On the Road to Expertise: Two Students Follow a CTD Pathway
By Ross Middleton
A single class can introduce a student to a world of new ideas. But what happens when a child builds on that initial experience by choosing more classes in the same subject area throughout their time in school? CTD’s Pathways approach gives students a chance to excel by introducing topics at a young age and providing opportunities to become more proficient at each grade level. With the Pathways model, students can build talents and knowledge by taking related classes across CTD programs beginning in early childhood and continuing through high school. Two Illinois students—Audrey Billington, a fifth grader at Beckemeyer Elementary and Brooke Burney, a sixth grader at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel—have followed talent development pathways in classical studies. By taking a series of increasingly challenging and thematically similar CTD courses, both students have cultivated academic skills and an enthusiasm for learning that will serve them in the years ahead.
Discovering New Interests
Though Audrey expressed an early interest in Greek myths, a CTD course on classical mythology allowed her to explore the topic in greater detail. “I wanted to expand my knowledge in the subject,” she says. The class gave her greater insight into mythology, and it motivated her to explore related areas of study. “I had a wonderful time learning about Greek myths,” Audrey shares, and she recognized that taking Introduction to Latin in CTD’s online program could help her apply and contextualize this newfound knowledge. “Latin would teach me about the ancients and how cultures similar to the Greeks survived, as well as help me with vocabulary and grammar,” she explains.
Brooke has taken a similar path, though she enrolled in a CTD Latin course at the beginning of her classical studies journey. “I wanted to learn another language,” she notes, adding that she had already been studying French. Her class in Latin came at a time when Brooke was ready for supplemental education and increased connection with her peers. “I was homeschooled,” she says, “and my mom thought it would be a good idea for me to start taking extra online classes.” The course was a hit with Brooke, who promptly continued with Latin II followed by classical mythology. Though she says she initially chose mythology as a way to continue related studies between Latin classes, Brooke became an enthusiastic student of myths and met CTD students who shared her interests. “That was probably my favorite course of all the eight courses I’ve taken.”
Strengthening Skills
Latin became a bigger part of Brooke’s life with each CTD class, and she developed a natural recall of the language. “Whenever I see anything related to it, I think about all the information I’ve learned,” Brooke explains. “It kind of jump-starts my memory.” By taking more rigorous CTD courses in Latin, Brooke has also taught herself to concentrate on a single topic when studying. “I think you should finish what you started and learn from it,” she says. “The online classes allow me to take a break and reflect on what I’ve learned.”
Audrey also found that a classical studies trajectory helped her grow. “If you do one topic for a semester, and end it there, you won’t gain as much,” she explains. Like Brooke, she discovered how practice and focus can reinforce knowledge. “If you study one similar subject for long periods of time,” she says, “the topics will be fresh in your memory.” As part of her talent development journey, Audrey paired her online courses with another kind of CTD opportunity: by taking the PSATTM 8/9 through CTD Assessment, she says she learned about her abilities. “That test played a major role in finding my place in academics,” she adds.
Taking the Next Steps
Both students are motivated to keep studying languages: Brooke hopes to take more Latin classes later in school, and Audrey branched out to take an introductory course in Chinese. Though it’s impossible to predict the ways they’ll draw on their CTD experience later, early and continuous exposure to classical studies has given these students the tools to consider their goals and strengthen their skills today. Brooke is looking ahead to a busy fall, and she hopes to attend Northwestern when she’s older. Audrey is building her confidence in writing and math, and she continues to explore her scholastic interests. “As of right now, I am still finding out what my academic goals are,” she says. “However, with CTD classes, I am steering towards the right direction.”
Ross Middleton is an independent writer and formerly part of CTD’s Summer Program staff. He received his BA in English Literature from Wesleyan University and an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence.