The ebook Taxes for CC Licensed Directors by Carol Topp, CPA is now available
Classical Conversations communities are in outreach/enrollment mode now, so I thought I'd share my experiences as a first year Foundations/Essentials director to help those of you on the fence about stepping up, or simply to help you be open to the job if the opportunity presents itself in the future! My CC Background I spent three years as a journeymen and masters tutor and did one stint as a Practicum Foundations tutor trainer before stepping up to direct. Over those three years, I was being unintentionally mentored by my previous director who developed an amazing community from scratch! This much CC experience is not always the case for new directors, and you absolutely DO NOT have to have "experience" to effectively lead a community!! All you truly need is to be called by the Lord and trust that He will equip you for the task. Even though my community was established, we have felt like a brand new group this year because of our circumstances. I took over as director and we changed locations. We also saw a big shift in families because several went to help birth a brand new community for our area (healthy splits to accommodate growth are the best!), some families needed to take a year off for various reasons, and new families joined us. Somewhere along the way I was given the best advice about directing: get as much as you can done in the summer, and then the workload isn't bad during the year. These initial plans really laid the groundwork for the year. In the summers we do a fair amount of road-tripping, so I always brought my CC stuff with me to go over while the kids watched DVDs in the van. Summer Planning Met potential families, enrolled families, sent invoices, and collected payments Attended Practicum training for both Foundations and Essentials Held one last info meeting Familiarized myself with the Portal and utilized recorded webinars Made a family handbook based on the one my previous director used Planned the community's calendar for the year Found fantastic financial planning documents in the Director's Facebook group and customized them to fit my needs Opened a checking account (I found a completely free account through a local credit union) Figured out a filing system that would work for me Secured nursery caregiver (This isn't a director's job, but it made life a lot easier for everyone having someone lined up). This was perhaps the most valuable to me: Scoured science projects and visual arts projects and made my own lists for supplies. There are lists already available but I felt like I knew the projects better by making my own lists. Made lists for the classroom supplies the students would use Shopped for most of the year's supplies once I received payments from families in late July Learned how to be crazy flexible as we added last minute families and I had to get a new tutor trained 2 weeks before we started! I also have quarterly, weekly, and ongoing things to attend to as well. Quarterly Planning Once we hit the halfway point in the current quarter, I finalize plans for the next quarter so I'm not running around at the last minute to be ready for the next tutor meeting. Finalize art and science projects and shop for any remaining/last minute supplies Pay tutors for previous quarter Plan for and lead tutor meeting for the upcoming quarter Weekly Planning I have a master packing list in a page protector for both my kids' stuff and my director stuff. I use wet-erase markers to check off what I've packed so I don't miss anything. Depending on the week, I might start packing and checking things off the list mid-week or just do it all the day before CC. Gather art supplies for the week Gather science supplies for the week Email tutors to refresh them on the projects and share helpful tips/links that I see come through tutor/director Facebook groups. Review for Opening Meeting -- announcements, birthdays, Family Presentation reminder, etc. Community Day Baby holding: a definite perk of directing! Make sure tutors have their class supplies and are ready for the day; lead short 10 minute meeting for a quick review of art/science and to pray! Field texts and calls with absences; make adjustments as necessary Hold babies :-) Lead opening meeting Visit classrooms and assess tutors to offer praise and encouragement Take pictures for our yearbook Sit in on my own kids' classes as much as possible Visit with families at lunchtime Ongoing I have a dedicated clipboard with notebook paper where I am making continual to-do tasks so I don't forget anything. I'm a list maker and a very visual person so this works best for me. Keep CC checkbook balanced and finances in order Email families as necessary with updates, reminders, events, etc. Think of fun things to do and delegate (this is not all up to the director!) - holiday parties, field trips, moms' nights, etc. It's really hard to pinpoint a specific number of hours I "work" each week. I honestly feel like once we got going in August, the community went into auto-pilot and runs smoothly and efficiently. I put in a couple hours the day before CC to make sure everything is put together for both the community and my own family. Some weeks it might be more if the circumstances necessitate it. Quarterly, I might spend several hours all together to get projects ready and to plan/host the tutor meeting. I've heard outreach season is the next busiest after the summer. I'm starting to see that as I spend more time at the computer advertising open houses and info meetings and emailing with prospective parents. This first year directing has grown and stretched me as a leader. I've learned that I won't die by implementing Matthew 18 and going directly to a person to discuss a problem. Ha! I've learned to discern when it's best to ask for opinions or to just make a decision. Finally [this is so embarrassing to admit], I've learned that I'm not as inept at managing finances as I once was when I overdrew my account shortly before our wedding, and my sweet hubby-to-be lovingly suggested he manage the family finances and has been doing so for over 12 years! I can add and subtract AND balance a checkbook to the penny!! Those Saxon math lessons I've been teaching for 6 years are paying off ya'll!! Beyond managing these kinds of things on your own, directors have the amazing support of our aptly-titled Support Representatives. Having that local support has been so helpful in my first year! And I've also appreciated the information and help that is available on the Portal discussion forums. I've only posted on there a couple times, but each time I was given a very prompt response. It's good to know there are folks out there who have my back when I need it. With that, I hope this gives you a little glimpse into the experiences of a first-year director! (I'm having some formatting issues tonight with Blogger so if font is crazy, that's why!)
