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Classical Conversations licensed Directors and registered families are granted permission to print and make copies of
the Foundations Memory Master Parent Packet for personal use. The number of copies is not to exceed sixty.
What does the first proof, done by the parent, consist of?
The parent will use the prompts from the Subject Summary Proof Sheets found in the Foundations
Curriculum as a guide while the student recites 100% of the cycle’s memory work with no more
than three misses per subject. Parents should record the student’s misses on the Subject Summary
Proof Sheets. Proofing rounds can be tracked using either the Memory Master Guide or the Memory
Master Proof Sheets included in this packet. Upon successful completion of each proof, the student
proceeds to the next proof.
What does the second proof, done by the other adult, consist of?
The second proof by the other adult consists of 100% of the memory work, as above, with no more
than one miss per subject.
What does the third proof, done by the tutor, consist of?
The tutor proof consists of 100% of the memory with no misses per subject. The student should
be able to recite the memory work to the tutor confidently and successfully, with ease. If that is not
the case, the tutor will not advance the student to the Director but will recommend that the student
try again next year.
It is always a good idea for parents to have conversations with their child’s tutor and Director to
discuss how to proof. This provides a consistent experience through the proofing process.
Math
Math memory work includes multiplication facts, conversions, laws, and formulas. Students ages
ten and older at the time of parent proofing must recite the complete multiplication facts using
flashcards in random order. Students ages nine and under at the time of parent proofing may recite
the skip counting songs for these facts. Regardless of age, a student can recite the squares and cubes
by singing or chanting. Depending on the age of the student, the proofer should prompt by using
the following examples:
Math Facts
Ages ten and older: Proofer holds up a flashcard and the student recites the whole
multiplication fact. “Five times four is twenty.”
Ages nine and under: “Tell me the 2s,” or “Skip count the 2s,” and the student recites, “2, 4,
6 . . . 26, 28, 30.”
Conversions:
“Tell me linear equivalents,” and the student recites, “2.54 centimeters equals 1 inch;
12 inches equals 1 foot; 5,280 feet equals 1 mile; 1 kilometer equals 5/8 mile.”
Laws and formulas:
“Tell me the area of a rectangle,” and the student recites, “The area of a rectangle equals
length times width.”
“Tell me the Distributive Law,” and the student recites, “The Distributive Law states a times
opening parenthesis b plus c closing parenthesis equals a times b plus a times c.”
Latin
Cycles 1 and 2 Latin memory work is presented in multiple weeks during the cycle, but it only needs
to be proofed one time during each of the parent, other adult, and tutor proofs. The Director proofs
only 25% of the total memory work; however, that 25% should include all of the Latin memory
work since it is repeated in multiple weeks for Cycles 1 and 2.
Science
Science memory work is comprised of various definitions and word lists and is presented using
the question prompts as shown in the weekly memory work of the Foundations Curriculum. The
proofer should prompt by asking, “What are some parts of the food chain?” and the student
recites, “Some parts of the food chain are producer, consumer, and decomposer,” or the student
repeats the question and recites the list. The science lists do not have to be in the same order as
in the Foundations Curriculum as long as all of the parts of the list are recited and the order isn’t a
fundamental part of the memory peg (as it would be for Cycle 2, Week 1: “What occurred on each
day of creation?”).
English Grammar
English Grammar memory work is comprised of various definitions and word lists and may be
presented in question or “tell me” form. The student may chant or sing the English memory work.
The proofer should prompt by asking “What is a pronoun?” and the student recites, “A pronoun
replaces a noun in order to avoid repetition.” Or “Tell me the reflexive pronouns,” and the student
recites the list. Since some of the English grammar memory work is learned bit by bit (e.g., the
indefinite pronouns), a student could also memorize a chant or song of the entire list and recite it
during the proofing process.
