2016/2017 course catalog live, interactive courses

Homeschool Connections Course Catalog 2016/2017

www.homeschoolconnections.com

2016/2017 Course Catalog

Live, Interactive Courses



About Our Instructors ............................................................................................................. 4

Contact Information / Fees .................................................................................................... 12

Summer 2016 ........................................................................................................................ 13

Fall 2016: Middle School and High School .............................................................................. 20 German .......................................................................................................................................... 20 Government / Law .......................................................................................................................... 22 History ............................................................................................................................................ 24 Latin ............................................................................................................................................... 27 Life Skills ......................................................................................................................................... 30 Literature ........................................................................................................................................ 31 Math ............................................................................................................................................... 36 Philosophy ...................................................................................................................................... 42 Science ........................................................................................................................................... 43 Spanish ........................................................................................................................................... 50 Speech and Communications .......................................................................................................... 52 Test Prep ........................................................................................................................................ 53 Theology ......................................................................................................................................... 54 Writing: Aquinas Writing Advantage ............................................................................................... 61

Spring 2016: Middle School and High School ......................................................................... 78 Computer Programming ................................................................................................................. 78 German .......................................................................................................................................... 79 Government/Law ........................................................................................................................... 81 History ............................................................................................................................................ 83 Latin ............................................................................................................................................... 85 Life Skills ......................................................................................................................................... 89 Literature ........................................................................................................................................ 90 Math ............................................................................................................................................... 94 Philosophy / Logic ......................................................................................................................... 100 Science ......................................................................................................................................... 101 Spanish ......................................................................................................................................... 110 Speech and Communications ........................................................................................................ 112 Test Prep ...................................................................................................................................... 113 Theology ....................................................................................................................................... 114 Writing: Aquinas Writing Advantage ............................................................................................. 123

Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................ 140

Aquinas Writing Advantage: Suggested Scope and Sequence .............................................. 143

FAQ: Accreditation .............................................................................................................. 151

Student Expectations for Live, Interactive Courses .............................................................. 154



About Our Instructors Monica Ashour, MTS, MHUM With 20 years of experience in the classroom and Master Degrees in Humanities and Theological Studies from the University of Dallas, Monica Ashour comes to us with a breadth and depth of vision that solidifies and electrifies high school students. A published author, international speaker, and expert in Pope John Paul II’s seminal work, the Theology of the Body (TOB), Miss Ashour’s approach to theology is quite distinct for she sees TOB as Angelo Cardinal Scola does—as a foundational way of seeing the Sacramental View of Reality, which can be applied to any area of the Church’s teachings. She is co-‐founder and executive director of the Theology of the Body Evangelization

Team, Inc. (TOBET; www.tobet.org). Her published books include Theology of the Body Marriage Preparation (TOBET Publishing), ToB for Tots, her children’s series for 1-‐4 year olds and ToB for Kids for 5-‐8 year olds (Pauline Books and Media), the Parent’s Guide to Theology of the Body for Teens: Middle School Edition and Social Networking: How to Plug in without Tuning Out (Ascension Press). Miss Ashour is currently developing a TOB Curriculum for Pre-‐school to 4th Grade students. Miss Ashour teaches theology.

Phillip Campbell Phillip Campbell holds a BA in European History from Ave Maria University and a certificate in Secondary Education through Madonna University. He has a background as a Youth Director and RCIA instructor. He teaches history and Scripture for the St. Augustine Homeschool Enrichment Program. Mr. Campbell is the author of the popular fantasy-‐epic Tale of Manaeth. He manages and writes for independent publisher Cruachan Hill Press, which publishes books of historical and theological interest. He is the editor of The Complete Works of St. Cyprian of Carthage [Arx Publishing] as well as the author of the new children’s history book series Story of Civilization [TAN Books]. Mr. Campbell’s writings have also appeared in such publications as St. Austin Review and The Distributist Review. Mr. Campbell served as

the Mayor of Howell, MI from 2011 to 2015. He and his wife homeschool their five children. Mr. Campbell teaches history.

Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Professor Brown Conroy has been teaching writing for 20 years, including teaching students in private colleges, universities, and online. She was an online professor of College-‐Level Writing and Research for Patrick Henry College (six years) and taught writing, leadership and management, and health and wellness for Cornerstone University’s Professional and Graduate Studies Division (eight years). Professor Brown Conroy is an author of several non-‐fiction books, including Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets for College Success, EB Conroy’s Simplified Vocabulary Guide, and Twenty Secrets to Success with Your Child. She has designed online courses and curriculum programs for over 25 years and speaks at conferences on education and learning, reading, and writing. Erin has a BS and MA from Western Michigan University (WMU) and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing

from Western State Colorado University (WSCU) in Genre Fiction. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and Catholic Writers Guild (CWG), she is also a 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 women’s 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 Kathy Dutton holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Michigan, as well as a BA in Accounting from University of Michigan. Her early career involved research, including work with catalytic converts, neurology, and immunology. Mrs. Dutton has nearly 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience across various venues, including at the university, private tutoring, home-‐school group classes, and public and Catholic schools. Mrs. Dutton graduated her youngest child from the family homeschool in 2014. She teaches Catholic religious education and Confirmation preparation classes for her parish. Additionally, Mrs. Dutton devotes time to the Flint Regional Science and Engineering Fair, an ISEF-‐associated fair. Mrs. Dutton teaches science.



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 75-‐100 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 venues—and 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.

Christine Hamilton, Ph.D. Christine Hamilton is a homeschooling mother of 2 for 7 years. A graduate of Ohio University, with a BS in Biomedical Engineering and MS in Healthcare Administration, and NYU with a PhD in Public Health. VIRTUS trained in Protecting God's Children and taught third grade PSR for her parish.

Dr. Hamilton teaches science.

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 Gary Michuta is the author of a half-‐dozen books on apologetics and evangelism, including The Case for the Deuterocanon: Arguments and Evidence and How to Wolf-‐Proof Your Kids: A Practical Guide to Keeping Your Kids Catholic. Gary is an award-‐winning columnist for The Michigan Catholic archdiocesan newspaper. He has given hundreds of parish talks and seminars on Catholic apologetics and evangelism over his twenty-‐five plus years as a professional apologist. Gary has also publically debated anti-‐Catholics and has appeared on numerous Catholic programs such as Catholic Answers Live, The Journey Home, and Kresta in the Afternoon. He currently lives in southeast Michigan with his wife and three

children. Mr. Michuta teaches catechetics and apologetics.

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 Mr. Negri has his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and his law degree from Ave Maria School of Law. He was a member of Ave Maria Law School’s 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 EWTN’s 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 Shakespeare’s Eyes: Seeing the Catholic Presence in the Plays. He has hosted two 13-‐part seasons of The Quest for Shakespeare for EWTN. He is Director of the Center for Faith & Culture and Writer-‐in-‐

Residence 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.

Jean Rioux, Ph. D. Dr. Rioux is an award-‐winning professor and chair of the philosophy department at Benedictine College, where he has taught for 30 years. A graduate of Thomas Aquinas College, he earned his Master's and Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Specializing in the thought of Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, he has published textbooks in logic and natural philosophy and a number of articles in the philosophy of mathematics and other topics. A book on Thomas' philosophy of mathematics is in the works. He and Benedictine's chair of theology regularly offer co-‐taught great books classes in philosophy and theology. Dr. Rioux and his wife,

Maria, raise their children in a renovated farmhouse in rural Kansas. They have been designing their own curricula and educating their children at home for nearly 30 years. Dr. Rioux teaches philosophy.

Ed Rivet, MPA Ed Rivet has a B.S. in Pre-‐Law and Public Policy and a Master’s in Public Administration both from Michigan State University. Mr. Rivet has served as the Right to Life of Michigan’s Legislative Director since 1988. He has written and helped enact dozens of laws, including the nation’s first complete ban on human cloning, and banning assisted suicide in the face of the assault on human life by Jack Kevorkian and Geoffrey Fieger. Mr. Rivet has done countless media interviews, appearing in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, plus live interviews on CNN and Good Morning America. Mr. Rivet teaches government.



Domenico Ruggiero, MS-‐EM Mr. Ruggiero holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering – Engineering Management from the University of Central Florida. For most of his professional career, Mr. Ruggiero has worked at or near the NASA Kennedy Space Center. He has worked on the Space Shuttle Program as an Orbiter Structures Engineer for United Space Alliance. Currently he works for a large government consulting firm, where he has held many roles including Systems Engineer on the NASA Constellation Program and the NASA Commercial Crew Transportation Systems Program. More recently, he works as a data analyst & productivity automation expert for a variety of government agencies including every branch of the US military the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Mr. Ruggiero and his wife, Sonia, are proud parents to 3 young boys. In addition to the importance of close personal relationships with his wife and sons, he strives to maintain a healthy work-‐life balance so that he can impress upon the children other practical skills in addition to their homeschool academics such as outdoor skills, physical fitness, craftsmanship, gardening, sports, community service, and entrepreneurship. Related efforts have focused on establishing a Catholic homestead for his family.

Mr. Ruggiero teaches space science and computer programming.

Henry Russell, Ph. D. Dr. Henry Russell is Headmaster of the St. Augustine’s Homeschool Enrichment Program founded with his wife Crystal, which tutors more than 130 students. He is also the President of the SS Peter and Paul Educational Foundation, dedicated to furthering orthodox Catholic Liberal Arts education in southeast Michigan. A graduate of Princeton and South Caroline (M.S.), Dr. Russell completed his graduate work at Louisiana State University. Formerly the Chairman of Ave Maria College’s Department of Literature, he has also been a professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville and Wake Forest University.

Dr. Russell’s works include The Catholic Shakespeare Audio Series available from Kolbe Academy or directly from him. He was the Associate Editor of The Formalist from 1990-‐2004 and his writings have been published in various journals. He was honored to edit Dr. Alice von Hildebrand’s groundbreaking volume, The Privilege of Being a Woman. Dr. Russell teaches western literature from Homer to Flannery O’Conner.

Irma Luz Schmitt, MA Mrs. Schmitt was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico. She graduated from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Monterrey Institute of Technology) with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Education. In 2005, she earned a certification from Cambridge University to teach English as a second language.

Mrs. Schmitt has worked as an accountant at Catepillar, Cedetel and Sorteo Tec and she worked at Universidad Virtual del Tec de Monterrey as part of a team that initiated online courses in Accounting. Mrs. Schmitt has taught accounting, humanities, and Latin American studies at 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.



Contact Information / Fees To register for live, interactive courses: http://reg129.imperisoft.com/HomeschoolConnectionsOnline/Search/Registration.aspx Email address: [email protected] Toll-‐free phone number: (888) 372-‐4757 Website: www.homeschoolconnections.com You can also find Homeschool Connections on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Live, Interactive Courses: Prices are shown with each course listing. Price varies for individual courses and is based on several factors: The length of the course; the difficulty level in grading homework; and the instructor’s degree and experience

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.

Early Enrollment Discount: Course fees are discounted $10 to $25 for early enrollment (per course). The deadlines are:

• Summer 2016: March 15, 2016 • Fall 2016: July 15, 2016 • Spring 2017: November 15, 2016

The discount is built in when you register. No need to remember special steps or discount codes.

Other Services Offered by Homeschool Connections: • Unlimited Access (Recorded courses for independent learning) • Instructor Access (Grading services for recorded courses) • Free online conferences for Catholic homeschooling parents

Please visit our website or email us for more information.



Summer 2016 Registration closes one week before the first class. (We can re-‐open registration if requested with an additional $20 fee per course.)

How to Be an Excellent Student: Note Taking, Test Taking, and How to Get an A Homeschool Connections offers this course free throughout the school year. How to Be an Excellent Student lays a foundation of study skills to help students be successful in all of their other courses. Get ready for the school year now and register for this short, but vital, course. Total classes: 4 Class dates and times: This course will be offered several times this semester. Register for one of the following:

All dates are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, May 2 to 5 at 1: 00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) June 27 to June 30 at 11: 30 PM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) August 8 to 11 at 11: 30 PM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) August 22 to 25 at 1: 00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)

Duration: 55 minutes per class Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th to 10th grade 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).

Fiction Writing 8: Writing the Short Story *New This course only accepts 15 students. Fiction Writing 8 will be offered again in the Spring 2017 semester. Series description: There are eight courses in the Write Your Own Fiction Book Series. Students can jump into the series at any time. Students can also take The Hero’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers and Screenwriting at the same time as the series courses. Total Classes: 4 Class dates: Thursday's, April 14 to May 5, 2016 Starting time: 10:30 AM Eastern (9:30 Central; 8:30Mountain; 7:30 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1/3 semester Creative Writing or English. Add other writing or literature courses for a full semester credit. Fee: $89 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $99 after March 15 for all 4 classes. ($119 after April 6) 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: Estimated one to three hours of homework outside of class time per class, depending on the student’s ability.

Fiction Writing 7: Authoring a Book II: Perfecting your Query Letter and Synopsis *New This course only accepts 15 students. Series description: There are eight courses in the Write Your Own Fiction Book Series. Students can jump into the series at any time. Students can also take The Hero’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers and Screenwriting at the same time as the series courses. Total Classes: 4 Class dates: Monday through Thursday May 2 to May 5 (May 2, 3, 4, and 5) Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: Authoring a Book I (live or recorded) Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1/3 semester Creative Writing or English. Add other writing or literature courses for a full semester credit. Fee: $89 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $99 after March 15 for all 4 classes. ($119 after April 24) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: During this course, each student will receive feedback on their own query letter and synopsis – two components necessary for submitting your work to an agent and/or publisher. The class will have both instructor feedback and workshopping together, and students should leave the course with documents that have been edited and polished. Course outline: Class 1: Analyzing excellent query letters Class 2: Workshopping query letters Class 3: Analyzing excellent synopses Class 4: Workshopping synopses Course materials: All course materials will be provided free by the instructor. Homework: Estimated one to three hours of homework outside of class time per class, depending on the student’s ability.

The Science of Bugs! (AKA Entomology) Total classes: 8 Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, June 6 to June 16, 2016. (June 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16) Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 45 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade Suggested credit: ½ semester Entomology or Science 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, artists—the 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. Internet Acting Camp for Middle School *New Total classes: 10 Class dates: Mondays through Fridays, June 6 through June 17 (June 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 AM Mountain; 10:00 AM Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th grade Suggested credit: ½ semester Drama Fee: $130 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $150 after March 15th for all 10 classes. ($170 after May 29) Instructor: Kevin O’Brien Course description: Can a group of homeschoolers put together a one-‐act play in two weeks, even if they’re separated by thousands of miles and acting for their webcams? We’ll find out in this fun, challenging, inspiring and kind of crazy Internet Acting Camp! The final production will either be recorded as an Adobe Connect session, or (if we can manage it technically) edited and uploaded as a video for family and friends to watch! Course outline: Day 1 -‐ Introduction and overview -‐ Mr. O'Brien talks about show business and about St. Genesius, patron saint of actors. Day 2 -‐ Short scenes from various plays will be read, acting tips will be given. Day 3 -‐ We will begin to formulate a plot and characters for our play. Day 4 -‐ Plot and character outlines will be written as a final outline. Day 5 -‐ Provisional scenes will be read and / or improvised. We will come up with a few dialogue scenes that are fun and that we're proud of. (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! Math Foundations Boot Camp *New Total classes: 8 Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, June 13 to June 23, 2016 (June 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23) Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) Duration: 1 hour Prerequisite: Completion of at least one middle school level math course Suggested credit: ½ semester math. Suggested grade level: Geared toward 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. However, 9th graders are welcomed who would like to strengthen their math foundation. Fee: $95 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $110 after March 15 for all 8 classes. ($130 after June 5) Instructor: Emily Nardozzi, M.Ed. Course description: The focus of this course will be to strengthen students' skills in working with fractions, decimals, and percentages. Fractions are the most misunderstood concept in all of mathematics and many students cringe when they come across them in a math problem. The goal of this course is to make sure that students are able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions, decimals, and percentages with ease and confidence. Course outline: Mon., June 13: Identify, compare, order, and demonstrate equivalent relationships between integers, rational numbers in decimal, fraction, and percent notation Tues., June 14: Represent, order, and compare integers and describe their absolute value Wed., June 15: Identify, compare, and perform the four basic operations relating to rational numbers in fraction, decimal, and percent notation. Thurs., June 16: Identify, compare, and perform the four basic operations relating to rational numbers in fraction, decimal, and percent notation. Mon., June 20: Evaluate expressions using order of operations Tues., June 21: Evaluate expressions using order of operations Wed., June 22: Solve equations and inequalities Thurs., June 23: Review Course materials: None, all materials will be provided FREE by the instructor. Homework: 1 quiz per day will be given with approximately 5-‐10 problems, these should take around 10-‐15 minutes.

A Study of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, “I Call you Friends” *New Total classes: 8 Class dates: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, June 20 through June 30. (June 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30) Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 AM Mountain; 10:00 AM Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None



Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Literature Fee: $110 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $125 after March 15th for all 8 classes. ($145 after June 12) Instructor: Kevin O’Brien Course description: Two of the greatest Christian writers of the 20th century were also close friends -‐ C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien -‐ a friendship that awakened Lewis to the Faith, but that also may have faltered because of the demands of the Faith. We examine the relationship of these two men, the ups and downs of their friendship, and how they influenced one another’s writings. Course outline: Class one: Overview of the course and of the setting and times into which Lewis & Tolkien were born. Class two: Selections from Surprised by Joy, the life of C.S. Lewis Class three: Selections from Joseph Pearce's biography of J.R.R. Tolkien Class four: Tolkien's "On Fairy Stories" and the Night Talk that started Lewis' conversion Class five: Other influences on Lewis' faith: Chesterton and the Inklings. Class six: The Inklings and the development of the writings of Lewis and Tolkien: how they influenced one another. Class seven: Lewis' marriage and Tolkien's reaction to it: trouble in the friendship. Class eight: We examine the legacy of each author, review what we've learned, and bring the course to a conclusion. Course materials: Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156870118/catholictreas-‐20) and Tolkien: Man and Myth by Joseph Pearce (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898708257/catholictreas-‐20) should both be purchased by students and at least one of the two books should be read ahead of time, before the first class session. Other material will be brief selections from works and letters of the two authors, and will be provided by the instructor in class or as PDFs. Homework: Completing the assigned reading for each class; taking six quizzes and one essay exam. Estimated homework time each week: 4 hours. Health Science: Nutrition Total classes: 8 Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, July 11 to July 21 (July 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21) Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 45 minutes Prerequisite: At least a 9th grade level of understanding of science. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: ½ semester Health Science Fee: $70 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $80 if you register after Mar. 15 for all 8 classes. ($100 after July 3) Instructor: Christine Hamilton, Ph.D. Course description: Teaches the basic concepts of healthy eating. We will learn what food means to the body and gain a better understanding of its necessity. Course outline: 1. Healthy Eating -‐ proper nutrition can help prevent a number of health conditions including (but not limited to); Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and obesity. Planning a balanced diet and understanding nutrition labels. 2. Protein -‐ necessary for muscles, skin and hair. 3. Carbohydrates -‐ the body's primary source of energy converted to glucose. 4. Fats -‐ help synthesize fat soluble vitamins (A,E,D,K).



5. Vitamins -‐ Essential vitamins including; A, B, Complex C, D, E, K and folate. 6. Minerals -‐ essential minerals include; calcium, iron, zinc, iodine and chromium. 7. Water -‐ we are 60% H2O, our brain is 70% H2O. 8. Proper Diet -‐ Good nutrition keeps muscles, bones, organs and other body parts strong. Course materials: Food for Today: Student Activity Paperback by Helen Kowtaluk, ISBN # 0078616468 (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0078616468/catholictreas-‐20). Homework: Students will be asked to bring a canned or boxed food item to class with them to learn about label reading and meanings. Students will keep a three-‐day food journal to track short-‐term eating habits. Expect daily homework at approximately 30-‐45 minutes each day. The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton *New Total classes: 6 Class dates: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, August 9 to August 18 (9, 10 & 11, 16, 17, 18) Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 AM; Mountain; 10:00 AM Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Complete reading of The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton before the first day of class Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: ½ semester credit for Literature or English Fee: $75 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $90 after March 15 for all 6 classes. ($110 after Aug. 1) Instructor: Joseph Pearce Course description: The Everlasting Man is G. K. Chesterton’s classic work of Catholic Apologetics. The book's thesis is ultimately that the Incarnation is central to an understanding of history. Chesterton takes on the claim that man is simply the product of evolution, arguing that Christianity provides the True explanation for the genesis and purpose of human life. Chesterton wrote the book as a rebuttal to popular author H.G. Wells, whose secularist The Outline of History was influential at the time (1920’s). As Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society, says, “Of all of Chesterton’s literary monuments, this is perhaps his greatest, for he eloquently and concisely packs the whole human story between the covers of one book.” In this course, we will unpack that story and study it together over six classes. Course outline: Class one: Part I, chapters 1-‐3 Class two: Part I, chapters 4-‐6 Class three: Part I, chapters 7-‐8 Class four: Part II, chapters 1-‐2 Class five: Part II, chapters 3-‐4 Class six: Part II, chapters 5-‐6 Course materials: G. K. Chesterton, The Everlasting Man (Ignatius Press), ISBN #978-‐0-‐89870-‐444-‐0 (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898704448/catholictreas-‐20). Homework: Completing the assigned reading for each class; taking six quizzes. Estimated homework time each week: 3 hours. High School Writing Essentials 5: Punctuation and Grammar II *NEW College Preparatory Total classes: 6 Class dates: Week One: Monday through Thursday. Week Two: Monday and Tuesday: August 22, 23, 24, 25: 29, 30; 2016 Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)



Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: High School Writing Essentials 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I and High School Simplified Writing 1: All-‐Encompassing Foundational High School Writing Skills (Live, interactive courses or Unlimited Access recorded courses) Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Writing or English Fee: $99 if you register on or before March 15, 2016; $119 after March 15 for all 6 classes. ($139 after Aug. 14) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This course continues your student’s punctuation and grammar 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 doesn’t 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: 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. .



Fall 2016: Middle School and High School Registration closes one week before the first class. (We can re-‐open registration if requested with an

additional $20 fee per course.)

