Enjoying the Summer: Homeschool Style

Summer Is Suddenly Here!

Jenny Bales 

Mom to Mom 
(click to see all of Jenny's articles)

Spring was spent in quarantine, and all of a sudden, it’s June! We even finished our homeschool year a few weeks early, because we spent so much more time at home than usual!

Did summer sneak up on you, too?

Usually, we are ready for our summer break from homeschool groups and some of our extracurricular activities. But we have had quite a break already.

Summer seems like it will be different this year, and I was feeling a little lost on how to spend our days. Then I remembered three keys that have helped us in the past.

During summer break, focusing on reading, learning, and creating have always brought us joy. These are, admittedly, things we do all year long, but in the summer, we enjoy them in a more relaxed way, often with ice cream!

If you take a summer break of any length, I invite you to join me in resisting the temptation to schedule every hour and instead to find easy ways to add meaningful fun to our days!

Reading

Our libraries are still doing summer reading programs, but if your's aren’t, consider creating your own or using one of the free ones available online. And Mom should join in the reading challenge, too! Even if we don’t read as many hours as our children log, they delight in our participation.

Plan a reading time every day, maybe right after breakfast or during nap time. Read aloud to the kids. Put on an audiobook (that totally counts!). Pop a bowl of popcorn and have everyone bring a book to the living room or into a tent in the backyard!

Spending time in the world of books gives us opportunities to go places and experience so many wonderful things. We get to know characters as friends and learn essential life lessons. Good books entertain and inspire us!

Give your kids a booklist and challenge them to read a certain number of books. Discuss with them what types of books they would like to read and help them make a book bucket list for the summer! Here is a fabulous booklist from Homeschool Connections.

Then, share what you are reading with your family. Talk about what’s happening in your book at the dinner table. Ask them about their books. Which character are they most like? What would they have done differently than the lead character? Conversations connect us.

Learning

Stop. Please don’t make detailed lesson plans for your children to get through if you’re taking a summer break. Let it be a break from school. Instead ask your children what they would like to learn about, and make a list. Gather resources from your shelves and the library. Look up some websites for them to explore. Bookmark some educational videos or movies to watch.

Then, every Monday set a goal to learn something new. Keep it simple. Just set aside a little time to learn something new, ideally together.

Especially for tweens or teens, summer is the perfect chance to learn something that interests them that doesn’t quite fit into their homeschooling year. Borrow some materials from a friend or sign them up for an online class. Encourage their excitement about learning, even if the content seems pointless to you. These lessons are more about finding the joy in learning and igniting curiosity in young minds!

Summer is the also the perfect time for the entire family to learn more about our Catholic faith. There are a few Catholic at-home Vacation Bible School options available online. Older kids will enjoy watching nationally known Catholic speakers on YouTube. Does your parish have a subscription to Formed? They have videos, studies, and more for all ages. Choose something about our faith that you are interested in learning about, and invite your kids to join you!

Creating

This is the easy one. Kids usually cannot stop themselves from creating if they have materials!

If they love Legos, challenge them to build a city. If they love crafts, set up a designated area for that mess to live. If they love dirt, give them shovels and a bag of dirt! Get out the paints and the playdough. Cook together. Tend a garden. Make cards for relatives.

There is so much joy to be found in making something! And we learn a lot about ourselves and the process of creating, too. We learn how to adapt when things don’t turn out the way we expected. We learn pride in making beauty and order, because it echoes the Creator’s creativity!

Cut up some paper and write different creative projects on each slip. Stuff them in a jar and pull one out every few days. Invite your kids to help you with ideas, and include a few zany ones like making a person out of food and dressing up as another family member. Remember that the goal is joy!

Summer Fun

Reading, learning, and creating aren’t new to homeschooling families. We do all these things throughout the school year. But taking the time to do these in a fun and enjoyable way, together as a family, can breathe life into the rest of the year, too! I have found that this approach renews our excitement for schooling and helps me to plan a school year that better fits my kids as I get to know their preferences and interests more.

Don’t forget to make time for water balloon fights and trips to the pool (if yours is open), too! Eat watermelon and popsicles. Build forts and play video games. But try to do many of these things together. Because summer fun is about family and friends as much as it is about the break from schoolwork.

But most importantly, especially in these uncertain times, allow for as many smiles as possible! Have a happy summer!

