The Apprenticeship
is our Heart.
For over 15 years the CiRCE Apprenticeship has been equipping teachers to understand the nature and principles of classical education, and showing how those principles can be brought back to any classroom.
“The CiRCE Apprenticeship has been a deeply formative experience . . . I have grown in my ability as a teacher and am learning how to truly love my students. The Apprenticeship is intense and challenging, but worth every moment. The fellowship of being in a group of people who share a common desire to love the true, good, and beautiful is unlike anything else I have ever experienced.”
Jill C.
“Just say yes. This program changed my life. When I entered the apprenticeship I had never read a classic, I did not understand the connection between form and freedom, and I had a lot of growing to do as a teacher. Because of this program, not only did I grow and learn in all of those areas, but I also became a better human, a better friend, a better neighbor. Please check this out. You will not regret it.”
Jennifer D.
While prayerfully seeking to be transformed by the renewal of my mind, I feel less conformed to the world, and more attuned to God’s will and His goodness, truth, and beauty all around. For brevity sake: the Apprenticeship makes me see less dimly.”
Nancy D.
Discover the CiRCE Apprenticeship!
The CiRCE Institute’s Apprenticeship Program is an in-depth, personal teacher development community in which a Master Teacher mentors a small group of educators in classical rhetoric and classical modes of instruction. It’s founded on the idea that to feed students properly teachers must feed themselves. With mentorship and community at its core, it’s a program for teachers (from all walks of life) who want to drink deeply from the wisdom of the ages, engage in inspiring conversation with like-minded friends, and push hard towards Truth, Wisdom, and Virtue.
Mentorship Matters
The mentor/apprentice relationship–and the community that springs out of it–is the very heart of the program. Each of our seven groups is kept small so that mentors and apprentices can truly know each other. The mentors guide the apprentices by providing assessment that blesses them, accountability that strengthens them, and regular discussions that nurture them. The environment is welcoming and safe, the community develops over shared meals and stories, the pedagogy is founded on Christian classical education forms, and the assessment is for the apprentice to flourish. These are the things that set this teacher training program apart.
Live Q&A!
Do you have questions about how the CiRCE Apprenticeship works? Our head mentors are here to help! Each week this spring, one of them will be available via online Zoom room to answer your questions about the program. So whether you have questions about the curriculum, the retreat experience, or the purpose of the program, we’re here to clarify.
Click the link to join during any of the times listed below. This will also be the link to all future dates, so keep it handy!
Passcode: Homer
The Head Mentors
COMMON QUESTIONS
The Apprenticeship curriculum operates on a three-term rotation in which each term corresponds with one academic year. Thus every apprentice completing three consecutive years will cover all of the selected literature. For example, an apprentice who joins during Term B advances to Term C and concludes with Term A. Each term works through The Lost Tools of Writing, Norms and Nobility, and three selections from classical literature. Additionally, apprentices teach The Lost Tools of Writing weekly at home to a group of one or many students.
The Apprenticeship curriculum operates on a three-term rotation in which each term corresponds with one academic year. Thus every apprentice completing three consecutive years will cover all of the selected literature. For example, an apprentice who joins during Term B advances to Term C and concludes with Term A. Each term works throughThe Lost Tools of Writing;David Hicks’ influential book,Norms and Nobility;and three selections from classical literature. Titles are subject to change.
Term A: 2023 – 2024
- Homer:Iliad
- Plato:Gorgias
- Shakespeare:Hamlet
- David Hicks:Norms and Nobility
- The Lost Tools of Writing
Term B: 2021 – 2022
- Homer:Odyssey
- Plato:Meno
- Shakespeare:Julius Caesar
- David Hicks:Norms and Nobility
- The Lost Tools of Writing
Term C: 2022 – 2023
- Virgil:Aeneid
- Plato:Phaedrus
- Shakespeare:The Tempest
- David Hicks:Norms and Nobility
- The Lost Tools of Writing
学徒和熟练工写一些文章the assigned readings and post regularly on the apprenticeship forum. In addition, participants have the opportunity to learn and practice classical modes of instruction (Mimetic and Socratic) at the retreats. All apprentices apply the skills learned to their own teaching in the classroom or at home.
Apprentices attend two retreats each year: a 5-day summer retreat and a 4-day winter retreat. The summer retreat initiates a year-long journey with fellow apprentices and the Head Mentor and is held at the end of July or early August at a location determined by the Head Mentor. Apprentices MUST be present for the duration of the retreat. The winter retreat is held during a week in February determined by the Head Mentor. Both retreats are refreshing times of learning, fellowship, and camaraderie.