German German I, Part One This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to sign up for Part Two in the spring semester. Total classes: 28 Class dates: Mondays & Wednesdays, September 7 to December 14, 2016. No class Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving. Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 8th and 9th grade. Upper grades may also participate if beginning German. Suggested credit: 1 full semester German or Foreign Language Fee: $200.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $225 if you register after July 15 for all 28 classes. ($245 after Aug. 30) Instructor: Alexis Mausolf, MA Course description: This course will introduce students to German vocabulary, grammar and culture with twice-‐weekly meetings. The program will focus on building a solid German vocabulary and developing comprehension of the written and spoken German language. Each class will feature pronunciation practice, conversation, new grammar concepts and cultural trivia. Students will complete regular homework, quizzes and chapter tests, dictations and a short presentation at the end of the semester. To demonstrate that it is a living language, everything from nursery rhymes, songs, and proverbs to commercials and cartoons will be incorporated as learning aids. Course outline: Week 1 – Introductions, German alphabet, pronunciation guide, syllabus and course expectations, Lessons 1 and 2 -‐ Simple vocabulary and cognates, introduction to gender and definite articles, plural forms of nouns, family vocabulary Week 2 – Lesson 3 -‐ School and classroom vocabulary, indefinite articles Week 3 – Lesson 4 -‐ Verbs and conjugation, pronouns and question words, review of first four chapters Week 4 – Review of first four chapters, conversation, practice and testing Week 5 – Lesson 5 -‐ Counting and numbers, simple equations, money Week 6 – Lesson 6 -‐ Telling time and adverbial time expressions, colloquial time designations, intro to official time Week 7 – Lesson 7 -‐ Clothing and color vocabulary, predicate adjectives, describing objects Week 8 – Lesson 8 -‐ Conjugation of the verb “sein”, professions and trades vocabulary, possessive adjectives Week 9 – Review of past four chapters, conversation, dictation and testing 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/catholictreas-20). *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. German II, Part One This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to sign up for Part Two in the spring semester. This course only accepts 18 students. Total classes: 28 classes and 12-‐14 supplemental conversation sessions. Class dates: Mondays & Wednesdays, September 7 to December 14, plus an extra ½ hour conversation session, TBD depending on student schedules. (Usually this can be scheduled for 30 minutes before or after class once a week.) No class Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving. Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: German I Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: One full semester credit for German or Foreign Language Fee: $210 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $235 if you register after July 15 for all 28 classes. ($255 after Aug. 30) Instructor: Alexis Mausolf, MA Course description: This fifteen-‐week course will continue the progress of students who have already had a year of German by adding to their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and culture. The class will meet three times per week: the first two meetings will cover the mechanics of the language – grammar and reading – and the third period will be 30 minutes devoted to conversation. The course will feature pronunciation practice, conversation, new grammar concepts and cultural trivia with an emphasis on reading comprehension this year. Students will complete regular homework, quizzes and chapter tests, dictations and two projects during the semester. We will use everything from nursery rhymes, songs, and proverbs to 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 [email protected]. Homework: At least ½ 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 American Elections: Democracy in Action Total classes: 6 Class dates: Mondays, October 10 to November 14, 2016. Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of American government. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Government. For a full credit, add another government course (live or recorded), or see our Government Reading List. Fee: $90 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $100 after July 15 for all 6 classes. ($120 after Oct. 2) Instructor: Ed Rivet, MPA Course description: This 6-‐week course will explore the "ins and outs" of the American electoral process, with a special emphasis on the upcoming 2016 Presidential Election. We'll begin class five weeks prior to the November election, with our last class a wrap up, just days after we've elected a new president. (Well ... hopefully we won't have a repeat of the year 2000 "hanging chad" debacle.) Along 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.



U.S. Citizenship and Civics Total classes: 12 Class dates: Fridays, September 9 to December 9, 2016. No class Oct. 21 for midterm break or Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving. Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Government or Civics Fee: $175 if you enroll on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Sept. 1) Instructor: Jason Negri, MS/JD Course description: This course is an introduction to this thing we call “civics”. Immigrants to the United States need to pass a test to become citizens -‐ we take it for granted. The class covers a little bit of everything: history, government, politics, law, and economics. Together, they give a frame of reference for understanding this experiment in ordered liberty that we call America. Course materials: Provided free by the instructor. Homework: Almost every week – weekly current-‐events reports and two to three larger projects/papers. Graded by the instructor. A History of Government in Europe and America, Part One *New This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring semester. 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: 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 credit: 1 full semester World History or Government Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Sept. 7) Instructor: Christopher Zehnder, MA Course description: This course would explore the ideas and institutions that influenced and formed political establishments in Europe and America. We will read primary source documents, including excerpts from Aristotle and Plato, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Robert Bellarmine, Pope Leo XIII, John Locke, and American state papers (Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Anti-‐Federalist writings, and the U.S. Constitution). We would seek to understand from whence our modern political ideas arose and how they compare to political ideas proposed by Catholic tradition. Course materials: The instructor will provide primary source texts in pdf format free to students. Homework: Students read assigned texts. The instructor will assign and grade two short essays each semester.



History Lives of the Saints: Revealing the Glory of God, Part One *New This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring semester. Total classes: 10 Class dates: Wednesdays, September 21 to November 30, 2016. No Class Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11;00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade Suggested credit: 3/4 semester History, Literature, or Religion Fee: $150 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $170 after July 15 for all 10 classes. ($190 after Sept. 13) Instructor: Alison Stanley, JD Course description: This course explores the lives of the saints, both past and present. It is a combination of literature, art, history and religion. St. Peter the Apostle, St. Augustine, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John Vianney and St. Teresia Benedicta (Edith Stein) are some of the saints that will be discussed during the semester. 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. Middle School U.S. History: Part 1 (1492-‐1847) *New This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring semester. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Tuesdays, September 13 to December 13, 2016. No class Oct. 4 or Nov. 1. Starting time: 4:30 PM Eastern (3:30 Central; 2:30 Mountain; 1:30 Pacific) 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. American History: Lands of Hope and Promise, Part One *New This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring semester. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 5, 2016. No class Oct. 10 for midterm break. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 75 minutes (1 hour 15 minutes) Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 8th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester American History Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Sept. 4) Instructor: Christopher Zehnder, MA Course description: This course examines the history of the major civilizations of North America from the discovery of America in 1492 to the early 1970s. We will discuss the events, cultural movements, and ideas that led to the founding of the United States and contributed to its development as both a major power and influence both in North America and the world as a whole. The course examines the development of Latin America after the 18th century by examining concurrently the history of Mexico – and thus provides a counterpoint to U.S. history by looking at 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. Contemporary U.S. History *New Total classes: 12 Class dates: Wednesdays, September 7 to December 7, 2016. No class Oct. 5 or Nov. 23. Starting time: 4:30 PM Eastern (3:30 Central; 2:30 Mountain; 1:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None. However, Modern U.S. History is recommended. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester of U.S. History



Fee: $170 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $190 after July 15th for all 12 classes. ($210 after Aug. 30) Instructor: Phillip Campbell Course description: This final course in Mr. Campbell's U.S. History series follows the fortunes of the United States from its position of unrivaled global supremacy at the end of the Cold War, through the boom of the 90's and into the post-‐9/11 world. This class will help students understand contemporary national and global events in light of the historic and cultural shifts of the past 25 years. Course outline: Week 1: The Bush Presidency Week 2: The Democratic Insurgency Week 3: Problems Domestic and Foreign (1992-‐1996) Week 4: The 1990s: Boom to Bust Week 5: Culture and Counterculture Week 6: Scandals: 1997-‐2000 Week 7: Towards 9/11 and Beyond Week 8: Meltdown and Recovery Week 9: The Surveillance State Week 10: The Obama Revolution and Reaction Week 11: The March of Liberalism Week 12: Crossroads of America Course materials: Free primary source materials will be provided electronically (free) by the instructor. Homework: Weekly reading assignments, weekly quizzes, and occasional essay questions (graded by the instructor). Estimated 2 hours per week. Catholic Middle Ages Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 5, 2016. No class Oct. 10. Starting time: 4:30 PM Eastern (3:30 Central; 2:30 Mountain; 1:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None. However, "Life and Times of the Ancient Romans" is recommended. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester World History Fee: $165 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $185 after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($205 after Sept. 4) Instructor: Phillip Campbell Course description: An in-‐depth study of the cultural, political, intellectual, and artistic life of the Middle Ages with a focus on the contributions of the Catholic Church to medieval civilization. Course outline: Week 1: The Fall of Rome Week 2: Monasticism Week 3: The Holy Isle Week 4: The Church's Eldest Daughter Week 5: Charlemagne Week 6: Investiture and Ideology Week 7: Dawn of Scholasticism Week 8: Cluniacs & Cistercians Week 9: Deus Vult & The Crusades Week 10: Mendicant Orders



Week 11: Medieval Heresy Week 12: Church vs. State Course materials: TBA Homework: Weekly quizzes and occasional short answer questions (graded by the instructor) along with assigned reading. Expect to spend hours per week on homework in addition to weekly lectures and review.

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. Middle School Latin, Part One Due to the popularity of this course, it will be offered twice. Choose the day and time that works best for your homeschool. This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the Spring Semester. Total classes: 14 Class dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 19, 2016

OR Tuesdays, September 6 to December 20, 2016 Starting time: Mondays: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)

OR Tuesdays: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 45 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th and 8th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Latin or Foreign Language Fee: $150 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $170 after July 15 for all 14 classes. ($190 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Students will be introduced to basic Latin grammar and vocabulary through fun activities and homework assignments. They will also be encouraged to use certain online resources to help them develop good study habits. This course will prepare students for Beginning Latin. Materials will be supplied free 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. This course is project based and is graded by the instructor. Beginning Latin, Part One Due to the popularity of this course, it will be offered twice. Choose the day and time that works best for your homeschool.



This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring. Total classes: 14 classes Class dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 19, 2016. No class Oct.24 for midterm break.

OR Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class Nov. 1 for All Saints Day. Starting time: Mondays: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific)

OR Tuesdays: 11:30 am Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 9th grade and up. Suggested credit: One full semester of Latin or Foreign Language Fee: $180 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $200 after July 15 for all 14 classes. ($220 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Throughout this fourteen-‐week course, students will focus on learning Latin grammar and vocabulary. They will explore both Classical and Ecclesiastical pronunciations as well as the history behind this beautiful language. 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: Wheelock’s 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. Intermediate Latin, Part One Due to the popularity of this course, it will be offered twice. Choose the day and time that works best for your homeschool. This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring. Total classes: 14 classes Class dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 19, 2016. No class Oct.24 for midterm break.

OR Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class Nov. 1 for All Saints Day. Starting time: Mondays: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)

OR Tuesdays: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes



Prerequisite: Latin I, Part One and Two (live or recorded) or the equivalent. If students haven’t taken Latin One with Mrs. Henry, they will need a score of 70% or higher on the required entrance exam (email [email protected] for exam) Suggested grade level: 9th grade and up. Suggested high school credit: One full semester of Latin or Foreign Language Fee: $185 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $205 if you register after July 15 for all 14 classes. ($225 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Students interested in continuing their Latin journey will find that Latin Two is the right class for them! This fourteen-‐week course will focus on deepening students’ understanding of advanced Latin grammar, vocabulary, translation skills, and the history behind this beautiful language. 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 through chapters 20 -‐ 30 (chapters are approximate and may vary slightly). Students will explore both Ecclesiastical and Classical pronunciations. Course materials: Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061997226/catholictreas-‐20) and a Latin dictionary with Latin to English and English to Latin sections (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. Homework: Students can expect to spend a half hour a day (Monday – Friday) on their homework assignments and memorization. Quizzes, midterm, and final exam. Graded by the instructor. Advanced Latin, Part One *New This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring. This course is limited to 20 students. Total classes: 13 plus 1 exam date Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to December 15, 2016. Dec. 22 is reserved for a final exam. No class November 24 for Thanksgiving or Dec. 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Latin Two (part one and two), or the equivalent; or Latin III/IV College Preparatory. A score of 70% or higher on the entrance exam (given by the instructor) is a requirement if students have not had Latin Two with Mrs. Henry. Email [email protected] for the entrance exam. Suggested grade level: 11th and 12th grade Suggested credit: One full semester of Latin or Foreign Language Fee: $200 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $225 after July 15 for all 14 classes. ($245 after Aug. 31) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Want to continue your Latin training and have some fun along the way? Join us in Advanced Latin! Don’t let the course name intimidate you. This course isn’t 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: Wheelock’s Latin Reader 2e: Selections from Latin Literature (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060935065/catholictreas-‐20) Allen and Greenough’s 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/catholictreas-‐20). A working microphone with headphones is mandatory. Recommended: Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061997226/catholictreas-‐20). Homework: Students are expected to translate daily, spending about an hour on their assignments. Midterm and final exams graded by the instructor. Latin Composition Workshop *New Can be taken independently or with another Latin course. Offered both semesters. Total workshops: 13 plus 1 exam date Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to December 15, 2016. Dec. 22 is reserved for a final exam. No class November 24 for Thanksgiving or Dec. 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: At least one year of High School Latin Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade Suggested credit: One semester of a foreign language course Fee: $200 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $225 after July 15 for all 14 classes. ($245 after Aug. 30) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Whether you’ve had one, two, or three years of High School Latin, you will love this course! You can use it as a supplemental course to coincide with your other Latin class or you can take it as a course on its own. It’s up to you! Latin Composition is an engaging, interactive workshop in which students will be able to compose Latin phrases, stories, plays, etc. These activities will reinforce what students have already learned in their respective Latin classes and will strengthen their understanding of grammar. Each week, students will work together based upon age and Latin experience in mini-‐workshops. Each group will have an instructor-‐led composition assignment(s) that will be unique to their understanding of Latin grammar and vocabulary. They will work together on their assignments and then share different portions of their compositions with the entire class. Course materials: Required: Allen and Greenough’s 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/catholictreas-‐20). Recommended: Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061997226/catholictreas-‐20). Homework: Students will have mini composition assignments as homework in addition to group assignments during class. The majority of their work, however, will be done during our class time. Life Skills How to Be an Excellent Student: Note Taking, Test Taking, and How to Get an A Homeschool Connections offers this course free as it lays a foundation of study skills to help students be successful in all of their other courses. Total classes: 4



Class dates: Choose the dates that work best for you (same time for both): Fridays, September 9 to September 30, 2016

OR Fridays, October 21 to November 11, 2016 Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th to 10th grade 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 Middle School Greek Mythology *New Due to the popularity of this single-‐semester course, it will be offered twice this school year. The same course is offered in the fall semester and again in the spring semester. This is not a 2-‐part course. Total classes: 10 Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to November 17, 2016. No class Oct. 20 for midterm break. Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 45 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th grade. High school students are welcomed if they are interested in the subject matter. Suggested credit: ¾ semester Literature or English. Add another literature or a writing course for full credit. Fee: $150 if registered on or before July 15, 2016. $170 after July 15 for all 10 classes. ($190 after Aug. 30) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: In this course, students will gain a deeper understanding of Greek mythology and its influence on the Western World. Students will be encouraged both to read the stories and to think critically about them. We will focus on mastery of content as well as how the morals of the stories compare with Biblical Truths. We will be exploring the idea of heroes and heroines, right and wrong, fate, and the standards the Greeks upheld. Throughout the course, we will measure all our analysis of the stories in light of our Catholic faith. Course materials: D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0440406943/catholictreas-‐20) There will also be a recommended (optional) reading list for students and parents who want to learn more (provided after registration).



Homework: Students can expect to have weekly reading assignments from our textbook as well as other material supplemented either by the teacher or the parent. Students will answer weekly reading questions to assist with comprehension and to prepare them for the class discussion. In addition to our weekly lecture, there will be in-‐class reading, quizzes, group activities, and projects. There will be at least one exam, one essay, and several quizzes throughout the course. Christmas in Literature, Film, and Music *New 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 O’Brien Course description: What is the “magic of Christmas” and why has it captivated even the secular world for so many centuries? We’ll 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, we’ll look at the depiction of the Nativity in Literature, Film and Music. We’ll read A Christmas Carol, we’ll watch scenes from Christmas movies, we’ll read essays and poems on Christmas by G. K. Chesterton, we’ll examine the theology and wonder behind classic and modern Christmas Carols - and we’ll 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:

1. The Nativity of Our Lord in the Early Church 2. St. Francis and the Manger Scene 3. The Puritans and the Death of Christmas 4. “A Christmas Carol” - Dickens and the Revival of Christmas 5. Chesterton on Christmas 6. St. Nicholas - from bishop to Santa Claus 7. Modern Christmas - Songs and Movies 8. 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. Mythology in Literature *New 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: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 9th to 10th grade



Suggested credit: 1 full semester Literature or English 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 O’Brien Course description: What is myth and how does it relate to storytelling in general and to our Catholic Faith in particular? How have the great myths of the world’s cultures been adapted into novels and plays? What are the essential elements of myth that speak to the human condition? Using J.R.R. Tolkien’s 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:

1. Overview: Selections from Tolkien’s “On Fairy Stories” - a Guide to Understanding Myth 2. Mythology and Religion: Mythology in Ancient Greek Drama 3. Mythology and Religion: Divine Use of Myth in the Gospels - Parables and Signs 4. Mythology of Transformation: From Ovid to Dante - Pagan and Christian notions of

Transformation. 5. Mythology of Transformation: Shakespeare’s use of Myth in A Midsummer Night’s Dream 6. Mythology of Transformation in Modern Works - Various Selections 7. Mythology of Love: Cupid and Psyche 8. Mythology of Love: C. S. Lewis Til We Have Faces 9. Mythology of Selfishness: Narcissus through the Ages 10. Mythology of Power and Creation: Pygmalion from the Greeks to Shaw 11. Mythology of Humility and Redemption: King Arthur - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 12. Mythology of Humility and Redemption: Selections from Chaucer through Modern Times 13. 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. Love and the Meaning of Life *New 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 O’Brien 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 XVI’s



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:

1. Overview - C. S. Lewis on The Four Loves 2. Love in Scripture - The Old Testament 3. Love in Ancient Greece - The Symposium 4. Love in Scripture - The New Testament 5. Love in the Middle Ages - St. Francis of Assisi & St. Thomas Aquinas 6. Love in Shakespeare - Much Ado about Nothing 7. Love in the Romantic Poets 8. Love in the 19th Century - Wuthering Heights 9. Love in the 20th Century - The Surprise 10. The Psychology of Love - Love and Will 11. Pope Benedict XVI on Love - Deus Caritas Est 12. Modern Errors on Love 13. 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 O’Connor, 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 week’s 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. The Iliad by Homer If this course fills and closes early, we will consider adding a second day/time. Total classes: 6 Class dates: Wednesdays, September 21 to October 26, 2016 Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: The ability to understand and enjoy the book. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Literature or English. Add another literature or a writing course for full credit. Fee: $90 if you register on or before July 15, 2015. $105 after July 15 for all 6 classes. ($125 after Sept. 13) Instructor: Joseph Pearce Course description: Homer is at the foundation of Western Civilization and is arguably, with the possible exception of Dante and Shakespeare, the greatest writer that Western Civilization has produced. Professor Pearce will guide us through Homer’s classic work, examining the ways in which its moral vision harmonizes with that of Christianity, offering timeless insights into the human condition. Course outline: Week One: Books I-‐IV: Setting the scene; the anger of Achilleus and the will of Zeus; lust and its consequences.



Week Two: Books V-‐VIII: Gods in the fray; Hektor accuses Paris; Hektor’s family; Hektor’s fate; Paris’ obstinacy in sin; Zeus the Almighty? Week Three: Books IX-‐XII: Agamemnon’s dilemma; anger and its consequences; love and lust; prayer and suffering; the pride of Achilles; Hate unleashed; the power of Zeus; the power of Hektor. Week Four: Books XIII-‐XVI: Zeus versus Poseidon: Menelaos the philosopher; a doctrine of grace; Hektor accuses Paris again; the seduction of Zeus; the teasing of 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; Homer’s 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 Virgil’s Aeneid; Achilleus the merciless. Week Six: Books XXI-‐XXIV: Achilleus the merciless continued; the gods as toys of Zeus?; the insignificance of mortals?; Priam’s wretched fate; Hektor’s agonizing dilemma; the death of Hektor; Andromache’s grief; the desecration of Hektor’s corpse; death as the shadowlands; the gods protect Hektor’s 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. Beyond the Lord of the Rings *New Only 20 students are accepted into this course. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays, September 19 to December 12, 2016. No class October 31 for midterm break. Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None. However, it is preferred that students have read Lord of the Rings before coming to this course. (For ordering information, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0618640150/catholictreas-‐20) Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. Suggested credit: 1 full semester Literature or Modern Literature. Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Sept. 11) Instructor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D. Course Description: In this course the professor and students discussed five short stories by J.R.R. Tolkien in light of his essay called “On Fairy Stories.” The stories are “Smith of Wooton Major,” “Farmer Giles of Ham,” “Leaf by Niggle,” “The Adventures of Tom Bombadil,” and “Roverandom.” All five stories and the essay are available in one volume, called Tales from the Perilous Realm by J. R. R. Tolkien. The assignment will be to write your own fantasy story by the end of the twelve weeks. Course materials: 1. The required text is the book Tales from the Perilous Realm, by J.R.R. Tolkien

(www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0547154119/catholictreas-‐20). This book is a collection of Tolkien's short stories. The appendix is the famous essay "On Fairy-‐Stories."



2. The student should read the essay "On Fairy-‐Stories" in preparation for the first class. It is not short, nor is it always that easy to read, so the student should start reading it right away. The essay is available online for free at www.watergeek.net/fairystories-‐tolkien.pdf.

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. Typology: Divinization as Human Duty: The Person, Nature, and Sacramental Typology *New Follow up with Seeing Typology in Literature in the spring semester. This course only admits 20 students. Total classes: 6 Class dates: Tuesdays, September 27 to November 15, 2016. No class Nov. 1 for All Saints Day. Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: At least a 10th-‐grade level understanding of literature. Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade as well as Parents Who Homeschool Suggested credit: ½ semester Literature, Theology, or Typology. For a full semester follow up with Typology in the spring semester. Add writing for a full year of English. Fee: $90 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $100 if you register after July 15. ($120 after Sept. 19) Instructor: Henry Russell, Ph.D. Course description: This six-‐week course could be taken either for Literature or Theology credit. Its focus is the way that living and breathing the typology of the Catholic Church aids us in the process of what St. Athanasius called divinization—the increasing conformity of human life to the life of the Divine Trinity. While the terminology of “divinization” is capable of being wildly misunderstood, the principle is of first importance. This process is central to forming a genuinely Catholic Culture in the home and elsewhere in life. Weekly outline: Session One: Principles and Sources: Typology and the Image of God: Catechism and Sacred Scripture Session Two: The Human Person and Nature: St. John Paul II, Pope Francis. Session Three: Biblical types: Baptism Fr. Jean Danielou Session Four: Biblical types: Holy Eucharist Session Five: Typologies in Holy Mass and Ecclesial Structure Session Six: Bestiaries (Animals as types); Floralegia (Flowers as types) Course materials: PDF files will be provided free from the instructor, which can be provided for registered students who want to read the material in advance, after August 1st. Homework: Expect to spend approximately 2 hours of reading per week. The instructor provides computer-‐generated (and graded) quizzes each week for immediate feedback.

Math Glencoe Middle School Math 1, Part One 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. Glencoe Middle School Math 2, Part One *New 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 5-‐7 pre-‐recorded classes Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Starting time: 12:30 PM Eastern (11:30 Central, 10:30 Mountain, 9:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes live classes, 10-‐20 minutes recorded Prerequisite: Middle School Math 1 or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 7th grade (advanced 6th 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 2 covers many of the same topics as Middle School Math 1, but each topic is discussed more in depth and with more application. We will still be doing a lot of work with fractions, decimals, integers, data analysis, algebraic expressions and equations, functions and inequalities, using 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



Glencoe Pre-‐Algebra, Part One *New 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 5-‐7 pre-‐recorded Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central, 12:30 Mountain, 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes live classes, 10-‐20 minutes recorded lectures Prerequisite: Middle School Math 2 or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 8th grade (other grade levels welcome) Suggested credit: 1 full semester Pre-‐Algebra or Math Fee: $185.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. 205.00 after July 15th for all 14 classes plus recorded lectures. ($225 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Emily Nardozzi, M.Ed. Instructor's email: [email protected] Course description: Pre-‐Algebra is a course designed to prepare students for Algebra 1. We will spend time performing basic operations on integers and rational numbers, as well as work on solving one and two-‐step equations with both integers and rational numbers. This course also covers real numbers and the Pythagorean theorem, proportions, algebra, geometry, percentages, area and volume, probability, statistics, inequalities, and linear functions. Course materials: Mathematics: Applications and Concepts, Course 3, Student Edition (Glencoe Mathematics), 2005 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/0078668484/catholictreas-‐20 (click on Used). Homework: 2-‐4 lessons per week with 15-‐20 homework problems per lesson, 1-‐2 short quizzes per week, and a chapter test approximately every other week. Personal Finance: Math for Real Life *New Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays, September 19 to December 12, 2016. No class October 31 for midterm break. Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: 8th Grade Math Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Math or Finance. For a full year credit, follow up with Introduction to Statistics & Probability in the Spring Semester. 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-‐0-‐9816839-‐6-‐6 (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0981683967/catholictreas-‐20) Homework: A student should spend approximately 5 hours on homework each week.



