Online Class: Tolkien & Fairy Stories

Update: This live course has concluded and is now available 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: Online Catholic Courses

Course Title:
Literature: Tolkien & Fairy Stories
(click on the hyperlink to register)

Course Description:
In this course we will discuss in seminar (discussion) format five short stories by J.R.R. Tolkien in light of his essay called “On Fairy Stories.” The stories are “Smith of Wooton Major,” “Farmer Giles of Ham,” “Leaf by Niggle,” “The Adventures of Tom Bombadil,” and “Roverandom.” All five stories and the essay are available in one volume, called Tales from the Perilous Realm by J. R. R. Tolkien. The assignment will be to write your own fantasy story by the end of the six weeks. High school.

It is preferred that students have read Lord of the Rings before coming to this course, but not required.

Fee:
Six-week course for $120.

Dates and Time:
Classes will begin Tuesday, September 15, 2009 and meet every Tuesday through October 20, 2009. The time will begin 8:00 PM Eastern (7:00 Central). The class is one hour 15 minutes.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open and will close when the class is filled. (Maximum 15 students.)

Course Materials Needed by Students:
Tales from the Perilous Realm by J. R. R. Tolkien

Equipment requirements:
Because this is a discussion course, students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with a microphone. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon.

Course Access:
All Homeschool Connections courses are recorded and available to registered students for up to six months.


Professor's Biography:
Dr. Robert F. Gotcher most recently served as Associate Professor of Systematic Studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He and his wife, Kathy, are raising their seven children in Franklin, Wisconsin. Dr. Gotcher has been actively involved in the home schooling of his children, especially in the junior high and high school years. He has taught Latin, literature, physics, astronomy, and religion to homeschooled students. He has a special devotion to the classical trivium of grammar, logic and rhetoric, especially as they pertain to the written arts.

Dr. Gotcher graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 with a B.A. in the Program of Liberal Studies. He received his M.A. in Theology of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1991 and his Ph.D. from Marquette University in 2002. In his adult life he has done everything from volunteering with the poor in Appalachia, to religious education and youth ministry, to desktop publishing and computer related responsibilities at a law firm. At the seminary he taught introduction to theology, the doctrine of God, one and three, theological anthropology (creation, sin, redemption, grace, four last things), life principles, and human sexuality and has given public presentations on Vatican II, the encyclicals of the pope, social justice, life issues, human sexuality and the theology of the body. His publications focus on family issues, lay spirituality and issues related to the Second Vatican Council. He is involved in the secular Franciscan order, home schooling, and pro-life activities in the Milwaukee area and nationally.

Dr. Gotcher blogs at Heart, Mind & Strength, Classic Catholic and Love2Learn.

Click here to learn about other homeschool online classes.

The Mass Explained for Teenagers

Update: This live course has concluded and is now available 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: Online Catholic Courses

Dr. Robert Gotcher will be teaching a 6-week online class for high school students on the beauty of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is an awesome opportunity for Catholic students, whether they attend public school, private school or home school, to learn directly from a college theology professor who also has a deep love for the Church.

Course Description:
n order to participate fully in the Mass, we need to understand it better. The Bible provides many images and ideas that are the basis for the structure and prayers of the Mass. This course looks at these Biblical ideas and explains how they are realized and fulfilled in the celebration of the Mass. Some of the images include the Trinity; temple, priest and sacrifice; the Passover and the Exodus; and the bridegroom/bride. In this course we will look closely at the prayers and structure of the Mass in light of these images and ideas. This course will not require written assignments. It will involve reading from the Bible. High school.

Fee: $90

Registration:
Go to Theology: The Mass Explained. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Register button and then follow the instructions. We take Visa and Master Card. If you prefer to pay by check, or have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Maureen Wittmann.

Course Materials Needed by Students:
A Catholic Bible and missal.

Dates and Time:
This is a six-week course. Classes will begin Wednesday, September 16, 2009 and meet every Wednesday through October 21, 2009. The time will begin 8:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 Central) and last one hour.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open and will close on September 15, 2009.

Homework:
There is no graded homework for The Mass Explained.

Misc. Details:
Dr. Gotcher will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments.

