Latin Online for Catholic Homeschoolers (7th to 12th Grade)

Homeschool Connections offers a variety of Latin courses, both as live, interactive classes and also as recorded, independent-learning classes.

Our recorded courses are available through our Unlimited Access! service. You take Latin courses using Jenny's Latin, Wheelock, D'ooge.

Our live, interactive courses this school year also use a variety of texts (Lingua Latina, Wheelock, and Pharr's Aeneid). Here is the Fall 2013 schedule:

Beginning Latin for Middle School, Part One

(click on course title to register)

Note: This is a 2-part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two, which starts in January.
Class dates: Thursdays, Sept. 5 to December 5, 2013. No class Oct. 17 or Nov. 28.
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: No prerequisite.
Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th grade
Fee: $175 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $195 after Aug. 1st.
Instructor: Christopher Zehnder
Course description: A beginner's course in Latin. Students will learn the fundamentals of the Latin language and develop the ability to translate Latin texts.
Course materials: Volume One of the Lingua Latina series in paperback. Will be used for both semesters.
Homework: Students will work on translating assigned texts, memorizing the paradigms of Latin grammar, and completing exercise assignments. Since learning a language requires frequent exercise, students should study Latin up to an hour daily on school days.

Latin I (Wheelock), Part One

(click on course title to register)

Notes: This is a 2-part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two starting in January. Registration is limited to 20 students only.
Class dates: Thursdays, September 12 to December 12, 2013. No class October 31 or November 28.
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 8:00 PM Eastern (7:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th to 10th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Latin or foreign language
Fee: $175
Instructor: Emily Henry, MA
Course description: High School students new to Latin will be introduced to all verb and noun forms and will translate famous Latin anecdotes as well as passages from Wheelock (plus other material supplemented by the instructor). English grammar will be emphasized in addition to discussing Roman history.
Course outline: We will be covering the first twenty chapters in Wheelock (one chapter per week, approximately ten chapters per semester). We will have four class periods in particular that will be dedicated to review, implementation, etc. There will also be a number of quizzes and two final exams (one per semester
Course materials: Wheelock's 6th or 7th Edition.
Homework: Students will translate practice sentences, phrases, and passages provided in Wheelock and the Wheelock handbook (supplemented by the teacher). Students will need to be prepared to dedicate one hour a day to homework assignments and studying forms/vocabulary. The instructor grades the homework.

Latin II (Wheelock), Part One

(click on course title to register)

Notes: This is a 2-part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two starting in January. Registration is limited to 20 students only.
Class dates: Wednesdays, September 11 to December 11, 2013. No class October 30 or November 27.
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 8:00 PM Eastern (7:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: One year of Latin, 1-20 in Wheelock's, or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester of Latin or foreign language
Fee: $175
Instructor: Emily Henry, MA
Course description: Latin II will advance each student toward a more challenging, but rewarding, study of Latin grammar, syntax, and history. Students will learn how to further implement their skills through study, translation, and composition. They will become proficient in both English and Latin grammar. We will also discuss Roman history.
Course outline: We will be covering chapters 20 to the end in Wheelock (one chapter per week; approx.. 10 chapters per semester). We will have four class periods in particular that will focus on review, implementation, etc. There will also be a number of quizzes and two final exams (one per semester).
Course materials: Wheelock's 6th or 7th Edition.
Homework: Students will translate practice sentences, phrases, and passages provided in Wheelock and the Wheelock handbook (supplemented by the teacher). Students will also translate selections from the Latin Vulgate and the Mass. Students will need to be prepared to dedicate one hour a day to homework assignments and studying forms/vocabulary. The instructor grades the homework.

Latin III/IV College Preparatory, Part One

(click on course title to register)

Notes: This is a 2-part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two starting in January. 
Registration is limited to 10 students only. 

Class dates: Tuesdays, September 10 to December 10, 2013. No class October 29 or November 26.
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 12:30 PM Eastern (11:30 Central)
Duration: I hour
Prerequisite: Two to three years of Latin, has completed the Wheelock's textbook (Unlimited Access!), or equivalent. Email us athomeschoolconnections@gmail.com if you’re unsure if your student meets the equivalent.  
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Latin or Foreign Language
Fee: $185
Instructor: Emily Henry
Course description: This course is an advanced study of Latin for students who enjoy the language, have covered all the basic grammatical concepts, and are still eager for more! We will focus primarily on translation, with a few grammatical pointers/mini-lessons as needed. We will work through portions of Vergil's Aeneid, translating the original epic poem from Latin into English. Students will be required to prepare a certain number of lines for each class. We will cover our translations together, discuss the grammar and syntax, etc. We will also explore other ancient authors such as Augustine and will translate portions of the Latin Mass together. This class may be used as an AP Latin course and will prepare students for college level Latin.
Course materials: Pharr's Aeneid (click on title for ordering information)
Homework: Students will spend 1-2 hours per day (depending on proficiency in Latin) on translations. This course will cover portions of Vergil's Aeneid, the Latin Mass, and St. Augustine. Students will gain practice with both ancient, Church, and Medieval Latin. There will be two exams. All homework graded by the instructor.

