn more about Classical Conversations Practicum.
Refuel: Parent Practicum Prepares Us with the Right Skills
If we were decorating a cake and practicing the backstroke to spread the frosting, you would say we were using the wrong skill at the wrong time.
Classical Conversations equips us with 15 skills of learning, and this homeschool professional development event is where we come together to learn and practice how and when to use each skill. Each year, we focus on a particular set: the 5 Core Habits of Grammar (also called the NAMES skill), the 5 Common Topics, and the 5 Canons of Rhetoric. We have model conversations geared toward various ages, giving us hands-on homeschool parent training we can immediately apply at home.
What to Expect at Parent Practicum
During this classical homeschool practicum, we’ll practice grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric (the three arts our children are learning) and see how to use them at home. We’ll dive into Latin conversations and discover they’re more approachable than we remember. But more than that, we’ll walk away equipped to have meaningful dialogue with our children on any subject that sparks their curiosity.
There’s nothing better than being at a table of peers and experiencing someone having an “aha” moment. Their enthusiasm to go home and implement what they’ve learned is contagious and helps ignite our desire to make new connections of our own. This kind of homeschool teacher training doesn’t just prepare us to facilitate our children’s education; it renews our own love of learning.
No matter the age of our students, we leave Parent Practicum more prepared to guide their learning journey with classical skills that actually work in everyday homeschooling life. We gain confidence not because we suddenly know everything, but because we’ve practiced the arts of learning ourselves and understand how they unfold in real conversations.
Discover Practicum resources.
Refresh: Parent Practicum is Where We Make Deeper Connections
We’re not only gaining valuable academic training as home educators but also gleaning wisdom and insight from those who have gone before us.
Getting to hear the trials and triumphs of more seasoned parents is like nuggets of gold we get to tuck in our pocket for the academic year ahead. There’s also a cherished refreshment from the enthusiasm of those just starting out. Listening to the eagerness and anticipation of new homeschooling families is a boost of energy to those of us who have been at this for a while.
The Power of Homeschool Community Gathering
Classical homeschooling doesn’t happen in isolation. Parent Practicum allows us to share our stories with one another and build connections with the larger Classical Conversations community. When we come together for these Practicum events, we’re reminded that we’re not pioneering this path alone. Generations of Christian families have walked this road before us, and thousands are walking it alongside us today.
At Parent Practicum 2026, we can expect to:
- Practice the 5 Common Topics for full, inquisitive, and thoughtful conversations
- Connect with seasoned homeschool parents who offer wisdom from their journey
- Gain fresh energy from families just beginning their classical education adventure
- Be poured into in preparation to pour out
- Return home with renewed passion for the lead learner role
For those struggling with homeschool burnout, Parent Practicum offers practical solutions to help alleviate the issue. Sometimes we just need a day away from our daily routine, a day to be poured into. We need to practice being students again ourselves so we can return home with fresh eyes and renewed energy.
The one day spent creating community, being poured into, and equipping ourselves for the year ahead is an invaluable professional development experience for us as home educators. We come away ready not just to teach facts, but to cultivate wonder, attention, accuracy, naming, and expression in our children’s hearts.
Preserving the Timeless, Preparing for the Timely
This year’s focus on Latin study embodies our theme perfectly. Latin is undeniably timeless: it shaped Western civilization, undergirds our language, and trains the mind in precision and pattern recognition. Yet learning Latin also prepares our children for the timely challenges ahead, giving them linguistic clarity, analytical thinking, and the ability to master complex material.
At Parent Practicum 2026, we’ll see this ancient language with new eyes. We’ll discover fresh approaches that make Latin more accessible and applicable than ever before. And we’ll reconnect with parents who share our conviction that preserving what is good and true from the past equips our children to step boldly into the future.
Discover Why Learn Latin? Top 3 Reasons It’s Worth It.
Frequently Asked Questions About Parent Practicum
What is a homeschool practicum?
A homeschool practicum is a one-day training event where homeschool parents learn and practice the classical arts of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric. At Classical Conversations Practicum, parents experience the same learning methods their children use, gaining confidence and practical skills to guide their family’s education. It’s professional development designed specifically for home educators.
How much does CC practicum cost?
Classical Conversations Practicum is free to attend! These local events are hosted by CC leadership in your area as a gift to homeschooling families. Simply register through ccpracticum.com to join a practicum near you.
Do I need to attend a Parent Practicum?
While Parent Practicum isn’t required, most families find it invaluable for renewing their homeschool vision and gaining practical skills. Whether you’re new to classical education or a seasoned veteran, Practicum offers fresh insights and community connection. If you’re feeling weary or uncertain about the year ahead, this one-day investment can make all the difference.
What should I bring to a Parent Practicum?
Bring a notebook and pen for taking notes during sessions and model conversations. Most families also bring water and snacks, though specific practicum schedules may include breaks or refreshments. Come ready to participate actively in discussions and practice the classical arts alongside other parents.
Can new families attend a Parent Practicum?
Absolutely! Practicum is open to any parent interested in classical education, whether you’re already enrolled in Classical Conversations or exploring it for the first time. Many families attend Practicum after an Information meeting and before deciding to join CC, finding it helpful to experience the methods firsthand. You’ll be welcomed warmly regardless of where you are in your homeschool journey.
How to Join Parent Practicum 2026
Ready for your own classical education renewal? Parent Practicum registration is simple. These local events happen across the country during the summer months, led by Classical Conversations leadership in your area. The practicum schedule varies by location, so you can find a date and venue that works for your family.
Whether you’re preparing for your first year of homeschooling or gearing up for another semester ahead, these summer homeschool equipping events offer exactly what homeschool parents need: a chance to refocus on why we started, refuel with practical skills, and refresh through meaningful connection before the academic year begins.
Register for Parent Practicum 2026
Come discover what’s new. Come remember what endures. We can’t wait to see you there.
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