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Saturday, August 31, 2013

Hillside Education and Catholic Homeschooling

Hillside Education has very generously donated several books to The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway. Margot Davidson, owner and publisher, has been a blessing to the Catholic homeschoolers for many years, providing a variety of books, study guides, and magazines. Please visit Hillside's website to see if and how their selection can enhance your homeschool.

Here are the books being offered in the giveaway:

Fenestrae Fidei Coloring Book by Sean Fitzpatrick

The Kings Gambit by John McNichol

Great Yarns by Mary Gildersleeve

Mondays with Mary by Meredith Henning

In His Image by Mary Gildersleeve
Thank your Hillside Education and authors for your donation to The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!





Little Flowers Girls Clubs and Blue Knights Boys Clubs

NOTE: Little Flowers Girls Clubs and Blue Knights Boys Clubs are part of the THE Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!
"Be a part of every Catholic's favorite girls and boys clubs! Little Flowers Girls' Club and Blue Knights Catholic Boys are so easy, so fun, so faith-filled! Don't miss out! Find out more today at: www.beholdpublications.com";
My children have taken part in Little Flowers Girls Clubs and Blue Knights Boys Clubs over the years and loved them. Even more than me! If you're not familiar with the clubs, they are "catechetical programs" that are as fun as they are educational. They aim to instill virtues in children through games, activities, stories, etc.

Some families use these clubs as alternatives to Girls Scouts or Boy Scouts. Parishes use them as part of their religious education programs. Homeschool communities use them as part of their group activites. However you use them, I assure you that your children will be introduced to the saints and virtues in an enjoyable and positive way.

If you would like to learn more about the clubs, everything you need to know can be found here (click on the club title you're interested in exploring):

Blue Knights Boys Clubs

Little Flowers Girls Clubs

Thank you Behold Publications for your donation of a $25 gift certificate for The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool giveaway!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Mondays with Mary by Meredith Henning

 NOTE: Meredith Henning's (autographed!) book is part of THE Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Mondays with Mary is a wonderful collection of devotions, crafts, and recipes for Marian themed teatimes. Meredith does a beautiful job of helping parents introduce our Blessed Mother to children in a natural, positive way.

Meredith writes:
When we first began spending some time on Mondays with Mary, I was elated to discover such a joyous, engaged response from my children. While this was not their first exposure to Marian devotion, my previous approach (during school time) was not only met with boredom, but also led to discouragement on my part. Mary, I realized, is not someone to learn about; she is someone to yearn for. She is not a project to be finished and then put away; she is a cherished gift from God, a refuge for us to turn to again and again. She is Our Heavenly Mother.
We had always prayed the family rosary in the evening; we had prayed litanies and novenas and carried out many May coronations. We marveled at the birth of Our Lord and at the fiat of His mother . . . but we needed more. I needed more. We needed something special and focused, something that would instill a deep and faithful devotion to Our Blessed Mother in all of us. And so “Mondays with Mary” was born. This book represents a collection of ideas for you and your family to try this practice of spending time reflecting on the life and heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We, as parents, are our children’s guides to her world; we just need to open the window to it . . . Let us go to Jesus through Mary.
~ Meredith Henning
You can find ordering information or learn more by clicking here: Mondays with Mary [Hillside Education]

Thank you Meredith for donating two autographed copies of your book to The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway.

Beautiful Jewlery from Singing Ladybug Jewelry

Maria of Singing Ladybug Jewelry has donated 3 additional prizes to The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway. Maria and her family have been taking Homeschool Connections classes for sometime now. It's so nice have such talent in our midst. Scroll down to see the donated pieces, learn more about Singing Lady Bug, and how to order other jewelery from Maria ...


http://www.etsy.com/listing/157207505/silver-dangles?ref=shop_home_active

http://www.etsy.com/listing/37705393/italian-millifiore?ref=shop_home_feat

http://www.etsy.com/listing/157242909/lovely-loops?ref=shop_home_active

From the website:
We believe that earrings and sparkles make everything better!

Our ETSY shop is a vehicle to help support the fencing ventures of two of our children - who are both - nationally ranked fencers with great potential!

Regrading our jewelry, we like simple pieces that are practical and feminine without being gaudy or overdone!