History Classes Online for Fall

Homeschool Connections has a great selection of history courses for middle and high school students. Below you'll find details for all of the live, interactive courses currently open for registration.

Also note that we have much more available through Unlimited Access (recorded, independent-learning courses) from Ancient Rome to Modern American. You can learn more here: Catholic Homeschool Online Classes.

Now for the Fall 2013 live, interactive courses ...

History (Middle School): World War I; What Price Glory

(click on course title to register)

UPDATE: This course is full and closed for registration. All other history courses for Fall 2013 are still open for registration (see below).

Notes: Registration for this course is limited to 20 students.

This course will be followed in the Spring with History (Middle School) World War II; Allies vs. Axis. 
 Class dates: Tuesdays, September 24 to November 26, 2013 

Total classes: 10 

Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central) 

Duration: 1 hour

Prerequisite: None 

Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade 

Fee: $140 if you register on or before August 1, 2013. $160 if you register after Aug. 1st for all 10 classes. 

Instructor: Alison Stanley, JD 

Course description: World War One was known at the time as the Great War. It was the War to End All Wars. However, little was won and much was lost. We will explore the events leading up the World War I, famous generals and battles and any relevant legal issues that arose in America during this time period. 

Course materials: Provided free online or by the instructor. 

Homework: Original sources and legal documents will be reviewed, as well as short videos watched and analyzed. All homework graded by the instructor.

History: Making of the Modern World, Part One

(click on course title to register)

Note: This is Part One of a 2-part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two in the spring.

Class dates: Mondays, September 9 to December 2, 2013. No class October 21st 

Total classes: 12 

Starting time: 1:00 PM Eastern (Noon Central) 

Duration: 1 hour

Prerequisite: None 

Suggested grade level: 8th  to 10th grade 

Suggesting high school credit: 1 full semester 

Fee: $160 if you register on or before August 1, 2013. $180 after Aug. 1st for all 12 classes.

Instructor: Christopher Zehnder, MA 

Course description: This course examines how the Modern World --- our world --- came to be. It looks at the revolutionary ideas that created, first in Europe and then the entire world, an understanding of man and his relationship to God, the Church, and the state that was in many respects radically different from the understanding of these things that prevailed in the Middle Ages. Ideas influence deeds, and thus the course examines historical events, showing how they flowed from the struggle between those who held to traditional conceptions and those who embraced the new ideas. Events influence ideas, and thus we study how the events of history helped modify and develop both the new ideas and the traditional vision of the world. The course is divided into two parts. Part I (first semester) begins with the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries and concludes with the attempt, steered by Prince Klemens von Metternich, to reestablish the ancient regime after the fall of Napoleon's empire. Part II (second semester) continues the story, beginning with a study of Romanticism and concluding with Vatican II and the post-conciliar world.

Course materials: The text for the course (both Part One and Part Two) is Light to the Nations II: The Making of the Modern World, published by and available from http://www.catholictextbookproject.com/ 

Homework: Students will read assigned portions of the text. Lectures will focus on those events and ideas that are the keys for understanding the historical periods under consideration. The teacher will evaluate the students by essay tests given after Week III, Week V, and Week VII. Thereafter, evaluation will be based on student's responses to questions in class.

History (Middle School): Dawn of History: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Persia

(click on course title to register)

Note: This course will be followed in the Spring with History (Middle School) The Glory of Ancient Greece.

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Class dates: Thursdays, September 12 to December 12, 2013. No classes October 31st nor Nov. 28th.

Total classes: 12 

Starting time: 4:30 PM Eastern (3:30 Central) 

Duration: 45 minutes

Prerequisite: None 

Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th 

Fee: $175 if your register on or before August 1, 2013. $195 after Aug. 1st for all 12 classes

Instructor: Phillip Campbell 

Course description: This foundational course in world history will introduce students to the world's first great civilizations. Focus will be on Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and Persia, but we will also briefly visit ancient Anatolia, Assyria, India and Palestine. Students will learn about the material culture, political history, intellectual life, religious customs and contributions of each society to the advancement of civilization. In addition, ancient religions will be critically examined in their negative elements as perversions of natural law and in their positive elements as preparatio evangeli, preparations for the Gospel. 

Course materials: The Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt by Elizabeth Payne, available online here, as well as The Usborne Book of the Ancient World, also available online here, probably for a cent. Primary documents provided online free by the instructor.

Homework: Weekly quizzes, weekly readings, with an essay-style Final Exam. All homework graded by the instructor. Estimated commitment: 2-3 hours per week.

History (High School): Dawn of History: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Persia

(click on course title to register)

Note: This course will be followed in the Spring with History (High School) The Glory of Ancient Greece.

Class dates: Wednesdays, September 11 to December 11, 2013. No classes October 30th nor Nov. 27th. 

Total classes: 12 

Starting time: 4:30 PM Eastern (3:30 Central) 

Duration: 1 hour

Prerequisite: None. Recommended but not required: Foundations of Christian Historiography and Archaeological Survey of the Old and New Testaments (currently available as recorded courses through Unlimited Access.) 

Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th  grade 

Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester

Fee: $175 if you register on or before August 1, 2013. $195 after Aug. 1st  for all 12 classes 

Instructor: Phillip Campbell 

Course description: This foundational course in world history will introduce students to the world's first great civilizations. Focus will be on Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and Persia, but we will also briefly visit ancient Anatolia, Assyria, India and Palestine. Students will learn about the material culture, political history, intellectual life, religious customs and contributions of each society to the advancement of civilization. In addition, ancient religions will be critically examined in their negative elements as perversions of natural law and in their positive elements as preparatio evangeli, preparations for the Gospel. 

Course materials: The Anvil of Civilization by Leonard Cottrell, available on Amazon here. Most copies are less than $1.00. Additional primary source documents provided online free by the instructor.

Homework: Weekly quizzes, weekly readings, with an essay-style Final Exam. All homework graded by the instructor. Estimated commitment: 2-3 hours per week.

Win a Free Year of Unlimited Access to Catholic Online Classes

UPDATE: We have a winner. Congratulations to Kim from New Carlisle, Ohio. Thank you everyone for entering. We're planning to host more contests in the future. We'll keep you up to date here, on the website, Twitter, and Facebook.

We're having a contest! You can win One Free Year of Unlimited Access, a $330 value!!!  That's twelve months of 125-plus Catholic courses for you and your entire family. These are recorded, independent-learning classes. You can learn more about this amazing service by clicking here: Homeschool Connections Unlimited Access.

To enter the contest, just follow the widget below. You can enter every day for additional chances. Contest ends Monday, July 22, 2013 at midnight.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you already have Unlimited Access, you can still enter. We'll simply extend your service for one year free of charge! Or, you can give it to a friend.

Homeschool Connections also offers Live, Interactive Catholic classes. Registration is open for the 2013/2014 school year, but classes are already beginning to fill up so don't wait to check them out! Here is the link to the website: Catholic Online Classes.

God bless you and yours!

Tolkien and High School Literature

Fairy Stories; The Hobbit; Lord of the Rings. These are words that bring smiles to the faces of young and old alike.

Please join us this school year as we delve into J. R. R. Tolkien and his amazing stories. The following courses with Professor Joseph Pearce and Dr. Robert Gotcher are currently open for registration:

J.R.R. Tolkien's Short Stories

(click on course title to register)

Note: This course is limited to 12 students.
Class dates: Tuesdays, September 10 to October 15, 2013.
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: Ability to read and enjoy the works.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Literature
Fee: $70 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $80 after Aug. 1st for all 6 classes.
Instructor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Course description: We will discuss five of J.R.R. Tolkien’s short stories in light of his essay “On Fairy-Stories.”
Course outline:
Week One: Tolkien and Fairy Stories
Week Two: Smith of Wootton Major
Week Three: Roverandom
Week Four: Farmer Giles of Ham
Week Five: The Adventures of Tom Bombadil
Week Six: Leaf by Niggle
Course materials: On Fairy-Stories (Available free online); Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R. R. Tolkien; Roverandom, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Homework: Reading the stories. Fill out a literary worksheet on each book. Write your own fantasy story, graded by the instructor.

The Hobbit

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Wednesdays, October 30 to December 11, 2013. No class November 27
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: The ability to read and enjoy the book.
Suggested grade level: 8th to 10th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Literature
Fee: $90 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $110 if you register after Aug. 1st for all 6 classes. 
Course description: Professor Pearce unlocks, in two six-week courses, the Catholic meaning of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (see the spring semester for LOTR).
Course outline:
Class 1: Bilbo as Everyman. Introducing the author J. R. R. Tolkien, a lifelong practicing Catholic. Tolkien’s Catholic philosophy of creativity. Bilbo Baggins as an Everyman figure who holds up a mirror to the reader.
Class 2: Home-Loving Hobbits, Deadly Dragons and Clever Orcs. Following Bilbo from the Shire to the Misty Mountains. The danger of creature comforts. The necessity of adventure. The demonic nature of dragons. The wisdom of wizards and elves. The wicked cleverness of orcs.
Class 3: Gollum, the Ring and the Power of “Luck”. The role of Gollum and the Ring in The Hobbit versus their role in The Lord of the Rings. The role of “luck” in the riddling game between Bilbo and Gollum. The euphemistic use of “luck”. The relationship between luck and the freedom of choice. Providence and free will.
Class 4: Bilbo’s Ring and the Return of the King. The Franciscan spirit of Radagast and Beorn. Gandalf flies the nest. Bilbo comes of age. The return of the King in The Hobbit versus the return of the King in The Lord of the Rings. Thorin versus Aragorn.
Class 5: Dragon Sickness. The sun as a signifier of God’s omnipotence and omnipresence. “Above all shadows rides the sun.” The wickedness of Smaug. The contagiousness of dragon sickness. The dragon sickness as a prefigurement of the power of the Ring.
Class 6: The Death and Resurrection of Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo’s return home. The wisdom of the elves. Bilbo’s “death” and resurrection and its overarching significance.
Course materials: The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Recommended (not required) is Bilbo's Journey: Discovering the Hidden Meaning of The Hobbit by Professor Joseph Pearce.
Homework: Reading, weekly quizzes, and test. Graded by the instructor.

