Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2016/2017
Course Catalog
Live, Interactive Courses
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professional fiction writing editor and coach; judges writing contests; and has been a
freelance professional writer in marketing/web writing and ghostwriting for twenty years.
Professor Brown Conroy also authored True North Reading: The Complete Mastery Reading
and Spelling Program a five-level multisensory learn-to-read program online for children
ages two to sixteen at www.truenorthreading.com. Prof. Brown Conroy, who has been
homeschooling for over 30 years, currently homeschools the youngest two of her 13
children who still live at home.
Professor Brown Conroy is the Master Teacher and the Program/Course Designer of
the Aquinas Writing Advantage (AWA) program.
Kris Correira, PA-C, MHP
Kris Correira, PA-C, MHP is a homeschooling mom of three boys. She
has been a physician assistant for over 20 years and works in the
emergency department of St. Francis Hospital. She taught
paramedic students at Quinsigamond Community College for 20
years and taught human biology labs at Eastern Connecticut State
University. She has over 15 years of experience teaching online
classes.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biological
Sciences and Computer Science from Wellesley College, and her
Physician Assistant Certificate and Masters of Health Professions degree from Northeastern
University.
She is the head of her parish pro-life committee, is a member of the Witness for Life
committee addressing end-of-life issues, and is involved with promoting Catholic womens
health.
You can find Kris on the web posting about science resources on
AtHomeScience.blogspot.com, Facebook.com/AtHomeScience, Twitter.com/AtHomeScience
You can follow her pro-lifework on NatureAndDignity.blogspot.com,
Facebook.com/NatureAndDignity/, Twitter.com/nature_dignity
You can also find her at daily Mass, Adoration, or whatever event is going on at her
parish.
Mrs. Correira teaches biology.
MacBeth Derham
MacBeth Derham is a retired homeschooling mother of four very different
children, and wife to Don. She studied biology at Mount Holyoke College,
and has taught natural history in the field for over 25 years. She currently
teaches small classes in her homeschool group, mentors for Aquinas
Learning, tutors math and science privately, and is the 4th grade catechist
in her parish's Faith and Formation program. She blogs occasionally at
http://macbethsopinion.blogspot.com. She speaks at homeschool
conferences on the interdisciplinary need for nature study.
Mrs. Derham teaches science.
Kathy Dutton
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ISEF-
Thomas Frederick, MS
Mr. Frederick is a Physics and Mathematics teacher at Saline High School
in Michigan. He has twenty-plus years of classroom experience helping
young people understand and apply concepts in mathematics and
physics. He holds a Master of Science in Physics Education from Eastern
Michigan University, as well as a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics
from the University of Michigan. Mr. Frederick teaches online, does one
on one tutoring, and has had a stint as an associate professor at a local
technical college. In addition to being a teacher, Mr. Frederick was a
Cross Country Coach for 15 years as well as the Coordinator of Youth
Ministry and Confirmation Director for seven years at his local parish. In
that time he built up the youth program from a handful of moderately committed kids to 75100 young people packing the youth room every Sunday night! Suffice to say, he enjoys
working with middle and high school aged young adults in a myriad of different venuesand
especially enjoys living and sharing his Catholic faith. He and his wife have homeschooled
several of their six awesome children. In his spare time, Mr. Frederick enjoys running,
scripture study, fixing computers, gardening, and keeping up a small orchard. He can be
found online at www.physicsisphun.org.
Mr. Frederick teaches Physics and Algebra 2.
Robert Gotcher, PhD
Dr. Gotcher is an independent educator and scholar. He has taught at a
major seminary, graduate and undergraduate students, lay ministry
students, diaconal candidates, and high school students, both online and
in the classroom. He and his wife, Kathy, are raising the last three of their
seven children in Franklin, Wisconsin. Dr. Gotcher has been actively
involved in the homeschooling of his children, especially in junior and high
school. He has taught Latin, literature, physics, astronomy, and religion to
homeschooled students. He has a special devotion to the classical trivium
of grammar, logic, and rhetoric, especially as they pertain to the written arts. Dr. Gotcher
graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in the Program of Liberal Studies.
He received his M.A. in Theology of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and his Ph.D.
from Marquette University.
Dr. Gotcher teaches literature, theology, and logic.
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Emily Henry
Emily Henry grew up in Michigan where she was homeschooled
along with her brothers. She graduated from Hillsdale College with
a BA in Classical Studies, her concentration being in Latin. She lives
with her wonderful husband in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is
excited to be starting her fifth year with Homeschool Connections in
the Fall of 2016.
Mrs. Henry teaches Latin and literature.
Jean Hoeft, MA
Jean Hoeft has been a math and algebra teacher for 23 years. She
has a BA from the University of Michigan and a MA from
Marygrove University. Jean has taught the confirmation class at
her Catholic parish for 28 years. She loves gardening, sudoku
puzzles, raising chickens, reading, knitting, and everything
Catholic.
Mrs. Hoeft teaches math.
Alexis Mausolf, MA
Alexis Mausolf is a Catholic mother of two whom she homeschooled
through the elementary grades. She earned a Bachelors degree in Russian
studies from Washington and Lee University in 1995 and a Masters degree
in German, with a concentration in German literature, from Florida State
University in 1999. While studying, she was chosen as group leader for the
exchange program Beyond Borders between FSU and the Dresden
Technical College. She was the recipient of a Bosch Stiftung in 1999-2000,
which allowed her to live in Germany for a year, teaching English at
several colleges in the Bundesland of Saxony. She has taught German at the college level in
the States for a number of years and this is her fourth year teaching online with Homeschool
Connections. Her husband is from Germany too, and they enjoy speaking German at home
in Texas with their Kindern.
Mrs. Mausolf teaches German.
Gary Michuta
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Lisa Mladinich
Lisa Mladinich is a Catholic wife and homeschooling mom who
absolutely loves teaching for Homeschool Connections! She is an
author and speaker whose dynamic presentations on faith,
catechetics, and women's issues can be heard at events around the
country, as well as on Catholic TV and radio. Lisa is the bestselling
author of "True Radiance: Finding Grace in the Second Half of
Life," (Servant Books) about the authentic beauty of our souls. Her
newest book is due out in August 2016, a prayer book for children
called, "Heads Bowed: Prayers for Catholic School Days" (Liguori
Publications).
Lisa's other writing can be found at AmazingCatechists.com; her blog at
Patheos.com, Water into Wine; her columns for CATECHIST Magazine; and her booklets, "Be
an Amazing Catechist: Inspire the Faith of Children" and "Be an Amazing Catechist:
Sacramental Preparation" from Our Sunday Visitor (in English and Spanish). She has
contributed to anthologies such as "Why Should I Learn This?" from Homeschool
Connections, "Word by Word: Slowing Down With the Hail Mary" (Ave Maria Press), "The
Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections" (due out August 2016, Ave
Maria), and "Tending the Temple: 365 Days of Spiritual and Physical Devotions," published by
Bezalel Books.
For more information, visit Lisa's dedicated page atAmazingCatechists.com or
connect with her on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Google Plus.
Mrs. Mladinich teaches writing, communications, and theology.
Emily Nardozzi, M.Ed.
Mrs. Nardozzi received her undergraduate degree in mathematics and
secondary education from Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame in 2009.
She then participated in Notre Dame's ACE (Alliance for Catholic
Education) program where she earned her Masters in Education. Mrs.
Nardozzi taught at St. Jude in St. Petersburg, FL for three years and at
Father Gabriel Richard in Ann Arbor, MI for four years. She has loved
every minute of being a teacher and feels so blessed to teach in
environments where she can express her Catholic faith, which is so dear to her.
Mrs. Nardozzi teaches mathematics.
Jason Negri, MS, JD
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Mr. Negri has his bachelors and masters degrees from Franciscan
University of Steubenville, and his law degree from Ave Maria School of
Law. He was a member of Ave Maria Law Schools inaugural class of
2003, and is now a practicing attorney in Michigan. He is also Assistant
Director of the Patients Rights Council, a non-profit group devoted to
end-of-life medical ethics and is an elected Trustee of Hamburg
Township. He and his wife Samantha homeschool their children. Mr.
Negri has taught on the high school, college, and graduate level.
Mr. Negri teaches law and government.
Kevin OBrien
Mr. OBrien hosts the television series The Theater of the Word on EWTN
and can also be seen on episodes of EWTNs The Apostle of Common
Sense, The Quest for Shakespeare, and The Journey Home. He portrays J.
R. R. Tolkien on several Tolkien specials hosted by Joseph Pearce. Most
recently Mr. OBrien has appeared in two movies, Manalive, based on the
novel by G. K. Chesterton, and To Follow the Light: the Conversion of
John Henry Newman.
In addition, Mr. OBrien has performed and produced 35 audio
books, and is the only person in history to play every part in a Shakespeare play (twice!),
which he did for his audio readings of The Merchant of Venice and Macbeth for Ignatius
Press. Along with fellow Homeschool Connections instructor Joseph Pearce, he is co-founder
of the website The Christian Shakespeare, which publishes essays demonstrating the
Catholic worldview of the world's greatest dramatist: www.christianshakespeare.com.
Mr. OBrien is also a writer and regular contributor to The St. Austin
Review and Gilbert Magazine. ACS Press will publish his autobiography in 2016. You can visit
his website at www.thewordinc.org
Mr. OBrien teaches speech, drama, and literature.
Dave Palmer, MTS
Mr. Palmer received his Master in Theology degree from the University of
Dallas. He is a great lover of Thomistic philosophy and is currently working
on an outline summary of the entire Summa Theologica. His specific area of
interest is the restoration of Christian philosophy in our culture according to
the philosophy of St. Thomas. Mr. Palmer also holds a Bachelors degree in
Communications/Journalism from Southern Methodist University and Masters
in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. He is currently
the Executive Director of the Guadalupe Radio Network Catholic radio station
in North Texas. Mr. Palmer has taught theology (Sacraments and Scripture) at Bishop Dunne
Catholic High School in Dallas. He is married to Paula and has two daughters, Ena and
Maura, and one son, Patrick.
Mr. Palmer teaches Thomistic Philosophy.
Joseph Pearce
Joseph Pearce is the editor of the Ignatius Critical Editions of Othello,
Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Julius
Caesar, Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth. He is the
author of Shakespeare on Love: Seeing the Catholic Presence in
Romeo and Juliet and two other books on Shakespeare: The Quest for
Shakespeare: The Bard of Avon and The Church of
Rome and Through Shakespeares Eyes: Seeing the Catholic
Presence in the Plays. He has hosted two 13-part seasons of The Quest for
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Shakespeare for EWTN. He is Director of the Center for Faith & Culture and Writer-inResidence at Aquinas College in Nashville, editor of the St. Austin Review, and has also
authored books on great Christian writers such as G. K. Chesterton, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S.
Lewis, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn. His conversion story can be read in his
autobiography Race with the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love.
Professor Pearce teaches literature.
Geralyn Rea, ME
Geralyn Rea was born and raised in Wichita, KS, but journeyed north to complete her B.A. in
English at Hillsdale College in Michigan. After graduating summa cum laude, she ventured
down south to Texas to begin her Master of English degree at the University of Dallas. While
working for the university and completing her degree, Geralyn also served as a writing,
literature, and standardized testing tutor for homeschoolers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
While tutoring, she rediscovered a passion for teaching, rivaled only by her love of the written
word, and she is anxious to share both of these passions with all of her students. Geralyn lives
with her husband and son in San Antonio, TX.
Geralyn teaches writing and test preparation.
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Universidad LaSalle in Ciudad Victoria. Additionally, she taught English as a second language
in the Centro de Lenguas de la Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas. While there she also
participated in a distance-learning program to train teachers who teach English in
elementary public schools. Mrs. Schmitt and her husband live in Delaware where they
homeschool their 10-year-old-daughter.
Mrs. Schmitt teaches Spanish.
Alison Stanley, JD
Mrs. Stanley has a B.A. from Michigan State University in Marketing and
a J.D. from The University of Michigan. After graduating from law school,
Mrs. Stanley obtained a prestigious judicial clerkship in federal court for
serving the Honorable Paul V. Gadola, United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Michigan. She then practiced privately for a year and
a half before retiring to take care of her five children, all who have been
homeschooled at some point. Mrs. Stanley has intricate knowledge of
government and Constitutional Law, which she weaves into al her classes. She has been a
professor at Homeschool Connections for five semesters.
Mrs. Stanley teaches economics, law, and history.
Sharon Hamric-Weis, BSEd, JD
Sharon Hamric-Weis received her undergraduate degree in Secondary English Education
from the California University of Pennsylvania and taught both middle and high schools
courses at the Palm Beach County School system. During her last year of teaching, Mrs.
Hamric-Weis converted to the Catholic Church and was confirmed. Upon her acceptance
to the Dickinson School of Law, she and her husband then relocated to her home state of
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Hamric-Weis practiced law as Assistant Counsel for the Pennsylvania
Board of Probation and Parole and has been published in the Dickinson Journal of
International Law, as well as working as a decision writer for the Pennsylvania Board of
Workers Compensation. After working in law, Mrs. Hamric-Weis left her employment to raise
her children and homeschool for several years before returning to work as a
paraprofessional teaching and caring for a student with multiple disabilities. She is happy to
be homeschooling her three children and teaching the advanced writing courses for
Homeschool Connections.
Mrs. Hamric-Weis teaches writing.
Christopher Zehnder, MA
Christopher Zehnder holds a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from
Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, California, and a Master of Arts in
Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell,
Connecticut. He has taught history, theology, Latin, English grammar,
composition, English literature, and universal literature at Catholic
secondary schools in Connecticut and California. He has developed
curricula in history and language arts. In addition to his work in education,
Mr. Zehnder has edited two monthlies and written for various publications
on historical, political, and theological subjects. He currently is general editor for the Catholic
Textbook Project, and is the author of three of the project's books: From Sea to Shining Sea:
The Story of America; Light to the Nations II: the Making of the Modern World; and Lands of
Hope and Promise: A History of North America. He lives with his wife, Katherine, and their
seven children in Tehachapi, California, raising goats, chickens, and vegetables.
Mr. Zehnder teaches history and theology.
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Course Materials:
To help keep your expenses down, we provide some course materials free online or as PDF
files. In the case of literature courses, the books should be easily available from your library.
A few courses require the purchase of lab materials, workbook, or a textbook. When
possible, we provide information to find them inexpensively or used. See individual course
listings for required course materials.
Equipment:
You need a computer, high speed Internet, and a headset with a microphone (easily found
inexpensively). There is no need for a web camera. If you would like the option of watching
recorded lectures (available within 24 hours) on a newer television instead of your computer,
you may need an HDMI cable or wireless system (such as Chromecast) to hook the computer
to the television (optional).
Software:
The software to participate in your classes is provided free. Generally speaking you should
also have Microsoft Word to turn in homework assignments (or the ability to convert a
document to Word) and the ability to read PDF files.
Additional Fees:
We do not charge registration fees, family fees, or orientation fees. However, there is a
Late-Registration fee. Courses are closed for registration one week before the first class.
We can re-open registration if requested with an additional $20 fee per course.
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Summer 2016
Registration closes one week before the first class. (We can re-open registration if requested
with an additional $20 fee per course.)
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Course description: Have you ever wanted to write (and publish) a short story? This
course will cover just that -- how to write a dynamic, publishable short story -- including
fleshing out ideas for your short stories, the similarities and differences between short
stories and full-length book writing, and marketing your short stories to publications.
Course outline:
Class 1: Defining short stories: micro fiction, flash fiction, short stories, novelettes, and
novellas
Class 2: Characteristics of dynamic, saleable short stories
Class 3: Brainstorming, outlining, and forming your short story
Class 4: Short story markets and sales
Course materials: All course materials will be provided.
Homework: Estimated one to three hours of homework outside of class time per class,
depending on the students ability.
Duration: 45 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade
Suggested credit: semester Entomology or Science
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Fee: $70 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $80 if you register after Mar.
15 for all 8 classes. ($100 after May 31)
Instructor: Christine Hamilton, Ph.D.
Course description: Fun lighthearted study of the insect world. We will learn
about insect type, habitat, sounds and some yummy recipes (really!). Pests,
workers, artiststhe intrepid insects of the world fascinate, annoy, and benefit
humankind. From butterflies to bees to the lowly cockroach, insects are an integral
part of the natural environment, making their mark on culture through rhyme and
lore. What causes fireflies to blink? Did you ever wonder about the origin of "Sleep
tight, don't let the bed bugs bite?" Let's delve into the insect world and see what we
can learn.
Course outline:
1. Fastest
2. Largest
3. Longest
4. Most Numerous
5. Most Spectacular
6. Smallest
7. Misc. (Bioluminescence, loudest, most toxic)
8. Recipes (crunchy, chewy)
Course materials: Everything will be provide at no extra charge by the instructor.
Homework: Research insect of your choice for report at the end of the course.
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(Between the two weeks, Mr. O'Brien will write the play whose plot and characters
the students have outlined into a final form, with scenes, dialogue, etc.)
Day 6 - The play is read in class. Acting coaching is provided.
Day 7 - Rehearsal
Day 8 - Rehearsal
Day 9 - Rehearsal
Day 10 - Final performance!
Course materials: Students must have a working webcam and microphone. Other
course materials will be provided free as PDFs by the instructor.
Homework: Writing scenes, learning lines, practicing on your own. About 5 hours
per week minimum, but each student may do more if his or her heart is in it!