We've got the jewelry to prepare you for all the special events in your life - and everyday living!

We do custom orders and hope you enjoy looking through our shop!
Each purchase is sent in a lovely organza bag making it ready for gift-giving and all earrings are sent with backs!

Thanks for shopping and tell your friends!  I will ship internationally - just convo me before your purchase and I will let you know the cost!

This is a wonderful way to support a Catholic homeschool family business. We hope you'll check out the website and see all of the beautiful pieces you can purchase.


Thursday, August 29, 2013

Race with the Devil by Joseph Pearce

NOTE: Professor Pearce's (autographed!) book is part of THE Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!
 
We are very, very excited here at Homeschool Connections about Joseph Pearce's newest book, Race with the Devil. It's different from anything he's written in the past. It's his autobiography.

He was a racist. He was a jailed revolutionary. Then something happened. Truth found its way into his cell. Truth found its way into his heart.

In the early 1980s, Professor Pearce was a leader of Britain’s racist National Front. He edited its newspaper, Bulldog. He consorted with terror organizations in Northern Ireland and neo-Nazi punk rockers in London.

And, before he was twenty-five, he was sentenced to prison. Twice.

Then, in the confines of a jail cell, Pearce discovered the great Christian and conservative writers of the 20th Century. Men like Chesterton, Solzhenitsyn, Lewis, Belloc, and Tolkien.

His life would never be the same.

In this exhilarating memoir, Joseph Pearce shares his amazing journey from racist revolutionary to champion of Christendom.

An author of almost twenty books, editor of St. Austin Review, a frequent speaker, and a teacher, Joseph Pearce is one of the foremost literary biographers today. He has chronicled, among others, the life and works of Shakespeare, Chesterton, Belloc, Solzhenitsyn, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien.

It's been an honor to have Professor Pearce teach for Homeschool Connections. We hope you'll check out his book and join Pearce as he recounts his personal race with the devil. It can be ordered here: Race with the Devil: My Journey from Racial Hatred to Rational Love. It'll be released on September 5, 2013. 
“. . . a heart-pounding book, a thing of beauty that kicks the mind with spur after spur.”
— Michael Novak
American Enterprise Institute

Thank you Joseph for donating a signed copy of your new book to The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Mary Gildersleeve's Books for Creative Families

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NOTE: Mary's (autographed!) books are part of THE Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Mary C. Gildersleeve is married, has 5 children (almost 11- to 24-years old) and keeps busy homeschooling, working on the computer, free-lancing articles, writing reviews on a myriad of subjects, and knitting … knitting … knitting just west of Fredericksburg, Virginia.  She is also the author of two books published by Hillside Education: 


1.     Mary wrote Great Yarns for the Close-Knit Family: over two dozen hand-knit designs inspired by a dozen fantastic family read-alouds as a way to link two of her favorite subjects:  reading great books to the family and knitting.  Packed with over two dozen unique designs that were each inspired by the dozen great family read-alouds covered in this book.  Great Yarns is a wonderful link between classic literature and creative pursuits.

2.     Her second book, also published by Hillside Education focuses on how best to nurture creativity in your own family.  In His Image: Nurturing Creativity in the Heart of Your Home (a book which received the Catholic Writers’ Guild Seal of Approval) gives the why you would want to spend valuable time encouraging creative pursuits within your own home.  Further, Gildersleeve packs her book with tips and techniques and ideas for getting creative … something the whole family can enjoy together. 

Mary earned an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from the College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA) and a BA in Print Journalism from Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington).    

Thank you Mary for donating your books to The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

A Picture Perfect Childhood by Cay Gibson

It is amazing how much a child learns by simply having a parent who reads to him for 15 minutes each and every day. A few months ago, Cay Gibson presented a free parent webinar Educating Your Child in 15 Minutes. This webinar is now available in recording and you can watch it free by clicking on the title.

Cay also shares this strategy in her self-published book A Picture Perfect Childhood. She goes into detail on how to include beautifully iluustrated picture books into your family life. Additionally, she includes reading lists that you can take with you to the library or bookstore.

To read reviews, please visit Amazon here: Picture Perfect Childhood: Enhancing your child's imagination and education in 15 minutes a day.