Saxon Algebra 1, Part One This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for the Part Two in the Spring Semester. Total classes: 14 live classes, plus 14 recorded lectures. Class Dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 19, 2016. No class October 31, 2016. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Saxon 8/7, Algebra ½, or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 9th grade and up. Suggested credit: 1 full semester Math Fee: $195.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $215 after July 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($235 after Sept. 4) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: Students will study all concepts in Algebra 1 from linear to nonlinear equations, graphing and numerical studies.. In its entirety this course involves all concepts needed to fulfill national requirements for Algebra I. The topics to include but not be restricted to, operations with integers, rules of multiplicative identity and additive identity, equation solving, exponential function relations, quadratic function relations and their graphs, Cartesian graphing, polynomial 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-‐Math-‐Homeschool-‐Kits/) Homework: 4-‐5 assignments of 15-‐20 problems per lesson. Foerster Algebra 1, Part One This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for the Part Two in the Spring Semester. Total classes: 14 live classes plus 14 recorded classes. Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Pre-‐Algebra Suggested grade level: 9th to 10th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Math Fee: $195.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $215 after July 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($235 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: Students will be required to watch a recorded 30-‐minute lecture each week and attend class for discussions and problem solving. Algebra 1 explores all avenues of linear equations, some non-‐linear equations and problem solving. Students will use all of their basic math skills to solve problems, graph equations, and think using the skills we develop. The instructor is available for Skype conferencing once a week if needed. Course Materials: Foerster's Algebra 1 (Third Edition, 1994), ISBN-‐13: 978-‐0201860948 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 Foerster Algebra 2, Part One This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for the Part Two in the Spring Semester.



Total classes: 14 live classes plus 14 recorded classes. Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Algebra 1 Suggested grade level: 10th grade and up Suggested credit: 1 full semester Math Fee: $195.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $215 after July 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. $235 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: Foerster Algebra 2 will pick up where we left of in Foerster Algebra 1 with solving complex algebraic equations, complex fractions and exploring rational as well as irrational numbers. Students will also begin their exploration of trigonometric functions, as well as using the geometry that they have learned to find lengths and measures of angles. Students will continue with the ideas of solving for a variable, but now use vector analysis to go along with it. This is a great next step after Algebra 1, and will lead into geometry smoothly. Course materials: Algebra and Trigonometry: Functions and Applications (Prentice Hall Classics): www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131657100/catholictreas-‐20 Homework: 4-‐5 lessons per week with 15-‐20 problems to work per lesson Holt-‐McDougal-‐Larson Algebra 2, Part One This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for the Part Two in the Spring Semester. 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 student’s 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 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. Jurgensen, Brown, Jurgensen Geometry, Part One This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for the Part Two in the Spring Semester. Total classes: 14 live classes plus 14 recorded classes. Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Starting time: 1:30 PM Eastern (12:30 Central; 11:30 Mountain; 10:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Algebra 1 or equivalent coursework Suggested grade level: 10th grade and up. Suggested credit: 1 full semester Math Fee: $195.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $215 after July 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($235 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: Jurgensen, Brown, and Jurgensen is a complement text to the Foerster Algebra series. Students will study two and three dimensional shapes as well as lines, rays and similar figures in a plane. Deductive reasoning will be used throughout the text to immerse students in proofs and the varying postulants and theorems that are used. Basic as well as more advanced constructions will be used along with algebra to connect algebra with the geometry that they are learning. We will be using the college entrance tests as a guide for the tests and quizzes so that students are familiar with the types of questions they will be expected to know and answer. Course materials: Geometry by Jurgensen, Brown and Jurgensen ISBN# 0-‐395-‐77120-‐X, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/039577120X/catholictreas-‐20. Homework: 4-‐5 assignments per week with 15-‐20 problems per lesson Saxon Advanced Mathematics: Pre-‐Calculus, Part One This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for the Part Two in the Spring Semester. Total classes: 14 live classes plus 14 recorded classes. Class Dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 19, 2016. No class October 31, 2016 Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Algebra II and Geometry. Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade. Suggested credit: 1 full semester Pre-‐Calculus or Math Fee: $210.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $230 after July 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($250 after Sept. 4) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: We will explore all the algebraic & trigonometric concepts; both linear and nonlinear plus functions, complex numbers, and concepts involving trigonometry & polar coordinates. This course will fulfill requirements for Pre-‐calculus and ready students for High School and college advanced topics math including Calculus. Course materials: Saxon Advanced Mathematics and Incremental Development, Edition 2 (www.emmanuelbooks.com/product_detail.cfm/ID/1508/OID/3328/Saxon-‐Math-‐Homeschool-‐



Kits/), with the test and homeschool pack, a scientific calculator (TI 30X or the like), graph paper, ruler, protractor, compass, and pencil. Graphing calculators are useful, but not necessary. Instructor will provide a free weekly lecture in addition to the live, interactive classes. Homework: 4-‐5 assignments per week with 15-‐20 problems to work per lesson.

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 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 logic—the 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. Philosophy: An Introduction to The Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas, Part One Note: This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for Part Two in the spring semester. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Fridays, September 9 to December 9, 2016. No class Oct. 21 for midterm break or Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving. 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 God’s 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 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.

St. Thomas on the Human Person *New Total classes: 12 Class dates: Thursdays, 8 September to 15 December, no class 13 October, 24 November, or December 8. Starting time: 4:00 PM Eastern (3:00 Central; 2:00 Mountain; 1:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: none Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade. Suggested credit: 1 full semester Philosophy Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Aug. 31) Instructor: Jean Rioux, Ph.D. Course description: St. Thomas' account of the human person expounds upon what philosophers and theologians from ancient times to his day have said about ourselves and our unique place in God's universe. While Thomas discusses and references his views on human nature in nearly all his works, his ex professo treatment of the question can be found in questions 75 through 89 of the first part of his Summa Theologiae. While the context of this treatise is theological, Thomas' consideration includes an extended and integrated philosophical account of what we are, what we can expect of life, and why. Addressing issues as wide-‐ranging as whether and to what degree we can really know the world about us, upon what basis we can stake our claim to free action, and whether we can certainly know, as Socrates is to have said, that "our souls will truly exist in another world!", Thomas brings his brilliance to bear upon a discussion and resolution of life's most important questions. Course materials: Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Prima Pars, questions 75-‐89 (selections) | materials will be provided by the instructor as a freely-‐downloadable PDF file. Homework: Homework for each session will consist, first, of a close reading of the assigned materials, using online class preparation software designed by Dr. Rioux. Written assignments will consist of students' careful, short-‐essay responses to two or three prompts covering the last class' material, graded by Dr. Rioux. Students should expect to spend 3 to 4 hours outside of class time on the reading and assignments each week.

Science Introduction to Earth Science *New This course only accepts 15 students. Total classes: 12



Class dates: Thursdays, September 15 to December 15, 2016. No class Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving or Dec. 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. 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 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/macbethsopinion-‐20) Homework: Weekly quiz, occasional biography of a geologist for presentation to the class (super short), reading in the text in preparation for class. Middle School Life Science: The Human Body *New Total classes: 12 Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to November 29, 2016. No Class November 1 for All Saints Day. Starting time: 1:30 PM Eastern (12:30 Central; 11:30 Mountain; 10:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade Suggested credit: 1 semester Science or Life Science Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Kris Correira, PA-‐C, MHP Course description: This course covers the simple basics of the human body, system by system. It focuses more on anatomy though basic physiology is covered. Note: the reproductive system is NOT covered in this course. Course materials: All materials will be supplied FREE, except for inexpensive, easy-‐to-‐find lab materials. Homework: Weekly quizzes, anatomy worksheets, and some simple labs. Quizzes are graded automatically by the computer; written homework is graded by the instructor. Physical Science -‐ Part One *New This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register also for Part Two in the spring semester. With consent of the instructor, Part One and Part Two may be taken in two consecutive years. Part One must be taken before Part Two. Part One will only be offered in the fall and Part Two only in the spring. Total classes: 14 live classes plus 14 recorded lectures Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to December 22, 2016. No class Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving or Dec. 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. (Note: the Dec. 22nd class is an optional review.) Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes 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 [email protected] 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 college-‐level botany courses. Course outline: 1. What is Plant Biology? /The Nature of Life 2. Cells 3. Tissues, Roots, Soils and Stems 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. Geology, Part One *New Note: This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring semester. Total classes: 8 Class dates: Tuesdays Sept. 6, 2016 -‐ Oct. 25, 2016 Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Basic understanding of high school level science. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: 1/2 semester of Geology or Science 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: The purpose of this course is to offer an opportunity for students to explore aspects of geology as it relates to the real world. Students will be exposed to activities related to mineral/rock identification, plate tectonics, oil/coal exploration, ground water quality, geologic history and mapping techniques (Part Two). Course outline: Week 1: Observing and Measuring Earth Materials and Processes. Observing Earth Materials and Processes of Change. Measuring Earth Materials and Relationships. Density, Gravity, and Isostasy. Isostasy and Earth's Global Topography. Week2: Plate Tectonics and the Origin of Magma. Is Earth's Size Increasing, Decreasing, or Staying About the Same? What Drives Plate Tectonics? The Origin of Magma. Measuring and Evaluating Plate Tectonics. Week 3: Mineral Properties, Uses and Identification. Mineral Properties and Uses. Mineral Identification and Appreciation. Mineral Resources and Commodities. Week 4: Rocks and the Rock Cycle. Introduction to Rocks and the Rock Cycle. Rock Samples and the Rock Cycle. Week 5: Igneous Rocks and Volcanic Hazards. Igneous Processes and Rocks. Description and Interpretation of Igneous Rock Samples. Volcanic Hazards and Human Risks. Week 6: Sedimentary Rocks, Processes, and Environments. 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.

Biology I, Part One It is highly suggested, though not mandatory, students also register for Biology I: LAB, Part One (see below). This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring semester. Due to the popularity of this course, it is offered twice. Choose the day and time that works best for you. If both fill early, we will consider adding a third day/time. Total classes: 14 Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 13, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Fridays, September 9 to December 16, 2016. No class Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving. 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: None 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 July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 14 classes. ($215 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Christine Hamilton, Ph.D. Course description: Prepares the student for ACT/SAT biology. Students are expected to take notes during class and ask questions. Notes will help with weekly quizzes, quizzes are open book. This Biology class is a general overview of high school Biology presented from a Catholic perspective. Students should have access to a microphone for the Q&A game at the end of class, as time permits. Course materials: Prentice Hall Biology ISBN-‐13: 978-‐0131662551 ISBN-‐10: 0131662554 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131662554/catholictreas-‐20) Homework: Expect to spend 2 hours each week on vocabulary study, reading, and quizzes.. Vocabulary is assigned alongside the weekly reading for better understanding of the material and to prepare the student for the live lecture. Most of the computer-‐graded quiz material is based on vocabulary and what is presented in class. Students who also sign up for the LAB portion of the course (see below) will meet 30 minutes before the lecture.

LAB for Biology I, Part One You must be registered in Biology I, Part One in order to register for the LAB component. There is no meeting time for LAB. It is added to the Biology I course. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in Biology I, Part One Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Fee: $30 on or before July 15, 2016; $40 after July 15. ($60 after Aug. 29) Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biology with Lab. Instructor: Christine Hamilton, Ph.D. Course description: There will be 6 labs that are explicitly aligned with the Biology Part One classes. Biology Part One Labs are to be performed with minimum equipment and will consist of common household supplies. Course materials and technology: Pencil and paper. Materials will be listed at the beginning of the semester for each week.



Anatomy & Physiology, Part One This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to sign up for Part Two in the spring semester. Total classes: 14 Class dates: Wednesdays, September 7 to December 14, 2016. No class November 23 for 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 Church’s 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) 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. Physics I, Part One Note: This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring. Total classes: 14 Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to December 15, 2015. No class November 24 for Thanksgiving. Starting time: 4:00 PM Eastern (3:00 Central; 2:00 Mountain; 1:00 Pacific) Duration: 75 minutes Prerequisite: Algebra I. Geometry is beneficial. Suggested grade level: 9th to 10th grade Suggested 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 Aug. 31) 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 include: Scientific Methods, Linear Motion, Vectors & Projectile Motion, Newton’s Laws & Gravitation, Work & Power, Simple Machines, Energy, and Momentum. 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 intuition—and break some commonly held misconceptions. Students will learn how the cosmos that God created works and apply 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. Chemistry I, Part One This is a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register also for Part Two in the spring semester. It is highly suggested, though not mandatory, that students also register for Chemistry I -‐Lab, Part One (see below). Class dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 6 to December 20, 2016. No class Nov. 1 for All Saints Day, Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving, or Dec. 8 for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Total classes: 28 Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) Prerequisite: Algebra I, previous or concurrent (Available Live or through Unlimited Access); a Middle School Physical Science is helpful. Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Chemistry or Science Fee: $185 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $205 after July 15 for all 28 classes. ($225 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Kathy Dutton Course description: We will be studying God's creation at the atomic level and discovering how marvelous it is. This college-‐prep Chemistry course, over both semesters, will cover a wide range of topics including: Structure of Matter, States of Matter, Chemical Reactions, Stoichiometry, Equilibrium, and Thermochemistry. We will also consider how Chemistry is important in our day-‐to-‐day life. Course outline: Please email Mrs. Dutton at [email protected] for the full outline or to ask questions about the course. Course materials and technology: 1. Text: Chemistry, Wilbraham, Staley, Matta, Waterman (Prentice Hall, 2008) ISBN: 0-‐13-‐251210-‐6. We recommend buying used. (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0132512106/catholictreas-‐20) 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: Approximately 3 -‐ 4 hours outside of class on homework and tests. 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 tests and give an overall grade for this course. Chemistry I -‐ Lab, Part One You must be registered in Chemistry I, Part One in order to register for the lab component. All labs will have a pre-‐recorded video (found on the course page) with an introduction to the lab, a lab demonstration, and a guidance through the lab report. Labs will be touched on during class. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in Chemistry I, Part I Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Chemistry with Lab Fee: $40 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $45 after July 15 for all 7 labs. ($65 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Kathy Dutton Course description: We will do approximately 7 labs covering topics such a Lab Safety, Separating Mixtures, Atomic Modeling, Periodic Trends, Conductivity. 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 [email protected] 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 Spanish I, Part One This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for the spring semester. Total classes: 12, plus 18 recorded lectures Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to December 15, 2016. No class Oct. 20, Nov. 24, or Dec. 8. Starting time: Thursdays, Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None 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 July 15, 2016. $250 after July 15 for all 12 classes and 18 recorded lectures. ($270 after Aug. 31) Instructor: Irma Luz 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 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 between them. Also taught is how to write questions and answers using some interrogative words like ¿Qué?, ¿Quién?, ¿Dónde? ¿Cuándo?

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 The alphabet, greetings and introduce yourself in Spanish 2 Nouns 3 Articles 4 Adjectives 5 Demonstrative adjectives 6 Verb ser and pronouns 7 Yes/No Questions, Yes/No Answers 8 Interrogative words: ¿Qué? ¿Quién? 9 Interrogative Word: ¿Dónde? 10 Interrogative word: ¿Cuántos? 11 Interrogative Word: ¿Cuándo? 12 General 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. Spanish II, Part One This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to also register for the spring semester. Total classes: 12, plus 18 recorded lectures Class dates: Thursdays, September 8 to December 15, 2016. No class Oct. 20, Nov. 24, or Dec. 8. Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Spanish I or equivalent Suggested grade level: 8th to 12th grade Suggested credit: One full semester Spanish or Foreign Language Fee: $225 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $250 after July 15 for all 12 classes and 18 recorded lectures. ($270 after Aug. 31)



Instructor: Irma Luz M. Schmitt, M.A. Course description: In this course, the students will delve into Spanish grammar and learn the conjugation of irregular verbs in the present tense, the conjugation of verbs in the past tense and some common grammar structures. Every week a list of new vocabulary will be introduced and practiced as well.


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 reviewed. Course outline (week by week): 1 Review Interrogative Words ¿Qué? ¿Quién?¿Cuándo? 2 Review Interrogative Words ¿Dónde? ¿Cómo? and Ser vs. Estar 3 Review Regular Conjugation of –ar,-‐er,-‐ir verbs 4 Stem-‐changing verbs Poder 5 Stem-‐Changing verbs Querer and Pensar 6 Stem-‐Changing verbs Pedir 7 Stem-‐Changing verbs Jugar 8 Irregular yo-‐form verbs Salir 9 Irregular yo-‐form verbs Hacer 10 Irregular yo-‐form verbs Conocer and Saber 11 Present Progressive 12 General review Course materials: Exercises in Spanish Grammar, Book 1, HS701R. We recommend purchasing early and used to get the best price. (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0883139715/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.

Speech and Communications Leadership and Interpersonal Communication This course will be offered again in the spring semester. If it fills up, you can sign up for the spring course. Total classes: 6 Class dates: Mondays, October 3 to November 7, 2016. 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 High school credit: ½ semester Communications or Life Skills Instructor: Lisa Mladinich Fee: $97 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $117 after July 15 for all 6 classes. ($137 after Sept. 25)



Course description: This course teaches foundational and critical leadership and communication skills, including self-‐management practices for becoming a person of positive influence. Course outline: Class 1: The skills of leadership: What it takes to be a leader, servant leadership, and transformational leadership Class 2: Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Class 3: Conflict Management and Leadership Class 4: Active listening, empathy, and wise decision making for leadership Class 5: Personal speaking skills: voice, body language, and connecting with your listener Class 6: Faith-‐filled leadership: The actions of leadership Course materials: All course materials are provided FREE online from the instructor. Homework: This is a lecture course with approximately 2 to 4 hours of work per class, depending upon your student’s skill level, of reading, short writing assignments, and automated quizzes. Final grade issued by the instructor Debate and Argumentation *New Total classes: 13 Class dates: Wednesdays, September 7 to December 7, 2016. No class November 23 for Thanksgiving. 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 Suggested credit: 1 full semester Debate; Speech; or Communications 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. 30) Instructor: Kevin O’Brien Course description: Students will learn the art of argumentation and “forensics” and will be challenged to hone their skills of presentation and oral communication as they participate in a number of exercises, including a Mock Presidential Debate, a Mock Trial with closing arguments to the jury, and Mini Debates on issues that affect our faith and culture. Course outline:

1. What is Debate - Demos and Terms 2. Preparing to Debate - Structure and Rule 3. Mock Presidential Debate - Part I 4. Mock Presidential Debate - Part II 5. Errors of Logic and Argumentation 6. Critique of Famous Debates 7. Mini Debate - Part I 8. Mini Debate - Part II 9. Changing Sides - Pro and Con in Debates 10. Changing Sides - Understanding the Opposition 11. Mock Trial - Part I 12. Mock Trial - Part II 13. Review

Course materials: Handouts in the form of PDFs provided FREE by the instructor Homework: Assignments and readings and debate prep. Three hours per week on average.

Test Prep Science ACT/SAT Prep *New



This 1-‐semester course will be offered again in the spring semester. Choose the course that best fits your scheduled ACT/SAT. Total classes: 8 Class dates: Wednesdays September 7, 2016 to November 2, 2016 Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Basic understanding of high school science Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Fee: $80.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $90 after July 15 for all 8 classes. ($110 after Aug. 30) Instructor: Christine Hamilton Ph. D. Course description: In this course students will work on understanding test questions, strategizing skills, study habits, and practice tests. Students will be prepared for the Science portion of the ACT. The SAT itself does not include science. However, students can choose subject tests through the SAT to show proficiency in specific subjects, including science. Students planning on a science-‐related career 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, and a composition book. Homework: Read and complete worksheets. Expect to spend an hour to 2 hours per week with homework outside of the class lecture and review. Practice tests during classes 7 and 8.

Theology Middle School Catechesis: The Baltimore Catechism (Part 1: The Creed) *New Part 2: The Ten Commandments will be taught in the spring semester. Students can take one or both courses. Total classes: 14 Class dates: Fridays, September 9 to December 16, 2016. No class Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving. Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Religion or Catechism Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 14 classes. ($215 after Sept. 1) Instructor: Gary Michuta Course description: This course is a great way to start off learning the basics of the Faith. The Baltimore Catechism is broken into three parts. Part 1 studies the Creed and answers such questions as the purpose of our existence, God and His perfections, the Trinity, the Incarnation, the marks of the Church, and much more. The basic structure of the course follows the time-‐honored Baltimore Catechism and supplemented by new Catechism of the Catholic Faith.



