High School Online Class: Advanced American Government

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more:Adult and High School Catholic Online Classes

Government: Advanced American Government

(click on above title for registration)

Class dates: Fridays, September 10 to November 5, 2010
Total classes: 9
Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 am Central) Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Fee: $160 for entire 9-week course. $20 Early Registration Discount before August 1, 2010
Instructor: Ed Rivet
Prerequisite: Government, Democracy, and Citizenship (recorded) or other introductory American government course.
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th
High school credit: 3/4 of a semester credit. To give full credit, add reading assignments from Mr. Rivet's supplemental reading list plus an essay on the book(s).
Course description: Building on the fundamentals from the prerequisite course, this course will delve deeper into political and economic theory. There will be a deeper review of constitutional (common) law developed by our courts and a deeper exploration into the legislative process. There will be more emphasis on class participation each session, with less straight lecturing.
Course outline:
Class 1: The Interrelationship of Legal-Political-Economic Theories
Class 2: Marxism-Communism and Socialism
Class 3: Democracy - Greek, Roman, American, Parliamentary
Class 4: Constitutional Rights Revisited - Due Process of Law
Class 5: Law & Order: Crime, Punishment & Justice
Class 6: Impact of Litigation - Public & Private
Class 7: Legislative Roles and Authorities
Class 8: The Heart of Making Laws
Class 9: Synthesis of Theory & Practice
Homework: Much more essay-based assignments than prerequisite course - analysis and articulation that shows a grasping of the subject matter. Students will study specific pending legislation in detail and propose their own bills.
Course materials: Online resources, a couple books that are readily available in libraries or cheap on Amazon, etc. (TBA August 1, 2010)
Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc:
Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Government: Advanced American Government

(click on above title for registration)

High School Theology: The Trinity

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more:Adult and High School Catholic Online Classes

Theology: The Trinity

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Class dates: Fridays, September 10 to October 15, 2010
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 10:00 am Eastern (9:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $120 for the entire 6-week course.
Instructor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Prerequisite: none
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th
High school credit: 1/2 semester
Course description: The reality of the Trinity, whom we worship, permeates all reality, including all human history. We are destined to spend eternity sharing the life of the Trinity. In order to love God more fully, this class will help you know who God is as Trinity. What is the content of the Church’s teaching? How did the Church receive it? What does it mean for me in my life?
Course outline:
Class 1: Who is God?
Class 2: The Trinity in the CCC
Class 3: The Trinity in the Bible
Class 4: The Trinity in the Theologians
Class 5: The Trinity in the World
Class 6: The Trinity in the Liturgy
Homework: Online readings from CCC, Bible, Church Fathers, Aquinas, the Liturgy of the Mass. There will be a short online quiz after each class period based on reading and class material. Final exam.
Course materials: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Bible, and a Missal. Other incidental readings are available free online
Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc:
Dr. Gotcher will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Theology: The Trinity

(click on title for registration)

Historiography Reading List for High School

The Historiography summer course went great. The students loved Mr. Campbell and the course. So much, they asked for an additional reading list. So here's some interesting stuff to read on Historiography recommended by Mr. C. Keep in mind, some are written by secular authors, so read with a grain of salt.

"Historiography: An Introduction" by Ernst Breisach

"History and Historians" by Mark Gilderhus

"The Discoverers" by Danile Boorstein (this book has a bit of an anti-Christian bias, but if you look up just the section on time it is pretty good - talks about how people have looked at time and history throughout the ages)

Villehardouin's "Conquest of Constantinople," an example of a medieval chronicle.

Joinville's "Life of St. Louis IX," a great example of a medieval vita.

Kate Turabian's "A Manual for Writer's of Research Papers, Theses and Dissertations."

St. Augustine's "City of God", especially Book IV, V and XI

This should keep the students busy for awhile!

High School Theology: Ecclesiology I (The Study of the Church, Part 1)

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more:Adult and High School Catholic Online Classes

Theology: Ecclesiology I (The Study of the Church, Part 1)

(click on title for registration)

Class dates: Tuesdays, Sept. 7 to Sept. 28, 2010
Total classes: 4
Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $75 for the entire 4-week course. $15 Early Registration Discount before August 1, 2010
Instructor: Monica Ashour, M.T.S., M.Hum.
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
High school credit: 1/3 semester credit. For a full semester credit in Theology then enroll in 2 more of Miss Ashour's 4-week courses.
Course description: The students in this course will study the nature of the Church, that is, how She is in the “nature of a sacrament” (Lumen Gentium), along with her other aspects, particularly how the Church is Body and Bride of Christ, “the most apt” description of herself (Lumen Gentium). Once we have established Jesus Christ as the Bridegroom of His Body-Bride, the Church, and the consequences arising thereof, we then move naturally to theological ramification of dogmatic teachings such as the 4 Marks of the Church, authority (especially infallibility) and hierarchy, and Mariological teachings. A particular focus will include Pope Benedict’s writings about ensuring that the Church’s feminine qualities be of primacy to ensure that the Church is not seen merely in a “masculine, structural, purely theoretical way” but that the Marian “mystery exists” (Mary: The Church at the Source).
Course goal: The final goal of this course is for each student to glorify the Father as a person “fully alive” (Ireneas) as he/she grows in his/her encounter with Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, and with the Holy Spirit, the Soul of the Church, for all of time and eternity. The proximate goal is for the student to see the wondrous gift of the Catholic Church so as to become resolute in his/her lifelong commitment to Jesus’ Body-Bride.
Course outline: To be announced
Homework: None
Course materials: Optional reading assignments will be provided