Thank you Cay for donating a copy of your book for The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Making Sense of Mary by Gary Michuta

NOTE: Making Sense of Mary is part of THE Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Gary Michuta, Catholic apologist and HSC instructor, has a new book out this week. This is exciting
news. Gary taught a high school course for us last school year on the topic of Marian theology as he put together his new book. It was pretty exciting for our students and for us too.

From reviews of Making Sense of Mary at amazon.com:

Bravo! Gary Michuta has written a well-researched book explaining Mary in a way that even Protestants can understand. He clears a forest of distortions and misconceptions that people often have, even if it is out of ignorance. Yet, his tone is gracious as he explains from Scripture, and the teachings of the earliest Church, how the Roman-Catholic Church understands Mary. The book will surprise you, whether Protestant, Lutheran, or Roman Catholic.
     The book's rich foray into the Old Testament is especially impressive. All Christians would benefit from reading this book, if only because one would learn how much the Old Covenant foreshadowed the New. His chapter on the Fall into sin ("Eve and the Fall of Adam") is about the best I've read anywhere. That chapter alone is worth the price of the book. And yes, as a side benefit, you would also learn about Mary in a deeper and fuller way.

and
I HIGHLY recommend one read and RE-READ the Answering Common Objections section over and over and over! Make sure to take notes! Purchase this in hard copy AND Kindle edition and make sure to highlight in BOTH editions! Gary covers some questions in an outrageously INTELLIGENT and CONCISE manner! Some of these questions can tongue tie and confuse any average or advanced layman/theologian. The manner in which Gary goes about masterfully answering these objections is to be commended. Simply put: Awesome

You can purchase the book directly from: Grotto Press
Or, purchase the Kindle version from: Amazon

Thank you Gary for donating a copy of your book for The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway!

Sunday, August 25, 2013

The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway

NOTE: CONTEST BEGINS AT 12:01 AM PACIFIC TIME MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013. CONTEST ENDS AT 11:59 PM PACIFIC TIME SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2013.

Homeschool Connections is very happy to announce that students will be able to use their iPads and other portable devices to participate in both our live and recorded courses, beginning in September. Yes, you'll be able to take your classes with you, wherever you go!

To celebrate, we're giving away a free iPad. Yes, you heard that right, a free iPad. Plus, just because we love to give away prizes, we have a whole slew of other prizes for you. Click on the prize names to find details about the prizes:

iPad from Apple.com
$25 gift certificate from Little Flowers Girls Club and Blue Knights Boys Club
Catholic Daily Planner from MicheleQuigley.com (available late September)
For the Love of Literature by Maureen Wittmann (autographed)
Mondays with Mary by Meredith Henning (autographed)
Race with the Devil by Joseph Pearce (autographed, available mid September)
Making Sense of Mary by Gary Michuta (autographed, brand new release)
Picture Perfect Childhood by Cay Gibson (autographed)
Great Yarns by Mary Gildersleeve (autographed)
In His Image by Mary Gildersleeve (autographed)
The Kings Gambit by John McNichol
Fenestrae Fidei Coloring Book by Sean Fitzpatrick
UPDATE: We've added new prizes. Jewelry from Singing Ladybug Jewelry to three winners!

So, how do you enter The Ultimate Catholic Homeschool Giveaway? Easy schmeasy. Just use the fun widget below ...


a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can click on the arrows beside the iPad to see pictures of all the prizes.

God bless you all. We're praying for a fantastic school year for you!!!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Who's Your Favorite HSC Instructor?



Recorded Courses by Instructor

This alphabetical list sorts our recorded courses by instructor. If you have a favorite Homeschool Connections instructor, this is an easy way to check out his or her other courses.