“The August and February retreats are some of the best parts of the Apprenticeship. Spending a week with your fellow apprentices not only helps you bond together as a friends, but also gives you greater opportunities to learn from each other’s strengths. There is no better way to learn mimetic pedagogy than to spend a week watching mimetic lessons and teaching one of your own. The banquets are true moments of leisure and celebration of the fruits of a challenging week’s honest labors!”
从佛罗里达——雅各,学徒
///
Each year apprentices attend two retreats, a 5-day summer retreat and a 4-day winter retreat. They also participate in regular webinar discussions. The summer retreat initiates a year-long journey with fellow apprentices and the Head Mentor. It is held at the end of July/early August at a location determined by the Head Mentor. Apprentices MUST be present for the duration of the retreat. During the summer retreat, each apprentice observes, teaches, and assesses a mimetic lesson drawn fromThe Lost Tools of Writing.
The winter retreat is held sometime in February (each group’s mentor will choose a week). Once again, each apprentice observes, teaches, and assesses a mimetic lesson drawn fromThe Lost Tools of Writing. Both retreats are refreshing times of learning, fellowship, and camaraderie.
Apprentices should expect to cover their own travel, lodging, and personal expenses.
Each month, September through May, the Head Mentor meets with participants in a 90-minute live webinar. Apprentices and journeymen attend separate webinars. A third webinar brings the apprentices and journeymen together to discuss the reading. Each new apprentice is assigned a mentor from among the journeymen to assist them throughout the year. Apprentices meet with their journeyman-mentors once each month, and more frequently if needed.
///
WEBINAR TIMES
East Coast (Bianco) – Wednesdays, 3:30-5 EST
East Coast (Holler) – Tuesdays, 4-5:30 EST
East Coast (Shirley) – Tuesdays, 3:30-5 EST
Mid-Atlantic (Mooradian) – Wednesdays, 5:30-7 EST
Gulf Coast TX (Mathis)– Tuesdays, 4:30-6 CST
Midwest OH (Rychener) – Thursdays, 4-5:30pm EST
Rocky Mountain (Lipinski) – Wednesdays, 3:30-5pm MST
SUMMER RETREATS
East Coast (Bianco) NC – July 24 – 28, 2023
East Coast (Holler) NC – July 31 – August 4, 2023
East Coast (Shirley) NC – July 24 – 28, 2023
Mid-Atlantic PA – August 7 – 11, 2023
Gulf Coast TX – July 31 – August 4, 2023
Midwest OH – July 24 – 28, 2023
Rocky Mountain CO – July 17 – 21, 2023
WINTER RETREATS
East Coast (Bianco) NC – Feb 7 – 10, 2024
East Coast (Holler) NC – Feb 21 – 24, 2024
East Coast (Shirley) NC – Feb 21 – 24, 2024
Mid-Atlantic MD – Feb 7 – 10, 2024
Gulf Coast TX – Feb 14 – 17, 2024
Midwest OH – Feb 21 – 24, 2024
Rocky Mountain AZ – Feb 7 – 10, 2024
Airport Cities to reach Retreat Locations
East Coast (Bianco) NC – Charlotte, NC in July and Knoxville, TN in Feb
East Coast (Holler) NC – Knoxville, TN
East Coast (Shirley) NC – Kernersville, NC
Mid-Atlantic (Mooradian) – Philadelphia, PA in Aug and Baltimore, MD (or possibly remaining in Philadelphia) in Feb
Gulf Coast TX (Mathis) – Dallas, TX (Love Field) for Fairfield, TX
Midwest OH (Rychener) – In Ohio, 1 hour from Cleveland or Detroit airports
Rocky Mountain (Lipinski) – Denver, CO in Aug and Phoenix, AZ in Feb
CiRCE apprentices come from a wide range of circumstances, including homeschooling parents, private and public school teachers, homeschool co-op instructors, academic deans, and school administrators.
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN AN APPRENTICE
We seriously consider any candidate who expresses commitment to Christian classical education. We especially seek candidates who desire to teach in a way that honors the child and the subject taught; who cultivate a love for truth, goodness, and beauty; who love and respect God, man, and the creation; and who embrace their own ignorance–that is, who preserve a humility that recognizes limitations.
PROFILE OF AN APPRENTICE
CiRCE apprentices enjoy reading great literature, discussing important ideas in small groups, and writing about these ideas to enhance their understanding and compositional skills. Apprentices are eager to learn and willing to be corrected. They work hard to understand and communicate ideas. They love teaching, or want to learn to love it.
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE
All applicants should be actively involved in some form of education. Such involvement might include homeschooling, classroom instruction, co-op instruction, or administration.
