The Space Trilogy for Homeschool High School

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

On Archbishop Chaput's list of books that should be read by every Catholic, C. S. Lewis's Space Trilogy is an excellent read for older teens.

When Homeschool Connections first offered this course in 2009, the students loved it. Dr. Gotcher uses the Socratic Method so there was a lot of lively discussion in these classes. This is why we've put a limit on the number of students in this course. We like to keep it small to keep the discussion intimate.

There are an abundance of issues and ideas to ponder in the Space Trilogy. I'm glad to have a terrific professor like Dr. Gotcher to guide us through it all. I hope you'll join us ...


Literature: The Space Trilogy of C. S. Lewis with Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
(click on title to register)

Class dates: Fridays, March 18 to May 13, 2011 (no class April 22 for Good Friday)
Total classes: 9
Starting time: 10:00 am, Eastern Daylight Time (9:00 am, Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Professor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Fee: Regularly $120 for all 8 classes. Early Registration Discount $15 before November 1, 2010.
Prerequisite: The ability to read, understand and enjoy The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis
Suggested grade level: 11th and 12th
High school credit: 2/3 semester

Course description: This is a seminar in which we will discuss the Space Trilogy of C.S. Lewis—Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength.

Course outline:
Class 1: Overview
Class 2: Out of the Silent Planet
Class 3: Out of the Silent Planet
Class 4: Perelandra
Class 5: Perelandra
Class 6: That Hideous Strength
Class 7: That Hideous Strength
Class 8: Discussion of the entire trilogy.

Homework: One literature worksheet for each of the three novels, to be completed before the class period in which they are discussed.

Course materials: The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis (Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength)

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 homeschooling 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.

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

Misc:
Dr. Gotcher will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

This course is limited to 15 students.

High School American Government Online Class

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

Government: Government, Democracy, and Citizenship with Ed Rivet (Feb. 11 to Apr. 8)
(click on title to register)

Mr. Rivet's introductory government course has been one of our most popular. The students even started a Mr. Rivet Fan Club on Facebook. We get a lot of Seton and MODG students in this course as it helps meet their requirements for U.S. Government. We're really excited to be able to offer it again.

Course Description:
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."

Instructor's Biography:
Ed Rivet has a B.S. in Pre-Law and Public Policy and a Master's in Public Administration both from Michigan State University. He served three years as a legislative aide in the Michigan House of Representatives. For 21 years Ed has served as the Right to Life of Michigan's Legislative Director. He has written and helped enact dozens of laws, including the nation's first complete ban on human cloning, and banning assisted suicide in the face of the assault on human life by Jack Kevorkian and Geoffrey Fieger. Ed was the director of the state of Michigan's largest all-volunteer citizen petition drive which also was the state's most accurate petition drive ever, 97.3% valid signatures. Ed has done countless media interviews, appearing in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, plus live interviews on CNN and Good Morning America.

Price: $140 for all 9 classes. There is a $20 Early Enrollment Discount if you enroll before November 1, 2010.

Dates and Time:
This is a nine-week course. Classes will begin Friday, February 11, 2011 and meet every Friday through April 8, 2011. The time will begin 12:00 PM Eastern Time and end at 1:15 PM.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open.

Misc. Details:
All coursework will be provided by the instructor or available online for free. Homework and research projects will be given and graded. (Though Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.) Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments.

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone is highly recommended. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon. A web cam is NOT required.

Comments from Mr. Rivet's Past Students:

"The class was fantastic! I really enjoyed it!"

"Thanks for teaching this class ... I really enjoyed it and I felt like it gave me a better understanding of my government."

"I loved this class!"

"NICE JOB!!!!! I really enjoyed the class and I am thankful I did it. The course gave me a basic yet essential understanding of how our government works that I never had before. Thanks a bunch!"

To register, go to: Government: Government, Democracy, and Citizenship with Ed Rivet. 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, please don't hesitate to email me.