Alvis, Catherine
Latin I Boot Camp: Introduction to Latin
Latin II Readiness Boot Camp
Latin II/III Boot Camp: Cattus Petasatus

Ashour, Monica
History/Theology: Church History; Trinitarian
Theology: Christian Anthropology—Who Am I?
Theology: Moral Theology—How Shall I Live?
Theology: Ecclesiology & Sacramental Theology—How Shall I Glorify God?
Theology: Theology of the Body: “The Best Method of Educating Man”

Brock, Dayspring
Literature/Writing (Middle School): The Heroic in Arthurian Literature
Literature (Middle School): Mark Twain; Friends, Fiends, and Freedom in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Literature (High School): English Literature and the Question of Evil

Campbell, Phillip
Archeology/History: An Archaeological Survey of the Old and New Testaments
Economics: Economics as if People Matter (Micro and Macro)
Economics: Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching
Logic: Logic I; Introduction to Formal Logic (available June 2014)
History: Foundations of Christian Historiography
History: The Dawn of History; Dawn of History: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Persia (Available January 2014)
History (Middle School): The Dawn of History; Dawn of History: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Persia (Available January 2014)
History: The Glory of Ancient Greece (Available June 2014)
History (Middle School): The Glory of Ancient Greece (Available June 2014)
History: The Life and Times of the Ancient Romans
History (Middle School): The Life and Times of the Ancient Romans
History: Catholic Middle Ages
History: Roots of the Revolt, 1417-1560
History: The Age of the Religious Wars, 1560-1648
History: World History; 12 Inventions That Revolutionized the World
History: Early American History, 1492-1763
History: U. S. History, 1763-1865
History: Modern American History; 1865 to 2000
History: The Great Depression; 1929 to 1941
History: Understanding the Second Vatican Council

Conroy, Erin Brown (EB)
Science: Health, Fitness, and Wellness for Middle School Students
Test Prep: SAT Quick Test Prep
Test Prep: ACT Test Prep
Test Prep: ACT English and Writing Test Prep
Life Skills: Leadership and Interpersonal Communications Skills
Life Skills: How to Be an Excellent Student: Note Taking, Test Taking, and Getting an A+
Writing: Essential Punctuation and Grammar for Middle School
Writing: Essential Punctuation and Grammar for High School
Writing: Middle School Writing Essentials: Excellent Sentence and Paragraph Writing
Writing: Essential Writing for High School: Excellent Paragraph and Essay Test Writing
Writing: Simplified Writing for Middle School
Writing: Simplified Writing for High School
Writing: Fiction Writing; Plot and Structure
Writing: Fiction Writing; Description and Setting
Writing: Fiction Writing; Characters and Dialogue  
Writing: Fiction Writing: Theme, Style, and Point of View
Writing: Fiction Writing; Conflict and Creating the Breakout Novel
Writing: Fiction Writing: Authoring a Book: What it Takes and How to Succeed
Writing: Advanced Fiction Writing: The Hero’s Journey and Mythic Structure for Writers, Part One (Available January 2014)
Writing: Advanced Fiction Writing: The Hero’s Journey and Mythic Structure for Writers, Part Two (Available June 2014)
Writing: HS Essentials: Vocabulary and Writing, Part One (Available January 2014)
Writing: HS Essentials: Vocabulary and Writing, Part Two (Available June 2014)
Writing: Middle School Writing II
Writing: Advanced High School Writing; Rhetoric, Figures of Speech, Essays, and Papers
Writing: Advanced Research Writing: Preparing for College

Correira, Kris
Science (Middle School): Topics in Life Science I; The Cell (Available January 2014)
Science: Heart and Lungs; the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems (Anatomy & Physiology)
Science: Blood and Immunity; Hematology and Immune System (Anatomy & Physiology)
Science: Musculoskeletal System and Nervous System (Anatomy & Physiology)

Kathy Dutton
Chemistry I / Honors Chemistry I (Available January 2014)

Gotcher, Robert
Literature: Chesterton; Man of Letters
Literature: The Space Trilogy of C. S. Lewis
Literature: Tolkien and Fairy Stories
Logic: Formal Logic I ; Introduction to Logic
Logic: Formal Logic II; Advanced Logic
Theology: Catholic Spiritual Writers
Theology: Introduction to the Bible; New Testament
Theology: Introduction to the Bible; Old Testament
Theology: The Trinity
Theology: The Mass Explained
Writing: Writing for High School
Writing: Writing for College

Harris, David
Economics: Principles of Economics (Micro) and Catholic Perspectives
Life Skills: Personal Finances for Teens

Henry, Emily
Latin ½; Beginning Middle School Latin  (Jenney’s)
Latin I  (Wheelock)
Latin II  (Wheelock)
Latin III/IV; College Preparatory Latin (Available January 2014)

