CLRC: Classical Learning Resource Center

A CLRC information page hosted by saintkosmas.org

We, at CLRC, are very pleased to be in partnership with the Saint Kosmas Conference in the important work of providing resources, inspiration, and training for families and schools that are immersed in the work of Orthodox education. The Saint Kosmas Conferences provide an invaluable space for discussion, prayer, and community among a wide variety of people who are deeply committed to the task of Orthodox education. It’s been a joy to meet up with CLRC teachers and students with whom I’ve worked online for years, and to forge relationships with new friends and colleagues as well!

— Anne Van Fossen
Founder and Chief Academic Officer of CLRC

When we were homeschooling our children in Greece, our children were taking courses through CLRC. They were learning Greek and ancient Greek through CLRC, even though we were living in Greece! And they were studying Latin as well. It was a wonderful, tremendous experience for our children. They loved the classes. They loved the teacher, Anne Van Fossen, who gave so much of her time and effort. Any time of the day or week that we would write to her, I would have an email back right away. I remember many times calculating the time because there was a ten hour difference [between her location in Idaho and our location in Greece] and I thought, “She’s answering me at four o’clock in the morning! She's working early before she goes out to the animals!” She has sheep and goats and other animals she takes care of. So, we became very close. And then when we saw her here [at the Saint Kosmas Conference], we were just so happy to see her, like a member of the family! I can't recommend CLRC enough! If you're homeschooling or if you're interested in learning Latin and Greek, CLRC is the place to go online as far as I'm concerned, because it's really well done and also because you have a teacher who loves the children and supports them and is interested in their future in terms of their education!

— Archpriest Peter Heers, D.Th.

We have been most grateful for another wonderful year with CLRC.  Our son Luke participated in Greek 1 with Mrs. Van Fossen.  It was a challenging course that moved with a good pace.  Luke was able to maneuver through this course and learn beginning Greek without having any former lessons in Greek.  The online class sessions were very nicely navigated by both teacher and students.  Luke was able to complete his coursework (including memorization of vocabulary) in about 8-10 hours per week outside of class time.  When problems arose that he didn't understand, Mrs. Van Fossen was always happy to help outside of class time, as well as granting a couple of extensions when we had internet issues, etc.  Fr. Josiah and I were extremely pleased with this CLRC course and would highly recommend both the course and Mrs. Van Fossen as an instructor. 

As a freshman, our son Luke took the Algebra 1 course with CLRC and we were a bit nervous how an online math course would run and if he would truly learn the subject well in that venue since this was the first of our kids to take math online.  We were all pleasantly surprised at how smoothly and effectively the year passed for him in learning the subject and interacting with both his teacher and fellow classmates online. The CLRC instructors all have a genuine interest in the success of their students in learning the material well and helping them through any roadblocks that may otherwise be frustrating.  Luke continued on from that course to take Algebra II, Geometry, a combo Pre Calc/Trig course and is now working on Calculus.  That Algebra I course proved to be foundational for his studies in mathematics and he often states that math is one of his favorite subjects.  

Thank you CLRC for a job well done!

— Archpriest Josiah and Presbytera Catherine Trenham

Thanks to CLRC, my kids are well read, thoughtful, have a great sense of critical thinking....I can't say enough. Best of all, my students went on to EXCEL in post-secondary education! CLRC provided them with an excellent foundation. My last student just got into two VERY competitive university programs. Because they are so competitive, I had him write the SAT (which is not something we typically do in Canada, but I thought if he did well, it would help)....he scored in the 99th percentile, thanks to the rigorous, yet beautiful education he received. Every teacher has been outstanding! One thing my kids have commented on is that the teachers LOVE their subject matter. This makes a huge difference, in that the love of learning is passed on to the students. Anne Van Fossen (founder/director) is an absolute GEM to work with. She has been very responsive to us through the years on anything we contacted her about. I just can't recommend CLRC enough. My youngest was so sad, as was I, to have finished this year. He is planning on hitting them up for a job as a teacher someday! The icing on the cake was meeting like-minded students in the classes and making life-long friendships. Honestly, I've even thought about taking classes myself someday, should time permit.

— Tina Tzoganakis, Ontario

My son has been taking classes from CLRC for about 7 years. I highly recommend CLRC. The teachers are fabulous and work well with your child no matter where they are in their learning or development. There were times where my son needed extra help, and the teachers took time to meet with him out of the classroom. I am also thrilled that I found a place where he could take foreign languages and excel. He has taken Literature and Composition for 4 years, Pre-Algebra, Russian I and II, American History, and Latin for 4 years. This is a fantastic resource for homeschooling families! 

— Kassiane Mulder, Alabama

My daughter has taken a year of Christine Jenning’s drawing classes through CLRC. I highly recommend the class. She had great content and excellent support for her students. She knew how to nurture their intellect and hearts as artists. My daughter made excellent progress over the year. It was such a joy to observe. 

— Ruth Rutledge

One of my daughters took Introduction to Literature and Composition with CLRC and the other took Intermediate Greek 1.  My first daughter learned so much in Introduction to Literature and Composition! She had never written a works cited, five paragraph essay before, so there was a lot to learn. Mrs. Carman expertly led her on with equal amounts encouragement and correction. She enjoyed the books chosen and greatly improved her writing. 

I have been very impressed by how much my other daughter learned in her Intermediate Greek 1 class! It is a tough subject, and though she had to work hard, she was able to keep up and accomplish so much! She enjoyed meeting other students online with similar interests. She loved her teacher and I loved how accessible she was whenever needed.

— Kh. Anastasia Morris, Nebraska

All four of my children are students in CLRC's Literature classes. They each started out in the Upper Elementary Language Arts programs.  The older ones have transitioned into the Literature and Composition classes and now my eldest will begin the American Literature class and my 2nd will take the Intermediate Literature and Composition. Their fellow students have become wonderful friends (although many are long distance, however it made covid19 isolation more bearable) and the teachers are outstanding! I have sat in on many classes and I ask them to take their headphones off so I can hear, learn and laugh too! They have become such strong essay writers and the great books they read make their learning all the more fun. I highly recommend the Upper Elementary Language Arts 1,2 and 3 as well as the Intro to Literature and Composition and British Literature. It is a gradual progression but the teachers are all there to guide them and walk them through it. That is the blessing. The teachers take so much time in their outline, then their rough draft, then their revision etc. 

— Anita Novratidis, Ontario

My daughter was a freshman in high school when I enrolled her in Fr David Morrison's class on the Gospel of St Luke. I'll admit I was a little nervous that taking a "Bible class" might turn reading the Scriptures into an academic exercise for her rather than a labor of love. Instead, Fr David brought the Word to life with humor, compassion, and deep knowledge. The following year I enrolled my daughter in Fr David's class on the Gospel of St John; the year after my son joined her to read Letters of St Paul, and then Letters of the New Testament the year after that. This year my daughter has graduated, but my son will continue with Fr David for Highlights from Genesis. Both of my students have carried relatively heavy academic loads; my son in particular takes advanced math and science courses. So I appreciate the fact that Fr David's Bible classes are engaging and interactive but not homework-heavy. My children stay immersed in the Word of God, led through the Scriptures by a priest dedicated to the Church and Her teachings—but Bible class never becomes just another school subject. The heartiest recommendation I can offer is this one: My kids asked if we could swing a road trip this summer to Montana — to visit Fr David and his parish. 

— Leila Beasley, Virginia