Jenny Bales is a Catholic homeschooling mom who is passionate about encouraging and connecting mothers through their homeschooling journeys. She and her husband live in North Texas with their four children who have been homeschooled all their lives. Her homeschool philosophy is "whatever works" with a smattering of literature-based learning, Charlotte Mason, and Classical elements. Jenny loves hot tea, sweet tea, dark chocolate, red wine, college football, and mystery novels—and can’t resist an opportunity to coordinate a conference, retreat, co-op, book study, social group, and or moms’ night out. Jenny loves to reflect on all aspects of Catholic homeschooling through the lens of our incredible Catholic faith. You can find Jenny and her work at www.heartofamother.net.

How to Homeschool in Summer

Top-10 List: Using Unlimited Access Online Classes for Summer Learning

Ten Ways Unlimited Access Online Courses

Keep Your Student’s Learning Strong

This Summer

No matter where your children go to school in the fall and spring, summer classes are a great way to help your student be strong in academics and learning. Whether you want your children to get a Catholic perspective on certain subjects, receive remedial help in an area, take an upper-level course not available at a school, or you simply want your student to stay strong and even get ahead – then online courses are a great way to make it happen.

Homeschool Connections offers two types of courses covering a wide span of subjects. Today, let's talk about the recorded, independent learning courses that you can take at your own pace and on your own schedule.
(And if you prefer live, interactive classes for summer here is your registration page: Homeschool Connections Registration.)

There are many different ways you can use the recorded classes through Unlimited Access to keep learning alive and fun over the summer. Here are ten ideas to get you started ...

10. Take school with you.
Your student can take classes from hotel rooms, Grandma's house, the library, the car on the road, and even the beach (though we don't recommend taking your laptop anywhere near sand!). All you need for recorded classes is a power source, Internet, and a computer. Ear buds or a headset also give you privacy.

9. Plug the computer into the television.
Using the TV to stream a course is a really fun way to learn together as a family. Pick a subject that everyone is interested in learning, like The Hobbit, World War II, or American Sign Language (there are over 400 courses to choose from!). Make some popcorn and watch together. If you don't have a "smart TV", an HDMI cable and a newer TV are the two requirements to make TV viewing together work (and Mac users will need a converter). Recently, my teen added Chromecast to our laptop, and that's what we use to view the courses on the TV.

8. Pick a time that works best for you.
What’s great about online courses is that they’re available 24/7. You could watch classes first thing in the morning, so the rest of the day can be spent outdoors. If you prefer, watch classes during lunch or just before bed in the evening. Whatever viewing time is most helpful and easiest for your students to keep up with learning throughout the summer, you can make it happen.

7. Audit a course.
Watch a lecture each day and forgo the homework. For example, instead of taking 12 weeks for World History: 12 Inventions that Changed the World, watch the lectures over 12 days. When auditing, pick a subject that’s easy for your student and adds value to the “regular” school year.

6. Buckle down on tough subjects.
Need help with algebra? Struggled with science last year? If so, buckle down and get to work with an online course to make the learning happen. Set aside time each and every day (Sundays off!) and stick to the schedule. Complete all of the homework before moving to the next recorded lecture. And if you want extra help from a professional instructor who can guide and grade your student’s work, then feel free to sign up for the optional grading support (Instructor Access). Because summer can be more relaxed, you might decide it’s worth it to have the one-on-one online teacher be the one help keep your student’s learning strong and on track.

5. Catch up on subjects for September.
Planning on taking Latin II next year but not quite ready? Has an illness or something else kept your student from finishing Latin I this year? Whether you simply need a refresher or want to make up for lost time, there are a number of "boot camps" available in recording (math, Latin, and more), so feel free to check them out and see if they’re a good fit for your teen.

4. Ask your student, "What do you love?"
Does your student get geeked about books? If so, then choose a literature course on a book they love. Reread Romeo and Juliet as you watch Professor Pearce's lectures over a couple of weeks. Or check out The Scarlet Letter, or Jane Eyre, or Dracula. You can choose from over 50 literature courses. Does your student love science? Fiction writing? Drama? All these courses and more are a great way to keep learning fresh this summer.

3. Summer is a great time to hone your writing skills.
Writing is a key skill for success in all other school subjects. Focusing on writing skills over the summer helps your student in upcoming courses in history, literature, and more. The writing courses in the Aquinas Writing Advantage program here range from basic, foundational courses up to advanced, college-preparatory courses. A complete array of fiction writing courses like Plot and Structure, Description and Setting, and The Hero’s Journey not only help your student in literature and literary analysis, but they also help your student’s critical thinking and love of writing. When fall arrives, learning in writing courses adds strength to all of your student’s work.