Lord of the Rings

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Wednesdays, January 8 to February 12, 2014.
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: The ability to read and enjoy the books.
Suggested grade level: 8th to 10th grade
Suggested high school credit: ½ semester Literature
Fee: $90 if you register on or before Nov. 1, 2013. $110 if you register after Nov. 1st for all 6 classes.
Course description: Professor Pearce unlocks, in two six-week courses, the Catholic meaning of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings (see the fall semester for The Hobbit).
Course outline:
Week 1: A Fundamentally Catholic Work. Tolkien’s disclosure that The Lord of the Rings is “a fundamentally religious and Catholic work”. His belief that his Catholicism is the most important and the most significant ingredient of The Lord of the Rings. The Christian metadrama is unlocked by the significance of the One Ring and the date on which it is destroyed.
Week 2: The Darkening of the Ring. The transition of the significance of the Ring from its relatively harmless role in The Hobbit. The enigmatic Tom Bombadil as a Biblical signifier. The Council of Elrond.
Week 3: The Dark Powers. A discussion of the evil forces at work in The Lord of the Rings: Melkor; Sauron; Saruman; Wormtongue; Shelob; Balrgos; Orcs.
Week 4: Everyman Figures. A discussion of the Everyman figures: hobbits; Boromir; Faramir; Gollum.
Week 5: Christ figures. A discussion of Christ figures: Gandalf; Aragorn
Week 6: Death, Immortality and the Triumph of Grace. Tolkien on the allegorical significance of Power in The Lord of the Rings. His insistence that the work is an allegory of Death and Immortality. The significance of the elves. Galadriel and the Long Defeat. Death as a mystical “gift”. Gollum and the triumph of grace on Mount Doom.
Course materials: Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. Should be completed by Week 2.
Homework: Reading, weekly quizzes, and test. Graded by the instructor.


Other live, interactive literature courses offered for the 2013/2014 school year (click on titles for more information):

Dante's Inferno with Dr. Henry Russell
Dantes' Purgatorio with Dr. Henry Russell
Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis with Dr. Robert Gotcher


We also offer Tolkien as recorded, independent learning courses through Unlimited Access (click here):
All of these are taught by Dr. Henry Russell and delve very deep into each of the books, spending 6 to 8 weeks on each:

The Hobbit for Middle School 
The Hobbit for High School
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for Middle School 
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for High School 
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers for Middle School 
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers for High School 
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King for Middle School 
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 

Homeschool Connections offers more than 25 live or recorded literature courses for middle and high school.

Online Science Classes for 2013/2014

We continue to add new courses to Homeschool Connections' list of offerings. We are very happy to be offering more science next school year. Below are our middle and high school science courses currently open for registration. You will find the instructor's biographies below too.

Fall 2013 Semester

Middle School Life Science: Topics in Life Science I; The Cell

(click on course title for more information or to register)

Class dates: Tuesdays, September 10 to November 26, 2013
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern Time (2:30 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 6th to 8th grade
Fee: $160 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $180 after Aug. 1st for all 12 classes.
Instructor: Kris Correira, PA-C, MHP
Course description: The cell is the basic unit of all Life. This 12-week course introduces middle school kids to what a living organism is; the structure, functions, and processes of cells; and genetics.
Course materials: All reference materials will be provided free by the instructor. A list of required lab supplies will be distributed at the beginning of the semester. Access to a microscope is helpful but not required.
Homework: Labs to be completed each week of varying length.

Digestive and Urinary Systems (Human Biology in the Catholic Tradition)

(click on course title for more information or to register)

Class dates: Thursdays, September 5 to November 21, 2013
Total classes: 10 lectures plus 2 exam dates
Starting time: 2:00 pm Eastern (1:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour (plus 15 minutes for quiz)
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th through 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biology
Fee: $160 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $180 after Aug. 1st for all 10 classes plus 2 test dates.
Instructor: Kris Correira, PA-C, MHP
Course description: Another course in the Human Biology in the Catholic Tradition series, this one focusing on the structure, function, and diseases of the digestive and urinary systems. Course materials: a free companion e-book will be provided.
Homework: Labs to be completed each week of varying lengths.

Musculoskeletal System and Nervous System (Human Biology in the Catholic Tradition)

(click on course title for more information or to register)

Class dates: Thursdays, September 5 to November 21, 2013.
Total classes: 10 lectures plus 2 exam dates.
Starting time: 3:30 pm Eastern (2:30 Central)
Duration: 1 hour (plus 15 minutes before most classes for weekly quiz)
Prerequisite: none
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biology
Fee: $160 if you register on or before August 1, 2013. $180 after Aug. 1 for all 12 classes.
Instructor: Kris Correira, PA-C, MHP
Course description: Anatomy and physiology focusing on the musculoskeletal system and nervous system infused with Catholic thought and history.
Course materials: A FREE electronic book will be provided by the instructor.
Homework: Labs to be completed each week of varying length.