Physiology Online Class: The Immune System

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

If you're looking for a terrific high school science course for you child look no farther. This is an opportunity to learn from a physician's assistant who also teaches paramedics and all from the comfort of your own home.

My own teen daughter took this course last semester. She wants to be a nurse and loves everything anatomy & physiology so I'm pretty excited to have Kris teaching for Homeschool Connections.

To register, please click on the link below:

Science: Immunity in Sickness and in Health

Dates: Mondays, January 17 to February 21, 2011
Time: 1:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time (12:30 pm Central)
Class length: 1 hour
Instructor: Kris Correira, PA

Course description: The immune system is actually several systems working together to protect the body. In this course students will learn about the overall structure of the lymphatic system, the inflammatory response, and the immune response, including compliment, antibodies, and T cells. You won't get sick of this course!

Course fee: $90.00 for entire 6-week course. $15 Early Enrollment Discount if you enroll before November 1, 2010.

Homework: Homework will consist of answering a series of questions relating to what will be covered the following week. Lectures 2 through 6 will have a quiz at the start of class.

Instructor's biography: Kris Correira is a homeschooling mother of three 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 homeschool co-op. She has inspired a love of science in her children through lots of hands-on learning and science books without textbooks or curricula.

Science: Immunity in Sickness and in Health

High School History: Middle Ages

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

The best teachers are those who are most enthusiastic about their subject matter. Mr. Campbell has both great enthusiasm and deep knowledge for his subject matter. For this reason he is quite popular with his students. I am looking forward to having him teach for Homeschool Connections again in the spring. This is one class not to miss ...

History: Catholic Middle Ages with Phillip Campbell
(click on title to register)

Class dates: Wednesdays, January 26 to April 20, 2011 (No class March 8, 2011)
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 4:30 pm, Eastern Standard Time (3:30 pm, Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Instructor: Phillip Campbell
Grade level: 10th to 12th
High school credit: One full semester
Fee: Regularly $180 for entire 12-week course. $20 Early Registration Discount before November 1, 2010

Course description: An in depth study of the cultural, political, intellectual and artistic life of the Middle Ages with a focus on the contributions of the Catholic Church to medieval civilization.

Course outline:
Class 1: Fall of Rome: How the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire provided fertiel ground for the birth of the medieval Church.
Class 2: Monasticism: The story of St. Benedict of Nursia and the blossoming of monastic foundations in the west.Class 3: The Holy Isle: The conversion of Ireland and the Irish contribution to the Christianization of Europe.
Class 4: The Church's Eldest Daughter: The conversion of France and the union between the Frankish kings and the papacy.
Class 5: Charlemagne: The ascendancy of the Carolingian dynasty and the glorious reign of Charlemagne, the medieval Christian king par excellence.
Class 6: Investiture & Ideology: A look at the bitter Investiture Controversies that tore Europe asunder for two hundred years.
Class 7: Dawn of Scholasticism
Class 8: Cluniacs & Cistercians
Class 9: Deus Vult
Class 10: Mendicant Orders
Class 11: Medieval Heresy
Class 12: Church vs. State: The weakening of papal power during the Church/State controversies that raged throughout the later 13th and early 14th centuries. This weakening sets the stage for the outbreak of the Protestant Revolt a century later.

Course materials: Evolution of the Medieval World by David Nichols, ISBN: 0582092574, available used inexpensively. Mr. Campbell will also provide a supplemental Catholic Middle Ages reading list (optional) for students who want to go deeper into the study.

Homework: Homework will consist of reading and the completion of a series of mini-essay questions weekly. IMPORTANT: Please make sure to read Chapter 1, "The Roman Heritage of Medieval Civilization" in the textbook prior to the 1st class.

Instructor's biography: Phillip Campbell holds a BA in European History from Ave Maria University and is pursuing further studies in education at Madonna University. He teaches history for the St. Augustine Homeschool Enrichment Program. Mr. Campbell and his wife homeschool their four children.