Recordings of the classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.

Equipment Requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet. A headset with microphone is required. You can find them reasonably price at Amazon. To check your connection with the online classes visit: http://www.webex.com/lp/jointest/.

Professor's Biography:
Dr. Robert F. Gotcher most recently served as Associate Professor of Systematic Studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He and his wife, Kathy, are raising their seven children in Franklin, Wisconsin. Dr. Gotcher has been actively involved in the home schooling of his children, especially in the junior high and high school years. He has taught Latin, literature, physics, astronomy, and religion to homeschooled students. He has a special devotion to the classical trivium of grammar, logic and rhetoric, especially as they pertain to the written arts.

Dr. Gotcher graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 with a B.A. in the Program of Liberal Studies. He received his M.A. in Theology of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1991 and his Ph.D. from Marquette University in 2002. In his adult life he has done everything from volunteering with the poor in Appalachia, to religious education and youth ministry, to desktop publishing and computer related responsibilities at a law firm. At the seminary he taught introduction to theology, the doctrine of God, one and three, theological anthropology (creation, sin, redemption, grace, four last things), life principles, and human sexuality and has given public presentations on Vatican II, the encyclicals of the pope, social justice, life issues, human sexuality and the theology of the body. His publications focus on family issues, lay spirituality and issues related to the Second Vatican Council. He is involved in the secular Franciscan order, home schooling, and pro-life activities in the Milwaukee area and nationally.

Other Courses Taught by Dr. Gotcher:
Literature: Tolkien & Fairy Stories
Theology: Catholic Spiritual Writers

Preparing Future Voters, Part Two

In yesterday's post, Maria Rioux mentioned the importance of teaching economics in preparing our children to be leaders in this country. Another important course along this vein is Political Science: Democracy, Government, & Citizenship.

Note that as of today there are only 5 seats left for this course.

American government has been called the most radical experiment in self-governing in human history based on its unique system of democracy and citizen involvement. Learn how the fundamental elements of American government are supposed to work, how they actually work, and the role and responsibility each citizen has in our government and our future.

Preparing Future Voters

From Maria Rioux, homeschool mom:

I want to make sure you all know about a terrific opportunity to study the principles of economics in light of Catholic social teaching. Our friend, Dr. David Harris, is teaching an online class, aimed at high school students but open to others, on the subject. David is a committed Catholic, and somewhat unique among economists in that he includes a study/discussion/application of Catholic Social teaching in his class. Given all the policy changes/economic troubles our country is facing, this would be a great way to prepare those future voters to make prudent and faithful choices ... and back them up with a solid grasp of the principles one ought to use when considering these things.

To help you decide whether this class would be a good fit for you and whether you like David as much as we do :), you might want to view the recorded webinar: Meet and Greet the Economics Professor.

Here's a brief description of the class:

Economics with Catholic Principles
This course is intended to introduce students to fundamental concepts of economics. We will develop the use of economic reasoning to answer basic economic questions in a rational manner. It also aims to provide a thorough understanding of many economic concepts, including marginal analysis, demand and supply, and market equilibrium analysis. The class is intended to assist students in using critical thinking to solve problems. A series of applications will often accompany the course material. In addition, the class will include a brief review of Catholic Social Teaching and its role within the economic realm.

Homeschooling with Real Books

Here are links to free webinars from our series: For the Love of Literature:

Bringing Joy to Your Homeschool Science and Math Lessons
Bringing an Appreciation of Art and Music to Your Homeschool
How to Teach History with Real Books

These webinars are loaded with lots of book ideas & practical advice for implementing living books into your classroom.

As with all Homeschool Connections recorded webinars, make sure to click on the video and chat icons in the top right corner after the recording starts to get the full effect.

Homeschool Planning and Organization

Do you have all your ducks in a row?

The first day of school is just around the corner. Are you scrambling to get your curriculum plan together? Have you been putting off getting the classroom organized? Are you still wondering what you're going to do for high school science? Well, we're here to help. To find high school online classes, click here.

