Catholic Homeschooling: Preparing Students for the World

Since the June 26, 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the country, we have received a good number of emails and calls from parents about our online Catholic courses. Parents want to know what courses will help their children not only know and appreciate their Catholic faith, but will also help them defend it when challenged.

We offer many courses to help in this area: Formal Logic to help form students' minds, Theology and Philosophy to help form their hearts, and Government to form them as citizens.

Here is a sample scope and sequence that would be helpful in planning a high school curriculum:

Note: We offer a wide variety of courses and this recommended scope and sequence can easily be adjusted to fit your student's needs. Of course, you'll also want to include history, science, math, etc.

9th Grade
Introduction to Formal Logic
Advanced Formal Logic
Defending Our Faith Series
U. S. Government and Politics
Pro-Life Boot Camp

10th Grade
Fallacies and Paradoxes
Philosophy 101: What Do Philosophers Do and How
Defending Our Faith Series
U. S. Citizenship and Civics
Introduction to Law: Fundamentals of the American Legal System

11th Grade
Speech and Communications
Thomistic Philosophy
Understanding Our Faith Series
The First Amendment: Five Freedoms
The Federalist Papers

12th Grade
Leadership and Communications
Theology of the Body Series
Philosophy: Ethics
Philosophy of God: Natural Theology
Constitutional Law: Supreme Court Jurisprudence

Again, this is only a sampling. We offer similar courses at the middle school level. We also have an excellent writing program (Aquinas Writing Advantage) to help your student communicate what they learn. Other courses, taught though our Catholic lens will also help prepare your student to engage in the public square.

The Supreme Court's decision reminds us of the importance, perhaps more than ever, of sharing the Church's vision of love and morality with others, particularly with our children. It also reminds us of the importance of prayer. Never stop praying.

The good news is we can help our children to confidently, as well as joyfully, witness Catholic values in every part of their lives. We hope that our online courses will help you do just that.

Middle School Math Online for Catholic Homeschoolers

We would like to introduce you to our newest instructor, Mrs. Nardozzi. We rarely bring on a new teacher or add a new course this close to the new school year. We only do it when we find an exceptional teacher who can also teach a subject that is seriously needed.

First, allow me to introduce you to Mrs. Nardozzi:



Isn't she wonderful! In fact, this video was shot by one of her students. He can't say enough nice things about her.

While we have a number of great middle school math courses available as recorded, independent-learning classes, we did not have one scheduled for the 2015/2016 school year. So, we've scheduled the following course for you. (Note, our courses are broken into 2 parts -- fall and spring semesters.) Our recorded middle school math courses use Saxon Math books. This live course will be using the Glencoe textbook, which is an excellent text for this age group.

Registration is open. Click here: Homeschool Connections Registration (Click on the semester and Math, then click on Search.)

Course name:  Middle School Math (Glencoe), Part One

Students are expected to sign up for Part Two in the Spring.

Class dates: Tuesdays, September 8 to December 15, 2015

Total classes: 14 live plus 14 pre-recorded

Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 PM Central, 12:30 PM Mountain, 11:30 AM Pacific)

Duration: 55 minutes live classes, 25 minutes recorded

Prerequisite: Basic math skills.

Suggested grade level: 6th grade and up

Fee: $190 if you register on or before July 15, 2015.  $210 after July 15  

Instructor: Emily Nardozzi, M.Ed.

Course description: Middle School Math covers fractions, decimals, integers, data analysis, algebraic expressions and equations, functions and inequalities, using formulas, and surface area and volume in a way that will be easy to understand and will provide a strong foundation for the coming math courses.  

Course materials:  Mathematics: Applications and Concepts, Course 1, Student Edition (Glencoe Mathematics), 2006 Edition.  We recommend purchasing the book used as they can be found for as little as 0.99 plus s/h: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0078652537/catholictreas-20 (click on Used). 

Homework: 4-5 lesson per week with 15-20 homework problems per lesson

Course name:  Middle School Math (Glencoe), Part Two

Students are welcomed to join us midyear. Email us to check on prerequisites.

Class dates: Tuesdays, January 12 to April 26, 2016. No class February 23 for midterm break or March 22 for Easter Break.

Total classes: 14 live plus 14 pre-recorded

Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 PM Central, 12:30 PM Mountain, 11:30 AM Pacific)

Duration: 55 minutes live classes, 25 minutes recorded

Prerequisite: Middle School Math (Glencoe), Part One or the equivalent. 

Suggested grade level: 6th grade and up

Fee: $190 if you register on or before November 15, 2015. $210 after Nov. 15  

Instructor: Emily Nardozzi, M.Ed.

Course description: Middle School Math covers fractions, decimals, integers, data analysis, algebraic expressions and equations, functions and inequalities, using formulas, and surface area and volume in a way that will be easy to understand and will provide a strong foundation for the coming math courses.  

Course materials:  Mathematics: Applications and Concepts, Course 1, Student Edition (Glencoe Mathematics), 2006 Edition.  We recommend purchasing the book used as they can be found for as little as 0.99 plus s/h: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0078652537/catholictreas-20 (click on Used). 

Homework: 4-5 lesson per week with 15-20 homework problems per lesson

Narnia for Young Adults

When most people think of C. S. Lewis's masterpiece The Chronicles of Narnia, they think of young children. What I would like to suggest here is that you give the series to your teens to read. Even if they already read them as youngsters.

I've never enjoyed reading aloud more than when I read the Narnia books to my children. (And I read them many times over.)  There is a lot in Narnia that makes them worthwhile reading for teens and adults. Like Scripture, you get something different from the books when you read them at different stages in your life.

C. S. Lewis was a master at weaving deep theological and philosophical concepts into his children's stories. They are complex on one hand and pure delight on the other hand.

I lead a local high school book club. A few years ago, the teens asked to spend a year reading C. S. Lewis. We read Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, Space Trilogy, and many others. In the middle of all those lofty books, we reread The Last Battle from the Narnia series. It was received enthusiastically by the students. All had read it as young children and all had found new appreciation (and love) for it as young adults.

For these reasons, I was absolutely thrilled when Professor Joseph Pearce asked if he could teach an online course called Narnia for Young Adults. I gave him an enthusiastic YES! Below are details for the upcoming live course (Fall 2015) and a link to register. Once the course is completed, it will be made available as a recorded course through Unlimited Access.

-- Maureen Wittmann

Narnia for Young Adults: 

The Theology of The Chronicles of Narnia

Registration is open. Click here: Homeschool Connections Registration (Click on fall semester and literature, then click on Search.)

Class dates: Wednesdays, September 23 to October 28, 2015

Total classes: 6

Starting time: This course will be offered twice (on the same day). Choose one of the following times:

1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central; 11:00 Mountain; 10:00 Pacific) OR

2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 Central; 12:30 Mountain; 11:30 Pacific)

Duration: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: Ability to read and enjoy The Chronicles of Narnia

Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade

Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Literature

Fee: $90 if you register on or before June 15, 2015. $105 after June 15 for all 6 classes.

Instructor: Joseph Pearce

Course description: C. S. Lewis claimed that he "smuggled theology" into his fiction "under cover of romance". Professor Pearce will help students discover the deep Christian theology that Lewis successfully "smuggles" into his work.

Course outline: 

Week 1: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe

Week 2: The Magician's Nephew

Week 3: The Horse & His Boy / Prince Caspian

Week 4: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Week 5: The Silver Chair

Week 6: The Last Battle

Course materials: The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

Homework: Students should read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe before the first class. Homework entails daily reading and weekly quizzes.