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc:
Miss Ashour will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Theology: Ecclesiology I (The Study of the Church, Part 1)

(click on title for registration)

High School Theology: Church History; Trinitarian

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more:Adult and High School Catholic Online Classes

History: Church History; Trinitarian

(click on title for registration information)

Class dates: Tuesdays, August 17 to September 7, 2010
Total classes: 4
Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central) NOTE: The Sept. 7th class will take place at 11:00 am Eastern instead of 1:00 pm.
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $75 for entire 4-week course. $15 Early Registration Discount by August 1, 2010 Instructor: Monica Ashour, M.T.S., M.Hum.
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
High school credit: 1/3 semester credit for history or theology. For additional credit, see Dr. Gotcher’s Theology: The Trinity course (Fall 2010)
Course description: “*Christ’s kenosis and appointment of apostles, evangelists, pastors, or teachers (Eph 4:7-11)] illuminates the change in Christ’s life from being formed by history to forming history. All existences, both before him and after him, receive their meaning from Christ’s existence” (Von Balthasar, A Theology of History, 76). As such, in this course, the students will explore the historical and transcendent aspects of the Church from its inception “in the heart of the Father” (Catechism of the Catholic Church) to its eschatological—its end of time—existence.
Course goal: In this, the first part of a series of Church History courses, the student will examine Trinitarian Theology (the Church that was “in the heart of the Father”), through the Church’s preparation in the Old Testament, to Jesus’ founding and His sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The student, moved by such knowledge of God’s love for His people, will, in turn, be devoted even more readily to the Church.
Course outline: To be announced
Homework: None
Course materials: Optional reading assignments will be provided
Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc:
Miss Ashour will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

History: Church History; Trinitarian

(click on title for registration information)

Win a Free Catholic Homeschool Magazine Subscription

You can win a free one-year subscription to mater et magistra! This is an awesome magazine for any Catholic homeschooler. (If you win and already subscribe, you'll get an extra year for free.)

To enter is real simple. Become a Facebook fan of Homeschool Connections and then leave a political joke in the comments. The winner will be chosen by random.

The contest ends Monday, June 21 2010.

All this is designed to help out our government instructor Ed Rivet. Mr. Rivet ends every class with good, fun political joke for the kids. Well, Mr. Rivet is already busy creating his lesson plans for his Advanced American Government classes for the fall and he needs some new jokes. Lots of new jokes.

So, help out Mr. Rivet as well as give yourself a chance to win a great magazine by heading over to the fan page now.

Paying for College: Plans for Families with Young Children

UPDATE: The webinar went great! You can watch the free recorded event here: Paying for College: Plans for Families with Young Children.

Katherine O'Brien, MA CCPS of Celtic College Consulting has presented several free webinars for Homeschool Connections in the past and she is a treasure trove of information when it comes to information regarding planning for college funding.

This particular free webinar will deal specifically with how create a college plan while your children are young.

Paying for College: Plans for Families with Young Children

(click on title to register)

Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Starting time: 8:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (7:00 pm, Central)
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Presenter: Katherine O'Brien, MA CCPS
Description: College costs are daunting! We will address some of the pitfalls of saving for college and outline effective ways to save. It is important to maintain financial aid eligibility AND save. Knowing how to save makes all the difference. Katherine is eager to share her knowledge and experience with other Catholic families, especially those interested in sending their children to the Newman Guide schools. So, get a cup of tea and a pad of paper, hear some stories, learn a lot, and get inspired to create a college fund for your children.
Presenter biography: Katherine O'Brien has a BS in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and an MA in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is also a certified College Planning Specialist with five years' experience helping families prepare for college. As a mother of six, she understands the need to save for college - and the challenge to do it! With eleven years' homeschooling experience, she also understands the homeschooling lifestyle.

New England Catholic Homeschool Conference This Weekend!

If you're wondering where you can find Homeschool Connections this weekend, just look east.

Our anatomy & physiology professor, Kris Corriera, will be giving a workshop on Homeschool Leadership. She'll also be manning the Homeschool Connections vending table answering questions about Catholic online education.

This is sure to be a wonderful conference with a nice lineup of speakers, including Susie Lloyd.

Here are the details:

June 5, 2010 (Sat.)
2nd Annual New England Catholic Homeschool Conference
St. Stanislaus Basilica & School
534 Front Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
9 AM - 7 PM
Info: Call Mary 413-533-0045 or Christine 413-315-9999