Course outline: Class 1 -‐ What is a Catechism? (How to use the Baltimore Catechism and the CCC) Class 2 -‐ The Purpose of Man's Existence Class 3 -‐ God and His Perfections Class 4 -‐ The Unity and Trinity of God Class 5 -‐ Creation and the Angels Class 6 -‐ The Creation and Fall of Man Class 7 -‐ Actual Sin Class 8 -‐ The Redemption Class 9 -‐ The Holy Ghost and Grace Class 10 -‐ The Virtues and the Gifts of the Holy Ghost Class 11 -‐ The Catholic Church Class 12 -‐ The Marks and Attributes of the Church Class 13 -‐ The Communion of Saints and Forgiveness of Sins Class 14 -‐ The Resurrection of the Body Course materials: Required, The Baltimore Catechism (available free online). Homework: Lessons 2-‐14 will have an online quiz to help reinforce key ideas in each lesson. The quizzes generally are ten muliple 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. Middle School Beginning Apologetics Formerly: Middle School Beginning Apologetics I and II Due to popularity of this course it is being offered twice: Once in the fall and once again in the spring semester. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 5, 2016. No class Oct. 10 for midterm break. Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th grade Suggested credit: One full semester Apologetics or Religion Fee: $175 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $195 after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Sept. 4) Instructor: Gary Michuta Course description: This course will provide the first steps into the field of apologetics. Students will learn how to spot faulty arguments, how to find important passages in the Bible, and the basic steps on how to defend the Faith. Course outline: Class 1: Basics On How to Explain and Defend the Faith Class 2: Bible Basics: What is the Bible? What it is, how its structured, where to find things. Class 3: Using Catholic Resources / Apologetic Research Class 4: Learning Proof texts: Salvation / Answering Objections Class 5: Learning Proof texts: Peter and the Papacy / Answering Objections Class 6: Learning Proof texts: The Eucharist / Answering Objections Class 7: Learning Proof texts: Mary



Class 8: What are the Early Church Fathers? Class 9: More Logical Fallacies Class 10: What is Propaganda? Class 11: Answering Common Objections Class 12: Using the Web in Apologetic Research Course materials: Provided free from the instructor. An optional reading list will also be provided for students (and parents!) who want to learn more. Students need to make sure they have a working microphone. Homework: Each class will have a multi-‐choice quiz. There will also be a final exam to review material from the semester. Quizzes and exam are automatically graded by the computer so students have immediate feedback. Students will be encouraged to review the material and practice the responses. Parents assign the final grade. Making Sense of Mary: Biblical Background for Marian Apologetics Total classes: 10 Class dates: Tuesdays, September 13 to November 22, 2016. No class Nov. 1 for All Saints Day. Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 8th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Theology or Apologetics Fee: $150 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $170 after July 15 for all 10 classes. ($190 after Sept. 5) Instructor: Gary Michuta Course description: Making Sense of Mary is not your average apologetics class. Instead of memorizing proof-‐texts, we are going to uncover how Scripture and the early Christians understood Mary’s role in God’s 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. We’ll see why Mary plays such an important and indispensible role in God’s plan. How the Kingdom of David sheds light on Mary’s 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 Michuta’s upcoming book, Making Sense of Mary. Course outline: Class 1: The Temptation and Fall of Adam and Eve Class 2: Mary’s Role in God’s 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. Answering the Ultimate Protestant Objections on Salvation, Justification, and Purgatory (Catholic Apologetics) *New Total classes: 7 Class dates: Wednesdays, September 21 to November 2, 2016. Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Introduction to Apologetics (available through Unlimited Access), or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Apologetics or Theology. For a full credit, add another theology course or add the optional reading list provided by the instructor. Fee: $105 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $125 after July 15 for all 7 classes. ($145 after Sept. 13) Instructor: Gary Michuta Course description: Three areas that Protestants will most likely attack and Catholics are least prepared to answer are questions concerning salvation, justification, and Purgatory. This class will help prepare students to understand these subjects and to competently explain and defend the Faith against its detractors. Course outline: Class 1: Why are these topics so important to Protestants? Class 2: Understanding Justification Class 3: Answering Protestant objections for Justification. Class 4: Salvation Issues: What are the major points of conflict? Class 5: Answering Protestant objections concerning Salvation Class 6: The biblical and historic roots of the doctrine of Purgatory Class 7: Answering Protestant objections to Purgatory from its existence to indulgences. Course materials: Students need a Catholic Bible (or access to an online Bible) and something to take notes. The instructor will provide an additional reading list for the students (and parents!) who want to learn more. Homework: Each class will have a multi-‐choice quiz. 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. Students will be encouraged to review the material and practice the responses. An Introduction to the Catholic Faith: The Didache, Part One *New This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring semester. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays, September 12 to December 5, 2016. No class Oct. 10 for midterm break. Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested 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 Sept. 4)



Instructor: Christopher Zehnder, MA Course description: This class would explore basic Catholic doctrines about God and Christ, following the Nicene Creed. It would discuss the call to holiness, God's existence, divine revelation, the Trinity, man's creation, original sin, the Incarnation, the Paschal Mystery, the Holy Spirit and his work, and the Church, and the Resurrection of the Body. Course materials: Introduction to Catholicism, by the Rev. James Socias; part of the Didache series published by the Midwest Theological Forum and Ignatius Press (http://tinyurl.com/didachehsc1). Homework: Students read assigned portions of the text, Introduction to Catholicism. Student will have two tests each semester, graded by the instructor. The Theology of the Body: An Integral Vision of Man (Living Our Faith Series) Total classes: 12 Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 6, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for All Saints Day or November 15 when Miss Ashour will be at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in DC. 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 God’s image and likeness. A new vision of such anthropology has been given to us by God through Saint Pope John Paul II’s 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 Father’s biographer, George Weigel, called it a “time bomb” set to go off sometime after the Pope’s 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 man’s education (or rather, self-‐education)....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 Paul’s Theology of the Body will give a “bird’s eye” perspective of the whole of TOB. Far from relegating TOB to the area of sex and sexuality, TOB provides meaningful tools to see one’s 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” (JPII’s 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 instructor’s 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 Ashour’s “incarnational” diagrams which make accessible heady concepts will be the springboard for rich



discussion and where quizzes’ questions are based. For the first day’s class: Please read the required reading from the Bible and “Letter to Families” Required Reading: 1. The Bible—Genesis 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) 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 Kreeft’s Heaven: The Heart’s Deepest Longing (his best book), Ignatius Press, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898702283/catholictreas-‐20 2. Jason Evert’s 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! ·∙ Major Grade of Weekly Reflections (Minimum-‐1 page; Maximum-‐2 pages— The student is to reflect on diagrams and learning in class and write an informal reflection. It needs to be uploaded on Moodle before 5am Eastern time Tuesday mornings) (30%) ·∙ Assigned Reading (Honor policy—Every week, upload to Moodle the Reading Completion Document. PLEASE do not be scrupulous. Read for 30 minutes a day or 2 ½ hours a week and give yourself a 100! Or, if you really did not keep up with it, then see rubric and give yourself the appropriate grade (20%). ·∙ Extra Credit—Parent must write an email saying, “My son/daughter (FULL NAME) has read Jason Evert’s and Dr. Kreeft’s book.” (3 points per book added to final grade). Time Commitment to Study: A minimum of 2 1/2 hours a week (30 minutes a day) for reading, study, doing quizzes, working on and completing the project, and writing the weekly reflection. Ecclesiology and Sacramental Theology: TOB, the Church, and the Sacraments (Living Our Faith Series) Total classes: 12 Class dates: Tuesdays, September 6 to December 6, 2016. No class on Nov. 1 for All Saints Day or November 15 when Miss Ashour will be at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in DC. Starting time: 1:30 PM Eastern (12:30 Central; 11:30 Mountain; 10:30 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 Description: The students in this course will study the nature of the Church, that is, how She is in the “nature of a sacrament” (Lumen Gentium), along with all of her other aspects from the perspective of Saint John Paul’s Theology of the Body. Jesus Christ as the Bridegroom of His Bride, the Church,



extends Himself through time via the Church who holds the “Deposit of Truth and the Deposit of Grace” through the Liturgy and the Sacraments and the Teaching Office. Such topics 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 instructor’s 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 Spirit—the Soul of the Church. Course Reading: The reading assignments give the student the flavor of the Church’s 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 Ashour’s “incarnational” diagrams making accessible heady concepts. For the first day’s class: see the required reading listed under Week 1. Required Reading: 1. The Bible—The Institution of the Last Supper in all 3 synoptic Gospels and John’s 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 Paul’s encyclical on the Eucharist and Its relationship to the Church—Read 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 Kreeft’s Catholic Christianity, Ignatius Press, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898707986/catholictreas-‐20 2. Dr. Joyce Little’s 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! ·∙ Major Grade of Weekly Reflections (Minimum-‐1 page; Maximum-‐2 pages— The student is to reflect on diagrams and learning in class and write an informal reflection. It needs to be uploaded on Moodle before 5am Eastern time Tuesday mornings) (30%) ·∙ Assigned Reading (Honor policy—Every week, upload to Moodle the Reading Completion Document. PLEASE do not be scrupulous. Read for 30 minutes a day or 2 ½ hours a week and give yourself a 100! Or, if you really did not keep up with it, then see rubric and give yourself the appropriate grade (20%). ·∙ Extra Credit—Parent must write an email saying, “My son/daughter (FULL NAME) has read Dr. Kreeft’s and Dr. Little’s book.” (3 points per book added to final grade). Time Commitment to Study: A minimum of 2 1/2 hours a week (30 minutes a day) for reading, study, doing quizzes, working on and completing the project, and writing the weekly reflection.



Writing: Aquinas Writing Advantage See Table of Contents for Aquinas Writing Advantage Scope and Sequence to help determine the best writing courses for your student(s).

WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Punctuation and Grammar I (MS 6/7-1) * This course 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 Essentials 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 Essentials 1 and 2 in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 6 Class dates and starting times: Tuesdays, September 6 to October 11, 2016 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)

OR Wednesdays, September 7 to October 12, 2016 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)

OR Wednesdays, September 7 to October 12, 2016 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: No class prerequisite. However, your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 6th and 7th grade Suggested credit: ½ semester Writing or English. Combine with Writing Essentials 2 for full credit. Fee: $89 if you register on or before July 15, 2016; $109 after July 15 for all 6 classes. ($129 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This is an essential writing course for all beginning middle school students, designed to give your middle school student confidence and the ability to use punctuation and grammar well. This foundational course will help your student not struggle with commas, the semicolon and colon, and the most challenging ideas within proper grammar for middle school students. 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. WRITING ESSENTIALS 2: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing I (MS 6/7-2)



* This course 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 Essentials 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 Essentials 1 and 2 in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 6 Class dates and starting times: Tuesdays, October 18 to December 6, 2016. No class Nov. 1 for All Saints day or Nov. 22 for Thanksgiving break. 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) OR Wednesdays, October 19 to November 30, 2016 No class Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving. 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)

OR Wednesdays, October 19 to November 30, 2016 No class Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving. 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Punctuation and Grammar I (MS 6/7-‐1). You may take the prerequisite course live or through Unlimited Access (previously or concurrently). Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 6th and 7th grade Suggested credit: ½ semester Writing or English. Fee: $89 if you register on or before July 15, 2016; $109 after July 15 for all 6 classes. ($129 after Oct. 10) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA 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 outline: Class 1: Nouns, verbs, and capitalization in sentences Class 2: Adjectives, adverbs, and end punctuation in sentences Class 3: Prepositions, prepositional phrases, and compound sentence structures Class 4: Using quotes in dialogue and academic writing Class 5: Transitions and connectives in sentences Class 6: Putting it all together: Transitions and linear sentences in paragraph writing Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Book: Simplified Writing Foundations: Sentences and Paragraphs 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 student’s ability. All writing assignments are graded by the instructor.



SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 1: Foundations of Composition I (MS 7/8-1) * This course, a continuation of the Simplified Writing series for 7/8 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 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Punctuation and Grammar I (MS 6/7-‐1). Students may take the requisite course live or 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: 7th and 8th grade Suggested credit: ½ semester Writing or English. Combine with Simplified Writing 2 for full credit. Fee: $177 if you register on or before July 15, 2016; $197 after July 15 for all 8 classes. ($217 after Aug. 29) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This course introduces middle school students to the skills and habits creating strong and clear writing foundations for high school level writing. The course covers the purposes of writing, including expression, informing, and persuading; the effect of audience on writing; and how to sculpt a piece of writing with direction, including the characteristics of an effective introduction, body, and conclusion. Students continue to perfect effective topic sentences, linear writing, and transitions with specific feedback from the instructor. Course outline: Class 1: Writing for a purpose and audience: the “why” of writing Class 2: Great word choice: how to choose the “right” word Class 3: Strong sentences: how to write a great sentence Class 4: Clear paragraphs: what makes a great paragraph/linear writing that makes sense to the reader Class 5: Writing with direction: great introductions and the hook Class 6: Writing with direction: great introductions and the thesis Class 7: Writing with direction: the body (of your paper) and how to make it “shapely” Class 8: Writing with direction: the conclusion 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 student’s ability.



SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 2: Introduction to Essays and Papers I (MS 7/8-2) * This course, a continuation of the Simplified Writing series for 7/8 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 (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 7/8-‐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: 7th and 8th grade Suggested credit: ½ 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/paper’s 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 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 student’s ability. HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-‐1) * This course is offered during four time slots in the fall semester only; the course will not be offered in the spring semester. * This is a two-‐part course; take the 9-‐1 and 9-‐2 courses together, to receive one full semester of credit (14 weeks of classes). * Though not required, it is recommended to sign up for 9-‐1 and 9-‐2 courses in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 6 Class dates and starting times: Mondays, September 12 to October 17, 2016 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) OR Mondays, September 12 to October 17, 2016 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)

OR Wednesdays, September 9 to October 14, 2016 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)

OR Fridays, September 7 to October 12, 2016 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: No class prerequisites. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 9th grade; all grade levels accepted Suggested credit: ½ semester Writing or English. Combine with High School Simplified Writing 1 for a full semester credit. Fee: $89 if you sign up on or before July 15, 2016; $99 after July 15 for all 6 classes. ($119 after Aug. 30) Instructors: Lisa Mladinich (Mondays) and Sharon Hamric-‐Weis, BSEd, JD (Wednesdays and Fridays) Course description: This is an essential writing course for all high school students. Give your high school student exactly what’s needed for high school and college writing—including the confidence and the ability to use punctuation and grammar well. Don’t let your student struggle—master commas, tense, colons, semicolons, dashes, ellipses, and more. This class will give your student the strong foundation needed to finally master the details that are holding him or her back from writing well. Sentence constructions in the course are upper level, meant to challenge and prepare your student for upper-‐high school and college courses. Course outline: Class 1: Mastering commas in a series and commas with conjunctions using complex sentences 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 student’s ability. HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2) * This course is offered during four time slots in the fall semester only; the course will not be offered in the spring semester. * This is a two-‐part course; take the 9-‐1 and 9-‐2 courses together, to receive one full semester of credit (14 weeks of classes). * Though not required, it is recommended to sign up for Essentials 1 and 2 courses in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 8 Class dates and starting times: Mondays, October 24 to December 19, 2016. No class Nov. 21 for Thanksgiving Break 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)

OR Mondays, October 24 to December 19, 2016. No class Nov. 21 for Thanksgiving Break 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)

OR Wednesdays, October 19, to December 14, 2016. No class Nov. 23 for Thanksgiving Break. 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)

OR Fridays, October 21, to December 16, 2016. No class Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving Break. 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes. Prerequisite: Required: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-‐1). Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 9th grade; however, all students are welcome. Suggested credit: ½ semester Writing or English. Combine with High School Writing Essentials 1 for a full semester. Instructor: Lisa Mladinich (Mondays) and Sharon Hamric-‐Weis, BSEd, JD (Wednesdays and Fridays) Fee: $177 on or before July 15, 2016; $197 after July 15 for all 8 classes. ($217 after Oct. 11) Course description: This high school writing overview course is designed to give the teen skills that make writing strong and clear, lacking nothing—able 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 Five-‐Paragraph 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: ½ 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. 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 you’ll 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 reader’s 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. VOCABULARY AND WRITING, Part One (HS 10-‐1) * This course is offered once in the Fall Semester only. * Parts One and Two can be taken interchangeably. * This is a two-‐part course; it is expected that students will enroll in both semesters. Total Classes: 14 Class dates: Fridays, September 9 to December 16, 2016. No class Nov. 25 for Thanksgiving. Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes 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). Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 10th grade; however, all students are welcome Suggested credit: 1 full semester Vocabulary & Writing, Writing, or English. Fee: $197 if you register on or before July 15, 2016; $217 after July 15 for all 14 classes. ($237 after Sept. 1) Instructor: Sharon Hamric-‐Weis, BSEd, JD Course description: In this course (the first of two successive courses), your student will learn to use the upper-‐level vocabulary words related to writing that are 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 writing—and 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 student’s 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 Conroy’s 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. FICTION WRITING 1: Plot & Structure (HS 11-‐1) 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 Hero’s 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, September 8 to September 29, 2016 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-‐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 openings—the opening line, hook, drop into action, and inciting incident Class 2: Developing your plot—doors of no return, peaks, and the rising plot line Class 3: Creating tension and intrigue—tricks, tips, and “the plant” Class 4: Great endings—creating 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. FICTION WRITING 2: Description & Setting (HS 11-‐2) 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 Hero’s 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, October 6 to October 27, 2016 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-‐1 (Plot & Structure) 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 Sept.28) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This course teaches key components of using excellent 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 Description—The 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. FICTION WRITING 3: Characters and Dialogue (HS 11-‐3) 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 Hero’s 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, November 3 to December 1, 2016. No class Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving. 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-‐1 (Plot & Structure) and HS 11-‐2 (Description & Setting) 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 Oct. 26) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This course teaches the key components of creating dynamic characters and dialogue for fiction books of any genre. Designed for writing fiction for middle grade, young adult, and adult plots, the course covers how to develop characters, the character arc, how do develop dialogue, and how to weave dialogue 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 character’s inner change Class 3: Dialogue how-‐to’s, do’s, and don’ts 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. BUSINESS WRITING 1: Professional Business Writing Essentials (HS 11-‐9) *NEW Series description: There are currently two one-‐semester courses in the Business Writing series. Students can take the Business Writing courses in any order; however, this course is only offered in the Fall Semester. Total Classes: 8 Class dates: Wednesdays, September 21 to November 9, 2016 Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Required: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2). Students should be able to competently use Microsoft Word. 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: 2/3 a semester’s credit; add the composition of your own documents from the coursework to create a full semester credit.



Fee: $157 if you sign up on or before July 15, 2016; $177 if you sign up after July 15 for all 8 classes. ($199 after Sept. 13) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: Learn how to present yourself professionally in multiple areas of writing! Because business writing is distinctive from academic or creative writing, writing powerfully in your dealings with others in any organization, mastering business writing is essential. In this course, you’ll write letters and professional correspondence, create a professional resume, and write pieces critical to getting a job. Whether you plan on entering college, getting a job right out of high school, or building your own business as an entrepreneur right now, this course is for you. Course outline: Class 1: What is business writing? (Business Writing Overview) Class 2: Writing business reports (business writing vs. academic writing), entrepreneurial writing, and professionalism in writing for business Class 3: Writing formal letters: letters of complaint, opinion letters/letters to the editor, and letters of request Class 4: Resumes: What they’re for, who uses them, and why you need one (writing to get a job) Class 5: Resumes: Your Resume’s form, structure, and content Class 6: Cover letters – what they are and how to write them 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. ADVANCED RHETORIC & WRITING 1: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, Essays, & Papers (HS 12-‐1) * Foundational for All High School Students and Essential for College-‐Bound Students * Registration is limited to 12 students. If the course fills, sign up for the waiting list or email us for other options. * This class is offered both Fall and Spring Semesters. Total classes: 10 Class dates: Wednesdays, September 7 to November 9, 2016 Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2) is required (live classes or Unlimited Access). Exceptions are granted only with written permission from the instructor. 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: 12th; however, all students with the prerequisites complete are welcome Suggested credit: 1 semester Writing or English Fee: $217 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $237 after July 15 for all 10 classes. ($257 after Aug. 30) Instructor: Sharon Hamric-‐Weis, BSEd, JD



Course description: This course content is known as a prerequisite for many colleges for college-‐bound students. Designed to give the teen skills that make writing strong and clear, your student will learn methods of rhetoric and how to use the skills in all of the main conventions of writing used in college—including in-‐depth use of nine basic forms of rhetoric (rhetorical modes); be able to identify and use major rhetorical strategies and figures of speech; and pre-‐write, draft, and edit a comparison and contrast paper, including use of the hook, thesis, introduction construction, conclusions, and rewriting with specific, individual feedback from the instructor. Vocabulary related to upper-‐level writing will be introduced and integrated into the learning. Specific class time will be used to show how to edit and revise upper-‐level work. Course outline: Class 1: The academic paper; advanced academic writing with strong thesis construction, hooks, and introductions Class 2: Rhetorical Mode 1: Narration; rhetorical strategies and figures of speech (tropes, aposiopesis, apostrophe, chiasmus, epithet) 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 paper’s 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 paper’s 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. HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 5: Punctuation and Grammar II (HS X-‐5) *NEW Fully Understanding Punctuation & Grammar * This course is for students who want to confirm and excel in their skills. * This course is offered before school begins, during the Fall Semester, and during the Spring Semester. * Note: Though offered on different days, this course’s dates fit the schedule to immediately follow the HS 9-‐1 Punctuation and Grammar I course. Sign up for both Punctuation and Grammar I and II courses during the Fall and Spring Semesters. Total classes: 6 Class dates: Mondays, October 24 to December 5, 2016. No class November 21 for Thanksgiving Break. Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central, 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)



Note: Because this course’s dates “fit” the schedule to immediately follow the weeks of HS 9-‐1 Punctuation and Grammar I, you can sign up for both Punctuation and Grammar I and II courses during the Spring semester if desired. Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Required. HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-‐1). Prerequisite can be taken as a live course or through 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: 9th to 12th grade 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 student’s 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 doesn’t 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. HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 6: Essay Writing Practicum (HS X-‐6) *NEW For students who want to confirm, practice, and excel in their skills using essays and papers from outside sources. This workshop only takes 12 students. Make sure to register early to ensure a seat. Total classes: 8 Class dates: Fridays, September 15 to November 4, 2016 Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Required: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2). Prerequisite can be taken as a live course 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. Can be taken concurrently with other writing courses for extra practice. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 2/3 semester Writing or English. Add another course for full credit. 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 course’s 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) college-‐scholarship 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. FICTION WRITING: The Hero’s Journey & Mythic Structure for Writers, Part One (HS X-‐9) This is Part One of a 2-‐part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring semester. This course can be taken with any of other fiction writing courses if desired. Total classes: 8 Class dates: Thursdays, September 22 to November 10, 2016 Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Required: HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-‐1). Your student will also need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Recommended: 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 11-‐level fiction courses before or while taking this course, but it is not required.



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 Writer’s 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. FICTION WRITING: Screenwriting, Part One (HS X-‐11) *NEW For students who want to excel in fiction writing skills and jumpstart college literature courses; this is both a college and career preparatory course. Sign up for Screenwriting Parts One and Two together, to complete the requisite book; the course is complete with both semesters. Total classes: 8 Class dates: Fridays, September 16 to November 4, 2016 Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: A thirst to create and a love of story in movies! No HSC course prerequisites. However, it is helpful to either have completed some of the fiction writing courses or to be in any of the fiction courses while taking the Screenwriting course. 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 to12th grade 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 Writer’s 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.



Spring 2016: Middle School and High School Registration closes one week before the first class. (We can re-‐open registration if requested with an

additional $20 fee per course.)

Computer Programming Computer Programming 101 This course is limited to 15 students. Total classes: 15 Class dates: Tuesdays, January 10 to May 2. No classes January 24 for the March for Life and April 11 for Holy Week. Starting time: 5:00 PM Eastern (4:00 Central; 3:00 Mountain; 2:00 Pacific). Subject to change. Duration: 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes) Prerequisite: Installation of the Python 2 and Python 3 programming languages (free downloads from http://www.python.org) should be accomplished prior to the start of the first class. Install Python 2 first, then Python 3 so that the default version is Python 3 (though both would be available). Python 3 is the current version and the future of Python... this is the version we will focus on. Python is available for multiple computer operating systems. Student should have a general familiarity with computers – the ability to open applications, use menu-‐driven commands, and type using the keyboard – so that the emphasis of time can be placed on specific programming lessons. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. 7th to 8th grade is acceptable if the student has had previous exposure to programming in Python or other programming languages. Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Computer Programming Fee: $225 if you register on or before November 15, 2015. $250 after Nov. 15 for all 15 classes. ($270 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Domenico Ruggiero Course description: This is an entry-‐level course for students with little to no programming experience. It is also for those who are familiar with programming with an interest in learning Python. Computer programming develops creativity, reasoning, and problem solving skills. It provides an opportunity for the programmer to create a completely new piece of software that can be used and shared with others. During development, the programmer thinks through the proper sequence of instructions and logic needed by the computer to execute the program. And when programs don’t perform as expected, problem solving techniques are utilized to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

Students will be “writing” executable code starting in the first lecture of the course and build upon their skills throughout the course with an ever-‐expanding set of commands. At the conclusion of the course, students will have an opportunity to share computer programs of their own design. Custom game development will also be discussed during the course through the use of the Python PyGame module. Topics related to programming, such as computer hardware, will also be discussed when applicable.