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

Misc:
Mr. Campbell will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Online High School Theology: New Testament

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

Introduction to the Bible: New Testament is the second of a 2-part series that can be taken either separately or together. We are currently in the midst of the first part on the Old Testament. Dr. Gotcher brings great insight and new understanding of Scripture to his students. He gets his students into the conversation and makes great use of the Socratic method in his classes. This New Testament course is sure to be a terrific asset for any Catholic student.

Theology: Introduction to the Bible; New Testament with Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
(click on title to register)

Class dates: Friday, January 14 to March 4, 2011
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 10:00 am, Eastern Standard Time (9:00 am, Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Professor: Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Prerequisite: none
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
High school credit: 2/3 semester
Fee: Regularly $160 for all 8 classes. Early Registration Discount $20 before November 1, 2010.

Course description:
The New Testament is the record of God’s final and definitive saving intervention in the history of mankind through His Incarnate Son and the Holy Spirit in the Church. This course will focus on the meaning of the life of Jesus, the history and destiny of the Early Church as related in the Gospels, as recorded in Acts, Epistles, and Revelation. We will emphasize methods for reading passage so as to more fully grasp God’s intent for us.

Course outline:
Class 1: The New Testament overview
Class 2: Gospels I Matthew and Mark
Class 3: Gospels II: Luke-Acts
Class 4: John
Class 5: Paul
Class 6: Hebrews and the “Catholic” Letters
Class 7: Revelation/Apocalypse
Class 8: The meaning the New Testament

Homework: Online readings from Bible. There will be a short on-line quiz after each class period based on reading and class material. Final exam.

Course materials: A Catholic Bible.

Instructor'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 homeschooling 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.

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

Middle School: Myths and Drama through History

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

Middle School Literature: Myth in Drama
(click on title to register)

Class dates: Thursdays, January 13 to March 24, 2011 (no class March 10th)
Total classes: 10
Starting time: 9:30 am, Eastern Standard Time (8:30 am, Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: Regularly $150 for entire 10-week course. $20 Early Enrollment Discount before November 1, 2010.
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 7th and 8th

Course description: Orally transmitted myths were intimately involved in the advent of Greek drama. Since then myths have played a constant part in the dramatic art of Western Civilization. This course examines what myth is and how it has been used in different times and places throughout history to create a common culture in the West.

Homework: Readings and study questions will be required to be prepared prior to each class. There will be some memorization of excerpts from plays required for home recitation.
Course materials: All available free online.

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

Middle School History Online: Ancient Rome

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

Middle School History: The Romans; A Day in the Life
(click on title to register)

Class dates: Wednesdays, January 12 to March 23, 2011
Total classes: 10
Starting time: 9:30 am, Eastern Standard Time (8:30 am, Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 7th to 8th
Fee: Regularly $150 for entire 10-week course. $20 Early Enrollment Discount before November 1, 2010.

Course description: This course provides a narrative history of the Romans from their modest beginnings through their rise and, finally, to their fall. The focus will be on providing as multifaceted an understanding of Roman life at all levels of society as is possible; hence, the writings, foods, games, and ideas of the Romans will all find their places in the course. Some Latin memorization may be incorporated into the course, depending on the abilities of the students.

Homework: Readings, activities, maps, timelines, and study questions may be assigned. An independent research project will be required as an end of the semester assignment.

Course materials: All materials available free online.

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

Misc:
The instructor will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

High School Online Course: The Scarlet Letter

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


My 16-year-old daughter absolutely loved this book. I myself couldn't help but be deeply moved by Hawthorne's character Hester Prynne and her story of sin & redemption.

As with his previous courses, we can all rest assured that Dr. Russell will bring new understanding and take the story to a new level for us. I am really looking forward to this class!