Hoeft, Jean
Math Boot Camp: Preparing for Pre-Algebra
Math Boot Camp: Preparing for Algebra
Math Boot Camp: Preparing for Algebra II
Math: Pre-Algebra; Saxon
Math: Algebra I; Saxon
Math: Algebra II; Saxon
Math: Geometry; Saxon
Math: Advanced Topics in Math (Pre-Calculus); Saxon

Mausolf, Alexis, MA
German I
German II (Available January 2014)

Michuta, Gary
Aquinas Connections (Adult): Practical Catholic Apologetics
Theology (Middle School): Apologetics for Catholics
Theology: Apologetics Boot Camp
Theology: Defending the Bible in Modern Times
Theology: Apologetics; Peter and the Papacy (Available January 2014)
Theology: Advanced Catholic Apologetics

Negri, Jason
Government/Law: Introduction to Law; Fundamentals of the American Legal System

Pacwa SJ, Mitch
Aquinas Connections (Adult): Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem in Luke’s Gospel

Palmer, Dave
Philosophy: The Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas

Pearce, Joseph
Literature: Romeo and Juliet; The Catholic Shakespeare
Literature: Hamlet; The Catholic Shakespeare
Literature: The Hobbit (Available January 2014)
Literature: Lord of the Rings (Available May 2014)

Prentice, Derek
Aquinas Connections (Adult): Career Search Skills
Life Skills: Job Search Skills for Teens

Reynolds, Carol (Professor Carol)
Art and Music Appreciation: Discovering Western Culture through Music and the Arts (Available January 2014)

Rioux, Jean
Logic/Philosophy: Fallacies and Paradoxes
Philosophy: What Do Philosophers Do and How Do They Do It?
Philosophy: Introduction to Early Modern Philosophy
Philosophy: Philosophy of God: Natural Theology

Rivet, Ed
Government: Government, Democracy, and Citizenship
Government: Advanced American Government
Government: American Elections: Democracy in Action

Rolling, Alecia
German 1/2
Latin I (D’ooge)
Latin II (D’ooge)

Rolling, Kenneth
History (Middle School): The Greeks; Fathers of Enquiry
Literature (Middle School): Drama in Myth
Philosophy: What is Beauty?

Russell, Henry
Literature: Homer’s Odyssey; The Soul of Pre-Socratic Wisdom
Literature: The Iliad:  Glory and the Will of God
Literature: Sophocles and Tragedy
Literature: Virgil’s Aeneid; The Founding of Nations in the Will of God
Literature: Beowulf and Christ
Literature: Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer; Trust God and Tradition
Literature: King Arthur and Christ; Heroism and Holiness
Literature: Macbeth; The Catholic Shakespeare
Literature: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; Chivalry, Courtesy and Chastity
Literature: Scarlet Letter
Literature: Death Comes for the Archbishop (American Classics Series)
Literature: The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton (Modern Catholic Classics Series)
Literature: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (Modern Catholic Classics Series)
Literature: Redemptive Comedy of Flannery O’Connor (American Classics Series)
Literature: The Hobbit
Literature: The Lord of the Rings; The Fellowship of the Ring
Literature: The Lord of the Rings; The Two Towers
Literature: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Literature: Dante’s Inferno (Available January 2014)
Literature: Dante’s Purgatory (Available June 2014)
Literature: Dante’s Paradise (Available January 2015)

Schmitt, Irma
Spanish (Middle School) ½
Spanish (Middle School) I (Available January 2014)
Spanish I
Spanish II
Spanish III (Available January 2014)

Stanley, Alison
History (Middle School): The Civil War Years; A Nation Divided
History (Middle School): The Revolutionary War
History (Middle School): World War I; What Price Glory (Available January 2014)
History (Middle School): World War II (Available June 2014)
Gov./Law: Constitutional Law: Supreme Court Jurisprudence I
Gov./Law: The First Amendment; The Five Freedoms
Gov./Law: The Federalist Papers (Available January 2014)

Watkins, Matt
Science: Environmental Science

Christopher Zehnder
Latin: Beginning Latin for Middle School; Lingua Latina (Available January 2014)
History: Making of the Modern World (Available January 2014)



Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Why Should My Child Learn American Sign Language?