Chemistry/Honors Chemistry, Part One

(click on course title for more information or to register)

Note: This is a 2-part course. Students are expected to register also for Part Two in the spring semester.
Class dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, September 4 to December 18, 2013
Total classes: 30
Starting time: 11:15 AM Eastern (10:15 AM Central)
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes)
Prerequisite: Algebra I, previous or concurrent (Unlimited Access!)
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Chemistry I or Honors Chemistry I.
Fee: Chemistry: $225 Early Enrollment; $250 after Early Enrollment.
          Honors Chemistry: $275 Early Enrollment; $300 after Early Enrollment
Instructor: Kathy Dutton
Course description: We will be studying God's creation at the atomic level and discovering how marvelous it is. This college-prep Chemistry course will cover a wide range of topics, from What is an atom? to How and why do atoms react? We will also consider how Chemistry is important for our day-to-day life. Weekly assignments will include homework, lab, and a quiz. There will be 3 to 4 tests per term.
Honors Chemistry Track: There is an optional Honors Chemistry track available for this class. All students will attend the same twice-weekly class. Honors students will be expected to complete more-involved assignments (homework, quizzes, and tests) and additional lab work. Honor students should have a solid background in science and be strong in math, as this option will be more mathematically based. This class meets the prerequisite for an AP Chemistry that is planned for next year. It is suggested, but not mandatory, that if you plan to take AP Chemistry next year you follow the Honors Chemistry track this year.
If you have a question about this course, you may e-mail Mrs. Dutton at kathy.l.dutton@gmail.com.
Course materials: Required: Chemistry, Wilbraham, Staley, Matta, Waterman (Prentice Hall, 2008) ISBN: 0-13-251210-6, Virtual Chemlab (Prentice Hall) ISBN: 0-13-166412-3 Lab supplies - many will be common household supplies; if needed, a lab supply kit will be available from the instructor (price TBD). Note: A couple of good sources for finding used books: Bookfinder and Cathswap (click on titles for websites).
Homework: 4 to 5 hours on class work plus 1-hour lab outside of class. Mrs. Dutton will be available to answer homework or lab questions during scheduled office hours or via e-mail at any time.

Spring 2014 Semester
Note on Middle School Science: We are planning to add a middle school level science course to the Spring 2014 Semester. We will keep you updated here and at the website.

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems (Human Biology in the Catholic Tradition)

(click on course title for more information or to register)

Class dates: Thursdays, February 6 to May 1. No class Holy Week.
Total classes: 12 (10 classes plus 2 exams)
Starting time: 2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Central) with a 15 minute quiz available before most classes
Duration: 1 hour (plus 15 minutes for quiz)
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th through 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biology
Fee: $160 if you register on or before Nov. 1, 2013. $180 after Nov. 1st for all classes.
Instructor: Kris Correira, PA-C, MHP
Course description: Another course in the Human Biology in the Catholic Tradition series, this one focusing on the structure, function, and diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Course materials: A FREE companion e-book will be provided by the instructor.
Homework: Labs to be completed each week of varying length.

Blood and Immunity (Human Biology in the Catholic Tradition)

(click on course title for more information or to register)

Class dates: Thursdays, February 6 to May 1, 2014. No class Holy Week.
Total classes: 12 (10 classes plus 2 exams)
Starting time: 3:30 PM Eastern (2:30 Central) with a 15 minute quiz available before most classes
Duration: 60 minutes (plus 15 minutes for quiz)
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9th through 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Biology
Fee: $160 if you register on or before Nov. 1, 2013. $180 after Nov. 1st for all classes.
Instructor: Kris Correira, PA-C, MHP
Course description: Another course in the Human Biology in the Catholic Tradition series, this one focusing on the structure, function, and diseases of the blood and immune systems.
Course materials: A free companion e-book will be provided by the instructor. Access to a 400x microscope is required. A list of required lab materials to be ordered before the start of class will be provided.
Homework: Labs to be completed each week of varying length

Chemistry/Honors Chemistry, Part Two 

(click on course title to learn more or to register)

