"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth." —George Washington
A Socratic Approach to History
The study of history is not merely an academic exercise. Rather, it is a discipline that leads to self-knowledge. This, at least, is the Socratic approach to history.
Socrates, the father of Western philosophy, said that the unexamined life is not worth living. In his Socratic Method, he challenged students to develop judgments based on solid evidence and sound reasoning. This Socratic Way is at the core of a classical education.
Using our curriculum, educators facilitate Socratic discussions. By engaging young learners with our history games and American Civics series, they build a firm foundation for Socratic reasoning. And in our Online Academy, homeschool students participate in live class discussions about history, literature, and government & economics.
JOIN THE DOLPHIN SOCIETY FOR EXCLUSIVE RESOURCES, TRAINING COURSES, STUDENT SAMPLE DISCUSSIONS, BOOK CLUB, AND MORE!
Teaching the Socratic Discussion in History
Apply the Socratic approach to history with confidence using this seminar for Socratic history teachers. No prior experience is required! With this guide, school and home educators gain the skills needed to train future historians.
A Growing List of 2024 Conventions: Come and see us at the booth!
Great Homeschooling Conventions: South Carolina: March 14-16 Ohio: April 4-6 California: June 13-15
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Great History Challenge May 23 - 25 Chicago Utah Fits All Scholarship June 15th Salt Lake City SCCHE June 15th Costa Mesa AFHE July 12-13 Phoenix
Testimonials
On-line History classes: The class is really amazing. This is our first year homeschooling and we were previously at a private "classical" school. The teacher is knowledgeable and most importantly is patient and explains the topics until the students understand the discussion. Mary Lou - Parent
I have really enjoyed taking this class, I feel as though I have learned a lot about the way our country works. I really appreciated that instead of just stuffing our heads with facts, we were encouraged to think critically and form our own opinions about different topics. The small class size was really helpful because it made it easy to voice my thoughts and to hear other opinions. I feel that Mr. De Gree really believes in what he is teaching and he really cares about giving us the tools to be effective members of our society. I believe that after taking this class, I am much more knowledgeable and equipped to be an active participant in our government. Hannah - Student
Curriculum: I absolutely LOVE the critical thinking aspects of the (Take a Stand!) curriculum. Too few curricular address the idea of critical thinking skills. There is much written for the children to memorize and recount at the appropriate times, but are they understanding what they are reading? Implementing critical thinking into the reading and discussion of history is a powerful tool to help our children understand what they are reading as well as form an opinion and knowledge that they will be able to use in many situations in life. I also love the discussion and multi-age aspects of the curriculum. Being able to have discussions around the dinner table with family are some of the most important times you will have will your children. These are very good learning opportunities that are disappearing from too many families today. The children are able to read the material and discuss it at their level; they will understand the material better with discussion and help teach each other at the same time. This would also work wonderfully in a homeschool co-op setting! I have been looking at a number of different social studies programs for the middle and older grades and am very excited to come across Take a Stand! I am anxious to use it in my homeschool as well as recommend it to others. Amy B., Maine - Parent
Grace had an excellent time using your program. It was a terrific way to have her delve deep into history. I very much appreciated that she learned the skills of the Socratic discussion while learning about history. Also, Grace has learned how early civilizations can have a great impact on other civilizations. I'm glad that she is strengthening her knowledge of how the various events of history affect each other. Your prompts for every essay brought my daughter to think critically. On top of all this, your videos were a great aid. Thank you very much. Mrs. Moore - Parent
Games: Thanks!! I am loving the Medieval History Memory Game. It PERFECTLY complements our Classical Conversations Cycle this next year! Stephanie Buckner - Parent
Schools: "I highly recommend The Classical Historian to any administrator looking for an outstanding history curriculum for their program. Within the classical education model history teachers are asked to go to original sources and conduct Socratic seminars. The Classical Historian offers this material in easy to reference and implement formats with assignments, instructional guides, and step by step Socratic seminars. Any student taking these courses not only becomes highly educated in history but also a critical thinker. Mentoring new teachers in the classical model can be a monumental task. This curriculum trains a teacher through a sound educational approach and puts master teacher instruction into their hands. This curriculum was the answer to years of inconsistent course offerings. It has turned a struggling history program into one of our greatest strengths. Thank you!" Christianna Fogler, Chief Executive Officer, Rocky Mountain Classical Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado
All around: Classical Historian has been a gift to our family! As a homeschooling mom for 10+ years, I’ve carefully vetted science curricula for my children, since our family’s beliefs often don’t align with many secular science choices. However, I didn’t realize I should be paying close attention to history curriculum, too. In the past several years, I began to learn about the anti-American spin in many history books. Last year, with growing awareness, my search for a curriculum that I felt presented truth brought me to Classical Historian. We have been purchasing their materials since then and are very pleased with the content and the reader-friendly materials. They have a variety of options, including live, online classes, recorded classes, and student texts with teacher guides. The customer service has been fantastic! Five stars!!! Moriah Chon - Parent