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Homework: Homework: Daily quizzes, with an estimated two to three hours per
week for homework outside of class time. Quizzes are graded automatically by the
computer for instant feedback. Course includes skill-building sheets with corrections
guide. Personalized question time will be offered in class to insure a strong
understanding of concepts.
.
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German
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Week 10 Lesson 9 - Sport and game vocabulary, the verb haben, expressing
preference
Week 11 Review day, Thanksgiving break
Week 12 - Lesson 10 - The accusative case, food and eating vocabulary, the verb
essen
Week 13 Lesson 11 - Accusative case with indefinite articles, accusative
prepositions, picnic vocabulary
Week 14 Lesson 12 - Transportation vocabulary, conjugation of stem-changing
verbs
Week 15 Review, student presentations, dialogue and dictation practice, testing
Course materials: German is Fun Book 1: Lively Lessons for Beginners by Elsie M.
Szecsy, published by Amsco (best ordered directly from publisher
http://amscopub.com).
The Everything Learning German Book with CD, second edition, by Edward Swick,
MA. Published by Adams Media (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/159869989X/catholictreas20).
*Both texts will be used for the second semester course as well.
Homework: Learning a foreign language requires regular practice. Ideally, at least
half an hour per day should be spent on German, i.e. completing the grammar drills
assigned, memorizing vocabulary, reading for comprehension, taking tests or
quizzes, listening to online German news broadcasts, and generally becoming
familiar with the language. All assignments are given and graded by the instructor.
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commercials and cartoons to aid the acquisition of this modern and living European
language.
Course outline:
Week 1 Review vocab
Week 2 Review noun cases, verb conjugations
Week 3 Modal verbs
Week 4 - Two-way prepositions
Week 5 Two-way prepositions continued
Week 6 Separable prefix verbs
Week 7 Review, first exam
Week 8 The genitive case
Week 9 Der-words
Week 10 Adjective endings
Week 11 More adjective endings and second exam
Week 12 Questions and commands
Week 13 The present perfect tense
Week 14 Present perfect, continued
Week 15 Review, third exam
Course materials:
1. German Grammar Drills, Second edition, by Ed Swick, ISBN # 0071789456.
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071789456/catholictreas-20)
2. Two Klett readers from the Stadt, Land, Fluss series. hese are small German
chapter books to be used in addition to the grammar text. They are called Blinder
Passagier and Spannende Tour im Schwarzwald, both by Andrea Maria Wagner. One
can order these from the International Book Service at 1-800- 277-4247, or at
ibis@IBIService.com.
Homework: At least hour per day should be spent on German. When not
completing grammar drills or homework assignments, students should be learning
vocabulary, listening online to the German news, reading and re-reading the texts
given, and studying for the quizzes and tests. All assignments are given and graded
by the instructor.
Government / Law
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with weekly lectures, there will be some interactive features during the class time.
Perhaps we'll have a little "prognostication" contest on the outcome of certain
elections.
Course outline:
Week 1: Elections: Overview of Constitution & Laws
Week 2: Comparisons: Local v. State v. National Elections; Partisan v. Nonpartisan;
Jungle Primaries; U.S. System v. other countries
Week 3: The Electoral College - Should It Stay or Should It Go?
Week 4: Anatomy of Campaigns: Operations, PACs & Super PACs, Polls & Pundits
Week 5: How Issues, Incidents & Outside Events Affect Campaigns
Week 6: Post-election Analysis - What drove the results? How accurately did we
foresee the results? What are the implications of the results?
Course materials: Provided free by the instructor or online.
Homework: Students will have a variety of "home"work assignments reading,
research, some essays, etc. Students are going to be STRONGLY encouraged to
volunteer at least a couple hours of their time to any candidate or issue campaign
of their choice during the 6-week period. Essays graded by the instructor.
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History
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Duration: 45 minutes
Prerequisite: none
Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th grade
Suggested credit: 1 full semester U.S. history
Fee: $155 if registered on or before July 15, 2016. $175 after July 15 for all 12
classes. ($195 after Sept. 5)
Instructor: Phillip Campbell
Course description: Following the outline of the popular From Sea to Shining Sea
textbook, Mr. Phillip Campbell guides Middle School students from the European
discovery of America, the foundation of the United States, through the Civil War.
Course outline:
Week 1: Discovery and Conquest
Week 2: France in the New World
Week 3: English Settlements
Week 4: The Colonies Grow
Week 5: The French-Indian War
Week 6: The Revolutionary War
Week 7: The American Constitution
Week 8: The Federalist Era
Week 9: Early Days of the New Nation
Week 10: War of 1812 to 1820
Week 11: Manifest Destiny
Week 12: The Mexican War
Course materials: Textbook, From Sea to Shining Sea by Christopher Zehnder
(www.catholictextbookproject.com/).
Homework: Weekly readings from the textbook and study questions. 2 hours per
week estimated.
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how the ideas that predominated in Anglo-America worked themselves out in a very
different social and cultural context. In addition to the common themes discussed in
standard American history courses, this course highlights the role of the Catholic
Church and the Catholic faithful in U.S. and Latin American history and how
Catholics adjusted themselves to a civilization that in many respects was very
different from what they had known in Europe. The course is divided into two parts.
Part I (first semester) begins with Columbus' discovery of America to the beginning
of the Civil War in the United States. Part II (second semester) continues the story,
beginning with the Civil War and concluding with the beginnings of our
contemporary world in the early 1970s.
Course materials: The text for the course (both Part One and Part Two) is Lands of
Hope and Promise, A History of North America, published by and available from
http://www.catholictextbookproject.com/. The text is now available in hard cover.
Homework: Students read assigned portions of the text. Lectures focus on those
events and ideas that are the keys for understanding the historical periods under
consideration. The instructor will assign two short essays each semester.
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Latin
Students are taught both Ecclesiastical and Classical pronunciations in all
Homeschool Connections live, interactive Latin courses. This is so that students can
fully participate in Latin Mass as well be prepared for advanced Latin studies in
college.
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Breakout rooms, Quizlet, and other materials supplemented by the instructor will be
utilized to encourage good study habits. The textbook, Wheelock's Latin, will be our
overarching guide for the course. Students will work up to chapter 10 (chapters are
approximate and may vary slightly).
Course materials: Wheelocks Latin 7th Edition
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061997226/catholictreas-20) and other
materials supplemented free by the instructor. Students are required to have a
Quizlet account (free at www.quizlet.com). A working microphone with headphones
is mandatory.
Homework: Students will have daily homework assignments and weekly quizzes. In
addition to homework, they will be encouraged to study Latin for at least fifteen
minutes each day. Midterm and final exams graded by the instructor.
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Life Skills
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Fee: FREE
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: This course is designed to help your student become strong,
confident, and able to study for any high school level course with success.
Course outline:
Class 1: Active listening and how to take notes effectively
Class 2: Active reading and how to study effectively
Class 3: Critical reading skills for comprehension
Class 4: Test-taking in a timed setting
Course materials: All materials provided free from the instructor.
Homework: This is a lecture course with approximately 2 hours of work per class
(reading and automated quizzes).
Literature
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Total classes: 8
Class dates: Wednesdays, October 12 to December 7, 2016
Starting time: 10:30 AM Eastern (9:30 Central; 8:30 Mountain; 7:30 Pacific)
Duration: 45 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade
Suggested credit: 2/3 semester of Literature or English. Add another literature or a writing course for a
full credit.
Fee: $110 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $125 if you register after July 15 for all 8 classes.
($145 after Oct. 4)
Instructor: Kevin OBrien
Course description: What is the magic of Christmas and why has it captivated even the secular world
for so many centuries? Well explore the history of the celebration of Christmas, from St. Francis and the
first Manger Scene in the 13th century to the banning of Christmas by the Puritans in Colonial America,
to the commercialization and secularization of Christmas in modern times. Through it all, well look at
the depiction of the Nativity in Literature, Film and Music. Well read A Christmas Carol, well watch
scenes from Christmas movies, well read essays and poems on Christmas by G. K. Chesterton, well
examine the theology and wonder behind classic and modern Christmas Carols - and well even explore
the strange transformation of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus! But our goal through it all will be to have a
deeper understanding of the mystery of the Incarnation. Note that each student will work on a Final
Project that will be a story, poem or other creative work that he or she will present to his or her family
during the Christmas season!
Course outline:
The Nativity of Our Lord in the Early Church
St. Francis and the Manger Scene
The Puritans and the Death of Christmas
A Christmas Carol - Dickens and the Revival of Christmas
Chesterton on Christmas
St. Nicholas - from bishop to Santa Claus
Modern Christmas - Songs and Movies
Final Project Highlights
Course materials: Provided free as PDFs by the Instructor
Homework: Reflection Papers and Quizzes (graded). Homework will average about two hours per week.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
insights into mythology as an interpretive guide, we will examine these and other questions, focusing on
the connection between mythology and great literature.
Course outline:
Overview: Selections from Tolkiens On Fairy Stories - a Guide to Understanding Myth
Mythology and Religion: Mythology in Ancient Greek Drama
Mythology and Religion: Divine Use of Myth in the Gospels - Parables and Signs
Mythology of Transformation: From Ovid to Dante - Pagan and Christian notions of Transformation.
Mythology of Transformation: Shakespeares use of Myth in A Midsummer Nights Dream
Mythology of Transformation in Modern Works - Various Selections
Mythology of Love: Cupid and Psyche
Mythology of Love: C. S. Lewis Til We Have Faces
Mythology of Selfishness: Narcissus through the Ages
Mythology of Power and Creation: Pygmalion from the Greeks to Shaw
Mythology of Humility and Redemption: King Arthur - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Mythology of Humility and Redemption: Selections from Chaucer through Modern Times
Review
Course materials: Purgatory by Dante, translated by Anthony Esolen
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812971256/catholictreas-20); Til We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156904365/catholictreas-20); Other materials provided as PDFs
by the instructor.
Homework: Reading assignments, several tests, mid-term paper, final paper (graded by the instructor).
Expect about four hours of prep (on average) for each class per week.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Total classes: 13
Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to December 15, 2016. No class November 24 for Thanksgiving
and December 8 for Feast of Immaculate Conception.
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested credit: 1 full semester Literature, Theology, or Philosophy
Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 if you register after July 15 for all 13 classes.
($215 after Aug. 31)
Instructor: Kevin OBrien
Course description: We know as Catholics that God is love. We also know that it is our obligation to
love God and to love our neighbors. We know that love - especially the sacrificial love of Christ on the
cross - is central to the meaning of life. But what is love? Is it an emotion, an action? How do romance
and marriage fit into love? How does love determine our identities - who we are - and our vocations what we are called to? Is there a connection between love and war, between love and desire, even
between love and death? We will approach these questions - all of which are central questions to our life
as Christians - through great works of literature and philosophy, including Pope Benedict XVIs
encyclical on love, Deus Caritas Est, selections from Socrates reflection on love, The Symposium,
selections from great poems and stories of love, the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, The
Surprise by G.K. Chesterton, and notions of love in psychology and the popular culture.
Course outline:
Overview - C. S. Lewis on The Four Loves
Love in Scripture - The Old Testament
Love in Ancient Greece - The Symposium
Love in Scripture - The New Testament
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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Love in the Middle Ages - St. Francis of Assisi & St. Thomas Aquinas
Love in Shakespeare - Much Ado about Nothing
Love in the Romantic Poets
Love in the 19th Century - Wuthering Heights
Love in the 20th Century - The Surprise
The Psychology of Love - Love and Will
Pope Benedict XVI on Love - Deus Caritas Est
Modern Errors on Love
Review
Course materials: Public domain material and Deus Caritas Est will be provided free as PDFs by the
Instructor; in addition, students should purchase The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156329301/catholictreas-20), Love and Will by Rollo May
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393330052/catholictreas-20), and The Lame Shall Enter First,
a short story by Flannery OConnor, found in many collections of her stories (or as an eBook
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B018XSQIO2/catholictreas-20)
Homework: This will be a challenging course. The Four Loves should be read before the first class
session, and each weeks assigned reading must be read before we discuss the readings in class. Assigned
readings will vary from short plays, poems and scripture readings to Wuthering Heights. Plan on about
four to six hours of study time per week. In addition, expect short quizzes and two essay exams to be
graded by the instructor.
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Hera; Zeus sleeps; the omnipotence of Zeus; the omnipotence of Hektor; the
hardness of Achilleus; Zeus weeps; Hektor slays Patroklos.
Week Five: Books XVII-XX: Men as toys of the gods?; the indifference of the gods?;
Zeus pity?; Achilleus regrets his anger; Homers judgment; Achilleus rekindles his
anger; the armour of the gods; women to blame?; the goddess Delusion; reckless
anger; Achilleus the blameless?; Zeus versus the gods; the source of Virgils Aeneid;
Achilleus the merciless.
Week Six: Books XXI-XXIV: Achilleus the merciless continued; the gods as toys of
Zeus?; the insignificance of mortals?; Priams wretched fate; Hektors agonizing
dilemma; the death of Hektor; Andromaches grief; the desecration of Hektors
corpse; death as the shadowlands; the gods protect Hektors body; the
metaphorical moral; the lust that led to disaster; Zeus intervenes; the theology of
the two urns; lamentations for Hektor.
Course materials: The Iliad by Homer. Make sure to obtain the Richmond
Lattimore translation, University of Chicago Press, ISBN #0-226-46940-9,
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0226469409/catholictreas-20)
Homework: Homework entails daily reading and weekly quizzes. Quizzes are
graded by the computer for immediate feedback.
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Homework: In addition to the reading and class attendance, the student will fill
out a literature study sheet for each story read. For the final assignment the
student will write his own fairy story due one week after the end of the last class
period. A draft will be submitted at the ninth class. All work graded and
commented on by the instructor.
Math
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This is Part One of a 2-Part course. Students are expected to also register for Part
Two in the spring semester.
Total classes: 14 live plus 10 pre-recorded
Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for
Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes live classes, 10-20 minutes for recorded lessons
Prerequisite: Students should have already been introduced to fractions and
should be able to perform basic math operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying,
dividing).
Suggested grade level: 6th grade (advanced 5th graders welcome)
Suggested credit: 1 full semester Math
Fee: $175.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. 195.00 after July 15th for all
14 classes plus recorded lectures. ($215 after Aug. 29)
Instructor: Emily Nardozzi, M.Ed.
Course description: Middle School Math 1 covers fractions, decimals, integers,
data analysis, algebraic expressions and equations, functions and inequalities, using
formulas, and surface area and volume in a way that will be easy to understand and
will provide a strong foundation for the coming math courses.
Course materials: Mathematics: Applications and Concepts, Course 1, Student
Edition (Glencoe Mathematics), 2006 Edition. We recommend purchasing the book
used as they can be found for as little as 0.99 plus
s/h: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0078652537/catholictreas-20 (click on
Used).
Homework: 3-4 lessons per week with 10-20 homework problems per lesson, 2
short quizzes per week, and a chapter test approximately every other week.
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formulas, and surface area and volume. We will add to this list ratios and
proportions and more applications of fractions and percentages. This course is
designed to prepare students for Pre-Algebra.
Course materials: Mathematics: Applications and Concepts, Course 2, Student
Edition (Glencoe Mathematics), 2006 Edition. We recommend purchasing the book
used as they can be found for as little as 0.99 plus s/h:
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0078652634/catholictreas-20 (click on Used).
Homework: 2-4 lessons per week with 10-20 homework problems per lesson, 1-2
short quizzes per week, and approximately one chapter test every other week
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Fee: $170.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. 190.00 after July 15 for all
12 classes. ($210 after Sept. 11)
Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA
Course description: Everyone needs math, and will use it in their personal life.
This course is geared towards learning how to manage your money, how to invest,
the dangers of debt, building wealth and saving for college, bargain shopping,
insurance and real estate mortgages. This class is for every high school student,
whether they are going to college or work after high school. Everyone needs to
know how to live a debt free existence.
Course materials: Dave Ramsey, Foundations in Personal Finance, ISBN: 978-09816839-6-6 (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0981683967/catholictreas-20)
Homework: A student should spend approximately 5 hours on homework each
week.
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relations and functions, radicals and their properties as well as some work with
geometric properties as a background for use in Algebra II.
Course materials: Saxon Algebra I Homeschool Kit, Third Edition
(www.emmanuelbooks.com/product_detail.cfm/ID/1508/OID/3324/Saxon-MathHomeschool-Kits/)
Homework: 4-5 assignments of 15-20 problems per lesson.
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Course Materials: Foerster's Algebra 1 (Third Edition, 1994), ISBN-13: 9780201860948 ISBN-10: 0201860945
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0201860945/catholictreas-20). We recommend
purchasing the text used as it is considerably cheaper than new.
Homework: 4-5 lessons per week with 15-20 problems to work per lesson
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Homework: 4-5 lessons per week with 15-20 problems to work per lesson
Total classes: 14 live, interactive classes plus 3 to 5 recorded lessons each week.
Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for
Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Starting time: 4:00 PM Eastern (3:00 Central; 2:00 Mountain; 1:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Office Hours: Thursdays from 5:30-6:00 PM Eastern (by appointment)
Prerequisite: Algebra I (Geometry may be taken before or after Algebra 2)
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested credit: 1 full semester Math or Algebra 2
Fee: $185 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $215 after July 15 for all 14
classes plus recorded lectures. ($235 after Aug. 29)
Instructor: Thomas Frederick, MS
Course description: This class is designed with online education in mind. Daily
video lessons maximize student-teacher contact time. Each Live class is an
individualized study session in which the class works together solving student
generated problems and answering questions from the week before. The goal of
Algebra 2 is to build upon the concepts taught in Algebra 1 and Geometry while
adding new concepts to the students repertoire of mathematics. Algebra 2
continues the study of linear, quadratic, polynomial and exponential functions and
introduces rational, logarithmic and trigonometric relationships. Additional topics
covered include matrices, sequences and conic sections. A focus on application of
concepts learned to solving real world problems will be a learning outcome.
Graphing calculators and online resources will be introduced often as learning aids
and preparation for 21 century learning.
Course materials: Holt McDougal Larson Algebra 2 (2007), ISBN-13: 978-0-61892393-9 ISBN-10: 0-618-92393-4
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618923934/catholictreas-20). A TI 83 or 84
Graphing Calculator *(a FREE app can be downloaded for the Android Phone, Mac or
PC but not for IOS)
Homework: Weekly lessons will include prerecorded videos, note sheets, practice
problems, and a quiz or test. Homework questions will be assigned from the
textbook along with solutions for students to self-check progress. Each unit will have
a quiz or test at the end, which will be graded by the instructor in the Moodle
interface. Students will be expected to watch daily prerecorded videos, complete
daily homework (3-4 times per week). The instructor will host a live class once a
week for one hour as well as hold weekly office hours (by appointment) for 30
minutes, if extra help is needed.
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This is a 2-part course. Students are expected to also register for the Part Two in the Spring
Semester.
Philosophy
Formal Logic I
Total classes: 12
Class dates: Thursdays, September 15 to December 15, 2016. No class November
24 for Thanksgiving and December 8 for Feast of Immaculate Conception.
Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
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Prerequisite: None.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade.
Suggested credit: 1 full semester Logic or Formal Logic.
Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12
classes. ($215 after Sept. 7)
Instructor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Course Description: The emphasis on feelings and de-emphasis on proper, logical
thinking has left many Americans prey to advertisers and demagogues. A training in
logic can help a reader or listener see the truth and falsehood of statements made
on the editorial page or on talk radio shows, so he can make proper judgments
about important matters. This six-week course establishes the rudiments of formal
logicthe construction and detection of valid syllogism and formal and informal
fallacies. The emphasis will be on examples taken from popular media.
Course outline:
Class 1-2: Terms
Class 4 to 7: Propositions
Class 8 to 11: Syllogisms
Class 12: Practical applications and review
Course materials: Traditional Logic: Introduction to Formal Logic by Martin
Cothran (Memoria Press), ISBN# 1930953100. We suggest purchasing early and
used for the best price
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1930953100/catholictreas-20).
Homework: Logic exercises each week. Final assignment is to analyze a
paragraph taken
from a source for logic. Homework is graded by the instructor.
Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes)
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. However, bright younger students would be
acceptable.
Suggested credit: 1 full semester Philosophy or Theology
Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12 classes.
($215 after Sept. 1)
Instructor: Dave Palmer, MTS
Course description: The timeless philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, when properly
understood, can be an invaluable help to all people today, including young people in high
school and those preparing for college. For in it the eternal truths of the Catholic faith shine
brightly, revealing to man the truths about the nature of God, the angels, other creatures
and himself. We learn our purpose in life and the pathway back to God, our creator and end,
through a life based on Gods grace, the Sacraments and a life of virtue. Most people never
begin studying St. Thomas Aquinas because they think it will be too complicated or above
their heads. This course is presented in a fun and interactive manner and will help students
answer the most fundamental questions about their lives, the most perplexing questions
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about human nature, and come to a better understanding of who we are as made to the
image and likeness of God.
Course materials: The Summa by St. Thomas Aquinas can be found online and other
reading materials for class will be provided. Nothing needs to be purchased.
Homework: Will consist of taking a weekly short quiz and answering short essay question
based on class material each week. Other assignments will involve connecting what is being
learned to issues in the news of the day.
Science
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Duration: 45 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade. Interested high school students are also
welcomed to join us.
Suggested credit: 1 full semester of Earth Science
Fee: $145 if your register on or before July 15, 2016. $165 after July 15 for all 12
classes. ($185 after Sept. 7)
Instructor: MacBeth Derham
Course description: A brief introduction to the geological wonders of the earth
with an emphasis on the properties of matter. Will include simple demos, history of
science, and suggestions for field trips.
Course materials: The Practical Geologist: The Introductory Guide to the Basics of
Geology and to Collecting and Identifying Rocks by Dougal Dixon, ISBN #
0671746979 (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671746979/macbethsopinion20)
Homework: Weekly quiz, occasional biography of a geologist for presentation to
the class (super short), reading in the text in preparation for class.
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Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 7th to 9th grade
Suggested credit: 1 full semester Physical Science
Fee: $165 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $185 after July 15 for all 28
classes. ($205 after Aug. 31)
Instructor: Kathy Dutton
Course description: We will be studying the matter and forces that God created
our universe with. In Part I, we will learn about Matter, Motion, Forces, Work, and
Energy and discover how these concepts are important in our live. Together, Part
One and Part Two of this course will be an excellent preparation for high school
Chemistry and Physics.
Course outline: Please email Mrs. Dutton at kathys.chemistry@gmail.com for the
full outline or to ask questions about the course.
Course materials and technology:
1. Text: Holt Science and Technology: Physical Science (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston,
2007) ISBN: 0-03-046228-26. We recommend buying used
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0030462282/catholictreas-20).
2. Calculator
3. A word processing program (such as Microsoft Word)
4. Access to a scanner with PDF capabilities
Homework: Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours outside of class each week. Each section
will have a short homework assignment, each chapter will have a quiz, and each
unit will have a test. There will be occasional hands-on activities that will only
require household items. Mrs. Dutton will be available to answer questions during
scheduled office hours or via the class discussion (forum). Mrs.Dutton will grade all
completed assignments and give an overall grade for this course.
Botany *New
This is a one-semester course.
Total classes: 8
Class dates: Tuesdays Sept. 6, 2016 - Oct. 25, 2016
Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes.
Prerequisite: Basic science knowledge
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 2/3 semester Botany or Science. Take Health
Science in the spring for full credit (or see additional course materials below).
Fee: $120.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $140 after July 15 for all 8
classes. ($160 after Aug. 29)
Instructor: Christine Hamilton Ph.D.
Course description: Not only is botany fun, it is an important subject to learn.
Plants play an integral role in the wellbeing of the human race. Think about plant
use in pharmaceuticals, fuel, industrial & household chemicals, paper, essential oils,
and so on. This is a semester-long course that introduces students to the plant
kingdom and related ideas. It will directly prepare students for biology and collegelevel botany courses.
Course outline:
1.
What is Plant Biology? /The Nature of Life
2.
Cells
3.
Tissues, Roots, Soils and Stems
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4.
Leaves, Flowers, Fruits and Seeds
5.
Water in Plants
6.
Metabolism and Growth
7.
Plant Names and Classifications
8.
Ecology and Biomes
Course materials: Required: Introductory Plant Biology 10th Edition. Available
inexpensively used
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00N4GTW6K/catholictreas-20). Colored
pencils, pens, paper, and a composition book.
Optional: For the student who wants to learn more or get extra credit from their
parent: A Walk in the Woods by Bryson
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B017BH2RE6/catholictreas-20) and
www.amjbot.org/.
Homework: Expect to spend approximately 2 hours outside of class each week
reviewing vocabulary, reading, drawing, and completing quizzes. Quizzes are
graded by the computer for immediate feedback. Students will create a keepsake
book of their plant drawings.
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Sedimentary Processes and Rocks. Hand Sample Analysis and Interpretation. Sedimentary
Structures and Environments. Interpretation of a Stratigraphic Sequence.
Week 7: Metamorphic Rocks, Processes, and Resources.
Metamorphic Processes and Rocks. Description and Interpretation of Metamorphic Rock
Samples.
Week 8: Dating of Rocks, Fossils, and Geologic Events.
Determining Relative Ages of Rocks Based on Their Physical Relationships. Using Fossils to
Determine Age Relationships. Determining Absolute Ages by Radiometric Dating. Infer the
Geologic History of Two Field Sites. Construct and Interpret a Subsurface Geologic Profile.
Course materials: Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 6th Ed. We recommend
purchasing used to save money
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130463337/catholictreas-20).
Homework: Weekly vocabulary, reading, and quizzes. Expect to spend 1-2 hours/week on
homework outside of class.
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Thanksgiving.
Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)
Duration: 60-75 min
Prerequisite: High School Biology
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: One full semester Anatomy & Physiology or Science
Fee: $195 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $215 after July 15 for all 14 classes.
($235 after Aug. 30)
Instructor: Christine Hamilton Ph. D.
Course description: High school level in-depth study of human anatomy and physiology
with dissection. Complete study of the basic principles of the human biology and its
functions. Where appropriate, discussion of contemporary bioethical issues from the
perspective of the Churchs moral magisterium will be engaged. The lab component will
focus in depth on the organ systems of the body, their anatomy and physiology. These
include the sensory, motor and integrative systems, special organs of sense, endocrine,
cardiovascular, respiratory, lymphatic, urinary, digestive, reproductive systems, as well as
embryonic and fetal development. A special emphasis will be placed on the human identity
and status of the embryo and fetus, incorporating a scientifically sound pro-life apologetics
approach for students to take with them into their college and graduate level clinical
training.
Course outline:
Introduction to Anatomy
Cells
Tissues
Skeletal
Muscular
Nervous
Senses
Endocrine
Blood
Circulatory
Digestive
Respiratory
Urinary
Reproductive
Course materials: Hole's Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Tenth edition. Can
be found inexpensively used.
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0077221354/catholictreas-20)
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Homework: Weekly vocabulary, reading and quizzes. 2-4 hours/week. Students are
expected to read the assigned chapter or chapters and write their vocabulary words
to prepare for the live lecture and computer graded weekly quizzes. Live labs will
enhance the organ and sensory learning experience.
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2. Calculator.
3. A word processing program (such as Microsoft Word) and a spreadsheet with
graphing capabilities program (such as Microsoft Excel).
4. Access to a scanner with PDF capabilities.
Homework: Time required to complete each lab should average to about 2 hours;
some will take more, and others will take less time. Also, there will be weeks with
little or no lab work. Mrs. Dutton will be available to answer questions during
scheduled office hours or via the class discussion (forum). Mrs. Dutton will grade all
completed labs and give an overall grade for this course.
Spanish
spelling of common vocabulary and basic Spanish grammar. This course covers the basics of
Spanish as a Second Language. Part One of the course teaches the meaning and pronunciation
of the alphabet, words and phrases and it emphasizes how to write sentences using articles,
nouns and adjectives in Spanish and an understanding of the number and gender relationship
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between them. Also taught is how to write questions and answers using some interrogative words
like Qu?, Quin?, Dnde? Cundo?
Through repetition and memorization of common phrases as well as by
watching videos, listening to recordings and playing games, the student will learn
and practice new vocabulary and basic grammar.
During the week prior to each class, the student will be required to watch a
video of Spanish grammar. During the live class, students will interact with the
teacher and each other to practice what they learned in the video and have the
opportunity to ask questions.
Every other week, the students will be asked to watch a video of Spanish
pronunciation. They will learn and practice how to pronounce a specific sound in
Spanish in each class and will be asked to practice a list of words and record them.
During the next live class, the pronunciation of these words will be reviewed.
Course outline:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Course materials: Spanish Middle / High School (Skills for Success), ISBN
#088724758X (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/088724758X/catholictreas-20)
Homework: Practice is very important to learn a new language. Before each class,
students are required to watch videos and PowerPoint presentations, listen to
audios, complete workbook pages, memorize phrases and complete any other
assignments posted on the course page for that week in order to be ready to
participate in the live class. Students should assign at least one hour every day to
practice their Spanish.
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participate in the live class. Students should assign at least one hour every day to
practice their Spanish.
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Test Prep
week with homework outside of the class lecture and review. Practice tests during
classes 7 and 8.
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Theology
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Instead of memorizing proof-texts, we are going to uncover how Scripture and the
early Christians understood Marys role in Gods perfect plan of redemption
beginning in Genesis with Adam, Eve, and the Serpent and tracing the prophetic
echoes of that event all the way to the Book of Revelation. Well see why Mary plays
such an important and indispensible role in Gods plan. How the Kingdom of David
sheds light on Marys mission both on earth and in Heaven. How being members of
the Body of Christ affects our relationship to Mary and finally what the Woman
clothed with the sun in Revelation 12 tells us about Mary and our battle against the
Evil One. The class will be based on Gary Michutas upcoming book, Making Sense
of Mary.
Course outline:
Class 1: The Temptation and Fall of Adam and Eve
Class 2: Marys Role in Gods Perfect Plan of Salvation
Class 3: The First Gospel
Class 4: Old Testament Prophecies about Mary
Class 5: Mary: The Queen mother of the Kingdom
Class 6: One Christ: Head and Body
Class 7: Daughter Zion
Class 8: The Woman of Revelation 12
Class 9: Apologetics
Class 10: Who were the brothers of the Lord?
Course materials: Making Sense of Mary by Gary Michuta [Grotto Press],
www.handsonapologetics.com/MSoM.html
Homework: Weekly reading and quizzes, plus a final exam to review material from
the semester. Quizzes and the exam are automatically graded by the computer so
that students have immediate feedback. Parents give the final grade.
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Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
High school credit: 1 full semester Theology
Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12
classes. ($215 after Aug. 29)
Course Instructor: Miss Ashour, MTS; M Hum
Course Rationale: In order to live the abundant life that Jesus said He came to
bring, we need to know who we are, made in Gods image and likeness. A new
vision of such anthropology has been given to us by God through Saint Pope John
Paul IIs Theology of the Body (TOB). A deep, proper study of this work brings with it
a renewal of the person who embraces such teachings. The late Holy Fathers
biographer, George Weigel, called it a time bomb set to go off sometime after the
Popes death. Angelo Cardinal Scola remarks that every area of Catholic thought can
be undergirded by the Theology of the Body; thus, this course will not only offer an
opportunity for ongoing renewal for the student but also a basis to explore other
areas of his/her faith with TOB as a foundation. Pope John Paul himself said about
his work: And this theology of the body is the basis of the most appropriate method
of the pedagogy of the body, that is, of mans education (or rather, selfeducation)....Here [In wrong view of science in seeing the body only as an object of
manipulation] we touch problems that often need fundamental solutions, which are
impossible without an integral vision of man St. John Paul II (TOB 59:3) (emphases
his).
Course Description: This 12-week course overview of Pope John Pauls Theology
of the Body will give a birds eye perspective of the whole of TOB. Far from
relegating TOB to the area of sex and sexuality, TOB provides meaningful tools to
see ones life in the context of Jesus love for His Church and the life and love of the
Blessed Trinity. A special emphasis will be made regarding the vocational call to the
priesthood, religious life, and married life, and how both celibacy for the Kingdom
(JPIIs words) and marriage mirror and inform each other. Then, we will move to
more specifics in Part Two of TOB. Caveat: Coursework subject to change based on
the discretion of the online instructors assessment.
Course Reading: The reading will assist the student in delving into a deep
understanding of the human person, especially in the area of vocational
discernment, sexuality, and self-mastery. Most of the reading is intended to help the
student understand the mind of the Church. Most will not be discussed in class, nor
will the student be quizzed on the assigned reading. The power points with Miss
Ashours incarnational diagrams which make accessible heady concepts will be
the springboard for rich discussion and where quizzes questions are based. For the
first days class: Please read the required reading from the Bible and Letter to
Families
Required Reading:
1. The BibleGenesis 1-3 and Ephesians 5
2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church #s 355-682 (Read 47 paragraphs a week)
3. The Documents of Vatican II, especially Gaudium et Spes 47-62 (2 paragraphs a
week)
4. Letter to Families (Pope John Paul) (This gives a good TOB outlook in
abbreviated form)
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5. The short essay The Weight of Glory in the longer collection with the same
name: The Weight of Glory and short essay Man or Rabbit, both by CS Lewis.
All can be found online for free.
Optional Reading for those who want to earn extra credit:
1. Peter Kreefts Heaven: The Hearts Deepest Longing (his best book), Ignatius
Press, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898702283/catholictreas-20
2. Jason Everts The Theology of His Body; The Theology of Her Body, Ascension
Press (Parents should read first, but my homeschooled nephew of 15 years old said
it really helped him),
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/193421759X/catholictreas-20
Coursework:
Weekly Online Computer-graded Quizzes (Be finished before the start of the
next class) (25%)
Major Project (Grading Rubric will be posted) (25%) A fun, creative outlet to
show learning!
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serve as a great segue into Mariology, a study of the Mother and Paradigm of the
Church. Indeed, Pope John Paul II, whose motto Totus Tuus is directed toward Our
Lady, continues to lead the Church into the threshold of hope for the new
millennium; therefore, we will do a careful study of his thought in much of
the corpus of his writing. Finally, we will examine the thoughts of Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI, who has written extensively on the Church and on the Liturgy. Caveat:
Coursework subject to change based on the discretion of the online instructors
assessment.