And two more courses that help your teen succeed in core subjects are How to Be an Excellent Student and How to Use Microsoft Word.

2. Keep a schedule and keep it simple. 
How many times have we all laid out grand plans – only to forget about the plans as time rolls by and the excitement wears off? To keep on track, write out a reasonable schedule on a whiteboard for all to see, or print it and post it on the fridge or on the wall in high-traffic areas. Program your computer or phone to remind you each day. Doing something tangible to keep you on schedule is a great way to relax and let the learning happen on time.

And remember: Scheduled learning doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. Pick just one or two subjects. For example, maybe you weren't able to make time for philosophy in the fall and spring, but you know it would help your teen (and it sounds interesting). Focus just on philosophy courses this summer. Find your teen’s highest need or desire, and stay focused on that learning track.

1. Take courses that raise your heart to God.
All of our courses are taught through the lens of faith and the Catholic Church. If you'd like to get the Catholic perspective in history or literature, this is the place. We also offer a wide range of theology and philosophy courses that help students experience God's teaching. Whether it’s a part of your family’s regular daily devotion time or it’s part of a new weekly focus time to refresh your hearts together, the online courses that raise your heart can positively impact you and your teen for many years to come.

Bonus: Unlimited Access means just that!
When you do sign up, you get Unlimited Access to over 400 courses – and it’s only $30 for everything, for the entire family. It's true! You can't beat the price ($30 per month!!!) and you can't beat the convenience (anytime, anywhere, all 400+ courses). Middle school, high school, and adult students can easily learn year round with this independent learning program. It can be as easy or as full as you want to make it… and it’s simple and affordable. Best of all, it's YOUR program – to make and use as you want it.

To learn more about our recorded, online, independent-learning classes, click here now:

Catholic Homeschooling

Finishing the Homeschool Year Strong

We received a request from a homeschool mom who was winding down her school year. She asked us to offer short 4- to 6-week recorded courses to help her fill in some homeschooling holes between April and June. The good news is that we were able to help immediately as we already offer a great slate of short courses ...

Here is a list of 4-week and 6-week courses currently available through our Unlimited Access program (recorded courses):

Computer Skills

• Introduction to Microsoft Word
• Introduction to PowerPoint
• Microsoft Excel

Economics

• Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

Government

• American Elections: Democracy in Action
• Pro-Life Boot Camp: Learning the Facts and Effective Communication

History

• The Life and Legacy of St. John Paul II 
• Foundations of Christian Historiography
• Christian Architecture through the Ages 
• The Great Depression: 1929-1941
• Understanding the Second Vatican Council

Latin

• Preparing for Intermediate Latin Boot Camp
• Preparing for Advanced Latin Boot Camp

Life Skills

• How to Be an Excellent Student and Get an "A"

Literature

• Introduction to Literature: Why & How to Study Literature
• Literature Independent Study
• How to Read Great Literature
• Humor in Literature
• Poems Every Catholic Should Know
• Narnia for Young Adults: The Theology of The Chronicles of Narnia
• The Hobbit: There and Back Again
• Lord of the Rings
• Tolkien for Young Adults: The Theology of Middle-Earth 
• Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
• Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton 
• The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton
• St. Francis by G. K. Chesterton
• What's Wrong with the World by G. K. Chesterton
• The Odyssey by Homer
• The Iliad by Homer
• Beowulf and Christ
• Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer; Trust God and Tradition
• The Merchant of Venice
• Romeo and Juliet
• Hamlet
• King Lear
• The Twelfth Night
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
• Sophocles and Tragedy
• Death Comes for the Archbishop
• Dracula
• Jane Eyre
• Frankenstein: Misunderstood Monster 
• The Picture of Dorian Gray
• Redemptive Comedy of Flannery O'Connor

Math

• Introduction to Trigonometry

Philosophy/Logic

• The Philosophy of Beauty

Science

• Health, Fitness, and Wellness

Speech & Communication

• Leadership and Interpersonal Communication

Test Prep

• The New SAT: What you need to Know to Score Well
• ACT Test Prep
• ACT/SAT English and Writing Test Prep

Theology

• Discovering Your Authentic Beauty & Making Life Full and Fun for  Middle School Girls
• True Radiance! Discovering Your Authentic Beauty as a Young Woman
• The Trinity Explained
• The Mass Explained

Writing

• Punctuation & Grammar
• Excellent Sentences and Paragraphs
• Excellent Paragraphs and Essays
• Fiction Writing Series (Creative Writing)

These are all great courses to take in summer as well, especially if you want to keep learning alive between the spring and fall semesters in an easy-to-implement way and still have summer fun.