The Python programming language is a modern computer language (and there are MANY out there) and is one of the easiest languages to use. Python is widely used in many industries with many success stories found at https://www.python.org/about/success/. Once the basics of programming are mastered, individuals find it easier to learn more complex programming languages and utilize their unique qualities to perform specific functions best suited for those languages. Gaining an understanding of computer programming is a skillset that will serve students well personally and professionally.



Course materials: See prerequisite section for a list of required software applications. Extensive handouts and online resources provided free by the instructor. Python documentation. Some book recommendations will be provided but are not required for purchase. Homework: Assignments will build on expanding knowledge base. Some assignments will have a Catholic theme to them. Assignments may include, but are not limited to, (1) writing small programs that perform a specific task or solve a specific problem by writing the code provided by the instructor, (2) reviewing printed code and identifying where problems exist, (3) reading resources to learn more about the various features and capabilities of Python, (4) online quizzes which provide immediate scoring feedback, and (5) open creativity periods where the student will develop programs of their own design around their interests. In this course, students have an option to share their programs with fellow students via a short in-‐class demonstration. All assignments are given and graded by the instructor. Students will also collaborate with fellow students and mentor them when needed so as to reinforce their knowledge by helping others. Students can expect 2 to 5 hours of time per week (outside of class time) dedicated to homework, which is dependent upon the student’s typing rate and proficiency by keeping up with the studies. Additional time, if available, is encouraged so that the student can experiment with personal programs, “reverse-‐engineer” other programs to learn how/why they work, and maintain proficiency through repeated practice.

Regular feedback will be provided to the students and their parents to ensure that all are aware of the progress being made throughout the course.

German German I, Part Two This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear. Please email if you are unsure about prerequisites. Total classes: 32 Class dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, January 9 to May 17, 2017. No classes Jan. 23 for the March for Life, Mar. 1 for Ash Wednesday, Apr. 12 and 17 for Easter, and 2 additional spring break days in March TBD Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: German I, Part One or equivalent Suggested grade level: 8th and 9th grade. Upper grades may also participate if beginning German. Suggested credit: 1 full semester German or Foreign Language Fee: $220.00 if you register on or before July 15, 2016. $245 if you register after July 15 for all 32 classes. ($265 after Jan. 1) Instructor: Alexis Mausolf, MA Course description: This eighteen-‐week course will continue to deepen a student’s knowledge of German vocabulary, grammar and culture with bi-‐weekly meetings. Each class will feature pronunciation practice, conversation, new grammar concepts and cultural trivia. Students will complete regular homework, quizzes and chapter tests, dictations and a short presentation at the end of the semester. There will be an added emphasis on simple composition this semester. To demonstrate that it is a living language, everything from nursery rhymes, songs, and proverbs to commercials and cartoons will be incorporated as learning aids. Course outline: Week 1 – Introduction and review of first semester material, reinforcement of cases and verb conjugation, conversation practice



Week 2 – Lesson13 -‐ Vocabulary on body parts, expressions with “weh tun”, pronouns, doctors and drugstores Week 3 – Lesson 14 -‐ Home and furniture vocabulary, accusative pronouns, verbs with irregular stem changes Week 4 – Lesson 15 -‐ Days of the week and months, expressing dates, calendars and birthdays, German holidays Week 5 – Lesson 16 -‐ Weather expressions, seasons, inverted word order, subordinate clauses Week 6 – Review and no class on Ash Wednesday Week 7 – Review of last four chapters, practice in writing and speaking, listening exercises and testing Week 8 – Lesson 17 -‐ School subjects, imperative address, irregular verbs Week 9 – Lesson 18 -‐ Dative case with definite articles, the verb “geben”, electronics vocabulary Week 10 – Lesson 19 -‐ Dative case with indefinite articles and possessives, the verb “nehmen”, city-‐themed vocabulary Week 11 – Lesson 20 – Places and landmarks, dative prepositions and contractions Week 12 – Review on Monday, then off for Holy Week Week 13 – Easter Monday off, then review on Wednesday for testing Week 14 – Lesson 21 -‐ Nationalities, countries and languages, the verb “sprechen” Week 15 – Lesson 22 -‐ Animals vocabulary, predictions of noun genders Week 16 – Lesson 23 -‐ Music vocabulary, dative pronouns, verbs “wissen, gefallen, and treffen” Week 17 – Lesson 24 -‐ Hobbies vocabulary, conversational past tense (present perfect), auxiliary verbs Week 18 – Review of past four chapters, practice past tense of verbs, conversation and 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/catholictreas-20). 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, interacting online with classmates, listening to online German news broadcasts, and generally becoming familiar with the language. All assignments are given and graded by the instructor. German II, Part Two This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear. Please email if you are unsure about prerequisites. This course only accepts 18 students. Total classes: 32 grammar classes (each 55 minutes), plus 12 to 14 supplemental conversation sessions (30-‐minutes each). Class dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, January 9 to May 17, 2017, with the addition of a 30-‐minute conversation session TBD depending on student schedules. No classes Jan. 23 for the March for Life, March 1 for Ash Wednesday, Apr. 12 and 17 for Easter, and two additional spring break days in March TBD. Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: German II, Part Two Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: One full semester credit for German or Foreign Language



Fee: $230.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $255 if you register after Nov. 15 for all 32 classes and conversation session. ($275 after Jan. 1) Instructor: Alexis Mausolf, MA Course description: This semester will enhance the students’ grasp of German with a focus on reading and conversation. The class will meet three times per week: two meetings will cover the mechanics of the language – grammar and reading – and the third hour will be devoted to conversation. The course will feature pronunciation practice, conversation, new grammar concepts and cultural trivia with an emphasis on reading comprehension this year. Students will complete regular homework, quizzes and chapter tests, dictations and two projects during the semester. We will use everything from nursery rhymes, songs, and proverbs to commercials and cartoons to aid the acquisition of this modern and living European language. Course outline: Week 1 – The simple past tense Week 2 – Simple past practice Week 3 – Numbers, times and dates Week 4 – The past perfect Week 5 – Review, first exam Week 6 – The future tense Week 7 – Reflexive pronouns and verbs Week 8 – More reflexives, second exam Week 9 – Relative pronouns Week 10 – The passive voice Week 11 – Passive voice, continued Week 12 – Infinitive phrases Week 13 – The subjunctive mood Week 14 – Subjunctive II Week 15 – Review, third exam Course materials: 1. German Grammar Drills, Second edition, by Ed Swick (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0071789456/catholictreas-‐20). 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 [email protected]. Homework: Expect to spend least ½ 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

Society and the Ethics of Life Issues Total classes: 10 Class dates: Mondays, January 9 to March 27, 2017. No class Jan. 23 (March for Life) or February 20, 2017 (President’s Day)



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 Suggested credit: 1 full semester Government or Ethics Fee: $175 if registered on or before November 15, 2016. $195 after November 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 1) Instructors: Ed Rivet, MPA and Jason Negri, JD Weekly Outline: Week 1: Abortion Overview: Who, what, why, when, how Week 2: Roe v. Wade and the legal landscape Week 3: Abortion the Hard Truth Week 4: Prolife activism -‐ Conviction in Action Week 5: End-‐of-‐life Issues 1 (removal of life-‐sustaining medical treatment; ERD's, food & fluids) Week 6: End-‐of-‐life Issues 2 (euthanasia; assisted suicide; legal stuff) Week 7: Framing Messages Week 8: Effective Communication Week 9: Biotech Issues Week 10: Reproductive Technology & the Brave New World Course description: Learn about the life issues from movement veterans who have first-‐hand experience working in the trenches. Learn the pro-‐life facts and effective messaging / communication. The course will cover the legal and ethical case for the pro-‐life position, an assessment of the current legal and political landscape surrounding the issues, and tips on how to best present them to others. Course materials: “Twenty Answers: End of Life Issues”, by Jason Negri, published by Catholic Answers Press and available online at shop.catholic.com/20-‐answers-‐end-‐of-‐life.html. Additional materials provided free by the instructors. Homework: Weekly reading and automated quizzes. Essays and a reflection paper will take the place of a final exam. A History of Government in Europe and America, Part Two *New This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear if they meet the prerequisite. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 6, 2017. No class Feb. 23 for mid-‐term break. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: A History of Government in Europe and America, Part One or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester World History or Government Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 after Nov. 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 4) Instructor: Christopher Zehnder, MA Course description: This course would explore the ideas and institutions that influenced and formed political establishments in Europe and America. We will read primary source documents, including excerpts from Aristotle and Plato, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Robert Bellarmine, Pope Leo XIII, John Locke, and American state papers (Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Anti-‐Federalist writings, and the U.S. Constitution). We would seek to understand from whence our



modern political ideas arose and how they compare to political ideas proposed by Catholic tradition. Course materials: The instructor will provide primary source texts in PDF format free to students. Homework: Students read assigned texts. The instructor will assign two short essays each semester.

History Lives of the Saints: Revealing the Glory of God, Part Two *New This is a 2-‐part course. However, students are welcome to join us midyear if there is room in the course (there is no prerequisite). Total classes: 10 Class dates: Wednesdays, January 11 to March 22, 2017. No class Mar. 1 for Ash Wed. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11;00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade Suggested credit: 3/4 semester History, Literature, or Religion Fee: $150 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $170 after Nov. 15 for all 10 classes. ($190 after Jan. 3) Instructor: Alison Stanley, JD Course description: This course explores the lives of the saints, both past and present. It is a combination of literature, art, history and religion. St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. John Chrysostom and St. Teresa of Avila are some of the saints that will 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. Middle School U.S. History Part 2 (1847-‐1991) *New This is the second part of a 2-‐part course. However, students are welcomed to join us midyear if the course isn’t full. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Tuesdays, January 10 to April 25, 2017. No class Jan. 24, Mar. 7, Apr. 11, or April 18. Starting time: 4:30 PM Eastern (3:30 Central; 2:30 Mountain; 1:30 Pacific) Duration: 45 minutes Prerequisite: none Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th grade Suggested middle school credit: 1 full semester U.S. history Fee: $155 if you register on or before Nov. 15, 2016. $175 if you register after Nov. 15 for all 12 classes. ($195 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Phillip Campbell Course description: Following the outline of the popular From Sea to Shining Sea textbook, Mr. Phillip Campbell picks up from the ashes of the Civil War and guides Middle School students through the nation's emergence as an industrial power and its role in the pivotal events of the 20th century, leading to the end of the Cold War. Course outline:



Week 1: Slavery Week 2: Outbreak of the Civil War Week 3: Reconstruction and the Settling of the West Week 4: Industrialism and Imperialism Week 5: World War I Week 6: The Roaring Twenties Week 7: Depression Week 8: World War II Week 9: Cold War Week 10: Cultural Collapse Week 11: War and Stagnation Week 12: The Age of Reagan 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. American History: Lands of Hope and Promise, Part Two *New This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays. January 16 to April 24, 2017. No class on Jan. 23 for the March for Life or Apr. 17 for Easter. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 75 minutes (1 hour 15 minutes) Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 8th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester American History Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 after Nov. 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 8) Instructor: Christopher Zehnder, MA Course description: This course examines the history of the major civilizations of North America from the discovery of America in 1492 to the early 1970s. We will discuss the events, cultural movements, and ideas that led to the founding of the United States and contributed to its development as both a major power and influence both in North America and the world as a whole. The course examines the development of Latin America after the 18th century by examining concurrently the history of Mexico – and thus provides a counterpoint to U.S. history by looking at 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 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.



Archaeology of the Ancient World *New Total classes: 13 Class dates: Mondays. January 9 to April 24, 2017. No class on Jan. 23, Mar. 6, or Apr. 17. Starting time: 4:30 PM Eastern (3:30 Central; 2:30 Mountain; 1:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Archaeology or World History Fee: $180 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $200 after Nov. 15th for all 13 classes. ($220 after Jan. 1) Instructor: Phillip Campbell Course description: This course will introduce students to the basic concepts of archaeology, one of the most important disciplines in the study of history. Archaeological principles will be discussed and demonstrated in case studies of some of the world's most famous ancient sites. Students will put their learning to work by writing a paper on an archaeological site of their choosing. Course outline: Week 1: Foundational Principles Week 2: Earth Movers Week 3: The World of Pottery Week 4: Dolomite Structures Week 5: Cut Stone Masonry Week 6: Ancient Burials Week 7: Epigraphy Week 8: Jewelry and Metalwork Week 9: Ancient Weaponry Week 10: The Tells of Canaan Week 11: Catal Huyuk Week 12: Mohenjo Daro Week 13: A Visit to Crete Course materials: Archaeology Essentials: Theories, Methods, and Practice (1st or 2nd edition) by Colin Renfew (www.amazon.com/gp/offer-‐listing/0500289123/unamsanccath-‐20); online resources also provided free by instructor. Homework: Weekly readings from the textbook, quizzes, and a paper assignment. Estimated 2-‐3 hours weekly.

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. Middle School Latin, Part Two Due to the popularity of this course, it will be offered twice. Choose the day and time that works best for your homeschool. This is Part Two of 2-‐part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear (there is no prerequisite). Total classes: 14



Class dates: Mondays, January 16 to May 8, 2017. No Class January 23 for March for Life. No class April 17

for Easter. OR Tuesdays, January 17th to May 9th 2017. No class January 24 for March for Life. No class April 11

for Easter Starting time:

Mondays: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific) OR Tuesdays: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific)

Duration: 45 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th and 8th grade Fee: $150 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $170 if you register after Nov. 15 for all 14 classes. ($190 after Jan.8) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Students will continue learning basic Latin grammar and vocabulary through fun activities and homework assignments. They will also be 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. Beginning Latin, Part Two Due to the popularity of this course, it will be offered twice. Choose the day and time that works best for your homeschool. 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 [email protected] if they do not have the prerequisite. Total classes: 14 classes Class dates:

Mondays, January 16 to May 8, 2017. No Class January 23 for March for Life. No class April 17 for Easter

OR Tuesdays, January 17 to May 9, 2017. No class January 24 for March for Life. No class April 11 for

Easter. Starting time:

Mondays: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) OR Tuesdays: 11:30 am Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)

Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Beginning Latin, Part One or placement test (email [email protected] for test). Suggested grade level: 9th grade and up. Suggested high school credit: One full semester of Latin or Foreign Language



Fee: $180 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $200 after Nov. 15 for all 14 classes. ($220 after Jan. 8) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Throughout this fourteen-‐week course, students will focus on learning Latin grammar and vocabulary. They will explore both Classical and Ecclesiastical pronunciations as well as the history behind this beautiful language. 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 on chapters 10-‐19 (chapters are approximate and may vary slightly). Course materials: Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061997226/catholictreas-‐20) and other materials supplemented 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. Intermediate Latin, Part Two Due to the popularity of this course, it will be offered twice. Choose the day and time that works best for your homeschool. 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 [email protected] if they do not have the prerequisite. Total classes: 14 classes Class dates:

Mondays, January 16 to May 8 2017. No Class January 23rd for March for Life. No class April 17th for Easter

OR Tuesdays, January 17th to May 9th 2017. No class January 24th for March for Life. No class April

11th for Easter Starting time:

Mondays: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) OR Tuesdays: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)

Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Intermediate Latin, Part One; or a score of 70% or higher on the required entrance exam (email [email protected] for exam). Suggested grade level: 9th grade and up Suggested high school credit: One full semester Latin or Foreign Language Fee: $185 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $225 after Nov. 15 for all 14 classes. ($245 after Jan. 8) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Students interested in continuing their Latin journey will find that Latin Two is the right class for them! This fourteen-‐week course will focus on deepening students’ understanding of advanced Latin grammar, vocabulary, translation skills, and the history behind this beautiful language. 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 through chapters 31-‐40 (chapters are approximate and may vary slightly). Students will explore both Ecclesiastical and Classical pronunciations.



Course materials: Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061997226/catholictreas-‐20) and a Latin dictionary with Latin to English and English to Latin sections (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. Homework: Students can expect to spend a half hour a day (Monday – Friday) on their homework assignments and memorization. Advanced Latin, Part Two *New 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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! Don’t let the course name intimidate you. This course isn’t 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: Wheelock’s Latin Reader 2e: Selections from Latin Literature (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060935065/catholictreas-‐20) Allen and Greenough’s 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/catholictreas-‐20). A working microphone with headphones is mandatory. Recommended: Wheelock’s 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. Latin Composition Workshop *New Can be taken independently or with another Latin course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear. See prerequisite below. Total classes: 14 Class dates: Thursdays, January 19th to May 4th 2017. No class April 13 for Easter Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)



Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: At least one year of High School Latin Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: One full semester of Latin or Foreign Language Fee: $200 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $225 after Nov. 15 for all 14 workshops. ($245 after Jan. 11) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: Whether you’ve had one, two, or three years of High School Latin, you will love this course! You can use it as a supplemental course to coincide with your other Latin class or you can take it as a course on its own. It’s up to you! Latin Composition is an engaging, interactive workshop in which students will be able to compose Latin phrases, stories, plays, etc. These activities will reinforce what students have already learned in their respective Latin classes and will strengthen their understanding of grammar. Each week, students will work together based upon age and Latin experience in mini-‐workshops. Each group will have an instructor-‐led composition assignment(s) that will be unique to their understanding of Latin grammar and vocabulary. They will work together on their assignments and then share different portions of their compositions with the entire class. Course materials: Required: Allen and Greenough’s 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/catholictreas-‐20). A working microphone with headphones is mandatory. Recommended: Wheelock’s Latin 7th Edition (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061997226/catholictreas-‐20). Homework: Students will have mini composition assignments as homework in addition to group assignments during class. The majority of their work, however, will be done during our class time.

Life Skills How to Be an Excellent Student: Note Taking, Test Taking, and How to Get an A Homeschool Connections offers this course free as it lays a foundation of study skills to help students be successful in all of their other courses. Total classes: 4 Class dates: Fridays, January 13 to February 3, 2017 Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th to 10th grade 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 Middle School Greek Mythology Due to the popularity of this single-‐semester course, it is offered twice this school year. The same course is offered in the fall semester and again in the spring semester. This is not a 2-‐part course. Total classes: 10 Class dates: Thursdays, January 19 to March 23, 2017 Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 45 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th grade. High school students are welcomed if they are interested in the subject matter. Fee: $150 if registered on or before November 15, 2016. $170 after Nov. 15 for all 10 classes. ($190 after Jan. 11) Instructor: Emily Henry Course description: In this course, students will gain a deeper understanding of Greek mythology and its influence on the Western World. Students will be encouraged both to read the stories and to think critically about them. We will focus on mastery of content as well as how the morals of the stories compare with Biblical truths. We will be exploring the idea of heroes and heroines, right and wrong, fate, and the standards which the Greeks upheld. Throughout the course, we will measure all our analysis of the stories in light of Biblical truths. Course materials: D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0440406943/catholictreas-‐20) There will also be a recommended (optional) reading list for students and parents who want to learn more (provided after registration). Homework: Students can expect to have weekly reading assignments from our textbook as well as other material supplemented either by the teacher or the parent. Students will answer weekly reading questions to assist with comprehension and to prepare them for the class discussion. In addition to our weekly lecture, there will be in-‐class reading quizzes, group activities, and projects. There will be at least one exam, one essay, and several quizzes throughout the course. A Mastery of Mysteries *New Total classes: 13 Class dates: Wednesdays, January 11 to April 19, 2017. No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday and April 12 for Holy Week. Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 45 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade 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. 3) Instructor: Kevin O’Brien Course description: In this course, students will strive to become “mystery masters”! We will read some of the greatest mystery stories of all time, including tales of detectives such as Sherlock Holmes, Father Brown, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and mysteries by Christian writers such as Dorothy Sayers, G. K.



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:

1. Introduction and Mini-Mysteries 2. Sherlock Holmes - Part I 3. Sherlock Holmes - Part II 4. Father Brown - the Anti-Holmes 5. Chesterton’s other Mysteries 6. Agatha Christie - Part I 7. Agatha Christie - Part II 8. Dorothy Sayers 9. Nancy Drew 10. The Hardy Boys 11. Mystery Dinner Theater 12. Student Mysteries - Part I 13. 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. Drama and the Human Spirit 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 O’Brien 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:

1. Ancient Greek Drama 2. Classical Roman Drama 3. Early Medieval Drama - Mystery, Miracle and Morality Plays 4. Shakespeare - Tragedy - Macbeth 5. Shakespeare - Comedy - Much Ado about Nothing 6. Moliere - The Forced Marriage 7. Commedia del Arte



8. Restoration Drama 9. Melodramas of the Early 19th Century 10. Ibsen’s A Doll’s House 11. George Bernard Shaw vs. G. K. Chesterton 12. Theater of the Absurd 13. 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. A World Without God *New 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 O’Brien 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 O’Brien and selections by philosophers such as Nietzsche, Camus and Voegelin. Course outline:

1. Christ vs. Antichrist 2. Man as God - Macbeth - Part I 3. Man as God - Macbeth - Part II 4. The Spirit of Friedrich Nietzsche 5. Nihilism and the Christian Critique 6. Heaven or Hell on Earth? - 1984 - Part I 7. Heaven or Hell on Earth? - 1984 - Part II 8. Hilaire Belloc on the Modern Heresy of the World without God 9. Eric Voegelin on the Closed System and Unreality 10. Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw as the Haunted World without God 11. Visions of the Apocalypse - Selections from Father Elijah by Michael O’Brien 12. Antidotes to the Antichrist 13. 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 O’Brien (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898706904/catholictreas-20).