Course Goal: The final goal of this course is for each student to glorify the Father
as a person fully alive (Ireneas) growing in intimacy with Jesus Christ, the Head of
the Church and His Body, the Church through the power of the Holy Spiritthe Soul
of the Church.
Course Reading: The reading assignments give the student the flavor of the
Churchs understanding of Herself and the Sacraments; rarely will we discuss the
reading assignments. Rather, I give the readings to help the students bolster their
understanding of what we are learning in class, as well as giving students good
resources for their own growth. Quizzes are not based on the readings but from
weekly power points with Miss Ashours incarnational diagrams making accessible
heady concepts. For the first days class: see the required reading listed under Week
1.
Required Reading:
1. The BibleThe Institution of the Last Supper in all 3 synoptic Gospels and Johns
Washing of the Feet; all of the book of Ephesians; Hebrews 5-13
2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (See assignments below)
3. The Documents of Vatican II, especially Sacrosanctum Concilium and Lumen
Gentium (see assignments below)
4. Ecclesia de Eucharistia (Pope John Pauls encyclical on the Eucharist and Its
relationship to the ChurchRead 6 paragraphs a week)
5. The short essay The Weight of Glory in the longer collection with the same
name: The Weight of Glory and short essay Man or Rabbit, both by CS Lewis.
All can be found online for free.
Optional Reading for those who want to earn extra credit:
1. Peter Kreefts Catholic Christianity, Ignatius Press,
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898707986/catholictreas-20
2. Dr. Joyce Littles The Catholic Church and the Culture War: Secular Anarchy or
Sacred Order (out of print but can be found used online),
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898705479/catholictreas-20
Coursework:
Weekly Online Computer-graded Quizzes (Be finished before the start of the
next class) (25%)
Major Project (Grading Rubric will be posted) (25%) A fun, creative outlet to
show learning!
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Course outline:
Class 1: Solid commas in a series and comas with conjunctions
Class 2: Solid commas within clauses and tough constructions
Class 3: Solid tense, competing punctuation, and quotations
Class 4: Sticky-pair sentence construction (if-then, not only-but also) and tough
grammar
Class 5: Using colons and semicolons correctly
Class 6: Introducing tricky punctuation details and end punctuation
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Book: Simplified Punctuation and
Grammar for Middle School Students, Book 1, by Erin Brown Conroy. Ordering
information forthcoming.
Homework: Weekly quizzes, with an estimated two to three hours per week for
homework outside of class time. Quizzes are graded automatically by the computer
for instant feedback.
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Course description: This is an essential writing course for all middle school
students, to make sure your student has strong middle school writing foundations in
place. Your student will learn how to create well-crafted sentences and paragraphs
including the absolute must-have knowledge and practice for the use of nouns,
verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions and prepositional phrases, and compound
sentence structures. Your student will also cover capitalization, end punctuation,
and the use of quoted material. Even if your student has learned the composition of
a sentence and paragraph in elementary materials, this course uses higher-level
vocabulary and structures. This course can help your student finally master the
details that are holding him or her back from writing well.
Course
Class 1:
Class 2:
Class 3:
Class 4:
Class 5:
Class 6:
outline:
Nouns, verbs, and capitalization in sentences
Adjectives, adverbs, and end punctuation in sentences
Prepositions, prepositional phrases, and compound sentence structures
Using quotes in dialogue and academic writing
Transitions and connectives in sentences
Putting it all together: Transitions and linear sentences in paragraph writing
* This course, a continuation of the Simplified Writing series for 8/7 students, is
scheduled during three time slots in the fall semester only; the course will not be
offered live in the spring semester.
* This is a two-part course; register for the Simplified Writing 1 and 2 courses
together, to receive one full semester of credit (14 weeks of classes).
* Though not required, it is recommended to sign up for Simplified Writing 1 and 2
in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester.
Total Classes: 8
Class dates and starting times:
Tuesdays, September 6 to October 25, 2016
3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific)
OR
Thursdays, September 8 to October 27, 2016
2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)
OR
Thursdays, September 8 to October 27, 2016
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* This course, a continuation of the Simplified Writing series for 8/7 students, is
scheduled during three time slots in the fall semester only; the course will not be
offered live in the spring semester.
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* This is a two-part course; register for the Simplified Writing 1 and 2 courses
together, to receive one full semester of credit (12 weeks of classes).
* Though not required, it is recommended to sign up for Simplified Writing 1 and 2
in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester.
Total Classes: 6
Class dates and starting times:
Tuesdays, November 8 to December 20, 2016. No class Nov. 22 for Thanksgiving
break.
3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific)
OR
Thursdays, November 3 to December 15. No class Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving.
2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)
*NOTE: The fifth class is held on FRIDAY, December 9, at 1:00 PM Eastern; there is
no Thursday class that week
OR
Thursdays, November 3 to December 15. No class Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving.
3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific)
*NOTE! The fifth class is held on FRIDAY, December 9, at 1 PM EDT; there is no
Thursday class that week
Duration: 50 minutes
Prerequisite: Required: SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 1: Foundations
of Composition I (MS 8/7-1). Students may take the requisite courses live or in
Unlimited Access. Your student will also need Word 2007 or later version or the
ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document.
Suggested grade level: 8th or accelerated 7th grade
Suggested credit: semester Writing or English.
Fee: $97 if you register on or before July 15, 2016; $117 after July 15 for all 6
classes. ($137 after Sept. 25)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: This is a writing course that takes the foundational writing
skills learned in the Simplified Writing 1 course and puts into critical practice, with
specific feedback and coaching regarding how your student's writing can improve.
Students will brainstorm and craft the outline of an essay and a short paper during
the course, introducing hooks, thesis statements, and connecting sentences in an
essay/papers introduction and creating outlines. Attention will be given to writing
with a Christian worldview.
Course outline:
Class 1: Writing structure and skill: practicing the introduction, hook, and thesis
Class 2: Writing structure and skill: practicing outlines and the
conclusion/concluding statements
Class 3: Writing an essay: rough drafts
Class 4: Writing a paper: five types of papers & practicing the introduction, hook,
and thesis
Class 5: Writing a paper: practicing outlines and concluding statements; revising an
essay
Class 6: Writing a paper: rough drafts; editing an essay
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Course materials: eBook: Simplified Writing for Middle School Students, Book 1,
by Erin Brown Conroy. Ordering information forthcoming.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with grading and direct feedback from the
instructor. Estimated three to four hours per week for homework outside of class
time, depending on the students ability.
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Class 2: Mastering commas and clauses and tough constructions, including multiple
ideas, connectors, and transitions
Class 3: Mastering tense, competing punctuation, quotations, dashes, and ellipses
Class 4: Sticky-pair sentence construction (if-then, not only-but also) and tough
grammar in upper-level constructions
Class 5: Mastering colons and semicolons with leading sentence constructions
Class 6: Mastering tricky punctuation details, end punctuation, and the most
common grammar challenges
Course materials: eBook: Elements of Writing for High School Students by Erin
Brown Conroy. Ordering information forthcoming
Homework: Weekly quizzes graded automatically by the computer for immediate
feedback. Estimated two to four hours per week for homework outside of class time,
depending on the students ability.
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Course description: This high school writing overview course is designed to give
the teen skills that make writing strong and clear, lacking nothingable to
articulate ideas well in writing for all high-school level work. Students will learn how
to further perfect strong sentences and paragraphs; learn nine basic forms of
rhetoric; focus on linear academic writing for a purpose; practice transitions and
connectives, parallelism, paraphrasing, and summary; review punctuation as it
influences excellence in writing (comma, semicolon, colon, and dash use);
recognizing and correcting common grammar struggles; understand the
characteristics of an effective introduction, body, and conclusion; overview
prewriting, drafting, and editing skills; and practice sculpting a piece of writing with
direction that receives specific feedback from the instructor.
Course outline:
Class 1: Audience, purpose, and word choice
Class 2: Perfecting strong sentence and paragraph construction
Class 3: Nine forms of rhetoric (and what they have to do with great writing)
Class 4: Linear writing for a purpose: more strong sentences and paragraphs
Class 5: How to effectively use transitions/connectives and parallelism
Class 6: Punctuation and excellent writing: the comma, colon, semicolon, and dash;
conquering common grammar struggles
Class 7: The introduction, body, and conclusion; prewriting for success
Class 8: Drafting for success; editing and polishing your writing
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets
for College Success by Erin Brown Conroy. Available from
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00B7AB90W/catholictreas-20.
(Download the Kindle app for free to easily read on your computer, tablet, or mobile
device.)
Homework: Students will have weekly writing assignments with grading and direct
feedback from instructor. Expect an estimated five hours per week for homework
(outside of class time) that includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.
HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 2: Beyond the FiveParagraph Essay (HS 9-4) *NEW
* This course is offered once in the Fall Semester and once in the Spring Semester.
Total Classes: 8
Class dates: Wednesdays, September 21 to November 9, 2016.
Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Required: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational
Writing Skills (HS 9-2). Students can take the prerequisite course live or recorded in
Unlimited Access. Your student will also need Word 2007 or later version or the
ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document.
Suggested grade level: This critical course is open to all students who have the
prerequisites complete, no matter the grade level. Because the content of this
course is foundational for all high school essay writing, it is highly suggested that
students enroll in this course.
Suggested credit: semester Writing or English. Combine with High School
Writing Essentials 2 (HS 9-3) in the spring for a full semester. You can also combine
with a literature course for a full English credit.
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Fee: $157 if you register on or before July 15; $177 after July 15 for all 8 classes.
($197 after Sept. 13)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: The Five Paragraph Essay has been the standard for essay
writing for years. This course helps your student understand and practice writing
essays in the Five Paragraph Essay form as well as learning what makes an essay
exceptional. Students will craft essays and practice becoming comfortable with
thinking quickly in creating, drafting, and polishing essays. Special attention will be
paid to how to write essays that capture the attention and flow from beginning to
end, with meaning.
Course outline:
Class 1: Essay types and differences, and where youll write them
Class 2: The traditional five paragraph essay
Class 3: What makes an essay great Research an essay and brainstorming with
the then what? question; taking your thoughts to the end of the line
Class 4: What makes an essay great Writing an essay and examples and analysis
of form, parallelism, and rhythm
Class 5: What makes an essay great Transitional tricks, answering the readers
questions, making cohesive decisions, and bookending
Class 6: What makes an essay great Storytelling and creative elements
Class 7: What makes an essay great Analyzing three essays
Class 8: Revising and editing your essays
Course materials: TBA, ordering information forthcoming. Word 2007 or later
version or the ability to convert documents to Word-compatible documents.
Homework: Homework: Weekly quizzes, with an estimated two to three hours per
week for homework outside of class time. Quizzes are graded automatically by the
computer for instant feedback. Course includes skill-building sheets with corrections
guide. Personalized question time will be offered in class to insure a strong
understanding of concepts.
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needed for high school advanced writing, Advanced Placement (AP) English
Language and Composition courses, the ACT and SAT, advanced writing courses,
and all of college writingand an introduction of the concepts associated with the
terms.. Over 350 words will be learned and practiced this semester. Course work will
be simple yet critical for your students future success. Because vocabulary is the
#1 indicator of success on college entrance testing, if you want your student to not
only score well on testing but also be able to be prepared for college writing and
vocabulary, this course is for you.
Course outline:
Class 1: Writing for a Purpose and Audience
Class 2: Worldview, Critical Thinking, & Passive/Active Voice
Class 3: Writing Effective Sentences; Diction & Syntax
Class 4: Writing Effective Paragraphs: Structure, Linear Writing, Active writing,
Transitions and Connectives
Class 5: Punctuation and its Effect on Writing
Class 6: Grammar, Usage, & Mechanics for Clarity
Class 7: Types of Writing
Class 8: Point of View, Tone, & Voice
Class 9: Style
Class 10: Techniques & Devices of Organization for Coherence
Class 11: More Techniques & Devices of Organization
Class 12: Composing Methods
Class 13: Characteristics of an Effective Argument
Class 14: Research Methods
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Book: EB Conroys Simplified
Vocabulary Guide. Ordering information is forthcoming.
Homework: Studying for tests on the vocabulary identification and use. Students
will take weekly in-system quizzes and complete weekly writing assignments using
the new vocabulary. Assignments are graded by the instructor.
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Suggested credit: 1/3 semester Creative Writing. Take this course with HS 11-2
(Description & Setting) and HS 11-3 (Characters & Dialogue) for a full semester of
credit (12 weeks).
Fee: $89 if you register on or before July 15, 2015; $99 after July 15 for all 4 classes.
($119 after Aug. 31)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: This course teaches the key components of writing a gripping
plot for fiction books of any genre. Designed for writing fiction for middle grade,
young adult, and adult plots, the course covers great openings (the opening line,
hook, drop into action, and inciting incident); development (doors of no return,
peaks, and the rising plot line); creating tension and intrigue; and the climax and
finish.
Course outline:
Class 1: Great openingsthe opening line, hook, drop into action, and inciting
incident
Class 2: Developing your plotdoors of no return, peaks, and the rising plot line
Class 3: Creating tension and intriguetricks, tips, and the plant
Class 4: Great endingscreating a strong climax and finish
Course materials: All materials are provided FREE via the instructor.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with direct feedback from Professor
Brown Conroy, with an estimated three to four hours per week for homework
outside of class time that includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.
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description and crafting a strong and memorable setting for your fiction book. The
course covers when a good writer uses description and setting (timing and amount
of use); types of description (sensory, metaphor and simile, figures of speech, and
literary techniques); principles and techniques of memorable settings; and how to
integrate description and setting into plot, structure, and character development.
Course outline:
Class 1: Description and Setting: Timing and the Basics of their Use
Class 2: Types of DescriptionThe senses, metaphor and simile, figures of speech,
and literary techniques
Class 3: Principles and techniques of memorable settings (including examples to
learn by)
Class 4: How to integrate description and setting into plot, structure, and character
development
Course materials: All materials are provided FREE via the instructor.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with direct feedback from Professor
Brown Conroy, with an estimated three to four hours per week for homework
outside of class time that includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.
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into character development and action. The course will also center on how to
implement your Catholic worldview into your characters and dialogue.
Course outline:
Class 1: Types of characters, developing characters fully, introducing your character
Class 2: Character arc: Your lead characters inner change
Class 3: Dialogue how-tos, dos, and donts
Class 4: Showing your character in the dialogue: weaving dialogue with your
character and the action
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. All materials are provided FREE via
the instructor.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with direct feedback from Professor
Brown Conroy, with an estimated three to four hours per week for homework
outside of class time that includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.
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Class 7: Marketing writing what it is, who uses it, and an introduction of how to
write a text to sell
Class 8: Little Writing Tasks that are really big: social media and business; the
business email; inter-office communication including the memo, organizational
texts, and agendas; and organizational writing to keep on task
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. All materials are provided FREE via
the instructor.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with direct feedback from Professor
Brown Conroy, with an estimated three to four hours per week for homework
outside of class time, including reading, writing, and responding to feedback.
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Class 3: Rhetorical Mode 2: Comparison and Contrast; creating a thesis and hook for
your paper
Class 4: Rhetorical Mode 3: Illustration and Exemplification; rhetorical strategies and
figures of speech (litotes, zeugma, euphemism, idiom)
Class 5: Rhetorical Mode 4: Description; drafting your papers outline
Class 6: Rhetorical Mode 5: Process Analysis; rhetorical strategies and figures of
speech (hyperbole, metonymy, metaphor, mixed metaphor, extended metaphor);
prewriting for papers
Class 7: Rhetorical Mode 6: Definition; rhetorical strategies and figures of speech
(bathos, caricature, deus ex machine, epiphany)
your papers rough draft
Class 8: Rhetorical Mode 7: Cause and Effect; advanced methods of draft revision 1
Class 9: Rhetorical Mode 8: Division and Classification; advanced methods of draft
revision 2; formatting advanced academic works (brief style guide introduction)
Class 10: Rhetorical mode 9: Argumentation; integrating rhetorical strategies into
upper-level writing
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets
for College Success, by Erin Brown Conroy:
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00B7AB90W/catholictreas-20. (Download the
Kindle app for free to easily read on your computer, tablet, or mobile device.) Also
required is 2) Simplified Writing 102: EB Conroy's Top 10 Tips for Using the
Rhetorical Modes in Academic Writing. Ordering information for 102 is forthcoming.
Homework: Students will have weekly writing assignments with grading and direct
feedback from the instructor. Estimate four to five hours per week for homework
(outside of class time); this includes reading, writing, and responding to instructor
feedback.
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Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Writing or English. Add another course for full
credit.
Fee: $99 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $119 after Nov. 15 for all
6 classes. ($139 after Oct. 16)
Instructor: Lisa Mladinich
Course description: This course continues your students understanding of
punctuation and grammar with instruction and exercises taking your student to
college-level understanding. Students will move beyond common understanding to
mastering the skills. If you want your teen to never struggle with punctuation and
grammar and be able to be skillful in upper-level, college-prep punctuation and
grammar, this is the course for you.
Course outline:
Class 1: The power of punctuation; what punctuation does (and doesnt do) for your
writing, and how you can harness that power
Class 2: Complete comma understanding and practice: identification of commas
with multiple clause sentences (the sentence/non-sentence trick)
Class 3: Complete comma understanding and practice: typical comma errors and
editors choices with commas
Class 4: Common, unusual, and rare comma placement in common, unusual, and
rare places
Class 5: Semicolons, colons, and commas used together correctly
Class 6: End punctuation issues, quotation mark errors, and quotes within quotes
issues
Class 7: Citations, references, footnotes, and research-centric punctuation
Class 8: Mastering punctuation in the SAT and ACT
Course materials: TBA, ordering information forthcoming. Word 2007 or later
version or the ability to convert documents to Word-compatible documents.