I have spoken to several Classical Conversations (CC) Directors who tell me that they gave themselves a 1099-MISC to report what they paid themselves.
Read, "The Most Important Qualification for Directors". Gain the tools and confidence to educate with a Christ-centered, community-based approach today.
I'm in my fourth year of directing a Challenge program for Classical Conversations. I started off in Challenge A with my oldest, then moved up to Challenge B, and Challenge I with him. This year, I went back down to Challenge A again to tutor my daughter's class. My husband directed Challenge A last year,…
In this short little post, I want to show you my system for organizing art as a homeschool community art teacher. I’ll walk you through my process including picking out projects, preparing for Tutor Meetings, and grabbing needed supplies on community day. You can listen to an audio version of this blog post at the Ridge...
I'm in my fourth year of directing a Challenge program for Classical Conversations. I started off in Challenge A with my oldest, then moved up to Challenge B, and Challenge I with him. This year, I went back down to Challenge A again to tutor my daughter's class. My husband directed Challenge A last year,…
***NOTICE!!! - PLEASE READ!!!!*** - These files are digital files. Upon purchase, Etsy automatically sends out a download link to access your purchase. They only send this once. Since the email and download link come from Etsy, we have no control to resend, send somewhere else, or deliver your files to you any other way (per Etsy rules). To make sure you actually get the files PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE check out using a VALID email address. ***BEST ADVICE EVER*** --- If you want to guarantee you never lose your purchased files and maintain the ability to re-download them whenever needed, then PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE first log in to your Etsy account (or sign up for one for free) BEFORE purchasing. Then, not only will Etsy send you a download link after purchasing but your files will also automatically be sent to your Etsy account (find them under purchases) where they will stay, easily accessed, forever. One more note: digital files are not accessible through the Etsy app. You need a browser to access the files after purchase. Ok, serious stuff done! Thanks for listening, you rock! Now, on to the good stuff: I directed Challenge A last year. While we were creating the planners for our students, we made an insert that helped me capture my most important things during planning. It's ALL about the conversation, but I was able to jot down my Exordium for each strand along with a few other handy notes to stay on track. It is so simple to implement. We also added some amazing extras: a topic wheel, student & parent reminders, and an assessment space. We designed it to seamlessly fit right into your guide, which means its ALL right there. Cover options are included as a download for anyone who prefers to have a planner that is less bulky than the whole guide. Simply print your planner pages, choose a cover, add in all the appropriate guide appendices or keep those separate, and gather it in a binder. You can also use your favorite alternative way to get it bound after you put it just the right way. The Challenge A Director Planner has 120 pages! Looking for a different level? All our Director planner links are listed below for easy locating! Challenge B Director Planner can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1167522220/ch-b-director-classical-conversations?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=challenge+director+planner&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1 Challenge 1 Director Planner can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1167542898/ch-1-director-classical-conversations?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=challenge+director+planner&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&sts=1&organic_search_click=1 Challenge 2 Director Planner can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1167542898/ch-1-director-classical-conversations?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=challenge+director+planner&ref=sr_gallery-1-2&sts=1&organic_search_click=1 Challenge 3 Director Planner can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1172425734/ch-3-director-classical-conversations?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=challenge+director+planner&ref=sr_gallery-1-11&sts=1&organic_search_click=1 Challenge 4 Director Planner can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1245590551/ch-4-director-classical-conversations?click_key=f3fbd94f01cf6c62789fbfd988fe3555de76ac46%3A1245590551&click_sum=7d194056&ref=shop_home_active_1&sts=1 Please note that you will not receive any physical products. This listing is for digital PDF files and is not refundable. No Challenge copyright material is included in this purchase. The images in listing are for demonstration purposes only. This file is for personal use only. Please do not share the digital files or sell. By purchasing and downloading this item you agree to abide by the following copyright: All images and designs listed by PS31MARKETPLACE are copyright and property of PS31MARKETPLACE and are for personal use only. Please do not distribute these files or the printed documents for commercial use or share with a third party. You do not have permission to take portions of the artwork or designs and add to other creations and distribute or sell. Thank you for honoring these Copyright rules. These planner pages are intended to compliment Classical Conversations Challenge level guides and are not approved or endorsed by Classical Conversations themselves. To find the guides that these planners support, please refer to the Classical Conversations website, or reach out to your local Classical Conversations representative. Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for: Custom or personalized orders & Digital downloads
It can be difficult to know how to navigate the CC challenge years as a parent. This tool will help parents feel confident to stay the teacher throughout.