Homework: Reading, quizzes, final exam, mid-‐term paper, final paper graded by the instructor. Plan on about four hours of homework per week. The Odyssey by Homer If this course fills and closes early, we will consider adding a second day/time. Total classes: 6 Class dates: Wednesdays, January 18 to February 22, 2017 Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: The ability to understand and enjoy the book. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Literature or English. Add a writing course for a full semester of English. Fee: $90 if you register on or before November 15, 2015. $105 after Nov. 15 for all 6 classes. ($125 after Jan. 10) Instructor: Joseph Pearce Course description: Homer is at the foundation of Western Civilization and is arguably, with the possible exception of Dante and Shakespeare, the greatest writer that Western Civilization has produced. Professor Pearce will guide us through Homer’s classic work, examining the ways in which its moral vision harmonizes with that of Christianity, offering timeless insights into the human condition. Course outline: Week One: Books I-‐IV: Recklessness and self-‐destruction; the will of Zeus; Penelope besieged; the impotence of Telemachos; the metaphor of the burial shroud; the unworthy suitors; Agamemnon’s death; the pious wisdom of Menelaos; Helen and the madness of Aphrodite; Menelaos the prophet; the pride of Aias punished; Agamemnon’s murder as metaphor; the piety of Penelope. Week Two: Books V-‐VIII: The will of Zeus; Odysseus rejects immortality; Odysseus’ naked trust in the gods; naked innocence, piety and prayer; the wisdom of Alkinoös; Homer’s self-‐portrait?; a theology of grace; Odysseus’ martial prowess; a parable on adultery; forgiveness and reconciliation; a chaste love; Odysseus weeps for Troy; Week Three: Books IX-‐XII: Back to the Beginning; Odysseus the pirate; the Lotus-‐Eaters; the Cyclopes; Nobody wins but Somebody loses; the curse of Polyphemos; ruined by their own folly; Circe and more ruinous folly; voyage to the land of the Dead; Teiresias the prophet; Antikleia dies of a broken heart; the Dead as Shadows; the sins and virtues of women; the judgment of the dead; Sirens; Skylla and Charybdis; the cattle of Helios; arrives at Ogygia. Week Four: Books XIII-‐XVI: A prayer for families; home alone; enduring grief in silence; xenia and loyalty; Helen’s prophecy; the humility of Odysseus; Odysseus’ Passion. Week Five: Books XVII-‐XX: Odysseus the beggar in his own house; refusing the beggar his own food; Penelope’s prayer for the beggar; the piety of Odysseus; Penelope’s modesty; Penelope’s beguiling enchantment; Penelope and Odysseus; the contest of the bow proposed; Penelope’s profound love for Odysseus. Week Six: Books XXI-‐XXIV: Penelope announces the contest of the bow; Telemachos comes of age; Penelope rebukes the suitors; Penelope sent away; Odysseus strings and shoots the bow; Homer spares himself; suitors killed “by their own recklessness”; immoral women punished; Penelope and Odysseus speak as one; Penelope as anti-‐Helen; marriage “till death do us part”; Penelope as anti-‐Helen reiterated; Odysseus reunited with his father; the gods as the bringers of peace. 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). Seeing Typology in Literature *New Total classes: 10 Class dates: Tuesdays, January 31 to April 18. No class February 21 for midterm break or April 11 for Easter. Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade as well as Parents who Homeschool Suggested high school credit: 3/4 Semester Literature or Typology. Fee: $120 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $140 if you register after Nov. 15. ($160 after Jan. 23) Instructor: Henry Russell, Ph.D. Course description: To read the great works of literature with maximum understanding, the principles of Typology which apply to human life need to be applied to the reading of great authors, whether Christian or otherwise. This approach opens up the moral and spiritual richness that cause works of art to last or be forgotten. This course will help make clear why Literature is central to a Classical Catholic education and provides an approach to teaching it. Course outline: Class One: Dante Selections (PDF) Class Two: Dante Selections (PDF) Class Three: Gawain and the Green Knight 1st Half Class Four: Gawain and the Green Knight 2nd Half Class Five: King Arthur Selections (PDF) Class Six: Chaucer, The Nun’s Priest’s Tale (PDF) Class Seven: Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Minister’s Black Veil (PDF) Class Eight: Katherine Anne Porter’s The Jilting of Granny Weatherall (PDF) Class Nine: Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find (PDF) Class Ten: Flannery O’Connor’s Greenleaf (PDF) Course materials: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Burton Raffel translation, ISBN #0451628233 (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451628233/catholictreas-‐20). PDF files provided free from the instructor, which will be provided in advance to registered students by request. Homework: Expect to spend approximately 2 hours of reading per week. The instructor provides computer-‐generated (and graded) quizzes each week.

Math Glencoe Middle School Math 1, Part Two This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear if they meet the prerequisite. Total classes: 14 live plus 10 pre-‐recorded 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 Glencoe Middle School Math 2, Part Two *New This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear if they meet the prerequisite. Total classes: 14 live plus 5-‐7 pre-‐recorded 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: 12:30 PM Eastern (11:30 Central, 10:30 Mountain, 9:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes live classes, 10-‐20 minutes recorded Prerequisite: Middle School Math (Glencoe), Part One or the equivalent. Suggested credit: 1 full semester math. Suggested grade level: 7th (advanced 6th 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 2 covers many of the same topics as Middle School Math 1, but each topic is discussed more in depth and with more application. We will still be doing a lot of work with fractions, decimals, integers, data analysis, algebraic expressions and equations, functions and inequalities, using 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 Glencoe Pre-‐Algebra, Part Two *New 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 plus 5-‐7 pre-‐recorded classes



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: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central, 12:30 Mountain, 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes live classes, 10-‐20 minutes recorded Prerequisite: Pre-‐Algebra, Part One or the equivalent. Suggested credit: 1 full semester math. Suggested grade level: 8th (advanced 7th 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: Pre-‐Algebra is a course designed to prepare students for Algebra 1. We will spend time performing basic operations on integers and rational numbers, as well as work on solving one and two-‐step equations with both integers and rational numbers. This course also covers real numbers and the Pythagorean theorem, proportions, algebra, geometry, percentages, area and volume, probability, statistics, inequalities, and linear functions. Course materials: Mathematics: Applications and Concepts, Course 3, Student Edition (Glencoe Mathematics), 2005 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/0078668484/catholictreas-‐20 (click on Used). Homework: 2-‐4 lessons per week with 15-‐20 homework problems per lesson, 1-‐2 short quizzes per week, and a chapter test approximately every other week Introduction to Probability and Statistics *New Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays, January 9 to April 3, 2017. No class January 23 for March for Life. Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Algebra 1 Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Math or Statistics Fee: $170.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. 190.00 after Nov. 15th for all 12 classes. ($210 after Jan. 1) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: We will explore all areas of probability and statistics starting with what is data, discrete v. continuous, analog and digital data. We will then move on to data displays, surveying, measures of central value, measures of spread (including standard deviation, quartiles, and interquartile rage), comparing univariate and bivariate data, correlation, probability, combinations and permutations and random variables. This course is designed as an introduction to data analysis to ready a student for college level statistics. Course materials: Statistics for Dummies ISBN # 9-‐780470-‐911082, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470911085/catholictreas-‐20 Homework: A student should expect to spend 5 hours on homework per week. Saxon Algebra 1, Part Two 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 classes, plus 14 recorded lectures. Class dates: Mondays, January 9 to April 24, 2017. No class January 23 for March for Life and April 17 for Easter Monday.



Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Algebra I, Part One or equivalent Suggested grade level: 9th grade and up. Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Algebra I or Math Fee: $195.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $215 after Nov. 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($235 after Jan. 1) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: Students will study all concepts in Algebra 1 from linear to nonlinear equations, graphing and numerical studies.. In it's entirety this course involves all concepts needed to fulfill national requirements for Algebra I. The topics to include but not be restricted to, operations with integers, rules of multiplicative identity and additive identity, equation solving, exponential function relations, quadratic function relations and their graphs, Cartesian graphing, polynomial 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-‐Math-‐Homeschool-‐Kits/) Homework: 4-5 assignments of 15-20 problems per lesson. Foerster Algebra 1, Part Two 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 classes plus 14 recorded classes. 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: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Algebra 1, Part One or equivalent Suggested grade level: 9th to 10th grade Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Math Fee: $195.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $215 after Nov. 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($235 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: Students will be required to watch a recorded 30-‐minute lecture each week and attend class for discussions and problem solving. Algebra 1 explores all avenues of linear equations, some non-‐linear equations and problem solving. Students will use all of their basic math skills to solve problems, graph equations, and think using the skills we develop. The instructor is available for Skype conferencing once a week if needed. Course Materials: Foerster's Algebra 1 (Third Edition, 1994), ISBN-‐13: 978-‐0201860948 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

Foerster Algebra 2, Part Two 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 classes plus 14 recorded classes.



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: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Algebra 2, Part One or equivalent Suggested grade level: 10th grade and up Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Math Fee: $195.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $215 after Nov. 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($235 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: Foerster Algebra 2 will pick up where we left of in Foerster Algebra 1 with solving complex algebraic equations, complex fractions and exploring rational as well as irrational numbers. Students will also begin their exploration of trigonometric functions, as well as using the geometry that they have learned to find lengths and measures of angles. Students will continue with the ideas of solving for a variable, but now use vector analysis to go along with it. This is a great next step after Algebra 1, and will lead into geometry smoothly. Course materials: Algebra and Trigonometry: Functions and Applications (Prentice Hall Classics): www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131657100/catholictreas-‐20 Homework: 4-‐5 lessons per week with 15-‐20 problems to work per lesson Holt-‐McDougal-‐Larson Algebra 2, Part Two 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 student’s 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.

Jurgensen, Brown, Jurgensen Geometry, Part Two 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 classes plus 14 recorded classes. 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: 1:30 PM Eastern (12:30 Central; 11:30 Mountain; 10:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Algebra 1 or equivalent coursework Suggested grade level: 10th grade and up. Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Math Fee: $195.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $215 after Nov. 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($235 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: Jurgensen, Brown, and Jurgensen is a complement text to the Foerster Algebra series. Students will study two and three dimensional shapes as well as lines, rays and similar figures in a plane. Deductive reasoning will be used throughout the text to immerse students in proofs and the varying postulants and theorems that are used. Basic as well as more advanced constructions will be used along with algebra to connect algebra with the geometry that they are learning. We will be using the college entrance tests as a guide for the tests and quizzes so that students are familiar with the types of questions they will be expected to know and answer. Course materials: Geometry by Jurgensen, Brown and Jurgensen ISBN# 0-‐395-‐77120-‐X, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/039577120X/catholictreas-‐20 Homework: 4-5 assignments per week with 15-20 problems per lesson

Saxon Advanced Mathematics: Pre-‐Calculus, Part Two 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 classes plus 14 recorded classes. Class dates: Mondays, January 9 to April 24, 2017. No class January 23 for March for Life and April 17 for Easter Monday. Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes for live classes. 30 minutes for recorded classes. Prerequisite: Algebra II and Geometry. Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade. Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Math Fee: $210.00 if you register on or before November 16, 2015. $230 after Nov. 15 for all 14 live and 14 recorded classes. ($250 after Jan. 1) Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA Course description: We will explore all the algebraic & trigonometric concepts; both linear and nonlinear plus functions, complex numbers, and concepts involving trigonometry & polar coordinates. This course will fulfill requirements for Pre-‐calculus and ready students for High School and college advanced topics math including Calculus. Course materials: Saxon Advanced Mathematics and Incremental Development, Edition 2 (www.emmanuelbooks.com/product_detail.cfm/ID/1508/OID/3328/Saxon-‐Math-‐Homeschool-‐



Kits/), with the test and homeschool pack, a scientific calculator (TI 30X or the like), graph paper, ruler, protractor, compass, and pencil. Graphing calculators are useful, but not necessary. Instructor will provide a free weekly lecture in addition to the live, interactive classes. Homework: 4-‐5 assignments per week with 15-‐20 problems to work per lesson.

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. 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.

Philosophy: An Introduction to The Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas, Part Two Note: This is a 2-‐part course. Students are welcome to join us mid year (email us if you are unsure if you meet the prerequisite). Total classes: 12 Class dates: Fridays, January 13 to April 7, 2017. No class Feb. 24 for midterm break. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) Prerequisite: Part One of this course (Fall 2015 or Unlimited Access) or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade. However, bright younger students would be acceptable. Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Philosophy or Theology Fee: $175 if you register on or before Nov. 15, 2016. $195 after Nov. 15 for all 12 classes. ($235 after Jan. 5) Instructor: Dave Palmer 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 God’s 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 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 Introduction to Ornithology (The Study of Birds) *New This course only accepts 15 students. Total classes: 13 Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 6, 2017. 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. Middle School STEM Engineering *New Total classes: 12 Class dates: Tuesdays, January 10 to April 4, 2017. No Class March 21 for mid-‐term break. Starting time: 1:30 PM Eastern (12:30 Central; 11:30 Mountain; 10:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Science Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 after Nov. 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Kris Correira, PA-‐C, MHP Course description: Each week we will cover an engineering topic through class lecture Internet resources on Moodle. At the end of class, an engineering challenge is posted relating to that topic and students spend the week engineer a solution using simple, common materials. These solutions will be shown to the class the following week. Course materials: All books and information will be supplied FREE. Students will need various common items in order to complete the weekly challenges (list will be provided). Homework: Completing the weekly challenges. This is graded by the instructor as a simple pass/fail. Students will also take a short open-‐book quiz, automatically graded, each week relating to the engineering topic covered.



Physical Science, Part Two *New This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Please email for permission if you would like to join us midyear. Total classes: 20 live classes plus 20 recorded lectures Class dates: Thursdays, January 5 to May 25, 2017. Easter break will be April 10 to 17. Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: Physical Science, Part One Suggested grade level: 7th to 9th grade Suggested credit: 1 full semester Physical Science Fee: $200 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $220 after Nov. 15 for all 40 classes. ($240 after Dec. 28) 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 Atoms, Interaction of Matter, Electricity, Waves, Light and Sound, and discover how these concepts are important in our lives. Together, Part I and Part II of this course will be an excellent preparation for high school Chemistry and Physics. Course outline: Please email Mrs. Dutton at [email protected] 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. It can be purchased at 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. Spaceflight Operations and Related Sciences (SOARS) Total classes: 15 Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 27, 2017. No class April 13 for Easter Break. Starting time: 5:00 PM Eastern (4:00 Central; 3:00 Mountain; 2:00 Pacific). Duration: 1 hour 25 minutes (85 minutes) Prerequisite: All virtual astronauts should report for duty with their imaginations and a love for learning! General familiarity with spacecraft, astronomy, radio communications, and the related subject areas is a plus, but not required. IMPORTANT SOFTWARE NOTE: These free software applications are primarily designed for the Windows operating system. Some of them also work on other computer operating systems (Mac, Linux, etc.). If your operating system isn’t supported by the software, there may be ways to get these software applications to work via “virtual machine” (e.g., “Wine” emulation), dual-‐boot, or other methods. Alternatively, parents should consider enrolling their students in the class even if their computer doesn’t support every software application with the understanding that their student may not be able to actively do some of the activities due to the software limitations, but will still take advantage of the many other learning opportunities in the class through in-‐class examples, doing their class project,



online web-‐based resources, and more. Not having a Windows computer should not be an impediment to enrolling in the course. [1] Orbiter Space Flight Simulator (OSS) is available from http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk. Please refer to the website for minimum computer hardware requirements. Some graphics cards have difficulty displaying some ship 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/7/8/8.1/10. [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 doesn’t 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 child’s 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 • Circuits and electronics • Sensors and other instrumentation • Sun science: Sunspots, radiation, solar wind, solar flares, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and how “space weather” affects the Earth. • Earth observation science: Meteorology, Infrared, satellite imagery • OSS: Traveling from the Earth to the Moon and back



• Use of computers and software in spacecraft, especially during long-‐distance trips • Work stories, lessons learned, and other valuable real-‐world advice • The importance of public speaking skills Course materials: See prerequisite section for a list of required software applications. Extensive handouts, online resources, and software applications are to be utilized. Purchase of a small pad of green engineering paper would be useful when making hand-‐made plots. This paper type also makes for a “cool” science-‐looking notepad with its small-‐grid boxes useful for making impromptu plots/drawings. Book recommendations will be provided but are not required for purchase. Encouraged experimentation may require the purchase of related supplies, but this is optional and at the discretion/interest of the student and parent. Homework: Assignments will vary based on subject area. Where applicable, assignments will have a Catholic theme to them. Assignments may include, but are not limited to, (1) answering questions related to topics covered during the lectures, (2) researching related materials, (3) using the spaceflight simulator to accomplish a mission using newly gained knowledge of orbital mechanics (astrodynamics), (4) using online software defined radio stations and specially designed software to tune in ground-‐based and satellite radio signals, (5) using 3D space-‐related software applications to learn more about planetary motion and the occurrences of eclipses, (6) tracking the current and predicted location of satellites and the International Space Station, (7) using software to decode radio signals into text and images like real ground controllers, and (8) a few online quizzes and submitted assignments. In this course, students have a required class project which promotes more of a deep-‐dive into a subject/topic of the student’s choosing. Students work on these projects through a majority of the course. The finished project will be shared with fellow students via submitted documentation and via a short in-‐class presentation at an in-‐class SOARS Virtual Conference. This fosters not only an opportunity to pursue topics of particular interest to the student, but to also give them valuable research, writing, and public-‐speaking experience in a fun and friendly setting. The SOARS Virtual Conference is a highlight for the students each semester.

Throughout the course, students will collaborate with fellow students and mentor them when needed so as to reinforce their knowledge by helping others. Students can expect a variable 3 to 6 hours of time per week dedicated to homework and progress towards their class project. Additional time, if available, is encouraged so that the student can experiment with specific personal interests. All assignments are given and graded by the instructor.

Regular feedback will be provided to the students and their parents to ensure that all are aware of the progress being made throughout the course. Health Science Total classes: 10 Class dates: Tuesdays January 10 to March 14, 2017 Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Basic understanding of high school science. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: ¾ semester Science or Health. For a full credit you can add Nutrition (Live Summer 2016 or recorded in Unlimited Access) or other course. 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.

Geology, Part Two This is a 2-‐part course. Students who wish to join us midyear should email to check on prerequisites. It is highly recommended that students sign up for both semesters of Geology. Total classes: 8 Class dates: Tuesdays January 10 to February 28, 2017 Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) 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) Instructor: Christine Hamilton Ph.D. Course description: The purpose of this course is to offer an opportunity for students to explore aspects of geology as it relates to the real world. Students will be exposed to activities related to mineral/rock identification, plate tectonics, oil/coal exploration, ground water quality, geologic history and mapping techniques (semester 2). Course outline: Week 1: Topographic Maps and Aerial Photographs. Introduction to Topographic Maps. Topographic Profiles and Vertical Exaggeration. Analysis of the Ontario, California Topographic Map. Analysis of Your Topographic Quadrangle Map. Aerial Photographs. Week 2: Geologic Structures, Maps, and Block Diagrams. Structural Geology. Block Diagrams. Analysis of a Geologic Map. Week 3: Stream Processes, Landscapes, Mass Wastage, and Flood Hazards. 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 Glacier—A 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. Biology I, Part Two This is a 2-‐part course. Students who wish to join us midyear should email to check on prerequisites. It is highly recommended, though not mandatory, students also register for LAB: Biology I, Part Two (see below). Due to the popularity of this course, it is offered twice. Choose the day/time that works best for you. Total classes: 14 Class dates: Tuesdays, Tuesdays, January 10 to April 25. No classes January 24 for the March for Life and April 11 for Holy Week. Fridays, January 13 to April 28, 2017. No class Feb. 24 for midterm break and April 14 for Good Friday. 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) Instructor: Christine Hamilton, Ph.D. Course description: Prepares the student for ACT/SAT biology. Students are expected to take notes during class and ask questions. Notes will help with weekly quizzes, quizzes are open book. This Biology class is a general overview of high school Biology presented from a Catholic perspective. Students should have access to a microphone for the Q&A game at the end of class, as time permits. Course materials: Prentice Hall Biology ISBN-‐13: 978-‐0131663551 or ISBN-‐10: 0131662554 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131662554/catholictreas-‐20). Homework: Weekly vocabulary, reading, and quizzes. Approximately 1 to 2 hours per week.

LAB for Biology I, Part Two You must be registered in Biology I, Part Two in order to register for the LAB component.



There is no meeting time for LAB. It is added to the Biology I course. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in Biology I, Part Two Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Fee: $30 on or before November 15, 2016; $40 after Nov. 15. ($60 after Jan. 2) Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biology with Lab. Instructor: Christine Hamilton, Ph.D. Course description: There will be 6 labs that are explicitly aligned with the Biology Part 2 classes. NOTE: ALL LABS FOR BIOLOGY PART TWO WILL BE DISSECTION. If the student is in any way uncomfortable with hands on animal dissection, they should opt out of this Lab. Course materials and technology: Student Dissection Kit. http://www.amazon.com/The-‐Science-‐Shop%C2%AE-‐Student-‐Dissection/dp/B001ELQ6U2/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426466862&sr=8-‐1-‐fkmr2&keywords=high+school+dissection+animals Eye Dissection Kit http://www.amazon.com/Young-‐Scientists-‐Eye-‐Dissection-‐Kit/dp/B007XE93LI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426467183&sr=8-‐1&keywords=cow+eye Access to a printer and scanner. Webcam, microphone and headset for students to engage in live labs.

Anatomy & Physiology, Part Two 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 Class dates: Wednesdays, January 11 to April 19, 2017. No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday or April 12 for Holy Week. Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) Duration: 60 to 75 minutes Prerequisite: Anatomy & Physiology, Part One or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: One full semester of 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 Jan. 3) 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 Church’s 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) 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. Physics I, Part Two Note: This is a 2-‐part course. Students are welcome to join us mid year (email us if you are unsure if you meet the prerequisite). Total classes: 14 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, Einstein’s 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 intuition—and break some commonly held misconceptions. Students will learn how the cosmos that God created works and apply 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.

Chemistry I, Part Two This is a 2-‐part course. Students who wish to join us midyear should email to check on prerequisites. It is highly suggested, though not mandatory, that students also register for Chemistry I -‐Lab, Part Two. Total classes: 40 Class dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, January 3 to May 25, 2017. Easter break will be April 10 -‐17. Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) Prerequisite: Algebra I, previous or concurrent (Available Live or through Unlimited Access); a Middle School Physical Science is helpful. Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade



Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Chemistry or Science Fee: $250 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $275 after Nov. 15 for all 40 classes. ($295 after Dec. 26) Instructor: KathyDutton Course description: We will be studying God's creation at the atomic level and discovering how marvelous it is. This college-‐prep chemistry course, over both semesters, will cover a wide range of topics including: Structure of Matter, States of Matter, Chemical Reactions, Stoichiometry, Equilibrium, and Thermochemistry. We will also consider how Chemistry is important in our day-‐to-‐day life. Course outline: Please email Mrs. Dutton at [email protected] for the full outline or to ask questions about the course. Course materials and technology: 1. Text: Chemistry, Wilbraham, Staley, Matta, Waterman (Prentice Hall, 2008) ISBN: 0-‐13-‐251210-‐6. We recommend buying used. (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0132512106/catholictreas-‐20) 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: Approximately 3 -‐ 4 hours outside of class on homework and tests. 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 tests and give an overall grade for this course. Chemistry I -‐ Lab, Part Two 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 [email protected] 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 Spanish I, Part Two This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcome to join us midyear if they have the prerequisite and there is room. Total classes: 12, plus 18 recorded lectures Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 6, 2017. No class Feb. 23 for midterm break. Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) 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.



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 Ser and comparatives 2 Estar and Location 3 Ser vs. Estar 4 Tener 5 Possessive Adjectives 6 Ir 7 Venir 8 Regular conjugation of -‐ar verbs 9 Regular conjugation of –er, -‐ir verbs



10 Gustar 11 Interrogative Words Review 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. Spanish II, Part Two This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students may join us midyear if they meet the prerequisite. Email [email protected] if you need help determining prerequisites. Total classes: 12, plus 18 prerecorded lectures Class dates: Thursdays, January 12 to April 6, 2017. No class Feb. 23 for midterm break. Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Spanish II, 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. 16 for all 12 classes and 18 recorded lectures. ($275 after Jan. 4) Instructor: Irma Luz M. Schmitt, M.A. Course description: In this course, the students will delve into Spanish grammar and learn the conjugation of irregular verbs in the present tense, the conjugation of verbs in the past tense and some common grammar structures. Every week a list of new vocabulary will be introduced and practiced as well.



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 Direct Object and A Personal 2 Direct Object Pronouns 3 Indirect Object Pronoun 4 Prepositional Pronouns 5 Gustar and similar verbs 6 Tú commands 7 Negative Tú Commands 8 Irregular Tú commands



9 Past Tense of regular verbs 10 Past Tense of ir and ser 11 Past Tense of –car and –gar verbs 12 General review Course materials: Exercises in Spanish Grammar, Book 1, HS701R. We recommend purchasing early and used to get the best price. (www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0883139715/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.