Top-10 List: Using Online Classes for Summer

Top Ten List

Using Unlimited Access for Summer Learning

No matter where your children go to school in the fall and spring, you are welcomed to take classes with Homeschool Connections this summer. Whether you want your children to get a Catholic perspective on certain subjects, receive some remedial help in an area, or take an upper-level course not available at their school, we're here to help.

Homeschool Connections offers two types of courses that cover a wide span of subjects. Today, let's talk about our recorded, independent-learning courses that you can take at your own pace and on your own schedule. (If you prefer live, interactive classes for summer here is our registration page: Homeschool Connections Registration.)

There are many different ways you can use Homeschool Connections' recorded classes through Unlimited Access to keep learning alive and fun over the summer. Here are ten ideas to get you started ... 

10. Take school with you.

We've had students take classes from hotel rooms, Grandma's house, the library, the car on the road, and even the beach. However, we don't recommend taking your laptop anywhere near sand! All you need for recorded classes is a power source, internet, and a computer. You should add earbuds or a headset to the list if you need privacy.

9. Plug the computer into the television.

This is a really fun way to learn together as a family. Pick a subject that everyone is interested in learning. It may be The Hobbit or World War II or American Sign Language or something completely different. Make some popcorn and watch together. You may need an HDMI cable and a newer TV (Mac users will need a converter). Recently, my teen added Chromecast to our laptop and that's what we use.

8. Pick a time that works best for you.

Recorded classes are available 24/7. You could watch classes first thing in the morning, getting them done early so the rest of the day can be spent outdoors. If you prefer, watch classes during lunch or just before bed in the evening. Pick the time that is going to help you keep up with your work throughout the summer.

7. Audit a course.

Watch a lecture each day and forgo the homework. For example, instead of taking 12 weeks for World History: 12 Inventions that Changed the World, watch the lectures over 12 days. When auditing, pick a subject that is easy for you. 

6. Buckle down on tough subjects.

Need help with algebra? Struggled with science last year? If so, buckle down and get to work. Set aside time each and every day (Sundays off!) and stick to the schedule. Complete all of the homework before moving to the next recorded lecture. If you want extra help, sign up for the optional grading support (Instructor Access).

5. Catch up on subjects for September.

Planning on taking Latin II next year but not quite ready? Perhaps illness or something else kept you from finishing Latin I this year. Whether you simply need a refresher or need to make up for lost time, there are a number of "boot camps" available in recording (math, Latin, and more).

4. Ask yourself, "What do I love?"

For example, do you get geeked about books? If so, choose a literature course on a book you love. Reread Romeo and Juliet as you watch Professor Pearce's lectures over a couple of weeks. Or Scarlet Letter, or Jane Eyre, or Dracula. You can choose from over 50 literature courses.

3. Summer is a great time to hone your writing skills

Writing is a key skill for success in all other school subjects. Focusing on writing skills over summer will help you do better in history, literature, and more when fall arrives. Homeschool Connections writing courses range from basic, foundational courses to advanced, college-preparatory courses. Other courses that help you succeed in core subjects include: How to Be an Excellent Student and How to Use Microsoft Word.

2. Keep a schedule and keep it simple. 

How many times have we all laid out grand plans, only to forget about them as the excitement wore off? Write out a reasonable schedule on a whiteboard or print it and post it. Program your computer or phone to remind you each day. Do something tangible to keep you on schedule.

You don't need a complicated schedule to be effective. Pick just one or two subjects. For example, maybe you weren't able to make time for philosophy in the fall and spring, but you know it would help you a lot to learn it and it sounds interesting. Focus just on philosophy courses for summer.

1. Take courses that raise your heart to God. All of our courses are taught through the lens of the Catholic Church. If you'd like to get the Catholic perspective in history or literature, this is the place. We also offer a wide range of theology and philosophy courses that help students experience God's teaching.

Bonus: Unlimited Access means just that!

You have unlimited access to 275 courses for your entire family. Yes, it's true! You can't beat the price ($30 per month!!!) and you can't beat the convenience. Middle school, high school, and adult students can easily learn year round with this independent learning program. It can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. It's YOUR program.