Literature: The Scarlet Letter (American Classics Series) with Henry Russell, Ph.D.
(click on title to register)

Class dates: Tuesdays , January 11 to March 1, 2011 )No class on February 22, 2011)
Total classes: 7
Starting time: 10:00 am, Eastern Standard Time (9:00 am, Central)
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Professor: Henry Russell, Ph.D.
Fee: This course is regularly $140 for all 7 classes. There is an Early Enrollment Discount of $20 if you register before November 1, 2010.
Suggested grade level: 10th, 11th , 12th or college
Prerequisite: Ability to enjoy reading the works.
High school credit: 1/2 semester credit.

Course description: Two main streams of thought shape the great American novels: one is the fervor of Christianity, the other is the skeptical Deism popularized in the 18th century. In English Romanticism that deism becomes transformed into a confused doctrine of the poet as priest and prophet. Ralph Waldo Emerson transported this doctrine in a form wildly popular for Americans. Although Nathaniel Hawthorne found the idea congenial at first, he became a devastating critic of it in his portrait of Hester Prynne (America’s first anti-heroine). This novel is not a condemnation of Puritan intolerance, but rather of the destructive and bigoted God-playing of Hester and her countless American imitators.

Our readings in Emerson will provide a brief but clear introduction to the ideas behind Deism and Romanticism. Then Hawthorne’s novel will provide a tightly constructed, claustrophobic response that operates like a Greek tragedy illumined mainly by the comic ending of Pearl’s destiny.

Course outline:
Class 1: Emerson and Romanticism: “Nature” and “The American Scholar”
Class 2: Emerson, Pantheism, and Transcendentalism: “The Harvard Divinity School Address”
Class 3: Nathaniel Hawthorne Responds: The Scarlet Letter “The Custom House”
Class 4: Nathaniel Hawthorne" The Scarlet Letter Chapters 1-6
Class 5: Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Scarlet Letter Chapters 7-12
Class 6: Nathaniel Hawthorne: The Scarlet Letter Chapters 13-18
Class 7: Nathaniel Hawthorne" The Scarlet Letter Chapters 19-24

Course materials: Dr. Russell will be using the Riverside Edition of The Scarlet Letter (isbn 0395051428). It is available used quite inexpensively.

Homework: Dr. Russell will provide quizzes, essay topics, and a midterm and final exam to be graded by the parent.

Instructor's biography:
Dr. Henry Russell is Headmaster of the St. Augustine’s Homeschool Enrichment Program founded with his wife Crystal. The program began in Fall 2005 with 20 students in two living rooms and now tutors more than 70 students. He is also the President of the SS Peter and Paul Educational Foundation, dedicated to founding an orthodox Catholic Liberal Arts college in southeast Michigan.

A graduate of Princeton and South Caroline (M.S.), Dr. Russell completed his graduate work at Louisiana State University. Formerly the Chairman of Ave Maria College’s Department of Literature, he has also been a professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville and Wake Forest University. He is a founding faculty member of the St. Robert Southwell Creative Writing Workshop held in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Dr. Russell’s works include The Catholic Shakespeare Audio Series. He was the Associate Editor of The Formalist from 1990-2004 and his writings have been published in various journals. He was honored to edit Dr. Alice von Hildebrand’s groundbreaking volume, The Privilege of Being a Woman.

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

Misc:
Dr. Russell will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Starting a Homeschool Tutorial

ADDENDUM: The live webinar went wonderfully. You can view the recorded event here: How to Organize a Homeschool Tutorial.

How to Organize a Homeschool Tutorial

(click on title to register)

Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Starting time: 8:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (7:00 pm Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Presenter: Ana Braga-Henebry
Fee: FREE

Webinar description:
When children arrive at the middle school age, the need for social interaction seems to increase. At the same time, the academic subjects that begin to tackle are better done in a group setting many times.

A tutoring center with classes available for homeschool students may fill this need without parents having to resort to enrolling their kids part time in a school setting or community college, which at times may not a viable option.

A tutoring center may be a very good option for classes for homeschooled children in middle and high school ages.