Timeline
The Classical Acts & Facts® History Cards timeline should be memorized. The student can sing,
chant, or speak the timeline, with or without hand motions. For Memory Master proofing, a student
may not use any music in the background if he or she chooses to sing. The dates, which are in
the “Timeline Song” published by Classical Conversations®, are not required. Memory Master
candidates should be able to start with the title of the first card and recite every title of every card
in order. When the Director proofs the student, he or she will prompt with the event on a timeline
card and the student should be able to pick up there and continue until asked to stop. For example,
the Director might prompt with “Tell me the timeline beginning with ‘The Middle Ages’ until I say
stop.” The student recites, “The Middle Ages, Council of Chalcedon, Western Roman Empire Falls
to Barbarians, Byzantine Emperor Justinian . . .” The student continues until the Director interjects,
“Stop.”
Geography
Blackline master maps are used for Memory Master proofing. In community, however, tutors may
introduce new grammar using a combination of the color labeled key maps and blackline master
maps. These maps are located in the Foundations Curriculum, on the cycle-specific Trivium Tables®:
Geography, and on the Trivium at the Table Placemats. The geography headings are not required
for weekly memorizing or Memory Master proofing and only serve as a general focal point of
the locations. The proofer should proof geography using the “Show Me, Tell Me” method to
demonstrate mastery of the geography memory work:
Show Me
• The proofer will prompt the student with “Show me the Adriatic Sea.”
• The student shows by pointing to the Adriatic Sea on the blackline master map.
Tell Me
• The proofer will point to a location on the blackline Master map and prompt the student,
“Tell me what this is (pointing to Siberia).”
• The student tells by reciting, “Siberia.”
Scripture Passages
The cycle-specific Scripture passages are not required for Memory Master. Classical Conversations®
does not wish to usurp your church or family Scripture memory work. Rather, we have chosen
a passage of Scripture per cycle to augment the Foundations memory work. Please note: The
Scripture verses in Cycle 3 are the exception since they are also memorized as part of the Latin
memory work.
Are there different Memory Master proofing requirements for a student with special
needs?
Classical Conversations® is honored that families who have children with special needs participate
in the Foundations program. Students with many different abilities are valuable members of our
local Classical Conversations® communities, and we enjoy and benefit from them. Regardless of
whether a student reaches 100% mastery according to the Memory Master proofing requirements,
all students’ accomplishments should be celebrated by their families.
Once a student interested in the National Memory Master Competition completes the proof
with his or her Director, the student’s parent will need to submit a scouting video. Guidelines for
submitting a scouting video can be found on the National Memory Master Competition website
prior to the start of the new school year.
What is the difference between the National Memory Master Competition and the regular
Memory Master process?
The only difference between a National Memory Master proof and a regular Memory Master
proof is that it must take place earlier in the year. Once a student has completed an early proof to
participate in the National Memory Master Competition, he or she will be considered a Memory
Master for his or her local community.
Student Name
Math Flashcards
1–9
(Ages ten and up at time of parent proofing)
Parent List facts missed: Adult List fact missed: Tutor Director
o o o o
o
o
1-2; Tell me the 1st Conjugation 7-8; Tell me the 1st Conjugation
13-14 endings present tense. 19-20 endings perfect tense.
Parent Adult Tutor Director Parent Adult Tutor Director
o o o o o o o o
3-4; Tell me the 1st Conjugation 9-10; Tell me the 1st Conjugation
15-16 endings imperfect tense. 21-22 endings pluperfect tense.
Parent Adult Tutor Director Parent Adult Tutor Director
o o o o o o o o
5-6; Tell me the 1st Conjugation 11-12; Tell me the 1st Conjugation
17-18 endings future tense. 23-24 endings future perfect tense.
Parent Adult Tutor Director Parent Adult Tutor Director
o o o o o o o o
Director Proof: Director names a random timeline card. Student names the card
given then continues reciting timeline from that card for 10–30 seconds.
is awarded this
Certificate of Achievement
for
FOUNDATIONS
MEMORY MASTER at HOME
CYCLE
PARENT
DATE
2