To learn more about our recorded, online, independent-learning classes, click here now:

Unlimited Access

Top 10: Online Classes This Summer for Catholic Students

Top Ten List

Using Unlimited Access for Summer Learning

No matter where your children go to school in the fall and spring, you are welcomed to take classes with Homeschool Connections this summer. Whether you want your children to get a Catholic perspective in certain subjects, receive some remedial help in an area, or take an upper-level course not available at their school, we're here to help.

Homeschool Connections offers two types of courses that cover a wide span of subjects. Today, let's talk about our recorded, independent-learning courses that you can take at your own pace and on your own schedule. (If you prefer live, interactive classes for summer we posted about that yesterday here: Online Summer Classes for Middle and High School)

There are many different ways you can use Homeschool Connections' recorded classes through Unlimited Access to keep learning alive and fun over the summer. Here are ten ideas to get you started.

10. Take school with you.

We've had students take classes from hotel rooms, Grandma's house, the library, the car on the road, and even the beach. However, we don't recommend taking your laptop anywhere near sand! All you need for recorded classes is a power source, internet, and a computer. You should add ear buds or a headset to the list if you need privacy.

9. Plug the computer into the television.

This is a really fun way to learn together as a family. Pick a subject that everyone is interested in learning. It may be The Hobbit or World War II or American Sign Language or something completely different. Make some popcorn and watch together. You may need an HDMI cable and a newer TV (Mac users will need a converter). Recently, my teen added Chromecast to our laptop and that's what we use.

8. Pick a time that works best for you.

Recorded classes are available 24/7. You could watch classes first thing in the morning, getting them done early so the rest of the day can be spent outdoors. It you prefer, watch classes during lunch or just before bed in the evening. Pick the time that is going to help you keep up on your work throughout the summer.

7. Audit a course.

Watch a lecture each day and forgo the homework. For example, instead of taking 12 weeks for World History: 12 Inventions that Changed the World, watch the lectures over 12 days. When auditing, pick a subject that is easy for you. (For a course list, click here: Recorded Course Catalog.)

6. Buckle down on tough subjects.

Need help with algebra? Struggled with science last year? If so, buckle down and get to work. Set aside time each and every day (Sundays off!) and stick to the schedule. Complete all of the homework before moving to the next recorded lecture. If you want extra help, sign up for the optional grading support (Instructor Access).

5. Catch up on subjects for September.

Planning on taking Latin II next year but not quite ready? Perhaps illness or something else kept you from finishing Latin I this year. Whether you simply need a refresher or need to make up for lost time, there are a number of "Bootcamps" available in recording (math, Latin, and more).

4. Ask yourself, "What do I love?"

For example, do you get geeked about books? If so, choose a literature course on a book you love. Reread Romeo and Juliet as you watch Professor Pearce's lectures over a couple of weeks. Or Screwtape Letters, or Space Trilogy, or The Man Who Was Thursday. You can choose from over 40 literature courses.

3. Summer is a great time to hone your writing skills

Writing is a key skill for success in all other school subjects. Focusing on writing skills over summer will help you do better in history, literature, and more when fall arrives. Homeschool Connections writing courses range from basic, foundational courses to advanced, college-preparatory courses. Other courses that help you succeed in core subjects include: Note Taking Skills and How to Use Microsoft Word.

2. Keep a schedule and keep it simple. 

How many times have we all laid out grand plans, only to forget about them as the excitement wore off? Write out a reasonable schedule on a white board or print it and post it. Program your computer or phone to remind you each day. Do something tangible to keep you on schedule.

You don't need a complicated schedule to be effective. Pick just one or two subjects. For example, maybe you weren't able to make time for philosophy in the fall and spring, but you know it would help you a lot to learn it and it sounds interesting. Focus just on philosophy courses for summer.

1. Take courses that raise your heart to God. All of our courses are taught through the lens of the Catholic Church. If you'd like to get the Catholic perspective in history or literature, this is the place. We also offer a wide range of theology and philosophy courses that help students experience God's teaching.

Bonus: Unlimited Access means just that!

You have unlimited access to over 250 courses for your entire family. Yes, it's true! You can't beat the price ($30 per month!!!) and you can't beat the convenience. Middle school, high school, and adult students can easily learn year round with this independent learning program. It can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. It's YOUR program.