And here are links to free webinars on homeschool planning and organization:
Prayerfully Reflecting on Last Year
Prayerfully Planning for Next Year
Choosing Worthwhile Homeschool Materials
Time Management for Moms 101
Homeschool Organization 102
Organizing Your Classroom 101

Free Webinar: Paying for College Without Breaking the Bank

Addendum:
The live webinar was fantastic. Katherine shared a lot of practical advice for us. You can watch the recording at: Pay for College Without Breaking the Bank. Make sure to bring along pen and paper so you can take lots of notes.

Whether your children are little or in high school, this is an important webinar to attend. If you can't make it, don't worry as all Homeschool Connections webinars are recorded and you can watch at a later date. I'll post the link here as soon as it's filed.

However, if you can make to the live event it's ever so much better as you can interact with the speaker and get your questions answered.

Paying for College Without Breaking the Bank

Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009
Time: 8:30 Eastern (7:30 Central)
Length: 90 minutes

Description:
This webinar will teach you how to document your child's achievements so colleges will recognize them. Additionally, it will cover admissions and college selection. Financial aid basics will be explained next, including the kinds and sources of aid, as well as the forms involved. Funding strategies will also be introduced.

If you want your child to go to a Newman Guide college, you need a funding plan. If you don't know what the Newman Guide is, come and learn how to find authentically Catholic colleges.

Presenter:
Katherine O'Brien
Katherine is an eleven-year homeschool veteran with six children. She earned her BS Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and an MA Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

She founded Celtic College Consultants in 2004 and has been helping students and their families make their college dreams come true without breaking their banks.

Katherine holds the Certified College Planning Specialist designation from the NICCP. NICCP advisers are professionals with extensive training and continuing education in college financial planning. She also belongs to the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling. She has expertise both in admissions and college funding.

Catholic Homeschool Mom Bible Study

Register for Meet & Greet Webinar

Register for Bible Study for Homeschool Moms

Is it a challenge for you to make it to your local Bible study or prayer group? Attend a mother’s study group in the comfort of your home! Join other homeschooling mothers for an online interactive webinar twice a month as we prayerfully reflect on and discuss a book selection designed to inspire us and challenge us in our vocations. Emily Crawford and Jenny Bales will be co-leading this exciting new group!

This fall’s selection is Chosen and Cherished: Biblical Wisdom for Your Marriage by Kimberly Hahn. This is the first in her series of Bible studies based on Proverbs 31. This particular book focuses specifically on verses 10-12. Her audio series on Proverbs 31, More Precious Than Jewels: How to Be a Godly Wife and Mother, has been extremely popular among Catholic and all Christian mothers for well over a decade! Our discussions on this book will be united by our common vocation as homeschooling mothers. In our busy days as mothers and teachers of our children, sometimes our husbands can be overlooked or unappreciated. It is our hope that this study group will inspire each of us to place a new priority on our marriage, giving our children one of the most valuable lessons we can, as we witness the beauty of a holy marriage.

Every other Thursday evening, September 3 through November 12, we will gather in prayer to discuss two chapters of the book, which mothers are asked to read before each meeting. The discussion questions at the back of the book will provide structure for our conversations. Mothers are asked to participate both in the online chat and audio components of the technology, so it is requested that each mother have a headset with microphone. A donation of $10.00 to a Scholarship Fund sponsored by Homeschool Connections will ensure committed participation by the mothers throughout the sessions. (This donation will be donated to a scholarship fund that will benefit Catholic homeschool students attending Catholic universities. Due to services rendered this is not tax deductible.)

You can sign up below for the study group now and/or sign up to attend a free informational Meet & Greet Webinar on Thursday, August 20 at 8:30PM ET to learn more about the technology and the group. Please contact Emily and Jenny at heartofacatholicmom@gmail.com with any questions.

Register for Meet & Greet Webinar

Register for Bible Study for Homeschool Moms

Free NASA Goodies for Homeschooled Kids

Last week Domenico Ruggiero gave an awesome webinar on his work at NASA. It was a wonderful learning experience for my family. The great news is that the webinar was recorded and you can watch it yourself at: One Small Step for Parents, One Giant Leap for Homeschool Kids: Insights from a NASA Engineer.

If you have a child with the least bit interest in aerospace, astronomy or engineering, you absolutely should not miss this one.