Ana will speak on how her support group's own tutoring center started and how it is simply run. Also, what academic areas are best done in a group setting? She will mention the classes they have held and what classes they are holding this year, plus easy ways to find available space and tutors.

The story of Ana's support group's successful tutoring center is inspirational and helpful to Catholic homeschoolers everywhere.

Presenter's biography:
Ana Braga-Henebry has seven children with her husband, Geoff Henebry, a research scientist and university professor who is found immersed in field work or international conferences in the four corners of the world at any given time. They live in an acreage north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ana has an art degree from the St. Teresa d'Avila College, Brazil, and a Masters in Humanities/Aesthetic Studies from The University of Texas at Dallas. In her thesis Ana discussed the poetry of a prolific Brazilian Benedictine monk, translated a hefty selection of his work, and elaborated on the translation process.

Ana and Geoff were married during graduate school and were blessed with two children before their dual graduation in 1989. The family has lived in Texas, Kansas, Brazil, New Jersey, and Nebraska as they followed Geoff's career in academia. They were blessed with more children in every state, adding to a chaotic and wonderful total of seven children. Today they are experimenting with acreage life, collecting fresh eggs daily, and attempting to care for vegetable gardens in South Dakota, which is a long way from Ana's childhood years in the very big city of Rio de Janeiro.

Ana reviewed children's and parenting materials for Parent Council, LTD. from 1994 until 2002. She has enjoyed reviewing for Love2Learn, the premier Catholic Resources reviews site, since March 2006. Ana writes a monthly feature for Faith & Family Live and has worked on a variety of writing projects. She has also been on the editorial board of Mater & Magistra, the only national Catholic homeschool periodical, writing both feature articles and book reviews, since its inception. She blogs vignettes of family and acreage life with pictures, recipes, and occasional favorite books or opinions on contemporary issues at http://anabragahenebrysjournal.blogspot.com.

How to Create Catholic Plays for Children

We love free webinars! So, we've been busy scheduling several between now and the end of February. I hope you'll be able to join us for a few.

In October, we have Ana Braga-Henbry scheduled. Ana is a regular writer for the Catholic homeschooling magazine mater et magistra as well as a blogger and homeschool mom. She will be sharing loads of practical information on how to pull together a play production. I know in our own homeschool group, student plays have been extremely beneficial to families.

Catholic Homeschool Plays
(click on title to register)

Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Starting time: 8:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (7:00 pm, Central Time)
Duration: 1 hour
Presenter: Ana Braga-Henebry

Description: Have you ever wanted to stage a play with your catholic homeschool kids and found nothing out there to work with? This has happened to me and I am sure with many others. After looking at the library and online for hours on end and finding only insipid, silly plays, I decided it may be easier to write my own than to continue in a seemingly fruitless search.

Now, I would have never contemplated that if it weren't for an inspiring aunt, one of the most important people of my childhood! She staged lovely shows every year for relatives with skits and plays she wrote, and my siblings and cousins and I so looked forward to it. Armed with memories of her writing process and her imaginative creative power, I looked into classical antiquity attending to the kids' request, and came up with my first little play about King Midas. Two more plays of classical themes followed the next two years, when I switched to stories of the Church's saints.

When an opportunity came for me to write a play for our homeschool one-act festival, I did not hesitate. In this webinar I will draw on the memories of those childhood shows and elaborate on the creative process of writing a play, as well as explaining how I can make them available to your home school group.

Presenter's biography:
Ana Braga-Henebry has seven children with her husband, Geoff Henebry, a research scientist and university professor who is found immersed in field work or international conferences in the four corners of the world at any given time. They live in an acreage north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ana has an art degree from the St. Teresa d'Avila College, Brazil, and a Masters in Humanities/Aesthetic Studies from The University of Texas at Dallas. In her thesis Ana discussed the poetry of a prolific Brazilian Benedictine monk, translated a hefty selection of his work, and elaborated on the translation process.