Apprentices will have to travel to the two mandatory retreats each year. The retreats take place during early August and February in or near Charlotte, North Carolina (East Coast groups); Houston, Texas (Gulf Coast group), Cleveland, OH (Midwest group), Denver, CO (Rocky Mountain group); and Newbury, NH/Annapolis, MD (Mid-Atlantic group). The Mid-Atlantic group could also meet near Philadelphia, PA.
In total, you can expect to spend approximately 6-10 hours a week on the Apprenticeship; some people even say 4-7 hours is sufficient. The workload estimates depend on your current teaching circumstances. Apprentices are required to teach The Lost Tools of Writing at home throughout all three years while they are in the program. This teaching requirement can be met in a teacher’s current classroom or in a new setting. Some apprentices teach their spouse, teach their children, teach a group of fellow teachers from school, or launch a new class and offer it to their homeschool community.
The Apprenticeship costs $2850/year in tuition, plus a $400 administration fee upon acceptance. There is a non-refundable $75 application fee to apply for the Apprenticeship. In addition to the tuition and deposit, apprentices should expect to pay for travel, lodging, and food for the two retreats. A general estimated cost for each retreat is $500 plus airfare if applicable. Including all fees and expenses, the estimated cost for one year in the Apprenticeship is $4250.
赛丝学徒不会导致一个学位, as CiRCE is not a degree-granting institution. However, due to changes in accreditation and credit granting over the last several years, it is now possible to be granted graduate level credits for your work in the CiRCE Institute’s Master Teacher Apprenticeship by colleges willing to do so. Colleges are allowed and some have given credit for “prior learning experience” (the term the regulatory bodies use to describe this kind of credit) to people who have participated in the Apprenticeship program. If you are interested in earning a graduate degree, you should contact the specific school you are in or are considering to see if they will grant prior learning experience credit for the Apprenticeship.
An apprentice is a first-year participant. Second and third-year participants who have met all first-year requirements are referred to as journeymen. As a journeyman, you take on a mentoring role with the first year apprentices and are required to read different material. The costs, travel, and time commitments are the same for journeyman as they are for apprentices.These terms indicate progress in the program.
Apprentices receive an evaluation in December for the fall semester and in May for the spring semester. During evaluations, Head Mentors provide apprentices with valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement. Apprentices are assessed on their participation, teaching, and writing.
Apprentices receive an evaluation in December for the fall semester and in May for the spring semester. During evaluations Head Mentors provide apprentices with valuable feedback and suggestions for improvement. Apprentices are assessed on their participation, teaching, and writing.
Participation: Attended both retreats and at least two webinars each month as well as post twice monthly on the internet forums.
Teaching: Implemented Classical instruction at the retreats and at home
Writing: Read all the assigned material and completed the assigned essays each semester.
To be recognized as a CiRCE Certified Classical Teacher participants must:
Attend 6 retreats
Attend at least two of the three webinars scheduled for each month from September to May
Complete all writing assignments, including assigned essays and regular contributions to online discussion
Implement mimetic instruction at home or in the classroom
Read all assigned literature
Fulfill all payment obligations
Earn passing marks on evaluations distributed twice per year
An apprentice who does not fulfill the necessary requirements will be awarded an Audit Credit.
We have a number of preparatory options that are less time-consuming and demanding than the full program.
For various reasons, teachers may not be ready (or able) to join the apprenticeship. For teachers who want to develop the art of classical instruction from home, CiRCE offers two additional programs.
The Lost Tools of Writingfor Adults online class is a six weeks commitment with a weekly class lead by Apprenticeship graduates. We teach just about each lesson in the curriculum and discuss how you too can teach it and assess it with your students. This course is called a Six Week Intensive because we do with you what we ask you to not do with your students; we teach many lessons in one week. This class is designed to prepare the teacher to teach the lessons. Teachers will come to a fuller knowledge of these tools after using them to write their own essays and after teaching them to their students. No class or intensive replaces this work! We are here to help guide you.
Our Atrium programexplores the foundations of Christian classical education with only online classes and discussions. It is a one year (nine/ten month) commitment. For teachers, administrators, and learners, we offer a variety of options to cultivate wisdom and virtue. Andrew Kern, our founder and President, leads an Atrium course on rhetoric, the liberal art of decision making in community. Peter Vande Brake leads an Atrium course reading to understand David Hicks’ classical education treatise,Norms and Nobility. We are currently developing additional professional development courses.
The Lost Tools of Writingfor Adults and theAtriumare both excellent preparations for the Apprenticeship.