Speech and Communications Leadership and Interpersonal Communication This is not a Part Two course. It is offered twice in the school year due to it’s popularity. Total classes: 6 Class dates: Fridays, February 10 to March 17, 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 High school credit: ½ semester Communications or Life Skills Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Fee: $97 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $117 after Nov. 15 for all 6 classes. ($137 after Feb. 8) Course description: This course teaches foundational and critical leadership and communication skills, including self-‐management practices for becoming a person of positive influence. Course outline: Class 1: The skills of leadership: What it takes to be a leader, servant leadership, and transformational leadership Class 2: Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Class 3: Conflict Management and Leadership Class 4: Active listening, empathy, and wise decision making for leadership Class 5: Personal speaking skills: voice, body language, and connecting with your listener Class 6: Faith-‐filled leadership: The actions of leadership Course materials: All course materials are provided FREE online from the instructor. Homework: This is a lecture course with approximately 2 to 4 hours of work per class, depending upon your student’s skill level, of reading, short writing assignments, and automated quizzes. Final grade issued by the instructor. Speech and Communications Total classes: 12 Class dates: Wednesdays, January 11 to April 5, 2017. No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday 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 Suggested credit: 1 full semester credit Speech or Communications Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 if you register after Nov. 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 3) Instructor: Kevin O’Brien



Course description: Effective communications and good public speaking begins with an understanding of rhetoric -‐ how a good argument is developed, how a good speech is structured, and how spoken communication differs from written communication. In this course, we will examine the greatest speeches of the greatest orators in history, analyzing what they wrote and (when audio or video of their speeches exist) their style of delivery. And while Speech and Communications is essential to success in the business world, it is also essential for understanding and presenting arguments in support of the Catholic Faith, or even for persuading others of anything that's important to you. The goal of this course, then, is twofold -‐ to learn to appreciate and analyze good verbal rhetoric, and to apply what we've learned to come up with our own short speeches that are engaging, entertaining and effective. Course outline: 1. Introduction and Overview 2. The Great Orators of Greece and Rome 3. Public Speeches as Recounted in Scripture -‐ The Prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New Testament 4. The Rhetorical Structure and Dramatic Effect of Speeches in Shakespeare (selections from Julius Caesar, Henry V, and Macbeth) 5. Religious Persuasion through the Ages -‐ The Sermon on the Mount, Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans, Bishop Fulton Sheen 6. Speeches by Students -‐ Delivered and Critiqued during Class 7. Speeches by Students -‐ Delivered and Critiqued during Class 8. Great Political Speeches of the 18th and 19th Centuries -‐ Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Wilbeforce, Lincoln 9. Great Political Speeches of the 20th Century Part II -‐ JFK, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan 10. The Use of Humor and Oratory for American Pop Culture -‐ Mark Twain, Will Rogers, etc. 11. Speeches by Students -‐ Delivered and Critiqued during Class 12. Speeches by Students -‐ Delivered and Critiqued during Class Course materials: Will be provided by the instructor in the form of PDF’s 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 ACT/SAT Science Prep Total classes: 8 Class dates: Wednesdays January 11 to March 8, 2017, No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday. Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central; 9:00 Mountain; 8:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Basic understanding of high school science minimum. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Fee: $80.00 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $90 after Nov. 15 for all 8 classes. ($110 after Jan. 3) Instructor: Christine Hamilton Ph.D. Course description: In this course students will work on understanding test questions, strategizing skills, study habits, and practice tests. Students will be prepared for the Science portion of the ACT. The SAT itself does not include science. However, students can choose subject tests through the SAT to show proficiency in specific subjects, including science. Students planning on a science-‐related career 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 Middle School Catechesis: The Baltimore Catechism (Part 2: The Commandments) *New Students are welcome to join us midyear. There is no prerequisite for this course. Total classes: 8 Class dates: Fridays, January 13 to March 3, 2017 Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade Suggested credit: 2/3 semester Religion or Catechism. Combine with another religion course for a full credit (live or Unlimited Access) Fee: $120 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $140 after Nov. 15 for all 8 classes. ($160 after Jan. 5) Instructor: Gary Michuta Course description: This course is a great way to learn the basics of the Faith. The Baltimore Catechism is broken into three parts. Part 12 studies the Commandments. The basic structure of the course follows the time-‐honored Baltimore Catechism and supplemented by new Catechism of the Catholic Faith. Course outline: Class 1 -‐ The Two Great Commandments Class 2 -‐ The First Commandment of God Class 3 -‐ Honoring the Saints, Relics, and Images Class 4 -‐ The Second and Third Commandments of God Class 5 -‐ The Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Commandments of God Class 6 -‐ The Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Commandments of God Class 7 -‐ The Commandments of the Church; The First and Second Commandments Class 8 -‐ The Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Commandments of the Church Course materials: Required, The Baltimore Catechism (available free online). 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.



Middle School Beginning Apologetics Formerly: Middle School Beginning Apologetics I and II This is a repeat of the fall semester course and NOT a Part Two course. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Wednesdays, January 11 to April 5, 2017. No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday. Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: No prerequisites Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th grade Suggested credit: One full semester Apologetics or Religion Fee: $175 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $195 after Nov. 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 3) Instructor: Gary Michuta Course description: This course will provide the first steps into the field of apologetics. The students will learn how to spot faulty arguments, how to find important passages in the Bible, and the basic steps on how to defend the Faith. Course outline: Class 1: Basics On How to Explain and Defend the Faith Class 2: Bible Basics: What is the Bible? What it is, how its structured, where to find things. Class 3: Using Catholic Resources / Apologetic Research Class 4: Learning Proof texts: Salvation / Answering Objections Class 5: Learning Proof texts: Peter and the Papacy / Answering Objections Class 6: Learning Proof texts: The Eucharist / Answering Objections Class 7: Learning Proof texts: Mary Class 8: What are the Early Church Fathers? Class 9: More Logical Fallacies Class 10: What is Propaganda? Class 11: Answering Common Objections Class 12: Using the Web in Apologetic Research Course materials: Provided free from the instructor. An optional reading list will also be provided for students (and parents!) who want to learn more. Students need to make sure they have a working microphone. Homework: Each class will have a multi-‐choice quiz. 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. Students will be encouraged to review the material and practice the responses. Parents assign the final grade. Discovering Your Authentic Beauty & Making Life Full and Fun for Middle School Girls *New Total classes: 6 Class dates: Mondays, January 9 to February 13, 2017 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: ½ 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 7th 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 – God’s 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 it’s 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. True Radiance! Discovering Your Authentic Beauty as a Young Woman *New Total classes: 6 Class dates: Mondays, February 20 to March 27, 2017 Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; 12 noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: None Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade Suggested credit: ½ semester Theology Fee: $99 on or before November 15, 2016; $109 after November 15 for all 6 classes. ($129 after February 12, 2017.) Instructor: Lisa Mladinich Course description: This course is an introduction to the rich teachings of the Catholic Church on beauty and femininity for girls in high school. In a culture that often degrades femininity and causes confusion for girls about true beauty, a healthy body image, and a positive process of maturing, 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, the students 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: TRUE BEAUTY – How the Church defines beauty; how beauty helps us access the intangibles of God; how God speaks through beauty; reasons that girls and women are so attuned to beauty; some of the falsehoods of our culture concerning beauty—and how to resist them Class 2: TRUE FEMININITY – How Catholicism treasures femininity; the Blessed Mother as a role model; the feminine genius; feminine strengths and weaknesses; combating sin through cultivating virtue; what femininity means to you Class 3: HEALTHY MODESTY – An overview of the theology of the body; our inherent dignity as daughters of God; modesty as a sign of goodness; honoring and protecting what is sacred; reverencing the gift of life; the connection between purity and love; becoming a savvy consumer of media; ways to be stylish and modest at the same time Class 4: HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS – The purpose of friendships; self-‐donation as a core ideal; virtuous friendships; how to be a friend and how to have wonderful friendships that last a lifetime; friendships with the saints and Holy Souls; cultural pressures on friendship Class 5: LIVING OUT MERCY – True freedom through the gift of mercy; living a lifestyle of forgiveness and acceptance; the healing power of the Eucharist and Reconciliation; preparing our souls for heaven; prayer commitments that bear lasting fruit sacrifice as a pathway to joy Class 6: OUR CALLING, OUR VOCATIONS – Changing the world by keeping our eyes on heaven; praying for our future companions (spouses, friends, colleagues, sisters in religious life); taking leadership roles; diligence in education; seeking ways to serve; reverence in worship and prayer; Sacred Scripture and a Lexio Divina outlook; understanding the importance of God's individual call to our hearts; respect for the vocations of others Course materials: All materials are provided by the instructor; materials include excerpts from the instructor’s book; materials on the 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. Angels and Demons *New This course is limited to 20 students. 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. An Introduction to the Catholic Faith: The Didache, Part Two *New This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcomed to join us midyear if they meet the prerequisite. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Mondays. January 16 to April 24, 2017. No class on Jan. 23 for the March for Life or Apr. 17 for Easter. Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: An Introduction to the Catholic Faith, Part One or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested 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. 8) Instructor: Christopher Zehnder, MA Course description: This class would explore basic Catholic doctrines about God and Christ, following the Nicene Creed. It would discuss the call to holiness, God's existence, divine revelation, the Trinity, man's creation, original sin, the Incarnation, the Paschal Mystery, the Holy Spirit and his work, and the Church, and the Resurrection of the Body. Course materials: Introduction to Catholicism, by the Rev. James Socias; part of the Didache series published by the Midwest Theological Forum and Ignatius Press (http://tinyurl.com/didachehsc1). Homework: Students read assigned portions of the text, Introduction to Catholicism. Student will have two tests each semester, graded by the instructor. Is the New Testament Reliable? Exploring It’s Authenticity, Integrity, and Veracity (Christian Apologetics) *New Total classes: 7 Class dates: Tuesdays, January 10 to February 21, 2017. Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Introduction to Apologetics (available through Unlimited Access), or equivalent. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Apologetics or Theology. For a full credit, add another theology course or add the optional reading list provided by the instructor. Fee: $105 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $125 after Nov. 15 for all 7 classes. ($145 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Gary Michuta Course description: This is an exploration in the realm of Christian apologetics, specifically establishing the authenticity, integrity, and veracity of the Gospels. Students will learn the basics of why our information about Jesus is sound and how to answer basic objections. Course outline: Class 1: What are the Gospels compared to other ancient works? Class 2: Did the writers of the events know the subject they recorded? Class 3: Who wrote the four Gospels? (Authenticity) Class 4: When were the Gospels written?



Class 5: Are our copies of the Gospels accurate? Class 6: Could the Gospel authors have lied? Class 7: External evidence for the Gospels / Answering common objections Course materials: Highly recommended (but not required): The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ (Brant Pitre), Is the New Testament Reliable? by Paul Barnett. Homework: Each class will have a multi-‐choice quiz. 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.Students will be encouraged to review the material and practice the responses. Introduction to the "New Atheism" (Theistic Apologetics) *New Total classes: 8 Class dates: Tuesdays, February 28 to April 25, 2017. No class April 11 for Easter Break. Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: This is a higher-‐level course. Students should be very familiar with apologetics in general before taking it. They should have successfully completed at least one high school level apologetics class or a high school philosophy course. Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade. Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Apologetics or Theology. For a full credit, add another theology course or add the optional reading list provided by the instructor. Fee: $120 if you register on or before November 15, 2015. $140 after Nov. 15 for all 8 classes. ($160 after Feb. 20) Instructor: Gary Michuta Course description: The advent of the "New Atheism" has unleashed a new virulent form of atheism in Western society. Students will learn what are the methods of propagation "new atheists" use and why they arguments ultimately fail. Course outline: Class 1: Atheism and the "New Atheists" Class 2: Exploring the "Celestial Teapot" "God of the Gaps" Class 3: Problems with Dawkins Class 4: Problems with Harris Class 5: Scientism and the "New Atheism" Class 6: Morality and Immorality Class 7: The new atheists and the twisting of history Class 8: Missing the Forest Through the Trees: How the New Atheists Play on Ignorance Course materials: Required: Illogical Atheist: A Comprehensive Response to the Contemporary 'Freethinker' from a Lapsed Agnostic by Bo Jinn (Sattaw, 2013). The book is only available on Kindle (a free reading app is available from Amazon.com), http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00D19LIVW/catholictreas-‐20 Homework: Students are expected to read selected sections form Illogical Atheist. We will be discussing various sections from the book in class. 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. Students are encouraged to discuss course content with parents. Parents give the final grade. Moral Theology: How Shall I Live? (Living Our Faith Series)



Total classes: 12 Class dates: Tuesdays, January 10 to April 18, 2017. No classes January 24 for the March for Life, March 14 for Spring Break, and April 11 for Holy Week. 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 if you register after July 15 for all 12 classes. ($215 after Jan. 2) Course Instructor: Miss Ashour, MTS; M Hum Course Rationale: Every human person is called to the perfection of charity (cf. LG #40). This vocation has been revealed through Jesus Christ and can be accomplished only in and with Jesus Christ, whose Paschal Mystery is made present in the Church’s liturgy—the “great work in which God is perfectly glorified and men are sanctified” (SC #7). To further man’s sanctification, the Second Vatican Council has asked that “. . . special care should be given to the perfecting of moral theology. Its scientific presentation should draw more fully on the teaching of Holy Scripture and should throw light upon the exalted vocation of the faith in Christ and their 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 man’s 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 man’s natural endowments, his capacity for virtue; and finally, within the context of charity as the form of the virtues and the goal of all man’s strivings since “God is love” (1Jn 4:8). The course will investigate concretely those challenges to the Catholic Church’s teachings and respond with solid, pastoral answers. Caveat: Coursework subject to change based on the discretion of the online instructor’s 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 Christthrough 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 Church’s 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 Ashour’s “incarnational” diagrams which make accessible heady concepts. For the first day’s class: please read the required reading from the Bible. Required Reading: 1. The Bible—Matthew 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 ½ paragraphs a week) 4. Veritatis Splendor (Pope John Paul’s encyclical on morality—This 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, & Drummey’s Catholicism and Ethics: A Medical/Moral Handbook, C.R. Publications, Inc., www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964908786/catholictreas-‐20 (and for those interested—Leader’s/Catechist’s Manual of the same name and publisher). 2. Peter Kreeft’s 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! ·∙ Major Grade of Weekly Reflections (Minimum-‐1 page; Maximum-‐2 pages— The student is to reflect on diagrams and learning in class and write an informal reflection. It needs to be uploaded on Moodle before 5am Eastern time Tuesday mornings) (30%) ·∙ Assigned Reading (Honor policy—Every week, upload to Moodle the Reading Completion Document. PLEASE do not be scrupulous. Read for 30 minutes a day or 2 ½ hours a week and give yourself a 100! Or, if you really did not keep up with it, then see rubric and give yourself the appropriate grade (20%). ·∙ Extra Credit—Parent must write an email saying, “My son/daughter (FULL NAME) has read Hayes, Hayes, Kelly, & Drummey’s, and Dr. Kreeft’s book.” (2 points per book added to final grade). Time Commitment to Study: A minimum of 2 1/2 hours a week (30 minutes a day) for reading, study, doing quizzes, working on and completing the project, and writing the weekly reflection. Going off to College: Keeping your Faith and Vocation (Living Your Faith Series) To help students as they leave their parents' home and head into the world, Homeschool Connections is offering this course free of charge to graduating seniors. Required Permission form signed by Parents: Due to a few pages of the book being of a sensitive nature (such as pornography, gender identity, contraception, etc.), Miss Ashour will require parents sign a document, giving permission to their graduating senior to hear this important information so as to prepare them for the onslaught of wrong ideas they may encounter in college. Parents may email Miss Ashour to ask questions about this course at [email protected] since parts of it are adult subject matter, but very necessary given this culture which produces things like “Fifty Shades of Grey.” This course will not be available as part of Unlimited Access. Total classes: 12 Class dates: Tuesdays, January 10 to April 18, 2017. No classes January 24 for the March for Life, March 14 Spring Break, and April 11 for Holy Week. Starting time: 1:30 PM Eastern (12:30 Central; 11:30 Mountain; 10:30 Pacific) Duration: 1 hour Prerequisite: None Fee: FREE Instructor: Monica Ashour, MTS, MHum Suggested grade level: 12th grade High school credit: 1 full semester credit Theology Course Rationale: In what Pope Francis has called a “throw-‐away” culture which considers commitment as an infringement against freedom, Saint John Paul’s Theology of the Body opens up for us the truth that the gift of freedom is for committed love through either the vocation of marriage or “continence for the Kingdom.” Although a graduating senior is not ready to take vows in marriage or the priesthood/religious life yet, it is imperative—especially given the current culture—for homeschool students to understand the breadth and depth of God’s vision of sexuality, as it is lived out in vowed life. St. John Paul says that the one



seeking to make vows in consecrated life is to live out the “spousal meaning of the body” in its fullness, not in suppressing sexuality but in living it in a different way. So, too, is the married person to live the “spousal meaning of the body spoken in truth.” Before making such a commitment, one is to have “self-‐understanding,” “self-‐determination” 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 God’s inner life of love. Thus, it is essential for students to understand vocations, especially regarding one’s 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 “why’s behind the what’s” 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 Ashour’s book, Theology of the Body Marriage Preparation, by covering an overview of God’s 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 Family’s 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 Catholicism’s 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! ·∙ Major Grade of Weekly Reflections (Minimum-‐1 page; Maximum-‐2 pages— The student is to reflect on diagrams and learning in class and write an informal reflection. It needs to be uploaded on Moodle before 5am Eastern time Tuesday mornings) (30%) ·∙ Assigned Reading (Honor policy—Every week, upload to Moodle the Reading Completion Document. PLEASE do not be scrupulous. Read for 30 minutes a day or 2 ½ hours a week and give yourself a 100! Or, if you really did not keep up with it, then see rubric and give yourself the appropriate grade (20%). • Extra Credit—Parent must write an email saying, “My son/daughter (FULL NAME) has read and discussed with me Dr. Edward Sri’s Men and Women and the Mystery of Love.” Time Commitment to Study: In addition to participating in the weekly class meeting, Students should expect a minimum of 2 1/2 hours per week (30 minutes a day) for reading, study, doing quizzes, working on and completing the project, and writing the weekly reflection. Course Reading: The reading assignments give students an understanding of their identity, the vocation of marriage, the truth and meaning of sex and of the sexes, and insights into forming children. For the first day’s class: please read the required reading from the Bible. Required Reading: 1. The Bible—Genesis 1-‐3; Ephesians 5



2. The Theology of the Body Marriage Preparation, author: Monica Ashour, MTS; MHum. To purchase the book go to www.tobet.org, $19.99 Optional Reading for those who want to earn extra credit: 1. Dr. Edward Sri’s book, Men and Women and the Mystery of Love. (This can also be ordered from www.tobet.org).

Writing: Aquinas Writing Advantage See Table of Contents for Aquinas Writing Advantage Scope and Sequence to help determine the best writing courses for your student(s).

WRITING ESSENTIALS 3: Punctuation and Grammar II (MS 6/7-‐3) *NEW * This course, a continuation of the Writing Essentials series for 6/7 students, is scheduled for three time slots in the spring semester only; the course will not be offered in the fall semester. * This is a two-‐part course; take the Essentials 3 and 4 courses together, to receive one full semester of credit (12 weeks of classes). * Though not required, it is recommended to sign up for Essentials 3 and 4 in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 6 Class dates and starting times: Tuesdays, January 10 to February 14, 2017 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) OR Wednesdays, January 11 to February 15, 2017 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) OR Wednesdays, January 11 to February 15, 2017 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: Required: Essentials 1: Punctuation and Grammar I (MS 6/7-‐1) and Essentials 2: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing I (MS 6/7-‐2). You may take the prerequisite courses 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: 6th and 7th grade Fee: $89 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $109 after Nov. 15 for all 6 classes. ($129 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This is an essential writing course for all middle school students, designed to further your middle school student’s 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 student’s 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. WRITING ESSENTIALS 4: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing II (MS 6/7-‐4) *NEW * This course, a continuation of the Writing Essentials series for 6/7 students, is scheduled three time slots in the spring semester only; the course will not be offered in the fall semester. * This is a two-‐part course; take the Essentials 3 and 4 courses together, to receive one full semester of credit (12 weeks of classes). * Though not required, it is recommended to sign up for Essentials 3 and 4 in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 6 Class dates and starting times: Tuesdays, February 21 to March 28; 2017. 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific)

OR Wednesdays, February 22 to April 5; 2017. No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday. 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) OR Wednesdays, February 22 to April 5; 2017. No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday. 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) 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: 6th and 7th 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 student’s 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 student’s ability. All writing assignments are graded by the instructor. SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 3: Writing the Excellent Essay (MS 7/8-‐3) *NEW * This course, a continuation of the Simplified Writing series for 7/8 students, is scheduled during three time slots in the spring semester only; the course will not be offered in the fall semester. * This is a two-‐part course; take the Simplified Writing 3 and 4 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 3 and 4 in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 8 Class dates and starting times: Tuesdays, January 10 to February 28, 2017 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) OR Thursdays, January 12 to March 2, 2017 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 PM Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) OR Thursdays, January 12 to March 2, 2017 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 2: Introduction to Essays and Papers I (MS 7/8-‐2). Students may take the requisite courses live or 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: 7th and 8th grade Fee: $177 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $197 after Nov. 15 for all 8 classes. ($217 after Jan. 2) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This course takes the skills learned Simplified Writing 1 and 2 and puts into practice the writing of essays, with specific feedback and coaching regarding how your student's writing can improve. Students will go through the start-‐to-‐finish process of creating an academic essay. Attention will be given to using all of the correct forms and skills of writing to this point in the Essentials and Simplified Writing courses. Course outline: Class 1: Types of essays – an introduction to rhetoric and choosing an essay topic Class 2: Narrowing topics (from last class); brainstorming content for your topic and creating the thesis statement Class 3: Analyzing and improving thesis statements (from last class); creating outlines Class 4: Analyzing and improving outlines (from last class); creating introductions Class 5: Creating rough drafts Class 6: Revising the essay Class 7: Editing the essay Class 8: Formatting for the academic essay; an introduction to style guides



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 student’s ability. SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 4: Writing Form and Style (MS 7/8-‐4) *NEW * This course, a continuation of the Simplified Writing series for 7/8 students, is scheduled during three time slots in the spring semester only; the course will not be offered in the fall semester. * This is a two-‐part course; take the Simplified Writing 3 and 4 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 3 and 4 in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 6 Class dates and starting times: Tuesdays, March 7 to April 18, 2017. No class Apr. 11 for Holy Week. 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central; 1:30 Mountain; 12:30 Pacific) OR Thursdays, March 9 to April 20; 2017. No class April 13 for Holy Thursday. 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 PM Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) OR Thursdays, March 9 to April 20; 2017. No class April 13 for Holy Thursday. 3:30 PM Eastern (1:00 PM Central; Noon Mountain; 11:00 Pacific) Duration: 50 minutes Prerequisite: SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 3: Writing the Excellent Essay (MS 7/8-‐3). Students may take the requisite 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 and 8th grade Fee: $97 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $117 after Nov. 15 for all 6 classes. ($137 after Feb. 28) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This course instructs your student in the many types of non-‐fiction and fiction writing that he/she will encounter, including descriptive writing, reviews, how-‐to articles and instructions, news articles and journalistic reporting, types of business writing, speeches, creative/expressive story writing (songs, plays, and other forms of story) and the kinds of writing used in the bible (epistles/letters, genealogical writing, historical narratives, laws and statutory writing, parables, poetry, and proverbial writing). Special emphasis will be placed on knowing the characteristics of each kind of writing and how to identify types of writing. Students will also experiment within and practice writing within most of the forms. This course will use all of the skills of writing to this point in the Essentials and Simplified Writing courses for middle school students. Course outline: Class 1: Types of Writing Overview, Purpose and Audience, Nonfiction and Fiction Writing Class 2: How-‐to Writing and Instructional Writing Class 3: An introduction to Journalism and News Reporting Class 4: Expressive Writing – Forms of Story and Expression Class 5: Descriptive Writing