Homework: Homework: Weekly quizzes, with an estimated two to three hours per
week for homework outside of class time. Quizzes are graded automatically by the
computer for instant feedback. Course includes skill-building sheets with corrections
guide. Personalized question time will be offered in class to insure a strong
understanding of concepts.
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Fee: $127 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $147 after Nov. 15 for all
8 classes. ($167 after Sept. 7)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: This is a practicum course; your student will learn
strategies to successfully complete all types of academic essays and papers,
contest essays, and college entrance essays (non-timed but deadline-oriented
essays and papers). But most importantly, during the course, your student will bring
his or her own essay or paper from outside sources, to work on (other courses
papers or essays, essays for scholarships, essays for college entrance and
competitive essays for prizes). If the student does not have an outside work (or
works) to perfect, the student will research and choose at least two (2) collegescholarship essays to work on during the course. This is a great time to get specific
help for top-notch essay and paper writing, write that essay for getting into college,
and enter that essay contest with a professional editor helping you do your best. We
will apply all of the principles of great essay writing taught in the AWA courses and
students will receive personalized feedback on their work.
Course outline:
Class 1: Understanding academic essays and papers; type and style; outlining and
creating a guide before you write
Class 2: Understanding college entrance essays; creating essay content that helps
get you into the college of your choice
Class 3: Understanding competitive essays for prizes and scholarships; working with
prescribed topics and meeting (and exceeding) guidelines
Class 4: Researching and expanding your essay or paper
Class 5: Rough drafting vs. revising vs. editing
Class 6: True revision and editing
Class 7: Following standard form; presentation guidelines for success
Class 8: Shortening your time in the process of writing; how to make writing easier
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version; all course materials provided FREE
by the instructor
Homework: Students will have weekly writing assignments and direct feedback
from the instructor, with an estimated four to five hours per week for homework
(outside of class time) that includes researching, reading, writing, and responding to
feedback.
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Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. However, those in middle school who
have written or are writing their own fiction work, and have the prerequisites, are
encouraged to enroll.
Suggested credit: 2/3 Creative Writing, Writing, or English. For a full credit keep
writing daily and working your craft.
Fee: $157 if you register on or before July 15, 2016; $177 after July 15 for all 8
classes. ($197 if you register after Sept. 14)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: This is an advanced fiction writing course that delves into the
use of archetypes in what is called "The Hero's Journey," the mythic structure that
many claim all stories follow. This course will cover the different kinds of typological
characters who appear in stories, applying that knowledge to the crafting of your
own fiction book and to upper-level literature. The course can be taken in
conjunction with any of the other fiction writing courses offered with Homeschool
Connections. Whether you plan on going into fiction writing (books, screenwriting,
poetry) or simply want to expand your ability to write in advanced styles, this
course is for you.
Course outline:
Class 1: Archetypes and story in fiction writing
Class 2: The Hero
Class 3: The Mentor: The Wise Old Man or Woman
Class 4: The Threshold Guardian
Class 5: The Herald
Class 6: The Shapeshifter and the Shadow
Class 7: The Ally
Class 8: The Trickster
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Book: The Writers Journey: Mythic
Structures for Writers, 3rd Edition, by Christopher Vogler and Michele Montez
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/193290736X/catholictreas-20). NOTE:
The same book is used in both of the Advanced Fiction I and II courses.
Homework: Approximately two to four hours per week of reading and completing
coursework, depending on your skills level coming into the course. All homework is
graded with personal feedback given by the instructor.
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Suggested credit: 2/3 Screenwriting, Creative Writing, or English. For a full credit
keep writing daily and working your craft.
Fee: $157 if you register on or before July 15, 2016; $177 after July 15 for all 8
classes. ($197 after Sept. 8)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: As a fiction writing course, this is an Introduction to
Screenwriting where students learn the foundations of screenwriting and creating
scripts for movies. Students will learn how to design story for film, including
character development and with a focus on story line. Students will also craft
dialogue, discuss the conventions of good movies, and analyze classic and current
movies, to be able to craft scenes and a screenplay. Students will also be expected
to read through screenplays and watch films related to learning the craft.
Course outline:
Week 1: Screenplay fundamentals: What is a screenplay? How does a screenplay
differ in story from other fiction?
Week 2: What is the format of a screenplay? (Foreword, Introduction)
Week 3: What is a logline? (Chapter One)
Week 4: Crafting loglines and reading scripts
Week 5: The Ten Genres of Film, Part 1 (Chapter Two)
Week 6: The Ten Genres of Film, Part 2 (Chapter Two)
Week 7: Archetypes and Film (Chapter Three)
Week 8: The Beat Sheet (Chapter Four)
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Book: The Writers Journey: Mythic
Structures for Writers, 3rd Edition, by Christopher Vogler and Michele Montez
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/193290736X/catholictreas-20). NOTE:
The same book is used in both of the Advanced Fiction (Parts One and Two) courses.
Homework: Approximately two to four hours per week of reading and completing
coursework, depending on your skills level coming into the course. All homework is
graded with personal feedback given by the instructor.
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Computer Programming
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German
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2. Two Klett readers from the Stadt, Land, Fluss series. These are small German
chapter books to be used in addition to the grammar text. They are called Blinder
Passagier and Spannende Tour im Schwarzwald, both by Andrea Maria Wagner. One
can order these from the International Book Service at 1-800- 277-4247, or at
ibis@IBIService.com.
Homework: Expect to spend least hour per day on German. When not
completing grammar drills or homework assignments, students should be learning
vocabulary, listening online to the German news, reading and re-reading the texts
given and studying for the quizzes and tests. All assignments are given and graded
by the instructor.
Government/Law
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History
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be discussed during the semester. It is not necessary to have taken Lives of the
Saints: Revealing the Glory of God I in order to take this class.
Course materials: Provided free by the instructor.
Homework: Approximately 30 minutes a week. Also, a final project will be
assigned (to be completed throughout the semester) and graded by the instructor.
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Latin
Students are taught both Ecclesiastical and Classical pronunciations in all
Homeschool Connections live, interactive Latin courses. This is so that students can
fully participate in Latin Mass as well be prepared for advanced Latin studies in
college.
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encouraged to use certain online resources to help them develop good study habits.
This course will prepare students for Latin One. Materials will be supplied by the
instructor. We will explore both Classical and Ecclesiastical pronunciations.
Course materials: Latin dictionary with both a Latin to English as well as English to
Latin section (such as
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877205612/catholictreas-20). Students are
not to use online Latin dictionaries. A working microphone with headphones is
mandatory. All other course materials provided free by the Mrs. Henry.
Homework: Students should spend a half hour a day, four days a week on their
homework.
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Homework: Students will have daily homework assignments and weekly quizzes. In
addition to homework, they will be encouraged to study Latin for at least fifteen
minutes each day.
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This is Part Two of a 2-part course. Students are welcome to join us midyear but
need to email first for the placement test at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com if
they do not have the prerequisite.
This course is limited to 20 students.
Total classes: 14
Class dates: Thursdays, January 19th to May 4th 2017. No class April 13 for Easter
Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Advanced Latin, Part One. Or, a score of 70% or higher on the
entrance exam (given by the instructor). Email
homeschoolconnections@gmail.com for the exam.
Suggested grade level: 11th and 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: One semester Latin or Foreign Language
Fee: $200 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $225 after Nov. 15 for all
14 classes. ($245 after Jan. 11)
Instructor: Emily Henry
Course description: Want to continue your Latin training and have some fun along
the way? Join us in Advanced Latin! Dont let the course name intimidate you. This
course isnt as scary as it sounds! In this class, students will begin to transition from
learning about grammar to applying it through translation. Students will have the
opportunity to translate texts from ancient Roman authors, Biblical passages, and
religious documents. This course focuses on helping students read and translate
Latin with proficiency. Students will love the seminar environment in which the
instructor will facilitate student-led discussions. We will explore both Ecclesiastical
and Classical pronunciations.
Course materials:
Required: Wheelocks Latin Reader 2e: Selections from Latin Literature
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060935065/catholictreas-20)
Allen and Greenoughs New Latin Grammar
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1585100277/catholictreas-20); and a Latin
dictionary (such as www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877205612/catholictreas20).
A working microphone with headphones is mandatory.
Recommended: Wheelocks Latin 7th Edition
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061997226/catholictreas-20).
Homework: Students are expected to translate daily, spending about an hour on
their assignments.
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Life Skills
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Literature
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Chesterton and others. We will not only examine the structure and content of mystery stories, but also try
our hand at writing our own short mysteries! Plus mini-mysteries will be read and solved in every class
session.
Course outline:
Introduction and Mini-Mysteries
Sherlock Holmes - Part I
Sherlock Holmes - Part II
Father Brown - the Anti-Holmes
Chestertons other Mysteries
Agatha Christie - Part I
Agatha Christie - Part II
Dorothy Sayers
Nancy Drew
The Hardy Boys
Mystery Dinner Theater
Student Mysteries - Part I
Student Mysteries - Part II
Course materials: Public domain mysteries will be provided by the instructor. Each student will need to
purchase or borrow Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062196537/catholictreas-20), The Mousetrap and Other Plays by
Agatha Christie (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062094467/catholictreas-20), and The Secret of
the Old Clock (Nancy Drew, Book One),
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0448095017/catholictreas-20.
Homework: Quizzes and Final Exam. Students will be asked to write a final project mystery story to be
graded by the instructor. Plan on about four hours of homework, mostly reading, per week.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Total classes: 13
Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 6, 2017
Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Literature or English
Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 if you register after Nov. 15 for all 13
classes. ($215 after Jan. 4)
Instructor: Kevin OBrien
Course description: This is the High School version of our popular class for Middle School Students.
From its beginning in ancient Greece and from its inception in England in the context of the liturgy,
drama has always been about man's relation to God (or "the gods"). This survey course will examine
some of the great works of drama and comedy, focusing on how dramatic art grapples with the question
of the meaning of life and the revelation of God in the human heart.
Course outline:
Ancient Greek Drama
Classical Roman Drama
Early Medieval Drama - Mystery, Miracle and Morality Plays
Shakespeare - Tragedy - Macbeth
Shakespeare - Comedy - Much Ado about Nothing
Moliere - The Forced Marriage
Commedia del Arte
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8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Restoration Drama
Melodramas of the Early 19th Century
Ibsens A Dolls House
George Bernard Shaw vs. G. K. Chesterton
Theater of the Absurd
American Theater and Course Review
Course materials: All materials will be provided as PDFs by the instructor.
Homework: Tests, Reading, Midterm, and Final exams. Expect about three hours of
homework per week.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Total classes: 13
Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 6, 2017
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester credit Literature, Theology, or Philosophy
Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 if you register after Nov. 15 for all 13
classes. ($215 after Jan. 4)
Instructor: Kevin OBrien
Course description: St. John tells us, You have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many
antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. But what is the nature of this antichrist
or this anti-Christian spirit, so prevalent in the world today? How does it fight against God? What sort of
world does it create? What are its goals and assumptions? We will look at this spirit of defiance that puts
man in place of God and identify its nature, its philosophy, its goals, where it most contradicts the
Catholic Faith, and how ordinary people can combat it. We will do this by studying the art and literature
that shows us what happens when men try to build this world without God, including reading all or
parts of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, 1984 by George Orwell, The Turn of the Screw by Henry
James, Father Elijah by Michael OBrien and selections by philosophers such as Nietzsche, Camus and
Voegelin.
Course outline:
Christ vs. Antichrist
Man as God - Macbeth - Part I
Man as God - Macbeth - Part II
The Spirit of Friedrich Nietzsche
Nihilism and the Christian Critique
Heaven or Hell on Earth? - 1984 - Part I
Heaven or Hell on Earth? - 1984 - Part II
Hilaire Belloc on the Modern Heresy of the World without God
Eric Voegelin on the Closed System and Unreality
Henry James The Turn of the Screw as the Haunted World without God
Visions of the Apocalypse - Selections from Father Elijah by Michael OBrien
Antidotes to the Antichrist
Review
Course materials: Public domain material will be provided as PDFs by the instructor. Students must
purchase or borrow 1984 by George Orwell
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451524934/catholictreas-20), The Great Heresies by Hilaire
Belloc (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0991560671/catholictreas-20), and Father Elijah by
Michael OBrien (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898706904/catholictreas-20).
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Homework: Reading, quizzes, final exam, mid-term paper, final paper graded by
the instructor. Plan on about four hours of homework per week.
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Course materials: The Odyssey by Homer. Make sure to obtain the Richmond
Lattimore translation, HarperPerennial edition, ISBN #0-06-093195-7
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060931957/catholictreas-20)
Homework: Homework entails daily reading and weekly quizzes (20 minutes).
Math
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Class dates: Tuesdays, January 10 to April 25. No classes January 24 for the March
for Life and April 11 for Holy Week.
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes live classes, 10-20 minutes recorded
Prerequisite: Students should have already been introduced to fractions and
should be able to perform basic math operations (adding, subtracting, multiplying,
dividing).
Suggested credit: 1 full semester math.
Suggested Grade Level: 6th (advanced 5th graders welcome)
Fee: $175.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. 195.00 after Nov.
15th for all 12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 2)
Instructor: Emily Nardozzi, M.Ed.
Course description: Middle School Math 1 covers fractions, decimals, integers,
data analysis, algebraic expressions and equations, functions and inequalities, using
formulas, and surface area and volume in a way that will be easy to understand and
will provide a strong foundation for the coming math courses.
Course materials: Mathematics: Applications and Concepts, Course 1, Student
Edition (Glencoe Mathematics), 2006 Edition. We recommend purchasing the book
used as they can be found for as little as 0.99 plus
s/h: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0078652537/catholictreas-20 (click on
Used).
Homework: 3-4 lessons per week with 10-20 homework problems per lesson, 2
short quizzes per week, and a chapter test approximately every other week
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Homework: 4-5 lessons per week with 15-20 problems to work per lesson
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This is Part Two of a 2-part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear if they
meet the prerequisite. Email us if you are unsure.
Total classes: 14 live, interactive classes plus 3 to 5 recorded lessons each week.
Class dates: Tuesdays, January 10 to April 25. No classes January 24 for the March
for Life and April 11 for Holy Week.
Starting time: 4:00 PM Eastern (3:00 Central; 2:00 Mountain; 1:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Office Hours: Thursdays from 5:30-6:00 PM Eastern (by appointment)
Prerequisite: Algebra 2, Part One or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Math or Honors Algebra 2
Fee: $185 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $215 after July 15 for all 14 live classes
and 36+ recorded classes. ($235 after Jan. 2)
Instructor: Thomas Frederick, MS
Course description: This class is designed with online education in mind. Daily video
lessons maximize student-teacher contact time. Each Live class is an individualized study
session in which the class works together solving student generated problems and
answering questions from the week before. The goal of Algebra 2 is to build upon the
concepts taught in Algebra 1 and Geometry while adding new concepts to the students
repertoire of mathematics. Algebra 2 continues the study of linear, quadratic, polynomial
and exponential functions and introduces rational, logarithmic and trigonometric
relationships. Additional topics covered include matrices, sequences and conic sections. A
focus on application of concepts learned to solving real world problems will be a learning
outcome. Graphing calculators and online resources will be introduced often as learning aids
and preparation for 21 century learning.
Course materials: Holt McDougal Larson Algebra 2 (2007), ISBN-13: 978-0-618-92393-9
ISBN-10: 0-618-92393-4 (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618923934/catholictreas-20).
A TI 83 or 84 Graphing Calculator *(a FREE app can be downloaded for the Android Phone,
Mac or PC but not for IOS)
Homework: Weekly lessons will include pre recorded videos, note sheets, practice
problems, and a quiz or test. Homework questions will be assigned from the textbook along
with solutions for students to self-check progress. Each unit will have a quiz or test at the
end, which will be graded by the instructor in the Moodle interface. Students will be
expected to watch daily videos, complete daily homework (3-4 times per week). The
instructor will host a live class once a week for one hour as well as office hours (by
appointment) for 30 minutes.
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Philosophy / Logic
Formal Logic II
Total classes: 12
Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 6, 2017. No class Feb. 23 for mid-term
break.
Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Logic I: Introduction to Formal Logic or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade.
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Logic or Formal Logic II
Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 after Nov. 15 for all
12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 4)
Instructor: Robert F. Gotcher, Ph.D.
Course description: This course continues the exploration of formal logic begun in
the "Introduction to Formal Logic" course. It looks closely at a wide variety of
syllogism. such as Enthymemes, conditional, disjunctive, conjunctive,
polysyllogisms, sorites, and dilemmas. Examples are taken from famous
philosophers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, and Hume.
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Course materials: Traditional Logic, Book II: Advanced Formal Logic (Classical
Trivium Core Series) by Martin Cothran (Jun 1, 2000) and Traditional Logic II, Key by
Martin Cothran (Jun 1, 2008). Can be found at www.memoriapress.com or your
favorite used curriculum forum.
Homework: Weekly logic exercises graded by the instructor.