PLUS, Domenico arranged with NASA to give away all kinds of neat NASA goodies -- posters, decals, rulers, and more. To receive these giveaways drop Domenico an email. He'll email back a form so you can choose what you would like to receive. But don't wait! The deadline is August 19, 2009.

Thank you Emmanuel Books!

Homeschool Connections is able to bring free webinars to Catholic and homeschooling parents thanks to our sponsors. They help us pay the bills so we can bring quality information where it is needed. We are most grateful for that, especially considering the economic hardships that so many are experiencing at this time.

One of our sponsors is Emmanuel Books. If you are not familiar with this company, then you really should check out their Catholic homeschooling catalog online. I've been ordering educational materials from them for over a decade. Not only do they offer great products but have wonderful customer service. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to partner with Emmanuel Books.

The next time you place an order with Emmanuel, please let them know how much you appreciate their sponsorship so that we may continue to bring free webinars to you.

Online Literature Classes

Our Fall 2009 literature courses:

• Tolkien & Fairy Stories
• Gawain and the Green Knight -- Chivalry, Courtesy and Chastity
  
• Christ and King Arthur -- Heroism and Holiness
  
• The Orthodox Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer -- Trust God and Tradition
  
• Catholic Spiritual Writers

Update: These live courses have all concluded and all are now available as recorded courses through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows.To subscribe or learn more: Online Catholic Courses

Meet and Greet the Economics Professor

ADDENDUM: The Meet and Greet webinar went wonderfully well. If you missed it and would like to watch the recording at your leisure, just go to: Economics 101 -- Meet and Greet the Professor.

Come and meet our economics professor! Sit in on a sample class, play with the technology, see Dr. Harris in action, and learn what we have planned for the upcoming year for high school economics.

Dr. David Harris, economics professor at Benedictine College, will be teaching an introductory economics course for high school students. I am particularly excited about this course as Dr. Harris will be bringing in papal encyclicals on social justice to the last 2 classes of the course. I don't know of any other course like this for high school students.

Both you and your children are invited to join Dr. Harris on Wednesday, August 5, 2009 for Economics: Meet and Greet the Professor.

Online Classes: Advantages

Advantages of Homeschool Connections online courses:

• 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.

Evening Online Classes for Catholic High School Students

Here at Homeschool Connections we are sensitive to the needs of our students and their families. So, we have completed a variety polls over the past months. One thing we've discovered is that teens would like evening classes. How could we not comply with their request?

Here are three evening classes for the 2009 fall semester:

• Literature: Tolkien & Fairy Stories
• Theology: The Mass Explained
• Theology: Catholic Spiritual Writers

All will be taught by Robert Gotcher, Ph.D. Dr. Gotcher has been teaching summer school classes for Homeschool Connections which have been going great. We're very excited to have Dr. Gotcher teaching for us again in the fall!

(Click on the links above to learn more about the courses. Scroll down to register.)

Theology 101: Meet and Greet the Instructor

Addendum: The Theology 101 went wonderfully. You can watch the free recorded webinar at your convenience HERE.

The meet and greet webinar with Dr. Rioux was fantastic. So, we've decided to continue with the series and will have a similar free webinar with the famed Monica Ashour. Come join us and learn a little bit about Catholic theology while also learning what to expect when enrolling in a Homeschool Connections course. There'll be opportunity aplenty to try out the technology as well as ask Miss Ashour lots of questions about her course and her background.

Theology 101: Meet and Greet the Instructor

This is a free webinar for parents and teens to introduce them to theology and to the three fall 2009 courses: Christian Anthropology, Moral Theology, and

Monica Ashour will introduce us to the study of theology and why it is important to us and our high school students.

Agenda:
--Overview of course content and homework.
--Introduction to theology and the structure necessary to build sound theological arguments.
--Q&A from parents and students.

Having had 20 years of experience in the classroom, 3 years of experience working at St. Mary's Catholic Church at Texas A&M University as one of the Campus Ministers, and Master Degrees in Humanities and Theological Studies from the University of Dallas, Monica Ashour comes to us with a breadth and depth of vision that will solidify and electrify high school students. Orthodox, passionate, and pedogogically adept, Miss Ashour reaches youth especially in the areas of Christian Anthropology, Moral Theology, and Social Ethics.