Ana and Geoff were married during graduate school and were blessed with two children before their dual graduation in 1989. The family has lived in Texas, Kansas, Brazil, New Jersey, and Nebraska as they followed Geoff's career in academia. They were blessed with more children in each state, adding to a chaotic and wonderful total of seven children. Today they are experimenting with acreage life, collecting fresh eggs daily, and attempting to care for vegetable gardens in South Dakota, which is a long way from Ana's childhood years in the very big city of Rio de Janeiro.

Ana reviewed children's and parenting materials for Parent Council, LTD. from 1994 until 2002. She has enjoyed reviewing for Love2Learn, the premier Catholic Resources reviews site, since March 2006. Ana writes a monthly feature for Faith & Family Live and has worked on a variety of writing projects. She has also been on the editorial board of mater et magistra, the only national Catholic homeschool periodical, writing both feature articles and book reviews, since its inception. She blogs vignettes of family and acreage life with pictures, recipes, and occasional favorite books or opinions on contemporary issues at http://anabragahenebrysjournal.blogspot.com.

What Homeschool Connections Professors Do on Their Off Time

Mr. Campbell, singer and actor, is also our history instructor.

How to Manage Toddlers and Homeschooling

Update: The live webinar was wonderful. You can view a recording of the event by clicking HERE. (Remember to click on the Video icon at the top right corner.)

I am so thrilled to announce that Homeschool Connections is hosting a series of free webinars between now and February (aka Burnout Month). This series is sponsored by mater et magistra, THE Catholic homeschooling magazine.

Our first webinar is just around the corner and presented by Homeschool blogger, Mary Ellen Barrett. Mary Ellen's topic is one that we all struggle with -- what to do with toddlers underfoot as we homeschool.

Toddler School; How To Prevent Disruption And Destruction And Keep The Wee Ones Engaged
(click on title to register -- seating is limited)

Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Time: 8:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (7 pm Central)
Duration: 1 hour plus Q&A
Presenter: Mary Ellen Barrett
Fee: FREE
Description: Toddlers are cute, funny and full of energy which can be both the delight and destruction of your homeschool day. This webinar will give you some tips and tricks to gainfully occupy those wonderful little people so that you can work with your older children and keep your home (somewhat) intact.

A little preview:

• Building marshmallow buildings
• Kiddie pool school
• Circle time
• And many other ideas.

Presenter's biography: Mary Ellen Barrett is the home educating mother of seven children. She is a columnist for The Long Island Catholic as well as being on the editorial review board for mater et magistra magazine. Mary Ellen is also a frequent contributor to Catholic Exchange. She speaks often on topics related to homeschooling and bereavement. Mary Ellen lives with her husband of seventeen years and seven children on Long Island in New York. She can be found blogging at Tales From the Bonny Blue House.

Student Video Contest; Win $50!

Homeschool Connections

It's Show Time!

Inspired by the recent YouTube videos put together by our instructors, Homeschool Connections is having a Student Video Contest!

First Place Prize = $50
Second Place Prize = $25
Third Place Prize = $10
All entrants will receive a $10-off coupon for any future Homeschool Connections live course.

The fine print:

Eligibility: Students currently or formerly enrolled in a Homeschool Connections live course or Subscription Service.

Theme: "Why I Love Homeschool Connections!" Your video should let other Catholic homeschool students know what makes Homeschool Connections special and why they should consider being a part of our home study program.

Publication: Entry into this contest implies that Homeschool Connections is free to publicize your video and use it on their website, blog, Facebook, YouTube channel, and Twitter.

Privacy: No last names or private information in videos to protect students' identities.

Length: Approximately 2 to 4 minutes.

Misc:
Entries can be from individuals or teams (team members split the prize)

Entries can be as simple as sitting in front of your computer's webcam or as complicated as using video and editing software.