good lord, marshall. i'll never get tired of you.
DAISY HAIR NEW MESH Compatible with HQ Mod Category: Hair Custom Thumbnail All LOD’s Daisies Flower found in Hat Scrunchies colors found in Lip Ring/Accessory ♦ @redheadsims-cc tag on your photos, and let me see! thx. ❥ Toddler | DOWNLOAD - (no adfly) Kids | DOWNLOAD - (no adfly) Adult | DOWNLOAD - (no adfly) ♡ [PAYPAL] ♡ Thanks for all that helped ♡ Thank you for using ♡ Thanks for the original Creator ♡ Thanks for all CC creators ♡ Thank for support me × Do not put in any pack × Do not re-upload × Recolor Allowed × Conversion Allowed LINK BROKEN, ORIGINAL MESH CREDITS OR ANY PROBLEM PLEASE CONTACT ME BY MESSAGE.
This week is not over and we have not completed everything listed here, but I thought I would post anyway. History Week 3: We learne...
This product is meant for interactive notebooks. Students cut this out, glue it in their notebooks and take notes about each of the layers in the atmosphere.
Tin Whistle, Teaching Tin Whistle, CC Music, Fine Arts, CC Cycle 3, Music Theory
Our top tips for thriving in Classical Conversations Challenge A. Learn from our experience and make your year a bit easier!
Thoughtful Momma Monday As we dive into the world of Classical Conversations this week (Wow! Already?!), I wanted to be prepare...
Aside from an appreciation for music, I have no other knowledge of it or possess any talent myself. My son's music teacher’s “tee tee tah” lesson on music notes had my son trying to teach me, though. His curiosity became mine too. To help him learn the names of the music notes and practice some math, I designed this fun activity. Download the music measure mat, cheat sheet, and notes/rests cards here. The objective? See how many different combinations of notes can be used to create a measure of music with a 4/4 time signature. I made some “note” cards and a cheat sheet that showed all the notes and rests and the number of beats each has. After cutting the cards and taping together the music measure mat, my son sorted the cards into piles. Then I told him that the top number in the time signature (4/4) told us that each measure of music should have four beats. Each note does not have 1 beat, some have as little as a half beat, others as much as 4 beats. I told him to fill the measure with notes and rests that added to four beats. He started with the easiest combinations: 1 whole note and then four quarter notes. But they got progressively harder. I had to explain that two half beats equal one beat (I used an apple cut in half to show how two halves equal one whole). Then, the fun really began – using the eighth notes and eighth rests! More and more cards were laid down. This was a great way to boost my son’s music vocabulary and work on counting, addition, and fractions. We made LOTS of different combinations of notes and rests that added to four beats. I lost count after he created 13 measures!
Hi. I converted "The Director’s Set" (Origin Bonus) and "Movie Backdrop" from TS3 Movie Stuff Pack. I hope you find it useful =) DOWNLOAD
Gucci was founded in 1921, but it remains as one of the top-of-mind luxury brands. With the help of creative directors such as Tom Ford and Alessandro Michele, the Italian fashion house continues to…
I am a first time tutor this year with Classical Conversations and I will be tutoring the Foundations program. I am super nervous because I really want to make sure that I do a good job with these …
I have spoken to several Classical Conversations (CC) Directors who tell me that they gave themselves a 1099-MISC to report what they paid themselves.
Tutoring tips, ways to tutor, ideas for tutoring, how to tutor, CC tutoring, simple tutoring
State of The Times, an annual event hosted by the New York Times (NYT), brings together the company’s employees to celebrate their journalism, keep up with their business strategy, and offers them a chance to connect. More than just a town hall meeting, the event gets a fresh update for each edition. For 2024’s conference, Jessi Brattengeier – NYT’s Creative Director – brought in London-based CC Studio to collaborate on the identity and a motion system.
Enjoy Grandma Moses artist study in your homeschool with easy biographies and art activities for kids of all ages.