Note: This is a 2-part course. Students are welcome to join us midyear if they meet the requirements. Email the instructor for permission through homeschoolconnections@gmail.com. 
Class dates: Mondays and Wednesdays, January 6 to Mary 21, 2014.
Total classes: 30
Starting time: 11:15 AM Eastern (10:15 Central)
Duration: 1.25 hours (75 minutes)
Prerequisite: Chemistry/Honors Chemistry, Part One or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade.
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Chemistry
Fee:  Chemistry: $225 Early Enrollment; $250 after Early Enrollment
         Honors Chemistry: $275 Early Enrollment; $300 after Early Enrollment
Instructor: Kathy Dutton
Course description: We will be studying God's creation at the atomic level and discovering how marvelous it is. This college-prep Chemistry course will cover a wide range of topics, from What is an atom? to How and why do atoms react? We will also consider how Chemistry is important for our day-to-day life. Weekly assignments will include homework, lab, and a quiz. There will be 3 to 4 tests per term.
Honors Chemistry Track: There is an optional Honors Chemistry track available for this class. All students will attend the same twice-weekly class. Honors students will be expected to complete more-involved assignments (homework, quizzes, and tests) and additional lab work. Honor students should have a solid background in science and be strong in math, as this option will be more mathematically based. This class meet the prerequisite for an AP Chemistry that is planned for next year. It is suggested, but not mandatory, that if you plan to take AP Chemistry next year you follow the Honors Chemistry track this year. If you have a question about this course, you may e-mail Mrs. Dutton at kathy.l.dutton@gmail.com.
Course materials: Required: Chemistry, Wilbraham, Staley, Matta, Waterman (Prentice Hall, 2008) ISBN: 0-13-251210-6, Virtual Chemlab (Prentice Hall) ISBN: 0-13-166412-3 Lab supplies - many will be common household supplies; if needed, a lab supply kit will be available from the instructor (price TBD)
Homework: 4 to 5 hours on class work and 1-hour lab outside of class. Mrs. Dutton will grade homework and be available to answer homework or lab questions during scheduled office hours or via e-mail at any time.

Science Instructors: Biographies
Kris Correira, PA-C, MHP 
Mrs. Correira is a homeschooling mom of three boys. She worked as a physician assistant in a busy emergency department for over 16 years. She has been teaching paramedic students at Quinsigamond Community College since 1994 and has taught human biology labs at Eastern Connecticut State University. She has over ten years of experience teaching online classes. She received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biological Sciences and Computer Science from Wellesley College, and her Physician Assistant Certificate and Masters of Health Professions degree from Northeastern University. You can find Kris on the web at her blog AtHomeScience.blogspot.com or her homeschool blog ScienceOfRelations.blogspot.com or her nature study blog APrivateEyeNature.blogspot.com. You can also find her at daily Mass, Adoration, or whatever event is going on at the small parish to which her family belongs.

Kathy Dutton 
Mrs. Dutton holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Michigan, as well as a BA in Accounting from University of Michigan. Her early career involved research, including work with catalytic converts, neurology, and immunology. Mrs. Dutton has nearly 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience across various venues, including at the university, private tutoring, home-school group classes, and public and Catholic schools. Currently, Mrs. Dutton home schools her youngest son (a high school senior) and teaches an AP Chemistry course. She teaches Catholic religious education and Confirmation preparation classes for her parish. Additionally, Mrs. Dutton devotes time to the Flint Regional Science and Engineering Fair, an ISEF-associated fair. Mrs. Dutton; her husband, Dave; son, Alex; two cats, Taz and Tabby (or is it Tubby?); and dog, Holli, live in mid-Michigan. Her two older sons, Matt and Andy, are on their own.

Music Appreciation for High School

We are very happy to announce, thrilled in fact, that Professor Carol will be teaching music and art appreciation for Homeschool Connections in the fall semester. Yes, THE Professor Carol! We hope you'll join us in this adventure of art and music through history ...

Discovering Western Culture through Music and the Arts

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Fridays, September 13 to December 13, 2013. No class October 11 and November 29
Total classes: 12 classes plus recorded lectures
Starting time: 2:30 PM Eastern (1:30 PM Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None. No musical background is necessary.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Music/Art Appreciation
Fee: $175 if you register on or before August 1, 2013. $195 after Aug. 1st for all 12 classes
Instructor: Carol Reynolds, Ph.D. (Professor Carol)
Course description: Journey with Professor Carol through Western History, using music as the focal point but weaving in visual art (painting, sculpture), dance, theater, architecture, and literature. The study of music and the Fine Arts supports the understanding of history, geography, and culture. Elements of science, technology, and language are included in the course as well. Sessions will focus on the years between 1600 and World War One, but will present an overview of Medieval/Renaissance Sacred Music.
Course materials: 1. Discovering Music online curriculum by Professor Carol will be made available to students for half of the regular price ($30 for four months subscription). 2. Music selections assigned by the instructor. These can be accessed in one of four ways. Choose the one that best suits your family: a) Free by searching your public library or YouTube; b) Classical Archives ($8 per month); c) Naxos ($20 per year); OR d) purchase 3-CD set from the instructor (HSC discounted price $34.95).
Homework: This is not a course for the faint of heart. We’ll have a lot of fun as we discover music together, but students should expect a good amount of work outside of the classroom in that discovery. Homework will entail: 1. Viewing recorded classes in advance to the live classes. 2. Viewing assigned artwork and listening to music. 3. Interactive quizzes. 4. A midterm and a final exam (fill-in-blank, short essays, long essays, with answers/suggested answers). 5. Unit projects to be determined. Due to the nature of the medium, we encourage students more than ever to share their learning experience and the resources used in this course with the rest of their family.