Video should include our website, www.homeschoolconnectionsonline.com

The Top Three Videos will be chosen by Homeschool Connections' staff. They will then be posted to the HC Facebook Fan Page where fans will vote for their favorite. Winners will be determined by the number of "likes" by fans. Fans can only vote once.

Dates: Contest starts September 20 and ends October 8, 2010 at midnight Pacific time. The Top Three will be announced October 11, 2010. The Facebook voting will take place October 12 to 15 at Noon Pacific time.

Email entries to contest@homeschoolconnectionsonline.com with:

• Link to your video on YouTube
• Your full name and home address so we may issue prize check
• Email address
• Name of video and length

How to record a video from your webcam on YouTube:

1. Sign up for a Youtube account if you don't already have one. It's free and takes 5 minutes of your time.

• From www.youtube.com, click on Sign up
• Create your account

2. Click on "Upload"
3. Click on "Record from web camera"

• You might be prompted with a Privacy Settings popup. Simply click Allow.

4. You will see an image of yourself in the window provided.
5. Click the Record button.
6. Click the Stop or square button in the lower left corner of the button once finished recording.
7. You can then either Publish, Re-record, or Preview. Click Publish if finished with recording.
8. You are done with the recording part.
9. You can disable comments and set privacy.

Now, if you are happy with the video you can click on Save Changes.

Adult Online Classes: Catholic Apologetics

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

We are very excited to announce our newest adult course through Aquinas Connections. Gary Michuta, Catholic apologist and author, will be leading us through the hows and why of Catholic Apologetics.

Gary taught a similar course for high school students through Homeschool Connections and it remains our most popular recorded course. It's not just Gary's grasp of apologetics and biblical knowledge that makes his classes special; it's his deep love for all things Catholic and his natural gift of communicating that love to his audience.

Anyone who takes this course will walk away renewed in their faith and ready to evangelize.

Practical Catholic Apologetics
(click above to register)

Course dates: Thursdays, October 21 to December 16, 2010. There is no class November 25th for Thanksgiving
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 8:00 pm, Eastern (7pm, Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $100 for all 8 classes

Course description: These classes will focus on apologetic material that has been developed in the field and proven to helpful and effective. You will learn two or three lines of explanation/argument concerning such doctrines as salvation, sola Scriptura, the papacy, the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the Mass, intercession of the saints, and Mary.

Upon completing the course the students will be able to give an effective defense of the most often attacked Catholic doctrines and practices. You will gain confidence in defending the Faith and have a better appreciation of how Protestants read and understand the Bible.

Course materials: No required books.
Optional materials: Recommended if you would like to expand on the course: The Gospel According to James McCarthy, Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger, and How to Wolf-proof Your Kids, all authored by Mr. Michuta. Each book touches on points made during the course and explores them more deeply. All are available from Grotto Press.

Equipment requirements: Students are required to have high-speed internet. A headset with microphone is recommended. If you don't have a headset, you at least need speakers.
Availability of recorded classes: Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months for your review. Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the recording and/or course contents in any form is strictly prohibited.
Misc: Mr. Michuta is available in between classes for questions and comments.

Instructor's biography: Gary Michuta is the author of Why Catholic Bibles Are Bigger: Did the Catholic Church Add Books to the Bible? [Grotto Press, 2007], and How to Wolf-Proof Your Kids: A Practical Guide to Keeping Your Kids Catholic [Grotto Press, 2010]. This unique book gives Catholic parents and educators valuable insights into the deceptive tactics used by anti-Catholics and concrete suggestions on how to combat these methods. Mr. Michuta was also the co-host of the radio show Hands on Apologetics Live. He is a frequent guest on various Catholic radio shows such as Catholic Answers Live (EWTN), Searching the Word (Relevant Radio), and the Son Rise Morning Show (EWTN). He gave his “inversion story” on The Journey Home (EWTN) and he worked as an uncredited consultant for Steve Ray’s Footsteps of God video series (Ignatius Press). Since 2003, Mr. Michuta has developed apologetic material for the Eastern Church Re-Evangelization Commission (E.C.R.C) to aid the Chaldean Catholic Dioceses. Gary currently offers classes on Apologetics to Catholic parishes around the country.