Science
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Starting time: 5:00 PM Eastern (4:00 Central; 3:00 Mountain; 2:00 Pacific)
Duration: 45 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade. Interested high school students are also
welcomed to join us.
Suggested credit: 1 full semester Ornithology or Biology
Fee: $155 if your register on or before November 15, 2016. $175 after Nov. 15 for
all 13 classes. ($195 after Jan. 4)
Instructor: MacBeth Derham
Course description: A look at birds' anatomy and behavior, with an emphasis on
identifying the familiar birds of North America.
Course materials: Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson Field
Guides) by Roger Tory Peterson, ISBN # 0618966145
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618966145/macbethsopinion-20)
Homework: Memorizing and identifying common birds for weekly quiz. Each
student will give one presentation on any bird for the class.
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consoles (they look like holes cut out where flight instruments should be but you
see the outside instead). Please test to ensure that the software displays them
properly or the student will have greater difficulty controlling the ship (not a limiting
factor for the class). The Orbiter Space Flight Simulator works on Windows
98/2000/XP/Vista/Win7 and possibly Windows 10.
[2] Access to a spreadsheet application like MS Excel (not free but possibly already
installed on your computer) or Open Office Calc (free download at openoffice.org) is
recommended for some data analysis.
[3] Fldigi (Fast and Light Digital modem program) is a modem program for most of
the digital modes used by radio amateurs today: CW, PSK, MFSK, RTTY, WEFAX, and
others. Version 3.22.08 (or greater) is available as a free download from
http://www.w1hkj.com website. Fldigi should run on all POSIX/X11 systems (*BSD,
Linux, Solaris, etc.). It has also been ported to Mac OS X (10.4 or newer) and
Windows (2000 or newer).
[4] Celestia 3D astronomy software (free download at
http://sourceforge.net/projects/celestia/) for simulating/visualizing astronomical
events. Celestia runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
[5] Orbitron and it can be downloaded from http://www.stoff.pl/ for use in viewing
the current and predicted position of orbiting satellites. Works on Windows
9x/2k/Me/XP/2003/Vista, Linux [with Wine emulation].
[6] HDSDR software defined radio software available from http://www.hdsdr.de/ for
interfacing with any SDR hardware you have/acquire or for listening to recordings of
radio signals provided by the instructor. HDSDR works on Microsoft Windows
2000/XP/Vista/8/8/7.1/10.
[7] WXtoImg software is available from http://www.wxtoimg.com/ and is used to
decode weather satellite signals images. WXtoImg works on Windows, Linux, and
Mac OS.
Suggested grade level: 8th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Space Science
Fee: $225 if you register on or before November 15, 2015. $250 after Nov. 15 for all
15 classes. ($275 after Jan. 4)
Instructor: Domenico Ruggiero
Course description: This course is a jam-packed assortment of space-related
sciences taught by a former NASA Space Shuttle Engineer. The variety of topics
covered in this course could each be courses in themselves. The approach taken
here is to present some very interesting aspects of the subjects in a way that
doesnt over-simplify the topics. Recognizing that homeschool students are
exceptionally bright and are capable of understanding the fundamentals of complex
subjects and researching additional material, the course material will be presented
in a manner that captivates the childs attention, makes them more aware of the
depth of knowledge still to be gained, and then shows them how to learn more by
providing a plethora of resources that the child will explore on their own and with
the collaboration of fellow students.
Class discussions will also be peppered with these subjects/topics:
Material science why certain materials are used and why some are not
Sun science: Sunspots, radiation, solar wind, solar flares, Coronal Mass
Ejections (CMEs), and how space weather affects the Earth.
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Health Science
Total classes: 10
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Fee: $120.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $140 after Nov. 15 for all 10
classes. ($160 after Sept. 5)
Instructor: Christine Hamilton Ph. D.
Course description: Identify skills, knowledge and resources to become and stay
healthy. Encourages good eating habits, heighten safety awareness, and help each
student learn to respect others and to properly care for his body, that most
marvelous creation of God. Human sexuality will not be discussed.
Course outline:
Week 1: Health Education
Week 2: Health Education
Week 3: Human Development
Week 4: Life Saving Skills (intro to CPR)
Week 5: Life Saving Skills (CPR)
Week 6: Life Saving Skills (CPR and Standard First Aid)
Week 7: Physical Education
Week 8: Physical Education
Week 9: Sports Fitness
Week 10: Sports Nutrition
Course materials: Glencoe Health, Student Edition, 2006
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0078726549/catholictreas-20).
Homework: Weekly vocabulary, reading, CPR practice and quizzes. Expect to spend an hour
to 2 hours each week on homework outside of class lectures and review.
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Geology, Part One or equivalent
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade.
Suggested high school credit: 2/3 semester of Science or Geology.
Fee: $120.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $140 after July 15 for all 8 classes.
($160 after Jan. 2)
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Stream Processes and Landscapes. Stream Processes and Landscapes Near Voltaire,
North Dakota. Stream Processes and Landscapes near Ennis, Montana. Rio Grande
River Meander Evolution. Stream Erosion and Mass Wastage at Niagara Falls. Flood
Hazard Mapping, Assessment, and Risk.
Week 4: Ground Water Processes, Resources, and Risks.
Caves and Karst Topography. Location and Movement of Ground Water in the
Floridian Limestone Aquifer. Land Subsidence Hazards Caused by Ground Water
Withdrawal. Home Septic Systems and Ground Water Contamination.
Week 5: Glacial Processes, Landforms, and Indicators of Climate Change.
Glacial Processes and Landforms. Glaciation in Wisconsin . Comparing Topographic
Profiles of Glaciated Valleys. Glacier National Park, Montana. Nisqually GlacierA
Global Thermometer?
Week 6: Dryland Landforms, Hazards, and Risks.
Eolian Processes, Dryland Landforms, and Desertification. Death Valley, California.
Dryland Lakes. Dryland Hazards and Risks in Nebraska's Sand Hills.
Week 7: Coastal Processes, Landforms, Hazards, and Risks.
Dynamic Natural Coastlines. Human Modification of Shorelines. The Threat of Rising
Seas.
Week 8: Earthquake Hazards and Human Risks.
Simulate Earthquake Hazards to Estimate Risks. Graphing Seismic Data and
Locating the Epicenter of an Earthquake. Analysis of Active Faults Using Aerial
Photographs. Determining Relative Motions Along the New Madrid Fault Zone.
Tracking Earthquake Hazards in Real Time and Assessing Their Impact.
Course materials: Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 6th Ed. We recommend
purchasing used to save money
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130463337/catholictreas-20).
Homework: Students will be expected to read the assigned chapter(s), write the
vocabulary words, attend the live lecture, complete the weekly computer graded
quizzes and submit worksheets for grading. Approximately 2-3 hours/week.
Starting time:
Tuesdays: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)
Fridays: 3:00 PM Eastern (2:00 Central; 1:00 Mountain; Noon Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes, plus an extra 15 - 20 minutes on LAB days
Prerequisite: Biology, Part One or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biology or Science
Fee: $175.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 after Nov. 15 for all 14
classes. ($215 after Jan. 2)
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and status of the embryo and fetus, incorporating a scientifically sound pro-life apologetics
approach for students to take with them into their college and graduate level clinical
training.
Course outline:
Introduction to Anatomy
Cells
Tissues
Skeletal
Muscular
Nervous
Senses
Endocrine
Blood
Circulatory
Digestive
Respiratory
Urinary
Reproductive
Course materials: Hole's Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology, Tenth edition. Can
be found inexpensively used.
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0077221354/catholictreas-20)
Homework: Weekly vocabulary, reading and quizzes. 2-4 hours/week. Students are
expected to read the assigned chapter or chapters and write their vocabulary words
to prepare for the live lecture and computer graded weekly quizzes. Live labs will
enhance the organ and sensory learning experience.
Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 20, 2017. No class April 13 for Easter
Break.
Starting time: 4:00 PM Eastern (3:00 Central; 2:00 Mountain; 1:00 Pacific)
Duration: 75 minutes
Prerequisite: Physics, Part One or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 10th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Science or Physics I
Fee: $200 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $225 after July 15 for all 14 classes.
($245 after Jan. 4)
Instructor: Thomas Frederick, MS
Course description: This 14-week course is the first course in a two course series in
introductory Physics concepts. The title of conceptual means we will not rely too heavily
on advanced mathematical calculations. Instead, we will stick to principles, overarching
concepts, and major theories and how they apply to our everyday lives. Students will have
live instruction once a week. And frequent online interactives and simulations that will
assist them in understanding and applying knowledge. Topics covered will build on concepts
learned in Conceptual Physics Part I and will include: Circular Motion, Stability & Center of
Gravity, Rotational Mechanics, Einsteins Theory of Relativity, Temperature & Heat Transfer,
Waves, Sound & Light, Electrostatics, Electricity, and Electric Circuits. The course is a survey
of topics in physics with the goal of leading toward further study (Advanced Placement or
College Physics). Students will build in their natural intuitionand break some commonly
held misconceptions. Students will learn how the cosmos that God created works and apply
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the laws of physics to every day examples in their lives. Students will learn that physics is
phun!
Course materials: Conceptual Physics Paul Hewitt (2006) ISBN: 0-13-166301-1.
(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131663011/catholictreas-20). We suggest buying
used to save considerable money.
Homework: Weekly reading from the textbook as well as online resources will be assigned.
Homework questions will be assigned from the textbook along with solutions for students to
self-check progress. Students will also be assigned interactive online activities that will help
them to better understand and apply concepts learned in class. Each unit will have a quiz or
test at the end, which will be graded by the instructor.
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You must be registered in Chemistry I, Part Two in order to register for the
lab component.
All labs will have a pre-recorded video (found on the class page) with an
introduction to the lab, a demonstration, and a guidance through the lab report.
Labs will be touched on in during class.
Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in Chemistry I, Part Two
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Chemistry Plus Lab
Fee: $50 on or before November 15, 2016; $55 after Nov. 15 for all 10 labs. ($75
after Dec. 26)
Instructor: Mrs.KathyDutton
Course description: We will do approximately 10 labs covering topics such as
Enthalpy of Ice, Freezing Point Depression, Analysis of a Hydrate, Mole Ratios and
various types of reactions including Reversible Reactions, Decomposition Reactions,
Double Replacement Reactions, Acid-Base Reactions, and Redox Reactions. As
closely as possible, the topics covered in the lab will correlate with and support
what we are discussing in class.
Course outline: Please email Mrs. Dutton at kathys.chemistry@gmail.com for the
full outline or to ask questions about the course.
Course materials and technology:
1. To be announced. The kit will be from Quality Scientific Labs. We are currently
working on a kit specifically designed for this course. The anticipated cost will be
between $150 and $200. This kit will contain all the materials needed (except some
household supplies) for both semesters of lab.
2. Calculator.
3. A word processing program (such as Microsoft Word) and a spreadsheet with
graphing capabilities program (such as Microsoft Excel).
4. Access to a scanner with PDF capabilities.
Homework: Time required to complete each lab should average to about 2 hours,
some will take more and others will take less time. Also, there will be weeks with
little or no lab work. Mrs. Dutton will be available to answer questions during
scheduled office hours or via the class discussion (forum). Mrs. Dutton will grade all
completed labs and give an overall grade for this course.
Spanish
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Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Spanish I, Part One or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 8th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: One full semester Spanish or Foreign Language
Fee: $225 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $250 after Nov. 15 for all
12 classes and 18 recorded lectures. ($270 after Jan. 4)
Instructor: Irma Luz M. Schmitt, M.A.
Course description: In this course the student will learn the meaning, pronunciation and
spelling of common vocabulary and basic Spanish grammar. This course covers the basics of
Spanish as a Second Language. Part Two of the course introduces the student to the conjugation
of regular verbs in present tense and the conjugation and usage of some irregular verbs like ser,
estar, ir, venir, tener, gustar, etc. The student continues to write conversations that integrate the
usage of verbs in the present tense. By the end of part I, the student will be able to write and
speak simple conversations in Spanish.
Through repetition and memorization of common phrases as well as by
watching videos, listening to recordings and playing games, the student will learn
and practice new vocabulary and basic grammar.
During the week prior to each class, the student will be required to watch a
video of Spanish grammar. During the live class, students will interact with the
teacher and each other to practice what they learned in the video and have the
opportunity to ask questions.
Every other week, the students will be asked to watch a video of Spanish
pronunciation. They will learn and practice how to pronounce a specific sound in
Spanish in each class and will be asked to practice a list of words and record them.
During the next live class, the pronunciation of these words will be reviewed.
Course outline (week by week):
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
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12 Verbs Review
Course materials: Spanish Middle / High School (Skills for Success), ISBN
#088724758X (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/088724758X/catholictreas-20)
Homework: Practice is very important to learn a new language. Before each class,
students are required to watch videos and PowerPoint presentations, listen to
audios, complete workbook pages, memorize phrases and complete any other
assignments posted on the course page for that week in order to be ready to
participate in the live class. Students should assign at least one hour every day to
practice their Spanish.
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Prepositional Pronouns
T commands
Negative T Commands
Irregular T commands
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Homework: Practice is very important to learn a new language. Before each class,
students are required to watch videos and PowerPoint presentations, listen to
audios, complete workbook pages, memorize phrases and complete any other
assignments posted on the course page for that week in order to be ready to
participate in the live class. Students should assign at least one hour every day to
practice their Spanish.
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Course materials: Will be provided by the instructor in the form of PDFs and
eBooks; videos and audio recordings of speeches will be reviewed during class time.
Homework: Weekly reading. Each student will be required to write two short speeches (no
longer than five minutes each), with outlines to be approved by the instructor at least two
weeks before the speech is to be presented. Graded by the instructor. Expect about two
hours of homework per week.
Test Prep
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should seriously consider the SAT subject tests. For students planning on taking the
ACT, the science section includes a wide range of science content and tests
scientific skill more than specific knowledge. It measures the interpretation,
analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural
sciences. Whether you choose the SAT subject tests or the ACT, this course will help
you be more successful.
Course outline:
1. What to expect.
2. Date Representation
3. Conflicting viewpoints
4. Research Summaries
5. Manage Your Time
6. Test Taking Strategies
7. Practice Tests
8. Checklist
Course materials: Pencils, paper, a composition book.
Homework: Read and complete worksheets. 1-2 hours/week.
Theology
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Homework: Lessons will include an online quiz to help reinforce key ideas in each
lesson. The quizzes generally are ten multiple-choice questions. There will also be a
final exam to review material from the semester. Quizzes and the exam are
automatically graded by the computer so that students have immediate feedback.
Parents give the final grade.
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Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; 12 noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)
Duration: 50 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 7th to 9th grade
Suggested credit: semester Theology
Fee: $99 on or before November 15, 2016; $109 after November 15 for all 6
classes. ($129 after January 1, 2017.)
Instructor: Lisa Mladinich
Course description: This is an introduction to the rich teachings of the Catholic
Church on beauty and femininity, for girls 7 th to 9th grade. In a culture that degrades
femininity and causes painful confusion for girls about beauty, aging, and body
image, the Catholic understanding of beauty is truly a Godsend. Based on the
instructor's best-selling book, "True Radiance: Finding Grace in the Second Half of
Life," girls will come to understand their own beauty and worth in the eyes of God,
as well as the importance of cultivating virtue, healthy friendships, and an intimate
connection with Jesus in their souls.
Course outline:
Class 1: BEAUTY What beauty looks like for you; what it is to be a young woman of
beauty; why beauty is more than skin deep; the beauty of your actions; thinking
clearly and confidently; family support
Class 2: FEMININITY Teen life and femininity; how Catholic ideas about femininity
help us to be happy; what femininity means to you; finding your strengths; how
your healthy femininity can help change the world!
Class 3: MODESTY Gods image of us; images of modesty in our favorite media;
modesty in the way we look, act, and speak; virtues that make us strong women of
faith; ways to make fashion fun and modest
Class 4: FRIENDSHIPS How to be a great friend; friendships in literature and media;
friendships in the Bible and among the saints--and what they can teach us;
friendship struggles and how to overcome them
Class 5: MERCY The role of the Church in my life; prayer and why it's important to
me; forgiving others vs. holding grudges; what we need to know about forgiveness;
how prayer changes us and changes others
Class 6: VOCATIONS What its like to be a leader; serving others through prayer
and healthy relationships; the best way to think about learning; listening to God;
beauty and my own uniqueness; reaching for and respecting our (and others)
hopes and dreams
Course materials: Provided free by instructor, includes excerpts from "True
Radiance: Finding Grace in the Second Half of Life," lives of the saints, documents of
the Church, and other relevant resources.
Homework: Weekly readings and assignments, with grading and direct feedback
from the instructor, with an estimated one to two hours per week for homework
outside of class time.
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Total classes: 12
Class dates: Mondays, January 9 to April 3, 2017. No class January 23 for March
for Life.
Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade.
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Theology
Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 after Nov. 15 for all
12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 1)
Instructor: Robert F. Gotcher, Ph.D.
Course Description: Scripture and Church tradition confirms the existence and
importance of angels and demons. Theologians, especially St. Thomas Aquinas, the
Angelic Doctor, have elaborated and systematized what we know about these
spiritual creatures. This course will look at what we know about angels and demons,
how we interact with them and they with us, and the important role both angels and
demons play in our salvation.
Course materials: TBD
Homework: Weekly Quiz. A 3 to 5 page paper on a topic taken from a list provided
by the instructor. Paper is graded and commented on by the instructor.