Top Ten List
Why Learn ASL?

1. It is a beautiful language. There is more to American Sign Language than simply memorizing signs for words. It has it's own set of grammatical rules and structures. If you've watched an interpreter at a concert or a church, remember how you were intrigued by the hand and body movements to communicate without oral language. Beautiful.

2. Language for dyslexic students. Students with dyslexia have a very difficult time learning foreign languages. American Sign language is an exception. Because dyslexics learn best through multi-sensory methods and because ASL is a multi-sensory language, it is a perfect fit.

3. Fulfills most colleges' foreign language requirement. Over 40 states have passed laws recognizing American Sign Language as a complete and natural language. Hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the United States accept ASL in fulfillment of language entrance and exit requirements. If your child is planning on attending college, check with the perspective college to make sure ASL meets their foreign language requirement.

4. Useful resource for special needs children. Parents with autistic and Down Syndrome children (in addition to a multitude of learning disabilities) report that American Sign Language is an excellent resource in increasing communication abilities. 

5. Communication with the profoundly deaf and hard of hearing. American Sign Language is the third most common foreign language in the U.S. after English. ASL gives you the ability to communicate with over 500,000 Americans. It also gives you the ability to communicate with non-English speakers.

More reasons to learn ASL after the video.


 Meet Mrs. Gingras, Homeschool Connections' ASL Instructor

6. Future career opportunities. ASL-related careers include: ASL Teacher ($33,000), Special education ($25,000 to $45,000); Audiologist ($65,000 to $80,000); Interpreter ($40,000 to $65,000).

7. It's a fun language to learn. ASL is easily one of Homeschool Connections' most popular courses. The students LOVE coming to class each week and are never late with homework. We've yet to award anything less than an A in ASL, because students love learning it that much.

8. Early communication. Little children have the ability to speak with their hands months before they are able to communicate with their voices. Think of the wonders in being able to understand your 10-month old!

9. Increased vocabulary. Students who learn to sign have been shown to have up to twice the usable vocabulary, signed and spoken, than their non-signing counterparts. Signing offers children an additional way to communicate that is stored and accessed in a different part of the brain from verbal memory.

10. Stimulates brain activity. Signing has been shown to foster brain development in children. American Sign Language encourages the brain to build synapses and dendrites. Signed words are stored in a separate part of the brain, learning ASL along with spoken words, enhances memory and recall of language.

Homeschool Connections currently offers four American Sign Language 8-week courses for the 2013/2014 school year. Students who already have some instruction in ASL are welcomed to join us in ASL II, III, or IV. See below for details. We plan to offer more upper level ASL courses in future years.

Live, Interactive ASL Courses
2013/2014 
(click on course title to register)

Fall Semester 2013
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American Sign Language (ASL) I
Note: This course is full and closed for registration. THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF SEATS IN THE ASL I COURSE STARTING IN JANUARY (see below). There are also plenty of seats open for ASL II, III, and IV for this semester.

Note: This is Part Two of a 4-part course. New students are welcome to join us midyear. ASL III and IV are offered again in the spring semester.
Class dates: Tuesdays, October 29 to December 17, 2013
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: ASL I (Sept. 2013) or equivalent. Email homeschoolconnections@gmail.com if you have questions about what level of ASL would best fit your needs.
Suggested grade level: 6th to 9th grade, although older students are welcomed if they a strong desire to take this course.
High school credit: 1/2 semester ASL or Foreign Language
Fee: $110 if you enroll on or before August 1, 2013. $130.00 after Aug. 1st for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Allison Gingras, M.Ed.
Course description: This course is a second-level American Sign Language (ASL) course for those who would like a strong foundation in learning to communicate with American Sign Language. Students will learn how to use classifiers, mouth morphemes, and quantifiers, as well as identify and sign words used in everyday life and practice conversations. IMPORTANT! This course is a video course; it is a requirement that you have a web camera, so that you can interact and sign within the course learning time—with immediate feedback and encouragement.
Course outline:
Class 1: Learning classifiers
Class 2: Classifiers in conversation
Class 3: Learning mouth morphemes
Class 4: Quantifiers: more or less?
Class 5: Questions and feelings
Class 6: Building Vocabulary: Nouns
Class 7: Building Vocabulary: Verbs
Class 8: Conversations
Course materials: A working web cam is required (most newer computers have them built in). Everything else is provided free online from the instructor.
Homework: Weekly practice of the signs and conversations covered in the course, watching videos of signing, and review within signed conversations during class time.