Practical Catholic Apologetics
(click above to register)

Free e-Books Online

I've been considering a Kindle for some time now. However, I love books. Not just the words but the whole experience of holding a book. The smell. The feel. I've gone back and forth and, now, I am finally ready to make the jump.

Here at Homeschool Connections, we use a lot of classic books and most of them can be found for free download on the internet. I have take advantage of some of these free books but not much as I'd like as it isn't easy to read on my computer. Reading on a Kindle (and I imagine other book readers are similar) really is much like reading a regular book. You can even make annotations in the columns and highlight passages.

Of course, there is the public library and inter-library loan. However, there are times when even the classics are hard to get via inter-library loan (Our small town library didn't even offer inter-library loan until a few months ago!), a book is needed for an entire semester, or needed quickly.

With all those free books out there, the Kindle may very well pay for itself easily within a year. It has been advised to me to forget the Kindle and go for an i-Pad but that is out of many homeschool budgets including mine.

Following are several websites that offer free books online:

Baldwin Online Children's Literature Project
Bringing Yesterday's Classics to Today's Children. We're using this currently for our Ancient Greece and Rome courses, including Famous Men of Greece and Famous Men of Rome.

Christian Classics Ethereal Library
From Calvin College, though loaded with lots of Church Fathers and Catholic saints. It even has large selections from Summa Contra Gentiles. We've used this site for Chesterton and Tolkien titles.

Google Books
In addition to classics, authors have uploaded current books. Also offers magazines.

Gutenberg Project
THE original producer of free e-books. Over 100,000 books. We've used this one extensively.

Heritage History
Similar Baldwin Project, only dedicated exclusively to children's history books

Internet Archive

Librivox
Free audio books! We also used this one for Chesterton and other titles.

Literature Page
Classic books, plays, stories, poems, essays, and speeches, from the creators of The Quotations Page.

Many Books
All free books in a wide variety of genre. They contain books from Project Gutenberg, and has links to Librivox when available. You can download them already converted to a variety of formats if you don't want to go through Calibre.

Munseys
This site has titles you will not find anywhere else.

TextKit: Resources for Greek and Latin
Our Latin textbooks for this year are from this website.

As with any book, make sure anything you download is acceptable. Even classics contain trash.

I'll put these links up in the sidebar here at the blog so you find them there in the future.

Happy reading!!!

Reading List: Middle School: Ancient Greece

One thing we strive to do at Homeschool Connections is help parents give their children a quality education at home without breaking their bank. We are always mindful, as parents ourselves, of the importance of providing our children with the best of the best but at the same time we all have a fiscal responsibility to our families.

Our middle school history teacher has provided the following reading list for his students this semester. All of the required reading is available completely free online. Here is his book list (some links will have purchase information but if you scroll down you'll see the free book).

Famous Men of Greece, by John H. Haaren and Addison B. Poland

Pictures from Greek Life and Story, by Alfred John Church
The Story of the Greek People, by Eva March Tappan
Our Young Folks' Plutarch , by Plutarch, ed. by Rosalie Kaufman
The Odyssey for Boys and Girls by Alfred J. Church
The Boys and Girls Herodotus by John S. White

Catholic Middle Ages Reading List

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

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

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

Advantages of Online Education

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

Advantages of taking live, interactive, online classes:

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

Homeschool Conections Affiliate Program

Homeschool Connections now has an Affiliate Program!

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

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

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

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW

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

Online Saxon Algebra I Course

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

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

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

Here's all the information you need to register:

Math: Saxon Algebra I; Part One

(click on title then scroll down to register)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Math: Saxon Algebra I; Part One

(click on title then scroll down to register)