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obligation to bring forth fruit in charity for the life of the world (OT #16). Therefore,
this course will attempt to focus upon the moral life, first of all, within the context of
mans vocation in Christ, the model of holiness, who took the form of a slave,
emptied himself, and learned obedience through suffering; secondly, within the
context of mans natural endowments, his capacity for virtue; and finally, within the
context of charity as the form of the virtues and the goal of all mans strivings since
God is love (1Jn 4:8). The course will investigate concretely those challenges to
the Catholic Churchs teachings and respond with solid, pastoral answers. Caveat:
Coursework subject to change based on the discretion of the online instructors
assessment.
Course Goal: Each student, having been challenged intellectually with various
doctrinal teachings, will be challenged to be open to ongoing conversion so as to
offer himself along with Jesus, the Sacrificial Victim, to the Father in the love of the
Holy Spirit both now and for all eternity. Concretely, this will manifest itself in life in
Christ through virtuous living and a deeper understanding of and participation in the
Liturgy, opening the student to receive and give love.
Course Reading: The reading assignments give the student the flavor of the
Churchs understanding of moral theology and life in Christ; rarely will we discuss
the reading assignments. Rather, I give the readings to help the students bolster
their understanding of what we are learning in class, as well as giving students good
resources for their own growth. Quizzes will not be based on readings but on the
power points with Miss Ashours incarnational diagrams which make accessible
heady concepts. For the first days class: please read the required reading from the
Bible.
Required Reading:
1. The BibleMatthew 5 (The Beatitudes) and all of the book of Romans
2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church #s 1691-2557 (Read 67 paragraphs a
week, that is 8 a night; this is quite a bit of reading so the student needs to be
diligent)
3. The Documents of Vatican II, especially Gaudium et Spes #s 1-52 (4
paragraphs a week)
4. Veritatis Splendor (Pope John Pauls encyclical on moralityThis is hard reading
so some will be discussed in class)
5. The short essay The Weight of Glory in the longer collection with the same
name: The Weight of Glory and short essay Man or Rabbit, both by CS Lewis.
All available online free.
Optional Reading for those who want to earn extra credit:
1. Hayes, Hayes, Kelly, & Drummeys Catholicism and Ethics: A Medical/Moral
Handbook, C.R. Publications, Inc.,
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964908786/catholictreas-20 (and for those
interestedLeaders/Catechists Manual of the same name and publisher).
2. Peter Kreefts Snakebite Letters, Ignatius Press,
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898707218/catholictreas-20.
Coursework:
Weekly Online Computer-graded Quizzes (Be finished before the start of the
next class) (25%)
Major Project (Grading Rubric will be posted) (25%) A fun, creative outlet to
show learning!
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Before making such a commitment, one is to have self-understanding, selfdetermination based on being a body-person (a solitude) before he or she is
ready to take a vow (union). One also needs to understand the vocation to which
he or she is being called, as well as understanding the truth of committed love.
Both vocations of Matrimony and continence for the Kingdom mirror and clarify the
other; further, both reveal the Gospel itself and Gods inner life of love. Thus, it is
essential for students to understand vocations, especially regarding ones own body
and sexuality, countering the culture where gender theory and promiscuity
dominate. This course will give a beautiful rendering of the Sacrament of Matrimony
in particular. It is vital that homeschool students see the whys behind the whats
in a deeper, logical way before they head to college which often de-construct the
truth and meaning of love.
Course Description:
This 12-week course will follow Monica Ashours book, Theology of the Body
Marriage Preparation, by covering an overview of Gods plan for marriage. Although
this book was written for young adults who are contemplating marriage, it reaches
the mature high school student, preparing him or her not only to fight against
secularist messages, but it equips him or her to work toward the goal of marriage or
celibacy for the Kingdom. Because of some of the material covered is of a sensitive
nature, parents should preview the book. This course is recommended for older,
mature teens.
In following the guidelines of The Pontifical Council for the Familys document, The
Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality, this course addresses difficult issues that
students will encounter in college such as cohabitation, pornography, distorted
understandings of sexuality. Thus, students will be equipped with the beautiful
vision of vocations so they can remain true to Catholicisms mosaic of truth and
love, giving them a solid foundation for later taking vows. Miss Ashour is basing
much of this material on the experiences that her own homeschooled nieces and
nephews have encountered (and are encountering now) in their college career.
Coursework:
Weekly Online Computer-graded Quizzes (Be finished before the start of the
next class) (25%)
Major Project (Grading Rubric will be posted) (25%) A fun, creative outlet to
show learning!
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Course description: This is an essential writing course for all middle school
students, designed to further your middle school students ability and confidence to
use punctuation and grammar well. The course will focus on identifying and using
correct punctuation in longer passages of text, including the use of commas,
semicolons and colons, and quotation marks. Special emphasis will be placed on
using punctuation correctly in systems of testing, such as standardized tests, and
the students ability to identify wrong uses of punctuation, making the corrections
easily.
Course outline:
Class 1: Correct comma use with clauses, compound sentences, and commas vs.
semicolons in lists
Class 2: Odd punctuation challenges with colons, semicolons, and capitalizations
Class 3: Correct usage of quotation marks and their surrounding punctuation
Class 4: Complete Sentences vs. fragments in academic work vs. Advertisements
and informal writing
Class 5: Punctuation, capitalization, and form in formal letters
Class 6: Common punctuation and grammar mistakes with pronouns, questions,
compound sentences, and more
Course materials: eBook: Simplified Punctuation and Grammar for Middle School
Students, Book 2, by Erin Brown Conroy. Ordering information forthcoming.
Homework: Weekly quizzes, with an estimated two to three hours per week for
homework outside of class time. Quizzes are graded automatically by the computer
for instant feedback.
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Duration: 50 minutes
Prerequisite: Required: Essentials 3: Punctuation and Grammar II or written
permission from the instructor. Students may take the prerequisite courses live or
through Unlimited Access. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the
ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document.
Suggested grade level: 7th or accelerated 6th grade
Fee: $89 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $109 after Nov. 15, for all
6 classes. ($129 after Feb. 13)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: This essential writing course for middle school students
continues teaching how to create well-crafted sentences and paragraphs using
specific nouns, strong verbs, appropriate adjectives and adverbs, prepositions and
prepositional phrases, and compound sentence structures. Special emphasis will be
placed on using words correctly in systems of testing such as standardized tests and
the students ability to identify improper word choice and make the corrections.
Course outline:
Class 1: Identifying and building on specific nouns and strong verbs in sentences
Class 2: Identifying and building on appropriate adjectives and adverbs in sentences
Class 3: Identifying and correctly using prepositions, prepositional phrases, and
compound sentence structures within sentences and paragraphs
Class 4: How to easily identify incorrect usage in standardized tests
Class 5: Creating paragraphs with strong transitions and connectives
Class 6: Critical know-how for writing multi-paragraph essays
Course materials: eBook: Simplified Punctuation and Grammar for Middle School
Students by Erin Brown Conroy. Ordering information forthcoming.
Homework: Estimated one to three hours per week for homework outside of class
time, depending on the students ability. All writing assignments are graded by the
instructor.
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outline:
Types of Writing Overview, Purpose and Audience, Nonfiction and Fiction
How-to Writing and Instructional Writing
An introduction to Journalism and News Reporting
Expressive Writing Forms of Story and Expression
Descriptive Writing
Business Writing
Writing Reviews and Speeches
Forms of Writing in the Bible
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Course materials: eBook: Simplified Writing for Middle School Students, Book 2,
by Erin Brown Conroy. Ordering information forthcoming.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with grading and direct feedback from the
instructor. Estimated three to five hours per week for homework outside of class
time, depending on the students ability.
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HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 2: Beyond the FiveParagraph Essay (HS 9-4)
* This course is offered once in the Fall Semester and once in the Spring Semester.
* This is a two-part course; take courses 9-3 and 9-4 to receive one full semester of
credit (14 weeks of classes).
Total Classes: 8
Class dates: Wednesdays, February 22 to April 26, 2017. No class March 1 for Ash
Wednesday or April 12 for Holy Week.
Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Required: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational
Writing Skills (HS 9-2). Students can take the prerequisite course live or recorded in
Unlimited Access. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to
convert a document to a Word-compatible document.
Suggested grade level: This critical course is open to all students who have
completed the prerequisites, no matter the grade level. Because the content of this
course is foundational for all high school essay writing, it is highly suggested that
students enroll in this course.
Suggested credit: semester Writing or English. Combine with High School
Writing Essentials 2 for a full semester.
Fee: $157 if you register on or before November 15. $177 after Nov. 15 for all 8
classes. ($197 after Feb. 14)
Instructor: Sharon Hamric-Weis, BSEd, JD
Course description: The Five Paragraph Essay has been the standard for essay
writing for years. This course helps your student understand and practice writing
essays in the Five Paragraph Essay form as well as learning what makes an essay
exceptional. Students will craft essays and practice becoming comfortable with
thinking quickly in creating, drafting, and polishing essays. Special attention will be
paid to how to write essays that capture the attention and flow from beginning to
end, with meaning.
Course outline:
Class 1: Essay types and differences, and where youll write them
Class 2: The traditional five paragraph essay
Class 3: What makes an essay great Research an essay and brainstorming with
the then what? question; taking your thoughts to the end of the line
Class 4: What makes an essay great Writing an essay and examples and analysis
of form, parallelism, and rhythm
Class 5: What makes an essay great Transitional tricks, answering the readers
questions, making cohesive decisions, and bookending
Class 6: What makes an essay great Storytelling and creative elements
Class 7: What makes an essay great Analyzing three essays
Class 8: Revising and editing your essays
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Series description:
* There are eight courses in the Write Your Own Fiction Book Series. Students can
jump into the series at any time. Students are encouraged to take The Heros
Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers and/or Screenwriting, and the courses may be
taken at the same time as the series courses or following the series courses.
* Each Foundational Course shares critical information on one of the key elements of
fiction writing. All eight courses are designed to give your student the skills to write
his/her own book and a solid foundation of story and form for college literature
courses.
Total classes: 4
Class dates: Thursdays, March 9 to March 30, 2017
Starting time: 10:30 AM Eastern (9:30 Central; 8:30 Mountain; 7:30 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and
Grammar I (HS 9-1). Recommended: SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational
Writing Skills (HS 9-2). Prerequisites can be taken either live or through Unlimited
Access. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a
document to a Word-compatible document.
Suggested grade level: 11th grade; however, all students are welcome
Suggested credit: 1/3 semester Creative Writing. Take this course with HS 11-4
(Theme, Style, & POV) and HS 11-5 or 11-7 (Conflict or Short Story) for a full
semester of credit (12 weeks).
Fee: $89 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $99 after Nov. 15 for all 4
classes. $119 after Mar. 1)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: This course teaches what it takes to be an author, from
personal practices to the publishing world. The course will also discuss what its like
to be a Catholic author today.
Course outline:
Class 1: Personal practices of successful writers
Class 2: The manuscript and query
Class 3: The platform, marketing, and the Internet
Class 4: Agents, publishers, and self-publishing
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. All materials are provided FREE via
the instructor.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with direct feedback from Professor
Brown Conroy, with an estimated three to four hours per week for homework
outside of class time that includes reading, writing, and responding to feedback.
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Class dates: Thursdays, April 6 to May 4, 2017. No class April 13 for Holy Thursday.
Starting time: 10:30 AM Eastern (9:30 Central; 8:30 Mountain; 7:30 Pacific)
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and
Grammar I (HS 9-1). Recommended: SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational
Writing Skills (HS 9-2). Prerequisites can be taken either live or through Unlimited
Access. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a
document to a Word-compatible document.
Suggested grade level: 11th grade; however, all students are welcome
Suggested credit: 1/3 semester Creative Writing. Take this course with HS 11-4
(Theme, Style, & POV) and HS 11-5 or 11-7 (Conflict or Short Story) for a full
semester of credit (12 weeks).
Fee: $89 if you register on or before November15, 2016; $99 after Nov. 15 for all 4
classes. ($119 after Mar. 29)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: Have you ever wanted to write (and publish) a short
story? This course will cover just that -- how to write a dynamic, publishable short
story -- including fleshing out ideas for your short stories, the similarities and
differences between short stories and full-length book writing, and marketing your
short stories to publications.
Course outline:
Class 1: Defining short stories: micro fiction, flash fiction, short stories, novelettes,
and novellas
Class 2: Characteristics of dynamic, saleable short stories
Class 3: Brainstorming, outlining, and forming your short story
Class 4: Short story markets and sales
Course materials: All course materials will be provided.
Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with direct feedback from Professor
Brown Conroy. Estimated one to three hours of homework outside of class time per
class, depending on the students ability.
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Prerequisite: Because many of the concepts in this course dovetail into the Fiction
Series courses, it is recommended to have taken or be enrolled in any of the 11level fiction courses before or while taking this course, but it is not required. Your
student will also need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a
document to a Word-compatible document.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. However, those in middle school who
have written or are writing their own fiction work, and have successfully completed
the prerequisites, are encouraged to enroll.
Suggested credit: 2/3 Creative Writing, Writing, or English. For a full credit keep
writing daily and working your craft.
Fee: $157 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $177 after Nov. 15 for all
8 classes. ($197 after Jan. 4)
Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA
Course description: This is an advanced fiction writing course that delves into the
use of archetypes in what is called "the hero's journey," the mythic structure that
many claim all stories follow. This course will cover the different kinds of typological
actions and plot lines that appear in stories, to apply that knowledge to the crafting
of your own fiction book. The course can be taken in conjunction with any of the
other fiction writing courses offered with Homeschool Connections. Whether you
plan on going into fiction writing (books, screenwriting, poetry) or simply want to
expand your ability to write in advanced styles, this course is for you.
Course outline:
Class 1: Ordinary World
Class 2: The Call to Adventure
Class 3: The Refusal of the Call
Class 4: Meeting with the Mentor
Class 5: Crossing the First Threshold
Class 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies
Class 7: Approach to the Inmost Cave
Class 8: The Ordeal and the Reward
Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Book: The Writers Journey: Mythic
Structures for Writers, 3rd Edition, by Christopher Vogler and Michele Montez
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/193290736X/catholictreas-20). NOTE:
The same book is used in both of the Advanced Fiction (Parts One and Two) courses.
Homework: Approximately two to four hours per week of reading and completing
coursework, depending on your skills level coming into the course. All homework is
graded with personal feedback given by the instructor.
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A: There are many things a student can do to prepare for, and to take full advantage of,
their courses:
Come to class having read or completed any assignments from the week before.
Prepare a notebook for the course to take written notes during class and review
afterward.
Participate fully during class time by keeping chats on topic, raising his hand with
questions or comments, focusing on the lecture, and avoiding distractions.
Email the instructor in between classes if any questions arise about course content or
homework.
Go back and watch the recorded class or review the Power Point if needed.
Visit the Moodle course page often for additional helps. (Moodle is our free
educational software.)
Q: What about vacations and breaks?
A: There are no classes most holy days and holidays. Some instructors offer a midterm
break. If you have a break that does not correspond with the course calendar, make sure to
notify the instructor, watch the recorded class, and complete any homework in a timely
manner.
Q: What if my child misses a class?
A: Classes are recorded and made available to students within 24 hours. In the case of a
missed class, a student should notify the instructor then go back and watch the recorded
class.
Q: What are the course terms? How long are they?
A: With the exception of summer courses, our live courses vary in length from 4 to 15
weeks.
Q: What day of the week and what time are classes held? Also, how long does
each class last?
A: Classes typically meet once a week, Monday to Friday, and last between 45 and 55
minutes. However, there are exceptions. Please see individual course descriptions for
specifics. Classes are scheduled between the hours of 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern to
accommodate the varying schedules and time zones of homeschool families.
Q: How many students are in each class?
A: Courses vary in the number of students enrolled, from 5 to 30. We currently avg. 15
students per class.
Q: How much time per day or week will my child need to devote in order to do well
in this course?
A: Generally speaking, students should allow 2 to 5 hours a week, depending on the course
requirements. Of course, the amount of time spent on schoolwork depends on how much a
student wants to get out of the course and learn.
Q: When should we order the course materials?
A: We do our best to keep costs down for families. Therefore, many of the course materials
are available free online. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for materials that need to be borrowed or
purchased.
Q: Which Latin course is right for my student?
A: Circumstances vary greatly from student to student. The course descriptions for the Latin
courses include prerequisites. If you are unsure of a prerequisite, please email for a
placement test at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.
Q: How does a student access the recordings and homework?
A: We use an educational software called Moodle. This software is free to our students. It is
user friendly so you may easily access everything necessary to make your course a success.
Each student is given a unique user name and password so homework assignments and
grades are kept private.
Q: How are the courses graded?
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A: Parents are the ultimate authorities in grading their children. Most instructors provide
graded homework with feedback. Some courses provide computer-graded quizzes. We do
not provide transcripts, so it is up to the parent to determine final grades and record them.
Q: How do I keep track of my student's grades?
A: Grades are uploaded on the Moodle course page and can only be accessed by you. You
have access to all course materials (recordings, grades, links, tests, etc.) for at least 6
months after the completion of each course.
Q: What do I do if I'm unable to take a course once I've already enrolled?
A: Because of busy schedules and potential conflicts with the class times, some people may
find they have to drop a course. We will refund 95% of the course fee for cancellations made
up to the first day of class. Up to 2 weeks following the first class, we will refund
80%. Written notification is required prior to the third class if you would like to receive the
partial refund.
