Educating the heart, mind, and soul in the Catholic tradition with online classes

Faith ~ Excellence ~ Passion

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Catholic Middle Ages Reading List

Mr. Campbell, our history instructor, will be using Evolution of the Medieval World by David Nicholas as the required textbook for his spring course, The Catholic Middle Ages. We recommend purchasing the paperback used as it can be found as cheap as $4.60.

Also, for the student who would like to delve deeper into the Middle Ages, Mr. Campbell provides the following book list. These books are only recommended and not required.

The Birth of France, Katherine Scherman
Two Lives of Charlemagne, Penguin Classics
Joinville and Villehardouin: Chronicles of the Crusades, Penguin Classics
Life in a Medieval Village, Francis and Joseph Gies
Readings in Medieval History, Patrick Geary (any edition)
Francis of Assisi, Michael De la Bedoyere
St. Dominic, Mary Dorcy, O.P.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Signet Classics (Raffel)
Philosophy and Civilization in the Middle Ages, Maurice De Wulf
St. Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox, G.K. Chesterton
Cistercians and Cluniacs, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Cistercian Publications)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Advantages of Online Education

With the first day of school just around the corner, I thought I'd share this top-10 list with you. Well, except it's really a top-12.

Advantages of taking live, interactive, online classes:
  • No driving; saving time and gas
  • No need to pack lunch.
  • You can stay in your pajamas.
  • Parents can attend classes alongside you.
  • No need to organize carpooling.
  • You can participate in class even when on vacation.
  • Classes are recorded and available to review for 6 months.
  • Instant feedback from your instructor.
  • The technology is fun -- video, chat, and more.
  • Documents can be printed or downloaded from your computer.
  • Access to the best instructors and professors from around the United States.
  • Gain friends from all over the country and the world.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Homeschool Conections Affiliate Program

Visit Homeschool Connections

Homeschool Connections now has an Affiliate Program!

Tell your friends about Homeschool Connections' Subscription Service and you can earn a nice check.

Sign up to join our affiliate program and you'll receive a commission of 10% of any sales you generate by sharing your Homeschool Connections' affiliate link on your blog or website.

There's no cost to sign up and no work after the initial setup.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW

After you sign up and put up the banner and link, I encourage you to write a post about Homeschool Connection's Subscription Service. This will let your readers know that you have put up the link and it's available to them.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Online Saxon Algebra I Course

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Unlimited Access! Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more: Catholic Homeschooling

I am so very excited to announce that Homeschool Connections is now offering Math! We are beginning with an algebra course for the 2010/2011 school year. We are also in the process of planning summer math boot camps and more math offerings for the 2011/2012 school year. Our math instructor, Mrs. Hoeft, is not only a knowledgeable teacher but also embraces a real love and joy for her subject. Your children won't be able resist her enthusiasm for math!

This year's algebra course begins in just one month so there is no time to waste. Note that there is a $30 discount if you enroll within the week. If you have questions or comments, please don't hesitate to email us.

Here's all the information you need to register:

(click on title then scroll down to register)

Note: Part Two will take place in the spring and is 16-weeks long.
Class dates: Mondays, September 13 to December 12, 2010, no class Nov. 22 & 29, 2010.
Lab dates: Fridays, September 17 to December 17, 2010, no lab Nov. 26 & Dec. 3, 2010.
Total classes and labs: 24 (12 weeks)
Starting time: 4:00 pm Eastern (3:00 pm Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $240 for entire 12-week course. $30 Early Enrollment Discount before August 20, 2010 ($210)
Instructor: Jean Hoeft, MA
Prerequisite: 85% on the Saxon Algebra Placement Test
Suggested grade level: 8th to 12th
High school credit: 1 semester credit for math

Course description: This course involves all concepts needed to fulfill national requirements for Algebra I. The topics to include but not be restricted to, operations with integers, rules of multiplicative identity and additive identity, equation solving, exponential function relations, quadratic function relations and their graphs, Cartesian graphing, polynomial relations and functions, radicals and their properties as well as some work with geometric properties as a background for use in Algebra II.

Course materials: Saxon Algebra I Homeschool Kit, Third Edition which includes the textbook, test booklet, and answer key. (If you shop around, this kit can be found from a variety of sources new or used for a reasonable price.) A different edition could be used if you already own it but it would be more difficult to follow along in class.

Homework: Students will be assigned 4-5 homework assignments per week with testing done on Fridays. Students will be required to take a placement test before entering the class to tailor studies to the individual needs of the students. Parents are asked to grade homework and tests and to send results to the instructor. The course instructor will then use these results to create the lessons for the lab class. The lab involves answering questions and doing practice problems to help the learners understand and improve on mistakes.

Course rationale: Homework is an integral part of the learning process in math. However, homework will be used to formatively assess students’ learning, not necessarily to grade. Students grades will be determined 20% by homework completion and 80% on test performance. This means that students must know and understand their mistakes on homework in order to succeed on tests. This insures their honesty and willingness to try things on homework of which they have not mastered. This also frees the learner to share their mistakes with others to insure their knowledge of the corrections and to help others in the learning process. Students will be asked to give feedback frequently during the class to continue their involvement and increase their participation with the instructor in their learning.

Instructor's biography: Jean Hoeft has been a math and algebra teacher for 22 years. She has a BA from the University of Michigan and a MA from Marygrove University. Jean has taught the confirmation class at her Catholic parish for 27 years. She loves gardening, sudoku puzzles, raising chickens, reading, knitting, and everything Catholic.

Equipment requirements: Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc: Mrs. Hoeft 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.

(click on title then scroll down to register)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Preparing a High School Transcript

Tomorrow my daughter and I have a meeting with the admissions dept. of the (potential) college of her choice. So, today we're going over her high school transcript.

Creating a high school transcript for a homeschooled student sounds like a daunting task to many parents. However, if you spend just an hour or two on it each semester starting in 9th grade it's really pretty easy.

The first thing I've done with each of my high school children is find a good homeschool transcript template. I always use the form found at Donna Young's Homeschool Printables and Resources. They are basic and easy to use. Just fill in the blanks with course titles, credit hours, and grade.

Then to convert the letter grades to a number GPA, I use an online GPA calculator. This little online gadget has been incredibly handy over the years.

I then add in extracurricular activities at the end and I'm almost done. Before sending it off to a university, I have it notarized. That's it. It's that easy.