Discovering Western Culture through Music and the Arts

(click on course title to register)

Instructor biography for Carol Reynolds, Ph.D.

Dr. Carol Reynolds weaves energy, humor, and history into everything she does.   After a career as a professor at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, “Professor Carol” and husband Hank moved to a ranch and began creating Fine Arts courses for students and adults.  Her unprecedented Discovering Music: 300 Years of Interaction in Western Music, Arts, History, & Culture and Exploring America’s Musical Heritage reach across the world.  Her new course History of Early Sacred Music will appear this summer, as well as online courses on Russian Music, Research Skills for Students Entering College, and a new series on American Music.  A pianist and organist, she is a popular speaker for the Van Cliburn Series, The Dallas Symphony, opera companies, and museums.  She works frequently in Eastern Europe and Russia as Study Leader for The Smithsonian.

Attaining the Necessary Skills for Success in College

Build Your Teen's College Skill Set
Plus Scope and Sequence

Are you and your high school student(s) planning for college? If so, there are certain skill sets that are particularly important to acquire.

Study Skills: Students need to know how to manage their time and meet deadlines. The brightest student can still flounder if these skills are not learned. The successful college student also needs good note taking and basic study skills so that they can get the most out of their classes and homework. After completing HSC's Study Skills and Note Taking course, students will put these skills into practice through their high school years and will therefore be better prepared for college.

Communication Skills: Strong communication skills will greatly benefit your student in any college major or career field. HSC offers a course to help students learn and practice good communications. In the Leadership and Communications Skills course, students learn speaking skills, listening skills, conflict management, and more.

Leadership Skills: The most successful students are often the ones who are also leaders. As Catholics, it is important that our students become people who are a positive influence at school and in the world. HSC's Leadership and  Communications Skills course will encourage them to be people of service, show them how to be a faith-filled leader, and more.

Writing Skills: It's not enough to learn lessons taught in school, students need to be able to communicate the lessons learned in writing. Strong writing skills are vital for college success. HSC offers a strong writing program (Aquinas Writing Advantage) that will take your student from the basics (grammar, punctuation, vocabulary) to the advanced (rhetoric, research, academic papers). Your student will be ready for college writing after successfully completing these writing courses.

Critical Thinking Skills: Education should not be about cramming facts into children's heads. It should be about giving them a love for learning and the ability to think. We highly recommend formal logic and philosophy to help your student think critically and therefore succeed in all their school subjects. Logic and Philosophy are not electives -- they are vital to a core curriculum. HSC offers a variety of courses that teach your student critical thinking skills, while at the same time raising their hearts to God and finding the beauty of their Catholic faith.

ACT/SAT Test Skills: To help your student get into the college of his choice, and get the best scholarship possible, we offer courses on preparing for the ACT and SAT tests. Your student will learn how to prepare for the test, what to expect, manage time, and more for success. Latin studies should also be considered, for a variety of reasons including the evidence that Latin studies increase ACT and SAT scores.

Most Importantly -- How to Evaluate Ideas through a Catholic Lens:
In college your student will encounter many new ideas and assumptions. Some of them will be potentially damaging. We want to give your student the necessary tools to recognize and understand the worldviews they encounter and know how to articulate their own beliefs effectively and convincingly. All of HSC instructors are Catholic and teach their courses through a Catholic lens, thus demonstrating to your student how God is evident in everything. Our theology courses will specifically prepare your student to defend his faith when he goes out into the world, as well as help him build a solid foundation of faith for his life.

All of the mentioned courses are currently available through our Unlimited Access! program. These are recorded classes that can be taken on your schedule and at your pace ... and very reasonably priced! To learn more, email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com or visit http://homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/online-catholic-course-catalog/recorded-courses/

Writing, Philosophy, Logic, Theology, and Study Skills will also be offered as live, interactive courses in the 2013/2014 school year. Courses are open for registration. Please visit http://homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/online-catholic-course-catalog/ or email for more information.

There is one more skill set I'd like to mention ...
How to Use Technology in Education:
In HSC's online courses, students become familiar with the same, or similar, technology they’ll encounter in college. They learn how to be engaged participants in a live, interactive webinar and gain experience using online tools to collaborate with their instructor and fellow students from across the country and the world. This is a skill set that will help them advance in higher education as well as the business place.

Recommended Homeschool Connections College Skill Set Courses
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, and moth.

9th Grade
How to be an Excellent Student: Note Taking, Test Taking, and How to Get an A (4 weeks)
Elements of Writing: Essential Punctuation and Grammar (6 weeks)
Simplified Writing (8 weeks)
Excellent Paragraph and Essay/Test Writing (6 weeks)

Introduction to Formal Logic (12 weeks)

Latin I (24 weeks)

Catholic Apologetics (12 to 24 weeks)

10th Grade

Vocabulary and Writing 1 (14 weeks)

Vocabulary and Writing 2 (14 weeks)

Advanced Formal Logic (12 weeks)

Latin II (24 weeks)

Philosophy 101: What Do Philosophers Do and How (8 weeks)

Advanced Catholic Apologetics (12 weeks)

11th Grade

Creative (Fiction) Writing (16 to 24 weeks)

Latin III/IV (24 weeks)

ACT/SAT Prep (4 weeks)

Thomistic Philosophy (12 to 24 weeks)

Understanding Our Faith Series (8 to 16 weeks)

12th Grade

Leadership and Communications (6 weeks)

Advanced Writing and Rhetoric (10 weeks)

Advanced Research Writing  (10 weeks)

Theology of the Body Series (24 weeks)

Early Modern Philosophy (12 weeks)

Philosophy of God: Natural Theology (12 weeks)

Pre-K to 8th Grade Curriculum: Mater Amabilis (Free!)