Note: This is Part Three of a 4-part course. New students are welcome to join us midyear. ASL I and IV is offered in October.
Class dates: Thursdays, September 5 to October 24, 2013
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: ASL II or equivalent. Email homeschoolconnections@gmail.com if you have questions about what level of ASL would best fit your needs.
Suggested grade level: 6th to 9th, although older students are welcomed if they a strong desire to take this course.
High school credit: 1/2 semester foreign language
Fee: $110 if you enroll on or before August 1, 2013. $130.00 after Aug. 1 for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Allison Gingras, M.Ed.
Course description: This course is a third-level American Sign Language (ASL) course for those who would like a strong foundation in learning to communicate with American Sign Language. IMPORTANT! This course is a video course; it is a requirement that you have a web cam, so that you can interact and sign within the course learning time—with immediate feedback and encouragement.
Course outline:
Week 1: More Numbers
Week 2:
Colors
Week 3:
More Adjectives
Week 4:
Travel & Position
Week 5:
Food & Meals
Week 6:
Education & Learning
Week 7:
Jobs & People
Week 8:
Conversations
Course materials: A working web cam is required (most newer computers have them built in). Everything else is provided FREE online from the instructor.
Homework: Weekly practice of the signs and conversations covered in the course, watching videos of signing, and review within signed conversations during class time.

Note: This is Part Four of a 4-part course. New students are welcome to join us midyear.
Class dates: Thursdays, October 31 to December 19, 2013. No class November 28th.
Total classes: 7 live classes plus 1 recorded class.
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: ASL III (Sept. 2013) or equivalent. Email homeschoolconnections@gmail.com if you have questions about what level of ASL would best fit your needs.
Suggested grade level: 6th to 9th grade, although older students are welcomed if they a strong desire to take this course.
High school credit: 1/2 semester ASL or Foreign Language
Fee: $110 if you enroll on or before August 1, 2013. $130.00 after Aug. 1st for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Allison Gingras, M.Ed.
Course description: This course is a fourth-level American Sign Language (ASL) course for those who would like a strong foundation in learning to communicate with American Sign Language. IMPORTANT! This course is a video course; it is a requirement that you have a web cam, so that you can interact and sign within the course learning time—with immediate feedback and encouragement.
Course outline: To be announced
Course materials: A working web cam is required (most newer computers have them built in). Everything else is provided FREE online from the instructor.
Homework: Weekly practice of the signs and conversations covered in the course, watching videos of signing, and review within signed conversations during class time.

Spring 2014
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Note: This is a 4-part course. Students are expected to also register for ASL II starting in March. They may continue with ASL III and ASL IV next school year if they desire.
Class dates: Tuesdays, January 14 to March 4, 2014
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 9thgrade, although older students are welcomed if they have no experience in ASL and have a strong desire to take this course.
High school credit: 1/2 semester ASL Foreign Language
Fee: $110 if you enroll on or before November 1, 2013. $130.00 after Nov. 1 for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Allison Gingras, M.Ed.
Course description: This course is a beginning American Sign Language (ASL) course for those who would like a strong foundation in learning to communicate with American Sign Language. Students will learn and practice fingerspelling, identifying and signing words used in everyday life; asking questions; special structure of sentences in ASL; the role of expression (non manual markers) in communication; the foundations of ASL’s history; Deaf culture; and practice words and sentences. IMPORTANT! This course is a video course; it is a requirement that you have a web camera on your computer, so that you can interact and sign within the course learning time—with immediate feedback and encouragement.
Course outline:
Class 1: Fingerspelling and Greetings
Class 2: The Family and Deaf History
Class 3: Around the House and Deaf Culture
Class 4: Numbers and Time
Class 5: Questions
Class 6: Building Vocabulary: Nouns
Class 7: Building Vocabulary: Verbs
Class 8: Conversations
Course materials: A working web cam is required (most newer computers have them built in). Everything else is provided FREE online by the instructor.  
Homework: Weekly practice of the signs and conversations covered in the course, watching videos of signing, and review within signed conversations during class time.