Homeschooling High School Theology

Update: This live course has concluded and is now available 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: Online Catholic Courses

Homeschool Connections is thrilled to announce a series of theology courses for the fall. The first offering is Christian Anthropology. These courses can be taken individually or concurrently.

Instructor's Biography
Having had 20 years of experience in the classroom, 3 years of experience working at St. Mary's Catholic Church at Texas A&M University as one of the Campus Ministers, and Master Degrees in Humanities and Theological Studies from the University of Dallas, Monica Ashour comes to us with a breadth and depth of vision that will solidify and electrify high school students. Orthodox, passionate, and pedogogically adept, Miss Ashour reaches youth especially in the areas of Christian Anthropology, Moral Theology, and Social Ethics. Her former students come to her often with gratitude in preparing them for the various experiences that they faced in college. Here is a direct quotation from one of her former students who was a junior at the time of writing:

Miss Ashour, I wanted to thank you for preparing me in class for Shakespeare in Italy. I got so much more out of Rome because of my education (you!) prepared me for the wealth of culture and religion it offers. All I have learned in your class about Catholicism and truth made The Vatican and the major basilicas come alive for me.
--Mary M.

Theology: Christian Anthropology
Course Description
“The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe, and chose to raise up men to share in his own divine life; and when they had fallen in Adam, he did not abandon them, but at all times held out to them the means of salvation, bestowed in consideration of Christ, the Redeemer, ‘who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature…’” (Lumen Gentium 2). As such, all humans who live according to their nature and elevated in Christ Jesus will find fulfillment and joy in life. This course seeks, then, to identify and explain aspects of human nature to which the human person is to submit so as to live the fullness of life in true freedom, for “man fully alive is the glory of God” (St. Irenaeus).

Goal: Each student, challenged and emboldened to think deeply, will receive skills to meet the challenges of living “in the world but not of the world.”

Session 1: God and man made in His image: Trinitarian Theology; Christian Anthropology based on Pope John Paul’s Theology of the Body, “the most suitable education about man” (Pope John Paul II); preternatural gifts, the Fall, soteriology (redemption).

Session 2: Freedom, conscience, Natural Law, “What We Can’t Not Know” (Dr. Budziszewski), secularist relativism (the “worst evil of our times”-Pope Benedict) brought on by Enlightenment thinkers such as Francis Bacon and his “man’s conquest of nature,” and recognizing such aberrations in the culture.

Session 3: Grace and justification—Catholic and Protestant perspectives, sanctification, Sacramental theology and the Mass, “the source and summit of our lives.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium).

Session 4: Maleness and femaleness, radical femininism, the Church’s teaching regarding homosexuality, egalitarianism, “givenness” (Dr. Joyce Little, The Catholic Church and the Culture War), the theological bases explaining why we have an all-male priesthood.

Fee:
The regular price is $60. However, there is a discount for early registration. Register by July 30, 2009 and receive a discount of $10.

Dates and Time:
This is a four-week course. Classes will begin Tuesday, September 8, 2009 and meet every Tuesday through September 29, 2009. The classes will begin 1:00 PM Eastern Time (noon Central) and are one hour long.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open and will close on September 8, 2009 or until the class is filled. Maximum enrollment: 25.

Misc. Details:
Miss Ashour will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments. Recordings of the classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.

Equipment Requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet. A headset with microphone is required. You can find them reasonably price at Amazon. To check your connection with the online classes visit: http://www.webex.com/lp/jointest/.

Next in the series: Moral Theology

Click here to learn about other homeschool online classes.

Homeschooling Medieval Literature

Update: These live courses have concluded and are now available as recorded courses through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows.To subscribe or learn more: Online Catholic Courses

Dr. Henry Russell is scheduled to teach a series of literature courses for the Fall 2009 semester: Medieval Lessons for Modern Catholics. Each course in the series can be taken alone or consecutively.