NOTE: If you prefer live, interactive classes for summer we offer those too. Click here to learn more: Online Summer Classes for Middle and High School

To learn more about our recorded, online, independent-learning classes, click here now:

Unlimited Access

Online Summer Classes for Middle and High School

We are very excited to let you know we have scheduled several great live, interactive courses for the summer semester. Courses still opened for registration:

• Professor Joseph Pearce will introduce high school students to G. K. Chesterton's Everlasting Man. This course is almost full, so I wouldn't wait to sign up. Added bonus: the instructor has a great English accent, which really is a necessity when reading Chesterton. Well, at least we think so.
• Kevin O'Brien will teach  a high school course on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, because we can't ever get enough Lewis and Tolkien in our homeschools! (Mr. O'Brien doesn't have an English accent, but he is an actor so he could fake it if you ask him.)
• To help our children keep up on their math skills and be ready for the next fall, Emily Nardozzi will teach a Math Boot Camp for middle school students. It's just the right amount for summer, leaving plenty of time for summer adventures outside.
• Dr. Christine Hamilton will repeat her ever-popular Nutrition Science course this summer. Just for fun, she'll also teach an Entomology (Bugs!!!) course for the middle-school set. This is the course were personally most excited about. Our kids can't wait for this one.
• Last, but not least, Professor Erin Brown Conroy will teach an upper-level Punctuation and Grammar course to give students a hand up for the fall. Who knew you could take advanced Punctuation and Grammar?! This course will help prepare you for college writing.

(If you prefer recorded, independent-learning classes that you can take on your own time, then check out Unlimited Access.)

This is going to be one fun summer! Here are all of the course details, big and small ... 

TO REGISTER: Homeschool Connections Registration Page for Live, Interactive Courses
Click on Summer 2016 Semester and click on Search

THE SCIENCE OF BUGS! (ENTOMOLOGY) 
Total classes: 8
Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, June 6, 2016 - 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 for all 8 classes.
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 provided FREE by the instructor.
Homework:  Research insect of your choice for report at the end of the course.

MATH FOUNDATION BOOT CAMP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS 
Total classes: 8
Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, June 13 to June 23, 2016
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 grade level: Geared toward 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. However, 9th graders are welcomed who would like to strengthen their math foundation.
Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Math
Fee: $95 for all 8 classes.
Instructor: Emily Nardozzi
Course description: The focus of this course will be to strengthen students' skills in working with fractions, decimals, and percents. 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 percents 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

“I CALL YOU FRIENDS” C. S. LEWIS AND J. R. R. TOLKIEN

Total classes: 8
Class dates: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, June 20 through June 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: 9^th to 12^th grade
Suggested credit: ½ semester Literature
Fee: $110 for all 8 classes.
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, Tolkien: Man and Myth by Joseph Pearce 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 free by the instructor in class or as PDF files.
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 for all 8 classes.
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
Total classes: 6
Class dates: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, August 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 The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton before the first day of class
Suggested grade level: 9^th to 12^th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester credit for Literature or English
Fee: $75 for all 6 classes.
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), 978-0-89870-444-0
Homework: Completing the assigned reading for each class; taking six quizzes. Estimated homework time each week: 3 hours.

HIGH SCHOOLWRITING ESSENTIALS 5: PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR II
Fully Understanding Punctuation & Grammar
College Preparatory
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)
Class dates: Week One: Monday through Thursday. Week Two: Monday and Tuesday. August 22, 23, 24, 25: 29, 30; 2016
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 for all 6 classes.
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: Daily quizzes, which are graded automatically by the computer for instant feedback. Course includes skill-building sheets to complete with corrections guide. Personalized question time will be offered in class to insure a strong understanding of concepts.

TO REGISTER: Homeschool Connections Registration Page for Live, Interactive Courses

Click on Summer 2016 Semester and click on Search

We hope that this selection of summer online classes will be helpful to you and your family. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com. You can visit us online at www.homeschoolconnections.com. 

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Unlimited Homeschool Learning for Summer

Top Ten List

Using Unlimited Access for Summer Learning

There are a lot of different ways you can use Homeschool Connections' recorded classes through Unlimited Access to keep learning alive and fun over the summer. Here are ten ideas to get you started.

10. Take school with you.

We've had students take classes from hotel rooms, Grandma's house, the library, the car on the road, and even the beach. Though we don't recommend taking your laptop anywhere near sand! All you need for recorded classes is a power source, internet, and a computer. You should add ear buds or a headset to the list if you need privacy.

9. Plug the computer into the television.

This is a really fun way to learn together as a family. Pick a subject that everyone is interested in learning. It may be The Hobbit or World War II or American Sign Language or something completely different. Make some popcorn and watch together. You may need an HDMI cable and a newer TV (Mac users will need a converter). Recently, my teen added Chromecast to our laptop and that's what we use.