Homeschool Connections specializes in online education for middle and high school students. The classes offered for middle school are fewer in number than the classes offered for high school. We believe, strongly, that the current technology works great for older students but is not appropriate for grade school students.

We sometimes get requests from parents for grade school classes. However, the earliest our courses begin is 6th grade and those are few. Our philosophy is that younger students need to spend as little time as possible on the computer.

If you have preschool to grade school children, we highly recommend Mater Amabilis. This is a free Charlotte Mason curriculum for Catholic homeschooling families. Yes, FREE! It was put together by a group of dedicated Catholic home educators in the U.S. and England to be given freely to the entire Catholic homeschooling community.

Thousands upon thousands of Catholic homeschooling families have used Mater Amabilis over the years. I heard from one just yesterday:

I am so appreciative for Homeschool Connections and Mater Amabilis as we have benefited greatly from both your offerings in our homeschool over the years. Bravo!!
 ~ Meredith Henning, author of Mondays with Mary

 If you are interested in learning more, please click here: Mater Amabilis: A Pre-K to Eighth Grade Charlotte Mason Style Curriculum.

Beginning Spanish: Online Classes

Spanish I (Beginning Spanish), Part One 

(click on title to register)

Course dates: Wednesdays, September 4 to December 4, 2013.
Total classes: 12 live classes plus 12 recorded lectures for a total of 24 classes.
Starting time: 12:30 PM Eastern (11:30 AM Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: Spanish ½, Introduction to Spanish (Unlimited Access!) or equivalent. Students taking Spanish I should know the Spanish concept of articles, nouns and adjectives, the conjugation of verbs “ser and estar” in the present tense, possessive adjectives and being able to use basic vocabulary in Spanish.
Note: If you have no Spanish experience at all, you can prepare for this course over the summer by reviewing Spanish 1/2 through Unlimited Access (recorded classes) or working through the workbook on your own: Spanish 100+ Series (click on title for ordering information - answer key is included)
Suggested grade level: 7th - 11th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Spanish or Foreign Language
Fee: $220 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $240 after Aug. 1st for all 24 classes.
Instructor: Irma Luz Schmitt, MA
Course description: In Spanish 1, students learn to conjugate regular, irregular and stem-changing verbs in present time. In addition, students learn other grammar concepts, such as comparisons, superlatives, a personal, etc. As a complement to the class in real time, students will have opportunity to view a recorded class each week that includes exercises in new vocabulary and pronunciation practice.
Course materials: TBA
Homework: In order to help students practice the Spanish Language every day, each week they will be required to view a video reviewing vocabulary, prepare a recording, complete a vocabulary quiz, and write in Spanish.

Spanish I (Beginning Spanish), Part One 

(click on title to register)

College Preparatory Latin Online Classes

Latin III/IV College Preparatory, Part One

(click on course title to register)

Notes: This is a 2-part course. Students are expected to register for Part Two starting in January. 
Registration is limited to 10 students only. 

Class dates: Tuesdays, September 17 to December 10, 2013. No class October 29.
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 12:30 PM Eastern (11:30 Central)
Duration: I hour
Prerequisite: Two to three years of Latin, has completed the Wheelock's textbook (Unlimited Access!), or equivalent. Email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com if you’re unsure if your student meets the equivalent. 
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester Latin or Foreign Language
Fee: $185 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2013. $205 after August 1st for all 12 classes.
Instructor: Emily Henry
Course description: This course is an advanced study of Latin for students who enjoy the language, have covered all the basic grammatical concepts, and are still eager for more! We will focus primarily on translation, with a few grammatical pointers/mini-lessons as needed. We will work through portions of Vergil's Aeneid, translating the original epic poem from Latin into English. Students will be required to prepare a certain number of lines for each class. We will cover our translations together, discuss the grammar and syntax, etc. We will also explore other ancient authors such as Augustine and will translate portions of the Latin Mass together. This class may be used as an AP Latin course and will prepare students for college level Latin.
Course materials: Pharr's Aeneid (click on title for ordering information)
Homework: Students will spend 1-2 hours per day (depending on proficiency in Latin) on translations. This course will cover portions of Vergil's Aeneid, the Latin Mass, and St. Augustine. Students will gain practice with both ancient, Church, and Medieval Latin. There will be two exams. All homework graded by the instructor.

Latin III/IV College Preparatory, Part One

(click on course title to register)