Class 6: Business Writing Class 7: Writing Reviews and Speeches Class 8: Forms of Writing in the Bible 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 student’s ability. HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 2: Excellent Paragraphs and Essay Writing (HS 9-‐3) * This course is scheduled during two time slots in the Spring Semester only; the course will not be offered in the Fall Semester. * This is a two-‐part course; take the Essentials 3 and 4 courses together, to receive one full semester of credit (14 weeks of classes). * Though not required, it is recommended to sign up for Essentials 1 and 2 courses in the same Time Offering (same time slot) within each semester. Total Classes: 6 Class dates: Wednesdays, January 11 to February 15, 2017 Spring 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). Can be taken as live or recorded classes. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 9th grade; however, all students are welcome Suggested credit: ½ semester Writing or English. Combine with High School Simplified Writing 2 for a full semester credit. Fee: $99 on or before November 15, 2016; $119 after Nov. 15 for all 6 classes. ($139 after Jan. 3) Instructor: Sharon Hamric-‐Weis, BSEd, JD Course description: This is an essential writing course for all high school students, to make sure that your student has critical high school writing foundations in place for writing well-‐crafted sentences and paragraphs—including the absolute “must-‐have” knowledge, review, and practice for the use of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions and prepositional phrases, and compound sentence structures, as well as transitions and connectives, the use of quoted material, summary, and paraphrase. Even if your student has learned foundational concepts before, the approach in his class is to use high school vocabulary and structures that are more complex and needed for upper-‐level writing. From mastering the details that are holding your student back from writing well to providing much-‐needed practice, help your student perfect the essential tools for high school writing. Course outline: Class 1: Using strong nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in well-‐constructed sentences Class 2: Capitalization, punctuation, and using quotation marks in dialogue and academic writing; prepositions and prepositional phrases Class 3: Linear writing, transitions, and connectives in sentences and paragraphs Class 4: Writing with summary and paraphrase Class 5: Answering essay questions: structure, form, and content I



Class 6: Answering essay questions: structure, form, and content 2 Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. eBook: Simplified Writing Essentials for High School Students, by EB Conroy. Ordering information forthcoming. Homework: Estimated three to five hours per week for homework outside of class time, depending on the student’s ability. Writing assignments graded by the instructor. HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 2: Beyond the Five-‐Paragraph 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: ½ 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 you’ll 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 reader’s 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. VOCABULARY AND WRITING, Part Two (HS 10-‐2) * This course is offered during the Spring Semester only. * This is a two-‐part course; it is expected that students will enroll in both semesters. Total Classes: 14 Class dates: Fridays, January 13 to April 21, 2017. No class April 14 for Good Friday. Starting time: Noon Eastern Time (11:00 Central; 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes 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 first, but it is not required. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 10th grade. However, all students are welcome. Suggested credit: 1 full semester Vocabulary & Writing, Writing, or English. Fee: $197 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $217 after Nov. 15 for all 14 classes. ($237 after Jan. 5) Instructor: Sharon Hamric-‐Weis, BSEd, JD Course description: In this course (the second of two successive courses), your student will learn to use upper-‐level vocabulary words related to writing that are 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 writing—and 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 student’s 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: Persuasion; Sources, Citations, & Plagiarism Class 2: Research Class 3: Critical Reading; Literary Forms & Genres I Class 4: Literary Forms & Genres II Class 5: Themes in Writing Class 6: Rhetoric & Literary Techniques Class 7: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, & Devices I Class 8: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, & Devices II Class 9: Narration; Dissecting Passages of Text I Class 10: Description; Dissecting Passages of Text II Class 11: Illustration, Exemplification, & Highly Effective Essays Class 12: Comparison & Contrast in Writing Class 13: Process Analysis & Context Class 14: Division & Classification; Writing Cogent, Organized Essays I Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Book: EB Conroy’s 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. FICTION WRITING 4: Theme, Style, & Point of View (HS 11-‐4) 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 Hero’s 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, January 12 to February 2, 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-‐5 (Conflict) and HS 11-‐6 or 11-‐7 (Authoring a Book 1 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 Jan. 4) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This course teaches the key components of creating dynamic theme, style, and point of view for fiction books of any genre. Designed for writing fiction for middle grade, young adult, and adult plots, the course covers types of theme, how to develop theme, developing your style of writing, and all of the major fiction writing points of view. The course will also center on how to implement the Christian worldview into your theme. Course outline: Class 1: What is theme and how to use it in your book Class 2: What is style and how to develop yours Class 3: Point of view Class 4: Integrating theme, style, and point of view to create a dynamic story 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. FICTION WRITING 5: Conflict & Creating the Breakout Novel (HS 11-‐5) 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 Hero’s 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, February 9 to March 2, 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. Your student will also need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested credit: 1/3 semester Creative Writing. Take this course with HS 11-‐4 (Theme, Style, & POV) and HS 11-‐7 or 11-‐7 (Authoring a Book 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 Feb. 1) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: This course teaches the key components of creating conflict that gives us the breakout novel. The course will also center on how to implement the Christian worldview into your conflict. Course outline: Class 1: What makes a great novel and “stakes” (personal and universal) Class 2: Conflict in the setting, characters, and plot Class 3: Playing the “what if” game: making your character do the unthinkable Class 4: Cliffhangers, self-‐sacrifice, and turning points 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. FICTION WRITING 6: Authoring a Book, Part 1: How it Works, What it Takes, and How to Succeed (HS 11-‐6) 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 Hero’s 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 it’s 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. FICTION WRITING 8: Writing the Short Story (HS 11-‐8) 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 Hero’s 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, 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 student’s ability. BUSINESS WRITING 2: Foundations of Journalism (HS 11-‐10) Series description: There are currently two one-‐semester courses in the Business Writing series. Students can take the Business Writing courses in any order; however, this course is only offered in the Spring Semester. Total Classes: 8 Class dates: Wednesdays, January 18 to March 15, 2017. No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday. Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Required: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2). Students should be able to competently use Microsoft Word. 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: 2/3 a semester’s credit; add the composition of your own documents from the coursework to create a full semester credit, Fee: $157 if you sign up on or before July 15, 2016; $177 if you sign up after July 15 for all 8 classes. ($197 after Jan. 10) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: Full of information and hands-‐on writing, this course introduces journalism in a sturdy overview, helping your student both understand and practice his or her writing skills in the genre of reporting writing. Whether you’re interested in learning about how the news that you read is created or in becoming a writer of news stories yourself – look over the course outline below. If you see yourself enjoying all that’s here, sign up for this course today. Course outline: Class 1: What is a journalist? (Journalism Overview), a brief history of journalism, and First Amendment Freedoms Class 2: Ethics in Journalism, quoting and Interviewing, and how journalists can shape a message Class 3: News Today – what it is, how it’s reported and written, news leads, and headlines and bylines Class 4: Features: multiple feature news stories, people, ideas, and trends; and investigative reporting Class 5: Writing editorials and columns Class 6: How reviews and opinion writing are a part of journalism today Class 7: News magazines and writing news articles, online journalism, and broadcast journalism Class 8: The brilliance of advertising, page layout, and graphic design in journalism Course materials: All materials are provided FREE via the instructor. Homework: Weekly writing assignments, with direct feedback from the instructor with an estimated three to four hours per week for homework outside of class time, including reading, writing, and responding to feedback.



ADVANCED RHETORIC & WRITING 1: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, Essays, & Papers (HS 12-‐1) * Foundational for All High School Students and Essential for College-‐Bound Students * Registration is limited to 12 students. If the course fills, sign up for the waiting list or email us for other options. * This is not “Part Two”. This course is offered twice, once in the Fall and again in the Spring. Total classes: 10 Spring class dates: Wednesdays, January 11 to March 22, 2017 No class March 1 for Ash Wednesday. Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2) is required (live classes or Unlimited Access). Exceptions are granted only with written permission from the instructor. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 12th grade. However, all students who have completed the prerequisites are welcome. Suggested credit: 1 semester Writing or English Fee: $217 if you register on or before November 15, 2016. $237 after Nov. 15 for all 10 classes. ($257 after Jan. 3) Instructor: Sharon Hamric-‐Weis, BSEd, JD Course description: This course content is known as a prerequisite for many colleges for college-‐bound students. Designed to give the teen skills that make writing strong and clear, your student will learn methods of rhetoric and how to use the skills in all of the main conventions of writing used in college—including in-‐depth use of nine basic forms of rhetoric (rhetorical modes); be able to identify and use major rhetorical strategies and figures of speech; and pre-‐write, draft, and edit a comparison and contrast paper, including use of the hook, thesis, introduction construction, conclusions, and rewriting with specific, individual feedback from the instructor. Vocabulary related to upper-‐level writing will be introduced and integrated into the learning. Specific class time will be used to show how to edit and revise upper-‐level work. Course outline: Class 1: The academic paper; advanced academic writing with strong thesis construction, hooks, and introductions Class 2: Rhetorical Mode 1: Narration; rhetorical strategies and figures of speech (tropes, aposiopesis, apostrophe, chiasmus, epithet) 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 paper’s 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 paper’s 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. ADVANCED RHETORIC & WRITING 2: Research Writing (HS 12-‐2) College Preparatory Registration is limited to 12 students. If the course fills, sign up for the waiting list or email us for other options. Total classes: 10 Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Class dates: Fridays, January 13 to March 10, 2017. Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Required: ADVANCED RHETORIC & WRITING 1: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, Essays, & Papers (HS 12-‐1), which may be taken as a live course or through Unlimited Access. Exceptions are granted only with written permission from the instructor. Your student will need Word 2007 or later version or the ability to convert a document to a Word-‐compatible document. Suggested grade level: 12th grade. However, all students who have successfully completed the prerequisites are welcome. Suggested credit: 1 semester Writing or English Fee: $210 if you register on or before November 15, 2015; $230 after Nov. 15, for all 10 classes. ($250 after Jan. 5) Instructor: Sharon Hamric-‐Weis, BSEd, JD Course description: This course will cover advanced research and writing methods for argumentative research writing, how to craft an advanced research paper, and understanding style guides (APA, CMS/Turabian, MLA, AP). A bibliography and research paper will be written during the course. Course outline: Class 1: What is research writing? Terms and methods Class 2: Advanced research methods: Using libraries and the Internet Class 3: Style guides and citations Class 4: Creating a bibliography Class 5: Creating your outline and thesis: advanced methods Class 6: Prewriting: styles and completeness Class 7: Outline with rough-‐cut proofs Class 8: The rough draft Class 9: Revising and editing Class 10: Final drafts Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. eBooks: 1) Simplified Research Writing by EB Conroy (ordering information forthcoming); and 2) Simplified Writing 101: Top Secrets for College Success by EB Conroy, www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00B7AB90W/catholictreas-‐20. (Download the Kindle app for free to easily read on your PC, Mac, iPad, iPod, or mobile device).



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. HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 5: Punctuation and Grammar II (HS X-‐5) Fully Understanding Punctuation & Grammar * This course is for students who want to confirm and excel in their skills. College preparatory. Total classes: 6 Class dates: Mondays, February 27 to April 3, 2017 Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific) Note: Because this course’s dates “fit” the schedule to immediately follow the weeks of HS 9-‐1 Punctuation and Grammar I, you can sign up for both Punctuation and Grammar I and II courses during the Spring semester if desired. Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Required. HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I (HS 9-‐1). Prerequisite can be taken as a live course or through 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: 9th to 12th grade 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 Feb. 19) Instructor: Lisa Mladinich. Course description: This course continues your student’s 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 doesn’t 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: 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.



HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 6: Essay Writing Practicum (HS X-‐6) For students who want to confirm, practice, and excel in their skills using essays and papers from outside sources. This workshop only takes 12 students. Make sure to register early to ensure a seat. Total classes: 8 Class dates: Fridays, January 13 to March 3, 2017 Starting time: 1:30 PM EDT (12:30 Central; 11:30 Mountain; 10:30 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Required: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2). Prerequisites can be taken as live course 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. Can be taken concurrently with other writing courses for extra practice. Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade Suggested credit: 2/3 semester Writing or English. Add another course for full credit. Fee: $127 if you register on or before November 15, 2016; $147 after Nov. 15 for all 8 classes. ($167 after Jan. 5) Instructor: TBA 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 course’s 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) college-‐scholarship 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. FICTION WRITING: The Hero’s Journey & Mythic Structure for Writers, Part Two (HS X-‐10)



This is Part Two of a 2-‐part course. Students are welcome to join us midyear as the two courses can be taken in any order. This course can be taken with any other fiction writing courses. Total classes: 8 Class dates: January 12 to March 2, 2017 Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 Central, 10:00 Mountain; 9:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes 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 11-‐level 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 Writer’s 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. FICTION WRITING: Screenwriting, Part Two (HS X-‐12) *NEW For students who want to excel in fiction writing skills and jumpstart college literature courses; this is both a college and career prep course. Sign up for Screenwriting Parts One and Two together, to complete the requisite book; the course is complete with both semesters.



Total classes: 8 Class dates: Fridays, January 13 March 3, 2017 Starting time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time (9:00 Central; 8:00 Mountain; 7:00 Pacific) Duration: 55 minutes Prerequisite: Screenwriting I or instructor permission, a thirst to create, and a love of story in movies! 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 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 Jan. 5) Instructor: Erin Brown Conroy, MA, MFA Course description: As a fiction writing course, this is a continuation of the 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, in order 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: The Beat Sheet, Film Analysis, and Shorts (Chapter Four) Week 2: Putting Ideas into Loglines and Beat Sheets Week 3: The Beat Sheet as a Business Plan (Chapter Five) and More on Script Dialogue Week 4: Crafting Scenes and The Hollywood Rules of Screenplays 1 (Chapter Six) Week 5: Crafting Scenes and The Hollywood Rules of Screenplays 2 (Chapter Six) Week 6: “Script Repair” (Chapter Seven) Week 7: The Business of Screenwriting (Chapter Eight) Week 8: Final Short Screenplay Discussions Course materials: Word 2007 or later version. Book: The Writer’s 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: Students will read from the text, read posted articles, complete pre-‐scene exercises, and write loglines, outlines (beat sheets), and scenes. The final project is in the second semester is a short script (12 to 15 pages). Time spent working on homework varies between individuals and their writing skills and speed. Students can expect to spend an average of two and four hours a week on homework. For the final project, students may spend more time.



Frequently Asked Questions Q: Are your courses Catholic? A: Yes, all of our courses are taught with a strong Catholic ethos. Q: How are high school credits applied? A: Parents are the ultimate authority on their children’s work. We give a Suggested Credit for each course. This suggestion is based on the student who participates fully in class, completes all assignments, and spends time outside of class reading, researching, and writing. Q: Is Homeschool Connections an accredited school? A: No. For the purpose of high school transcripts this should not be an issue. College admissions departments are use to accepting credits from homeschool families, who are of course entirely unaccredited, as well as from private Christian schools, many of which are also unaccredited. Additionally, there are accrediting services that will issue an accredited diploma for you. See the Table of Contents for more information: FAQ: Accreditation. Q: Are you a full service home study school? A: No, we are not a school and do not provide record keeping or counseling services. Homeschool Connections was created to supplement what parents are already doing. We have families take advantage of our courses who are enrolled in Seton, Kolbe, Mother of Divine Grace, etc. We also have many families who design their own curriculum using classical, unit studies, Charlotte Mason, and other pedagogical models. We’re here to help families, from those who consider themselves unschoolers to those who follow a very strict scope and sequence. Our goal is to meet parents where they are and help them get the most out of their resources. Q: What kind of equipment do I need? A: Students are required to have a computer, high-‐speed Internet, and a headset with microphone. Q: Do you offer support on the technical requirements for each class? A. Yes, we use two different types of platforms to aid your student's learning experience. And from time to time students and parents need help with each platform. We are happy to respond to each and every question within 24 hours. We want to make sure that the challenges of taking an online class are mitigated as much as possible so your student can commit to learning and not worry about the technology. Q: How does a student "attend class"? A: Students receive an email with a link to the “classroom.” Classes take place in an audio/visual classroom where the teacher and students meet in a real time environment. The instructor converses directly with students. The student is able to see and hear the voice of the instructor. Students can respond two ways. They can type in chat or “raise their hand” to respond orally using their headset. Q: Your courses are very reasonable but my budget is tight. How can I save money on your live courses? A: First, take advantage of the early enrollment discounts. They can save you $10 to $25 per course. Second, sign up for our online newsletter. We occasionally offer coupons or special deals. Q: How do I get the Early Enrollment Discount? A: All you do is enroll before the deadline. The discounted price is automatic. Q: Will the instructor be available outside of class time? A: Yes. All of our instructors are available during class time through question and discussion, as well as via e-‐mail in between the live classes. Some also offer Skype or phone office hours. Q: How does my child prepare for the classes and get the most out of them? 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 [email protected]. 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? 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 they’re doing right or wrong. The recorded courses are cheaper and can be taken at a student’s 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 instructor’s 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 1st 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/initio-‐academy



Aquinas Writing Advantage: Suggested Scope and Sequence Homeschool Connections has put together a full middle through high school writing program for you and your children: ·∙ Complete, progressive, and thorough ·∙ Give your student all the skills needed—foundations, development, advanced, and creative writing ·∙ 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 child’s 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.

MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSES

SUGGESTED GRADE 6/7 MS 6/7-‐1 WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Punctuation and Grammar I Six weeks Prerequisite: None * 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 6/7-‐2 WRITING ESSENTIALS 2: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing I Six weeks Prerequisite: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Punctuation and Grammar I (MS 6/7-‐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 6/7-‐3 NEW! WRITING ESSENTIALS 3: Punctuation and Grammar II Six weeks Prerequisite: WRITING ESSENTIALS 2: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing I (MS 6/7-‐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. MS 6/7-‐4 NEW! WRITING ESSENTIALS 4: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing II Six weeks Prerequisite: WRITING ESSENTIALS 3: Punctuation and Grammar II (MS 6/7-‐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. SUGGESTED GRADE 7/8 MS 7/8-‐1 SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 1: Foundations of Composition I Eight weeks Prerequisite: WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Punctuation and Grammar I (MS 6/7-‐1), previously or concurrently. * 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 7/8-‐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 7/8-‐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 7/8-‐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 7/8-‐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 7/8-‐4 NEW! SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 4: Writing Form and Style Six weeks Prerequisite: SIMPLIFIED WRITING FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL 3: Writing the Excellent Essay (MS 7/8-‐3). * 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 June 1, 2017.

HIGH SCHOOL COURSES

SUGGESTED 9TH GRADE: ESSENTIAL & SIMPLIFIED WRITING SKILLS HS 9-‐1 HIGH SCHOOL WRITING ESSENTIALS 1: Essential Punctuation and Grammar I Six weeks Prerequisite: None * 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-‐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 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. SUGGESTED 10TH GRADE: VOCABULARY & WRITING HS 10-‐1 VOCABULARY AND WRITING: Vocabulary and Writing, Part One 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). * Available live in the Fall Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded course through Unlimited Access. 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. SUGGESTED 11TH GRADE: FICTION (CREATIVE) WRITING TRACK HS 11-‐1 FICTION WRITING 1: Plot & Structure 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-‐2 (Description & Setting) and HS 11-‐3 (Characters & Dialogue) 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-‐2 FICTION WRITING 2: Description & Setting 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-‐3 (Characters & Dialogue) 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-‐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 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-‐7 (Authoring a Book, Part 2) or 11-‐8 (Writing the Short Story), for a full semester of credit (12 to 16 weeks) * Available live in the Spring Semester only. Also available anytime as a recorded course through Unlimited Access.



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. SUGGESTED 11TH GRADE: BUSINESS WRITING TRACK HS 11-‐9 NEW! BUSINESS WRITING: Professional Business Writing Essentials Eight weeks Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2). * Students should take the Spring Semester of Business Writing (Journalism) with this course, to make the Business Writing Track complete (for a total of 16 weeks of classes). * Available live in the Fall Semester only. Also available as a recorded course through Unlimited Access after January 1, 2017. 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.



SUGGESTED 12TH GRADE: COLLEGE PREP WRITING HS 12-‐1 ADVANCED RHETORIC & WRITING 1: Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, Essays, & Papers Ten weeks Prerequisite: HIGH SCHOOL SIMPLIFIED WRITING 1: Strong Foundational Writing Skills (HS 9-‐2) is required. * Available live in both the Fall and Spring Semesters. Also available anytime as a recorded course through Unlimited Access. 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. WRITING EXCELLENCE COURSES The following courses are exceptional advanced courses that can be taken at any time during high school, if the student meets the prerequisite requirements. 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. 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 Hero’s 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 Hero’s 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 Hero’s 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 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.



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 child’s 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 child’s 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?

• Some high schools will ask for an accredited transcript.



• If the school will not accept a student’s transcript, they will likely evaluate the student using standardized testing, whether the homeschool program is accredited or not.

• If you have plans to put your child into a local site-‐based school, check their policy on transfer students. Q. Is it necessary to have attended an accredited high school or program to be accepted to a college or university?

• No. The high school’s accreditation or non-‐accreditation status is not a factor in the evaluation of a high school student’s eligibility for college admission, except in rare cases. Check with perspective colleges if you are unsure.

• A school’s accredited status from any accrediting organization does not provide a legal guarantee that a student will be accepted into any private or public institution.

• 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 Get the Most Out of Your Live, Interactive Classes

Here are some tips to help you and your child prepare for Homeschool Connections classes and get the most out of them.

• 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 you’d 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. • Email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or ever need help.



Student Expectations for Live, Interactive Courses 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. D. Communication (Questions, Comments, and Concerns) 1. Course Content a. Contacting the Instructor. All questions about course content and student performance should be directed to the instructor. Instructors will respond within 24 hours, with the exception of Sundays, holy days, and breaks. Your instructor's email address can be found on the Moodle course page. If you have trouble locating it, you can email homeschoolconnections.com.



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 [email protected]. (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. E. Academic Dishonesty (Cheating and Plagiarism) 1. Plagiarism Defined a. A Detailed Definition. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, taking someone else's assignment and submitting it as your own; paraphrasing the ideas of another author without giving the name and source; submitting papers from the Internet as your own; and providing your work to another student to be copied (supporting plagiarism). b. Theft and Lying. Plagiarism and cheating defraud the instructor of the opportunity to assess your work and ability. They are acts of theft and lying. 2. Cheating Defined a. A Detailed Definition. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, using memory aids during tests or quizzes without the instructor's expressed permission; using summaries/commentaries (Spark Notes, Cliff Notes, etc.) instead of reading the required works; accessing answer keys before completing homework or taking a test/quiz; copying another student's homework; and using the computer/internet to translate your language assignment. b. Help on Assignments. Having another person, student, friend, or family member assist with the work (beyond what has been expressed in the class as acceptable help) is also considered cheating. 3. Grading and Academic Dishonesty The first incident of academic dishonesty results in an F for the assignment. Your parents will be notified, and you'll be placed on academic probation. The second incident results in expulsion from the course without a refund. 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.