Dr. Russell taught Beowulf and MacBeth this summer and his students loved it as well as learned a great deal. In fact, the email box is bulging with notes from students:

It was a great class, I loved having Dr. Russell as a teacher-also a huge thank you to Mrs. Wittmann :)

I have never really been interested in literature, but Dr.Russell has really helped me appreciate it a lot more.

It was a great course!

Dr. Russell had very interesting and insightful comments. I enjoyed the class very much.

I enjoyed the class very much! I also liked meeting other kids that might be going to the same college as me.

Excellent explanations and insights.

So, what are the fall classes Dr. Russell will be teaching? I'm so glad you asked because they are fabulous:

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight -- Chivalry, Courtesy and Chastity

Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the most elegant and merry tales of a heroic Catholic age. The fate of Gawain hangs upon his courtesy and his faithfulness to his word, even in the face of the immortal Green Knight who picks up his own head after Gawain has smitten it off. But what does the Green Knight stand for? Why is he so beautiful and happy and yet so fearsome to all? How can he be allowed in King Arthur’s court and in God’s Chapel? And why must the tale begin at Christmas but end on New Year’s Day?

The Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer -- Trust God and Tradition

Chaucer was the master at making Catholic nobles laugh at the failings of others until they realized those characters were a bit too much like themselves. This great moralist, like a comic Dante, lets his characters boast and strut until they have convicted themselves out of their own mouths. Let him introduce you to the virtues and vices of his Canterbury Pilgrims and then see how Chaunticleer the Rooster teaches us about predestination and the Church of God. To read Chaucer well is to see how subtly the typological allegory can be constructed.

King Arthur and Christ -- Heroism and Holiness

King Arthur attempts to build the City of God on earth, as we all must. His noble and sinful knights rise far above themselves under his Catholic kingdom’s rule of chivalry. Their fall is also our fall. In Lancelot we will see the crucial role that holiness must play in any heroism, and find that holiness--both personal and of the nation--is the purpose for which heroism is made. Most editions of this tale have been drastically whitewashed by their modernizers to make it a tale of merely cardinal virtues or generic Christian sentiment. Some have gone so far as to warp it into the service of paganism and witchcraft. Yet the greatest knight in the world sees Jesus and ends as a monk.

To learn more, just click on the hyperlinks above. To register for a class, just scroll down and click on the Register button. Homeschool Connections takes Master Card and Visa. If you'd like to pay via check or Paypal please email Maureen Wittmann.

Meet and Greet the Philosophy Professor

ADDENDUM: The Meet and Greet webinar went wonderfully well. If you missed it and would like to watch the recording at your leisure, just go to: Philosophy 101 -- Meet and Greet the Professor.

Come and meet our philosophy professor! Sit in on a sample class, play with the technology, see Dr. Rioux in action, and learn what we have planned for the upcoming year for high school philosophy.

Dr. Jean Rioux, chair of the philosophy department at Benedictine College, will be teaching an introductory philosophy course for high school students. If there is a good response to this offering, he has a whole series planned.

Both you and your children are invited to join Dr. Rioux on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 for Philosophy 101: Meet and Greet the Professor.

Online Class for Homeschool Science

Update: This live course has concluded and is now available 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: Online Catholic Courses

Kris Correira, PA is going to be teaching a 6-week online class called Blood in Sickness and in Health that is about blood physiology and pathophysiology. This is an awesome opportunity for high school students to learn directly from a physician's assistant who also teaches paramedics at community college.

Kris is planning a whole physiology series, so this is only beginning. This course is very inexpensive at only $75 for 6 weeks plus graded homework.

Course Description:
You won't faint at the sight of blood in this virtual class! We'll explore what blood is and does, how it is made, how it clots, and blood typing. We'll also look at how blood is tested in a medical laboratory, what the results are when a person is healthy and how it changes in illness. Each student will present their own research into a specific blood disorder of his or her choosing.

This course is designed for high school students. If your student is younger than high school age and would like to participate please contact homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.

Fee: $75.

Registration:
Go to Science: Blood in Sickness and In Health. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Register button and then follow the instructions. We take Visa and Master Card. If you prefer to pay by check, or have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Maureen Wittmann.