8. Pick a time that works best for you.

Recorded classes are available 24/7. You could watch classes first thing in the morning, getting them done early so the rest of the day can be spent outdoors. It you prefer, watch classes during lunch or just before bed in the evening. Pick the time that is going to help you keep up on your work throughout the whole of summer.

7. Audit a course.

Watch a lecture each day and forgo the homework. For example, instead of taking 12 weeks for World History: 12 Inventions that Changed the World, watch the lectures over 12 days. When auditing, pick a subject that is easy for you. (For a course list, click here: Recorded Course Catalog.)

6. Buckle down on tough subjects.

Need help with algebra? Struggled with science last year? If so, buckle down and get to work. Set aside time each and every day (Sundays off!) and stick to the schedule. Complete all of the homework before moving to the next recorded lecture. If you want extra help, sign up for the optional grading support (Instructor Access).

5. Catch up on subjects for September.

Planning on taking Latin II next year but not quite ready? Perhaps illness or something else kept you from finishing Latin I this year. Whether you simply need a refresher or need to make up for lost time, there are a number of "Bootcamps" available in recording (math, Latin, and more).

4. Ask yourself, "What do I love?"

For example, do you get geeked about books? If so, choose a literature course on a book you love. Reread Romeo and Juliet as you watch Professor Pearce's lectures over a couple of weeks. Or Screwtape Letters, or Space Trilogy, or The Man Who Was Thursday. You can choose from over 40 literature courses.

3. Summer is a great time to hone your writing skills

Writing is a key skill for success in all other school subjects. Focusing on writing skills over summer will help you do better in history, literature, and more when fall arrives. Other courses that help you succeed in core subjects include: Note Taking Skills and How to Use Microsoft Word.

2. Keep a schedule and stick to it. 

How many times have we all laid out grand plans, only to forget about them as the excitement wore off? Write out a reasonable schedule on a white board or print it and post it. Program your computer or phone to remind you each day. Do something tangible to keep you on schedule.

1. Keep it simple.

You don't need a complicated schedule to be effective. Pick just one or two subjects. For example, maybe you weren't able to make time for philosophy in the fall and spring, but you know it would help you a lot to learn it and it sounds interesting. Focus just on philosophy courses for summer.

Bonus: Unlimited Access means just that!

You have unlimited access to over 250 courses for your entire family. Yes, it's true! You can't beat the price ($30 per month!!!) and you can't beat the convenience. Middle school, high school, and adult students can easily learn year round with this independent learning program. It can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. It's YOUR program.

To learn more about our recorded, online, independent-learning classes, click here now:

Unlimited Access

Finishing Up the School Year and Filling in the Blanks

We recently received a request from a homeschool mom asking us to offer short 4- to 6-week recorded courses. She was looking for a way to help her fill in some homeschooling holes between April and June. The good news is that we were able to help immediately as we already have a great slate of such short courses.

Here is a list of 4-week and 6-week courses currently available through our Unlimited Access program (recorded courses):

• Christian Architecture through the Ages 
• Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching
• American Elections: Democracy in Action
• Foundations of Christian Historiography
• The Great Depression: 1929-1941
• Understanding the Second Vatican Council
• Church History: Trinitarian 
• How to Be an Excellent Student
• Job Search Skills
• Personal Finance
• Introduction to Literature: Why & How to Study Literature
• Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
• How to Study Great Literature
• The Hobbit: There and Back Again
• Lord of the Rings
• Tolkien and Fairy Stories
• Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
• The Man Who was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton
• Chesterton: Man of Letters
• The Iliad by Homer
• Beowulf and Christ
• The Merchant of Venice
• Romeo and Juliet
• Hamlet
• King Lear
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
• Sophocles and Tragedy
• Death Comes for the Archbishop
• Redemptive Comedy of Flannery O'Connor
• Introduction to Trigonometry
• Fallacies and Paradoxes
• Health, Fitness, and Wellness
• Leadership and Interpersonal Communication
• ACT/SAT Test Prep Series
• Catholic Spiritual Writers
• The Trinity Explained
• The Mass Explained
• Mastering MS Word I
• Punctuation & Grammar
• Excellent Sentences and Paragraphs
• Excellent Paragraphs and Essays
• Fiction Writing Series (Creative Writing)

These are great courses to take in the summer as well if you want to keep learning alive between the spring and fall semesters without too big of a commitment.