Note: This is Part Two of a 4-part course. New students are welcome to join us midyear (email us if you are unsure if you meet the prerequisite). ASL III and IV will be offered again next school year.
Class dates: Tuesdays, March 11 to May 6, 2014. No class April 15th.
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: ASL I (Jan. 2014) or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 6th to 9th grade, although older students are welcomed if they a strong desire to take this course.
High school credit: 1/2 semester ASL or Foreign Language
Fee: $110 if you enroll on or before November 1, 2013. $130.00 after Nov. 1 for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Allison Gingras, M.Ed.
Course description: This course is a second-level American Sign Language (ASL) course for those who would like a strong foundation in learning to communicate with American Sign Language. Students will learn how to use classifiers, mouth morphemes, and quantifiers, as well as identify and sign words used in everyday life and practice conversations. IMPORTANT! This course is a video course; it is a requirement that you have a web cam , so that you can interact and sign within the course learning time—with immediate feedback and encouragement.
Course outline:
Class 1: Learning classifiers
Class 2: Classifiers in conversation
Class 3: Learning mouth morphemes
Class 4: Quantifiers: more or less?
Class 5: Questions and feelings
Class 6: Building Vocabulary: Nouns
Class 7: Building Vocabulary: Verbs
Class 8: Conversations
Course materials: A working web cam is required (most newer computers have them built in). Everything else is provided FREE online from the instructor.
Homework: Weekly practice of the signs and conversations covered in the course, watching videos of signing, and review within signed conversations during class time.

Note: This is Part Three of a 4-part course. New students are welcome to join us midyear (email us if you are unsure if you meet the prerequisite). ASL  IV is offered in October.
Class dates: Thursdays, January 16 to March 6, 2014
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: ASL II or equivalent (Fall 2013)
Suggested grade level: 6th to 9th grade, although older students are welcomed if they a strong desire to take this course.
High school credit: 1/2 semester ASL Foreign Language
Fee: $110 if you enroll on or before November 1, 2013. $130.00 after Nov. 1 for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Allison Gingras, M.Ed.
Course description: This course is a third-level American Sign Language (ASL) course for those who would like a strong foundation in learning to communicate with American Sign Language. IMPORTANT! This course is a video course; it is a requirement that you have a web cam, so that you can interact and sign within the course learning time—with immediate feedback and encouragement.
Course outline:
Week 1: More Numbers
Week 2:
Colors
Week 3:
More Adjectives
Week 4:
Travel & Position
Week 5:
Food & Meals
Week 6:
Education & Learning
Week 7:
Jobs & People
Week 8:
Conversations
Course materials: A working web cam is required (most newer computers have them built in). Everything else is provided FREE online from the instructor.
Homework: Weekly practice of the signs and conversations covered in the course, watching videos of signing, and review within signed conversations during class time.

Note: This is Part Four of a 4-part course. New students are welcome to join us midyear (email us if you are unsure if you meet the prerequisite). Homeschool Connections plans to add more advanced ASL courses in the 2014/2015 school year.
Class dates: Thursdays, March 13 to May 8, 2014. No class April 17.
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 11:00 AM Eastern (10:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: ASL III or equivalent (Fall 2013 or Spring 2014)
Suggested grade level: 6th to 9th grade, although older students are welcomed if they a strong desire to take this course.
High school credit: 1/2 semester foreign language
Fee: $110 if you enroll on or before November 1, 2013. $130.00 after Nov. 1 for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Allison Gingras, M.Ed.
Course description: This course is a fourth-level American Sign Language (ASL) course for those who would like a strong foundation in learning to communicate with American Sign Language. IMPORTANT! This course is a video course; it is a requirement that you have a web cam, so that you can interact and sign within the course learning time—with immediate feedback and encouragement.
Course outline: To be announced
Course materials: A working web cam is required (most newer computers have them built in). Everything else is provided free online from the instructor.
Homework: Weekly practice of the signs and conversations covered in the course, watching videos of signing, and review within signed conversations during class time.