Q: Why should I pay $120 for an 8-week course when I can sign up for your
Unlimited Access program of recorded courses for only $30 a month?
A: Both the live and recorded courses have their advantages but there are more benefits
from the live courses. For example, they give students a real live class experience where
they interact with fellow students. Students have complete access to the instructor, during
and in between classes, should they have questions or would like to explore a concept more
deeply. For courses with instructor-graded homework, the parent is saved that task. In
addition to letter grades, instructors give comments to help the student better understand
what theyre doing right or wrong.
The recorded courses are cheaper and can be taken at a students own pace, on his
own schedule, 24/7. A younger student can take his time while an older or advanced student
can accelerate his work. Plus, there is no need to fit your schedule into the instructors
schedule.
Q: Do you offer grade-school classes?
A: We are currently creating a program for children, kindergarten through 6th grade called
Initio Academy. We plan to begin rolling out the program in the Fall 2016 semester with 1 st
and 2nd grade. Other grade levels will be offered as the curriculum is developed. To keep up
to date, you can sign up for email notifications at homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/initioacademy
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Leaves no gaps and prepares your student for college and the workplace
Every child and every homeschool is different. You know your child best, so you
always have the final say in your childs education at HSC. Therefore, courses can
be taken in a different order or at a different pace, as long as students have
successfully completed the required prerequisites.
MS 7/6-2
WRITING ESSENTIALS 2: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing I
Six weeks
Prerequisite: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Punctuation and Grammar I (MS 7/6-1)
* Take the Essentials 1 and 2 courses together to receive one full semester of credit
(for a total of 12 weeks of classes)
* Available live in the Fall Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
MS 7/6-3 NEW!
WRITING ESSENTIALS 3: Punctuation and Grammar II
Six weeks
Prerequisite: WRITING ESSENTIALS 2: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing I
(MS 7/6-2)
* Take the Essentials 3 and 4 courses together to receive one full semester of credit
(for a total of 12 weeks of classes)
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available as a recorded course
through Unlimited Access after April 1, 2017.
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MS 7/6-4 NEW!
WRITING ESSENTIALS 4: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing II
Six weeks
Prerequisite: WRITING ESSENTIALS 3: Punctuation and Grammar II (MS 7/6-3)
* Take the Essentials 3 and 4 courses together to receive one full semester of credit
(for a total of 12 weeks of classes)
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available as a recorded course
through Unlimited Access after June 1, 2017.
MS 8/7-2
SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 2: Introduction to Essays and
Papers I
Six weeks
Prerequisite: SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 1: Foundations of
Composition I (MS 8/7-1).
* Take Simplified Writing 1 and 2 courses together to receive one full semester of
credit (for a total of 14 weeks of classes).
* Available live in the Fall Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
MS 8/7-3 NEW!
SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 3: Writing the Excellent Essay
Eight weeks
Prerequisite: SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 2: Introduction to Essays
and Papers I (MS 8/7-2).
* Take Simplified Writing 3 and 4 courses together to receive one full semester of
credit (for a total of 14 weeks of classes).
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available as a recorded course
through Unlimited Access after April 1, 2017.
MS 8/7-4 NEW!
SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 4: Writing Form and Style
Six weeks
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HS 9-2
HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills
Eight weeks
Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and
Grammar I (HS 9-1).
* Take the Essentials 1 and Simplified 1 courses together to receive one full
semester of credit (for a total of 14 weeks of classes).
* Available live in the Fall Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
HS 9-3
HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 2: Excellent Paragraphs and Essay
Writing
Six weeks
Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing
Skills (HS 9-2)
* Take the Essentials 2 and Simplified 2 courses together to receive one full
semester of credit (for a total of 14 weeks of classes)
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available as a recorded course
through Unlimited Access after April 1, 2017.
HS 9-4 NEW!
HIGH SHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 2: Beyond the Five-Paragraph Essay
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Eight Weeks
Prerequisite: Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong
Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2)
* Take the Essentials 2 and Simplified 2 courses together to receive one full
semester of credit (for a total of 14 weeks of classes)
* Available live in both the Fall and Spring Semesters. Also available as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access after January 1, 2017.
HS 10-2
VOCABULARY AND WRITING: Vocabulary and Writing, Part Two
14 Weeks
Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar
I (HS 9-1). Recommended: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong
Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-2). Also, it is preferred that students take
Vocabulary and Writing Part One (HS 10-1) first, but it is not required.
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
HS 11-2
FICTION WRITING 2: Description & Setting
Four weeks
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HS 11-3
FICTION WRITING 3: Characters & Dialogue
Four weeks
Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar
I (HS 9-1). Recommended: SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills
(HS 9-2).
* Take this course with HS 11-1 (Plot & Structure) and HS 11-2 (Description &
Setting) for a full semester of credit (for a total of 12 weeks of classes)
* Available live in the Fall Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
HS 11-4
FICTION WRITING 4: Theme, Style, & Point of View
Four weeks
Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar
I (HS 9-1). Recommended: SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills
(HS 9-2).
* Take this course with HS 11-5 (Conflict & Creating the Breakout Novel) and your
choice of HS 11-6 (Authoring a Book, Part 1) and 11-7 (Authoring a Book, Part 2), or
11-8 (Writing the Short Story) for a full semester of credit (for a total of 12 to 16
weeks of classes)
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
HS 11-5
FICTION WRITING 5: Conflict & Creating the Breakout Novel
Four weeks
Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar
I (HS 9-1). Recommended: SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills
(HS 9-2).
* Take this course with HS 11-4 (Theme, Style, & Point of View) and your choice of
HS 11-6 (Authoring a Book, Part 1) and 11-7 (Authoring a Book, Part 2), or 11-8
(Writing the Short Story) for a full semester of credit (for a total of 12 to 16 weeks of
classes)
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
HS 11-6
FICTION WRITING 6: Authoring a Book, Part 1 How it Works, What it
Takes, and How to Succeed
Four weeks
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HS 11-7
FICTION WRITING 7: Authoring a Book, Part 2 Perfecting the Query &
Synopsis
Four weeks
Prerequisite: Authoring a Book, Part 1 How it Works, What it Takes, and How to
Succeed (HS 11-6).
* Take this course with HS 11-4 (Theme, Style, & Point of View) and HS 11-5 (Conflict
& Creating the Breakout Novel), and 11-6 (Authoring a Book, Part 1) or 11-8 (Writing
the Short Story), for a full semester of credit (for a total of 12 to 16 weeks of
classes)
* Available live in the Summer 2016 Semester. Will be available as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access after July 1, 2016.
HS 11-8
FICTION WRITING 8: Writing the Short Story
Four weeks
Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar
I (HS 9-1). Recommended: SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills
(HS 9-2).
* Take this course with HS 11-4 (Theme, Style, & Point of View) and HS 11-5 (Conflict
& Creating the Breakout Novel), and 11-6 (Authoring a Book, Part 1) or 11-7
(Authoring a Book, Part 2), for a full semester of credit (for a total of 12 to 16 weeks
of classes)
* Available live in the Summer 2016 and Spring 2017 Semesters. Also available as a
recorded course through Unlimited Access after July 1, 2016.
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HS 11-10 NEW!
BUSINESS WRITING: Foundations of Journalism
Eight weeks
Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing
Skills (HS 9-2).
* Students should take the Fall Semester of Business Writing (Professional Business
Writing Essentials) with this course, to make the Business Writing Track complete
(for a total of 16 weeks of classes).
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available as a recorded course
through Unlimited Access after May 1, 2017.
HS 12-2
ADVANCED RHETORIC & WRITING 2: Research Writing (College Prep)
Ten weeks
Prerequisite: ADVANCED RHETORIC & WRITING 1: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech,
Essays, & Papers (HS 12-1) is required.
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
HS X-5 NEW!
HIGH SCHOOLWRITING ESSENTIALS 5: Punctuation and Grammar II
Fully Understanding Punctuation & Grammar
For students who want to confirm and excel in their skills. College preparatory.
Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and
Grammar I (HS 9-1) is required.
* Available live in all three semesters: Summer, Fall, and Spring. Also available as a
recorded course through Unlimited Access after November 1, 2016.
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HS X-6 NEW!
HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 6: Essay Writing Practicum
For students who want to confirm, practice, and excel in their skills.
Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing
Skills (HS 9-2) is required.
* Available live in both the Fall and Spring Semesters. This course will be available
through Unlimited Access after January 1, 2017. However, as a practicum, it is best
taken live.
HS X-9
FICTION WRITING: The Heros Journey & Mythic Structure for Writers I
For students who want to excel in fiction writing skills and understand the
fiction/literature connection; this is a college preparatory course.
Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar
I (HS 9-1). Recommended: Any of the 11-level fiction courses (previously or
concurrently).
* Available live in the Fall Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
HS X-10
FICTION WRITING: The Heros Journey & Mythic Structure for Writers II
For students who want to excel in fiction writing skills and jumpstart college
literature courses; this is both a college and career prep course.
Prerequisite: The Heros Journey & Mythic Structure for Writers 1 (HS X-9)
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded
course through Unlimited Access.
HS X-11 NEW!
FICTION WRITING: Screenwriting I
For students who want to excel in fiction writing skills and jumpstart college
literature courses; this is both a college and career prep course.
Prerequisite: None. Recommended: Any of the 11-level fiction courses (previously or
concurrently).
* Available live in the Fall Semester only. Available as a recorded course through
Unlimited Access after January 1, 2017.
HS X-12 NEW!
FICTION WRITING: Screenwriting II
For students who want to excel in fiction writing skills and jumpstart college
literature courses; this is both a college and career prep course.
Prerequisite: FICTION WRITING: Screenwriting I (HS X-11)
* Available live in the Spring Semester only. Available as a recorded course through
Unlimited Access after June 1, 2017.
HS X-13
FICTION WRITING: Introduction to Poetry
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Prerequisite: None
* Available only as a recorded course through Unlimited Access.
HS X-14
FICTION WRITING: Poetry 1: Joining the Great Tradition
Prerequisite: FICTION WRITING: Introduction to Poetry (HS X-13)
* Available only as a recorded course through Unlimited Access.
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FAQ: Accreditation
Q. What is accreditation?
Accreditation is a voluntary process, performed by private, nongovernmental
agencies.
There is no central control or authority.
There are good accrediting agencies and bad ones.
One accrediting organization is not legally designated as being superior over another.
Q. What does accreditation have to do with learning?
Nothing directly. It measures standards and does not develop educational programs.
Some of the worst public schools and private schools are accredited.
Some of the best are not.
Q. What is the purpose of accreditation?
The main function is to weed out diploma mills and other education scams.
Gives assurance that the educational institution being reviewed is legitimate and
meets minimum standards.
Q. What is the usefulness of accreditation for homeschool families?
Educationally, there is little usefulness for students and their families.
Does provide a comfort factor for parents, giving them assurance by a 3rd party that
the program meets minimum standards. However, parents must still determine if the
accrediting body itself is legitimate.
Useful to schools for marketing and recruiting.
May be helpful in some cases if putting children into a public or private high school
after homeschooling partway through high school.
Possible requirement for NCAA scholarships. (NCAA rules have recently lightened up
in this area.)
Q. What if I want to design my own curriculum or use a non-accredited program,
but am one of the rare cases where accreditation is necessary?
There are several accredited agencies that will review your course of study and issue
an accredited diploma for a fee. These programs include, but are not limited to:
Clonlara
NARHS
West River Academy
We have not used these programs personally, so cannot recommend one over the
other. As always, do your research.
Q. Is Homeschool Connections accredited?
No. Our policy is that parents are the ultimate authority in their childs education.
Non-accreditation allows us more flexibility.
Non-accreditation keeps our classes affordable for homeschool families.
Home education does not involve attending a school.
We are not a school, but an online curriculum provider.
Our focus is providing the best online curriculum for use at home, not accreditation.
As private homeschoolers, parents are the ones who provide accreditation for their
childs education.
Parents are the primary educators. The quality our classes is assured by parents, not
a 3rd party or accrediting body.
Students using Homeschool Connections are educated at home by themselves and
their parents. We merely assist the students and parents with online classes and
other services.
Q. What about transferring to a public or private high school after
homeschooling? Will lack of accreditation affect my student?
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The majority of students are accepted into colleges based on an evaluation of their
application, the results of their Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College
Testing (ACT) scores, and their high school Grade Point Average (GPA).
How to
Make sure you have the necessary equipment: A headset with microphone; high
speed internet; and a computer
Check the course details and collect any course materials that need to be purchased
well in advance.
Read the Welcome Message when you first sign into your Moodle account. There are
helpful links on how to submit homework, complete a quiz, message your teacher,
etc.
Parents need to follow up on homework and keep track of grades. As with any
homeschooling program, self-discipline and parental follow up is important.
All classes are recorded. Recorded classes are uploaded to the course page at Moodle
within 24 hours. If a class is missed: notify the instructor and watch the class
recording.
If homework will be late due illness or other unforeseen problem, notify the instructor
ASAP.
You can plug the computer into the television if youd like to watch together with your
family.
Prepare a notebook for the course to write notes while participating in the classes.
Also use the notebook for homework. Review as needed.
Find a comfortable place and make sure you have everything you need for class
before you start: pencil, paper, textbook, water, etc.
Make sure distractions are kept to a minimum during class time.
Use a headset to help block outside noises. The headset should have a working
microphone so students can speak in class if needed.
If you have wireless Internet, ask others in the household to refrain from Internet use
during class time. This will open up more bandwidth so the class will stream
smoothly.
If review is needed, class recordings can be watched multiple times. You can fast
forward or backup as you watch. Class recordings are available to you for 6 months
after your course is completed.
Take advantage of additional support materials if offered. These can include websites,
reading materials, videos, etc.
All courses have a Course Completion Certificate at the end. Once your child
completes the course to your satisfaction, print out the certificate and complete it.
Then file for your records.
Record grades immediately upon completion. For transcript and diploma forms, visit
http://homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/homeschool-forms.
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A. Classroom Etiquette
1. The Classroom. Our Adobe classroom is a real classroom. It is a formal setting, and good
manners are expected both in the chat box and when on the microphone. You are expected
to treat your fellow students as you would like to be treated, which includes kind posts and
responses that do not demean, ridicule, or present a negative attitude that is detrimental to
the subject we are talking about or to a person, present or absent. Treat your instructor and
monitor with respect.
2. Chat
a. Before Class. Chatting before class starts is both appropriate and encouraged. Before
class chat is a great time to get to know your classmates and make friends around the
globe!
b. During Class. Once the class has begun, all chat is to stay on topic and addressed to the
instructor. If you and another student chat together in the chat box regarding a side topic,
class will be stopped and you'll be asked to stop the chat.
c. Recorded Chat. Everything you write in the box will be viewable in the future by the
instructor, your parent(s), and fellow students. If inappropriate chat continues, you'll be
asked to leave the class. That said, lively, positive chat that's on-topic (and moves what
we're learning in class forward) is wholeheartedly encouraged!
3. Technical Problems. If you have a technical problem during class, address the issue to
the course monitor.
B. Deadlines
1. Deadlines are Firm. Assignments are due on the date noted in the course.
2. Late Assignments. Late assignments are graded at the discretion of the instructor;
there is no guarantee late assignments will be graded.
3. Exceptions for Turning in a Late Assignment. If you have an extenuating
circumstance (illness, death of a relative, etc.), if at all possible, please notify your instructor
before the deadline to let him or her know you need an extension.
C. Grades
1. Grading Services. Most courses provide grading by the instructor. See the course
description for details.
2. Feedback. Some homework assignments will receive feedback and comments
appropriate to the assignment, to help you grow your skills in the subject.
3. Grade Records. Your grades are posted in Moodle, and you can access your grades
there. You will have access to your grades for six months after the course is completed. The
instructor does not keep record of your grades aside from the Moodle system.
4. Tracking Course Progress. It is the parents' responsibility to track a student's progress,
including making sure assignments are turned in properly and on time.
5. Grade Records. Parents are the ultimate authority in their homeschool and assign the
final grade on the student's transcript. Free homeschool forms, including record keeping
forms, can be found at www.homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/homeschool-forms.
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b. Timely Emails. Send your questions sooner than later. Instructors most likely will not be
able to answer questions about an assignment if you send the email the day before the
assignment is due. Be responsible by working on your assignments many days before their
due date.
2. Technical Problems. Direct all technical problems with Adobe Connect or Moodle to
homeschoolconnections@gmail.com. (Your instructor may not be knowledgeable about
technical issues.)
3. Proper Emails. Because this is an educational course and not Twitter, Facebook, or
instant messaging, address your correspondence "Dear Professor ..." Within the body of your
email, use proper grammar, refrain from using slang, and sign your email with your full
name.
4. Labeling Emails
a. Full Information Needed. When you have a question about content or an assignment,
be sure to note the week and specific name of the content you're addressing. Give enough
details so both the question and the area from which it came is clear.
b. The Subject Line. Because instructors often teach a number of courses, be sure to put
the name of your course in the subject line of your email. This helps your instructor go to the
content quickly and address your question in a timely way.
CONCLUSION
We hope these policies will help you be successful in your academic career and beyond. We
are always open to your questions and suggestions, so please never hesitate to email your
instructor or Homeschool Connections if you need clarification or have concerns.
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