Online 2016 Summer Classes for Middle and High School

We are very excited to let you know we have scheduled several great courses for the summer semester. 

• Professor Joseph Pearce will introduce high school students to G. K. Chesterton's Everlasting Man. 
• Kevin O'Brien will teach two courses. First up will be a high school course on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Second will be a middle school drama / acting course. 
• To help you keep your children up on their math and ready for the next fall, Emily Nardozzi will teach a Math Boot Camp for middle school students. 
• Dr. Christine Hamilton will repeat her ever-popular Nutrition Science course this summer. Just for fun, she'll also teach an Entomology (Bugs!!!) course for the middle-school set.
• We are again offering our free study skills course. It's already filling up, but the good news is that we'll add more dates and time for the fall and spring. 
• Finally, Professor Erin Brown Conroy has three writing courses for you. First is Writing the Short Story, second is a camp for budding authors on how to get published, and third is an upper-level Punctuation and Grammar course to give students a hand up for the fall.

This is going to be one fun summer!

Register on or before March 15 to receive an Early Enrollment Discount. Discounted price is automatic (no need to remember coupon codes!) Here are all of the course details ... 

TO REGISTER: Homeschool Connections Registration Page for Live, Interactive Courses
Click on Summer 2016 Semester and click on Search


FICTION (CREATIVE) WRITING: WRITING THE SHORT STORY 
Total classes: 4
Class dates: Thursdays, April 14 to May 5, 2016
Starting time: 10:30 AM Eastern (9:30 Central; 8:30 Mountain; 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
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.

AUTHORING A BOOK II: PERFECTING YOUR QUERY LETTER AND SYNOPSIS WORKSHOP 
Total classes: 4
Class dates: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, May 2, 3, 4, and 5, 2016
Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)
Duration:  50 minutes
Prerequisite: Authoring a Book I (Live, interactive course or Unlimited Access recorded course)
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
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! (ENTOMOLOGY) 
Total classes: 8
Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, June 6, 2016 - 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.
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: TBA
Homework:  Research insect of your choice for report at the end of the course.

INTERNET ACTING CAMP
Total classes: 10
Class dates: Daily, Monday through Friday, June 6 through June 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: 7^th to 8^th grade
Suggested credit: ½ semester Drama
Fee: $130 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $150 after Mar. 15th
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: Provided free as PDF files 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 FOUNDATION BOOT CAMP FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS 
Total classes: 8
Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, June 13 to June 23, 2016
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 grade level: Geared toward 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. However, 9th graders are welcomed who would like to strengthen their math foundation.
Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Math
Fee: $95 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $110 after March 15th.
Instructor: Emily Nardozzi
Course description: The focus of this course will be to strengthen students' skills in working with fractions, decimals, and percents. 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 percents 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

“I CALL YOU FRIENDS” C. S. LEWIS AND J. R. R. TOLKIEN

Total classes: 8
Class dates: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, June 20 through June 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: 9^th to 12^th grade
Suggested credit: ½ semester Literature
Fee: $110 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $125 after Mar. 15th.
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, Tolkien: Man and Myth by Joseph Pearce 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 free by the instructor in class or as PDF files.
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.
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
Total classes: 6
Class dates: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, August 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 The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton before the first day of class
Suggested grade level: 9^th to 12^th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester credit for Literature or English
Fee: $75 if you register on or before March 15, 2016. $90 after Mar. 15th.
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), 978-0-89870-444-0
Homework: Completing the assigned reading for each class; taking six quizzes. Estimated homework time each week: 3 hours.

HIGH SCHOOLWRITING ESSENTIALS 5: PUNCTUATION AND GRAMMAR II
Fully Understanding Punctuation & Grammar
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 11:30 AM Eastern (10:30 Central; 9:30 Mountain; 8:30 Pacific)
Class dates: Week One: Monday through Thursday. Week Two: Monday and Tuesday. August 22, 23, 24, 25: 29, 30; 2016
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 Mar. 15 for all 6 classes.
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: 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.

ADDENDUM: All Summer Excellent Student courses are full and closed. Seats are still available for the upcoming fall and spring semesters. Also available through Unlimited Access.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. If this course fills up, we will add new dates and times in the fall and spring semesters.
Total classes: 4
Class dates: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, August 22 to 25
Time: 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).

We hope that this selection of summer online classes will be helpful to you and your family. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com. You can visit us online at www.homeschoolconnections.com. 

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