Materials Needed:
The course includes a blood typing and microscope lab for which you will need to order supplies. Ordering information will be provided and will cost around $20.

All other materials will be made available free online.

Dates and Time:
This is a six-week course. Classes will begin Friday, September 18, 2009 and meet every Friday through October 23, 2009. The time will begin 3:00 PM Eastern Time and end at 4:15 PM.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open and will close on September 11, 2009. This will provide students time to learn about the educational software Moodle and the instructor time to provide a syllabus and welcome letter.

Homework:
1) Read the material listed each week.
2) Two labs, one where the students determine their blood types one week and another where they examine slides another week.
3) They will give a final paper and presentation.

Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping. It is up to the parent to record the grade in their child's transcript.

Misc. Details:
Mrs. Corriera will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments.

Recordings of the classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.

Equipment Requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet. A headset with microphone is required. You can find them reasonably price at Amazon. To check your connection with the online classes visit: http://www.webex.com/lp/jointest/.

Instructor's Biography:
Kris Correira is a homeschooling mom to 3 boys. She works part time as a physician assistant in an busy emergency department and a paramedic instructor at a community college; she is also a volunteer science teacher for her local homeschool co-op. She has inspired a love of science in her children through lots of hands-on learning and science books without any textbook or curriculum. See what experiments she has for fun hands-on science homeschooling.

Registration:
Go to: Science: Blood in Sickness and In Health. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Register button and then follow the instructions. We take Visa and Master Card. If you prefer to pay by check, or have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Maureen Wittmann.

Click here to learn about other homeschool online classes.

Homeschool Plan for Upcoming School Year

Have you been putting off planning for the upcoming school year? Is it on you're to-do list? Have you already done the footwork but having doubts? Well. Jenny Bales has graciously offered to help us all with this task that some of us love and others of us loathe.

Jenny's homeschool group holds a Day of Reflection for moms in preparation for planning the next school year. They developed a self-evaluation survey for the mothers to complete with questions covering personal spirituality, successes and struggles from this year, and goals for the next year.

Now Jenny is bringing that experience to the entire Catholic homeschool community via two free webinars. These are ones well worth your time. Make sure to mark the date on your planner so you don't miss it.

Prayerfully Reflecting on Last Year
(ADDENDUM: The live event was fabulous! I could not believe all the positive responses. I've corrected the link above to take you to the recorded event.)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009
8:30 PM Eastern (7:30 Central)
Here is a chance to really step back from the busy-ness of family life and pause to reflect on the previous academic year's highs and lows. The focus will be to take some time to ponder our personal spiritual growth and our successes and challenges from the past year of homeschooling with a goal to prayerfully discern what, if anything, needs to change for next year. Participants will be provided with a thorough self-evaluation survey at the close of the webinar to complete on their own time, which has been an inspiring process for all who have done it, so far! This webinar is part one of a two part series, continuing with Prayerfully Planning for Next Year on July 15 but one can be attended without the other, if desired.

Prayerfully Planning for Next Year
(ADDENDUM: The live event was fabulous! I could not believe all the positive responses. I've corrected the link above to take you to the recorded event.)

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
8:30 PM Eastern (7:30 Central)
Regardless of what stage of planning for next year moms have completed, this will be an opportunity to consider our plans in light of God's will through prayerful discernment. Having evaluated the previous academic year in the webinar Prayerfully Reflecting on Last Year on July 7, our goals for this discussion will be asking the Lord for guidance in choosing materials and preparing lessons for next year and setting some goals for ourselves, our family, and each individual child that truly reflect our priorities. This webinar is part two of a two part series but one can be attended without the other, if desired.

Presenter's Biography
Jenny is a richly blessed homeschooling mother of two children, so far, a daughter entering second grade and a son entering pre-Kindergarten. Previously a middle school and high school English/Language Arts teacher, youth retreat director, and strategic planning consultant (among other things), her enthusiasm for and experience with personal and curriculum planning has been a great asset to her own homeschooling way of life. She cannot wait to share with you the process she developed with her local homeschooling group to evaluate each homeschooling year and make plans for the next year all focusing on God's will for our families and raising holy children in Christ-centered homes!