Common Questions
The word scholé (pronounced skoh-LAY) comes from a Greek word that means “restful learning,” with a connotation of “contemplation,” “conversation,” and “reflection.” Scholé Groups are homeschooling communities that not only employ the content of a classical curriculum, but they also try to create an environment that allows for and encourages restful reflection of what is being studied. A true classical education must be balanced with scholé for enjoyable, permanent learning to occur.
Traditionally, the purpose of studying the liberal arts and the great books has been to seek truth, goodness, and beauty. Over the centuries, classical education has produced many great leaders, and Scholé Groups were formed to support the continuance of this tradition. Committed to the restoration of this proven form of education, these groups are helping to cultivate wisdom and virtue in their students.
Employing teaching practices that encourage and inspire students to value contemplation and conversation rather than merely “covering” a wide range of material, students are delighted to discover how refreshing meaningful engagement with the liberal arts can be.
Recovering the classical tradition and the scholé approach is only made possible by collaboration, which is why Scholé Groups were formed. Each group is connected to a vibrant community of adult and student learners, creating a network of shared gifts, helpful experience, and learned wisdom. The larger Scholé Groups network, which spans the globe, gives each individual community access to practical resources, guiding and equipping them in their efforts to reach one common goal and ideal—a deep and meaningful education for their students.
For the first time since opening in 2018, The Scholé Fellowship will offer a one day or two days option for enrolled families, meeting on Tuesday and Thursday each week. We are currently visiting potential locations and will update our website as soon as our decision has been finalized. Our tutorial day will begin at 9:00 and end at 3:30.
Our scope and sequence includes assignments for 33 weeks, divided across three eleven week terms. Reading assignments and workload are carefully distributed across the terms, helping to promote and encourage scholé, and week 11 in each term are exam weeks.
The Schloé Fellowship always considers Knox County Schools’ calendar for Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, Spring Break and Good Friday when planning our community days. Most of the time, these breaks will align with Knox County each year.
Although there are a few similarities between The ScholĂ© Fellowship and other classical homeschooling options, families will find that there are some significant differences. Similar to other options, The ScholĂ© Fellowship meets at least one day of the week, offers families the blessing of community as well as accountability, and provides an outlet for school experiences that work best in community. Some of these experiences might include science experiments, history and literature discussions, and drama. But The ScholĂ© Fellowship also offers a second day each week for interested families. And while many homeschooling communities offer individual “credits,” concentrate on academic subjects needed for graduation, or emphasize and promote college prep, we believe “education is the science of relations.” The ScholĂ© Fellowship tutorial program provides families with “a full and generous curriculum,” and integrated subjects allow for narration, conversation, contemplation, and experimentation each week. We aim to “develop a person” not just their “technical skill,” and believe that education “is only begun at school”, but is “continued throughout life.” We are holistic (as opposed to reductionistic) in our purpose, incorporating teaching practices that foster a more cooperative, not competitive, atmosphere on campus. We desire to be a community of practice—ordering our time together, our meeting spaces, and our habits—so that our children learn to love what is lovely, and believe that no traditional, classical, Christian education is complete without this balanced approach. In short, if you are looking for something more than just classical curriculum, you might find The ScholĂ© Fellowship appealing. We try hard to avoid using classical curriculum for utilitarian ends, and believe that, because of God’s faithfulness, our children will realize their “possibilities,” know their “capabilities,” honor their “duties,” and “determine the power belonging to them as persons.” Should they desire to attend college, they will be more than prepared.
Most families would find it difficult to be in community with more than one homeschooling group. The commitment required by each group would not leave much time for homeschooling. We do want you to be aware that space is limited, therefore when we are considering applicants priority is given to families with plans to register with The Scholé Fellowship only.
The Scholé Fellowship is a parent-founded community and parent participation is essential to the overall wellness and success of the community. The church is a body with many members, and each member has an important role to play for the good of the whole body (1 Cor. 12:12). While it is not necessary for parents to be on campus with their student(s) each week, they are expected to periodically volunteer to serve the community. This is a simple way to love your neighbor (Matt. 22:39) and a practical opportunity for parents to model this virtue for their children. As a community, we also seek to learn and grow together, so we read one director-assigned book or selection each semester. Accountability is one of the advantages and blessings of homeschooling within a community. Our parents are eager to take advantage of this built-in opportunity to model a love of learning for their children. They agree that reading with other parents builds community, helps them become an informed and inspired teacher, and helps to create a clear vision for their homeschooling efforts.
Our professional Academic Mentors, who love what they teach, partner with parents to provide feedback for each student, which they will find helpful when it comes to assessment. They will model a love of learning, encourage students to dig deep into classical subjects, and facilitate conversation and reflection during their community day. With weekly communication from your student’s mentor, you will find your homeschooling simplified and you will feel equipped and encouraged to homeschool through high school.
Ultimately, we want students to focus on learning and not on their “grades.” We seek to assess students based on the faithful exercise of their God-given abilities. One important way to adopt restful, classical teaching is to grade without dependence on the 100 point scale, which tends to focus students not on learning but, on “getting the grade.” We therefore encourage all of our families to downplay numerical, data-driven grading. Homework evaluation, quizzes, tests and the final grade will always be at the discretion of the parent at home. Academic mentors will help parents evaluate their students by providing written and verbal feedback on class participation, projects, presentations, and on written work prior to the final draft. Students are put at ease because they know and trust that they will be given a cumulative assessment based on the level of mastery with which they end the course; they are motivated to continue striving for magna cum laude (with great praise). You, with the help of your student’s mentor, will create a learning environment that gives your student the freedom to master the subject while simultaneously cultivating a real love of learning.
In The Scholé Fellowship’s scope and sequence our students may receive honors credit for all of their high school history requirements and English requirements. Other honors credits available include Worldview, Philosophy, Theology, Government, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
The Apostles’ Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilot, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
The Scholé Fellowship has carefully evaluated what the true cost per student is for a year in community. It is important to us that our families feel that they are getting a good value and we try very hard to be good stewards of all our available resources. At this time, there is no tuition cap or discount for more than one registered child, as our tuition costs are low and, we think, very fair, and we promise to do our part to keep them that way.
