Friday, April 1, 2016

History/Literature/Composition Classes Offered Fall/Spring 2016-2017


Introduction to Public Speaking facilitated by Linda Clark
Andrew Pudewa’s Speech Boot Camp curriculum will be the spine of this course.  
Classes Scheduled:
Mondays 8 to 9:30 High School Students grades 9 thru 12
Class maximum 16 students
Mondays 9:30 to 11 Middle School Students grades 6 thru 8
Class maximum 16 students
Cost for each class: $5 per drop in class or $2 per class for co-op participants.  An additional fee of $4 per student will cover copying costs for the semester. As a co-op participant, we can provide hole punched handouts every week at a much reduced cost for the curriculum ($4 compared to $15).  Students will need a loose leaf binder or folder with fasteners and paper for notes.
In the words of Andrew Pudewa:
“Long ago, the vital skill of speaking well, or “elocution,” was considered an essential part of every citizen’s basic education, enabling the average man or woman to not only reason soundly but to present ideas in a winsome, intelligent, persuasive way. Sadly the art of speaking well has faded as a required subject in most schools, but it should not be a missing element in our students’ formation.”
First Semester the public speaking class will present the most important basic concepts for organizing and presenting a speech, give ample opportunity for practice, and teach students how to effectively critique and encourage each other.  All students will prepare and deliver four 5 minute speeches.  In addition to class time, students should plan to invest at least one or two hours per week preparing and practicing their speeches at home. For middle school students, presentations may be shorter with more focus on developing strong delivery skills as opposed to emphasis on speech content.
Second Semester Linda will continue the public speaking with...A follow-up class to 'Public Speaking', 'Now Presenting....' will take speaking skills to the next level.  Students will work as solo and group participants to prepare well planned and memorable presentations.  Work will involve choosing topics, research, content development,  organization and presentation preparation.  Practice in performing as a team will be emphasized.  At least one presentation will utilize PowerPoint.
No curriculum purchase is required, but access to Microsoft Office will be required.   The most recent version is not required.  I will be using Microsoft Office Home and Student 2016. If you have a laptop, students may bring their presentation on that computer. If you don't have a laptop, students may submit their presentations to me in advance and they can use mine for presenting. Students should have a working knowledge of computers.  We will cover the basics of using PowerPoint in class.
Students should bring a notebook for recording notes, instructions and assignments.
communicate with Linda thru mathcoach.dad@gmail.com
A Texas native, Linda graduated from Texas A & M University with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering in 1982.  She worked for 15 years with the Texas Dept of Transportation in various positions; including construction, design and research at both staff and managerial levels.  When choosing to stay home with her children, she also worked as a professional facilitator and managerial consultant to conduct strategic planning workshops for organizations.  Since 1999, her primary focus has been providing a Christ centered home education for her kids in all subjects through grade 12.  Her previous co-op experience has included classes in writing, public speaking, drama and ACT prep.  She also has tutored students in subjects from beginning reading and math skills to Trigonometry.
High School Literature Class integrated with Lost Tools of Writing Composition class Level Two facilitated by Linda Clark
Scheduled for 16 week semester.

Scheduled to meet Mondays 10:30 to Noon

Class Fee is $5 a class for drop ins and $3 a class for co op families.
There will be a nominal copy fee for students sheets copied for the semester.


The class runs for an hour and a half and requires reading commitment and assignments outside of class. Please be confident of your commitment that this class is designed to fulfill a true high school English Credit requirement.  We will integrate with the history class.   Students should have their work evaluated and critiqued.  Instructor assistance with this task is available for an additional fee.

This class will integrate the following literature books with the Lost Tools of Writing Level Two class. We will integrate the study of works of literature with the advanced persuasive essay curriculum. It is recommended to have completed Lost Tools 1 however it is not required.
Each student must enroll in the Composition Course and purchase the Lost Tools of Writing Workbook Level TWO along with the books for each semester. (A used version is acceptable.) This is a wonderful Socratic approach to writing while also covering literature components in a rigorous manner.  Lost Tools has been extremely helpful in preparing students for the recent changes to the Writing section of the ACT test.


Literature Books required: (Please look online for used copies and McKays...)
Words of Delight by Leland Ryken (Students from last year own this)
A Poetry Handbook Mary Oliver (Students from last year own this)
The Making of a Poem edited by Strand
Norton Anthology of English Lit: Middle Ages (Any edition will do)
Fierce Wars and Faithful Loves by Edmund Spenser

Other books should be accessible free online if you have access for using a computer in class:
The Divine Comedy Dante
The Song of Roland (Dorothy Sayers...however any translation will do. This one is reader friendly.)
Shakespeare: (These are easily found at McKays in book form.)
King Lear
Much Ado about Nothing
The Tempest
Henry V
Paradise Lost  by Milton

 BONUS!!Thursday mornings, 8:30 to 9:30, an optional offering for students enrolled 

The Breakfast Club will provide students the opportunity to work collaboratively and individually on the current week's writing assignments.  Yes, you may literally bring your breakfast with you as long as you don't make a mess in the facility or on other people's work. On occasion, timed essays will be offered during this time to provide practice of an essential skill for college entrance exams!  

Caution note for students:  If participating in this optional activity, do not procrastinate until Thursday mornings on the writing assignments. The intention of this offering is to provide a facilitated and monitored opportunity to polish the assignments or gain clarification and feedback!

No charge for this activity, but please confirm intention to participate as a courtesy to the instructor.
Communicate with Linda through mathcoach.dad@gmail.com

IEW Medieval Writing Lessons over two semesters facilitated by Renee Velker
Scheduled to meet Mondays 8:30 to 9:30 for a 15 week semester
Class Fee is $5 a class for drop ins and $3 a class for co op families.
medieval-history-based-writing-lessons-student-book-only We are using the fourth 2016 edition of this book as seen on this website. Please check the edition when you buy.
Please note: Middle Ages Book Required....a used copy is acceptable
This is a class designed for NEW students to IEW AND/OR to those who wish to spread this work out through two semesters. This slower paced class will cover the IEW concepts in the beginning Units of IEW and move thru the book over two semesters.
**All work assigned will be supported by the parents and evaluated by the parents. Evaluations of compositions are available for an additional fee upon request.
The student must have an IEW student resource notebook, a 3 ring binder with notebook paper, access to a computer/printer at home is helpful.
Communicate with Renee thru reneevelker@gmail.com
Advanced IEW integrated with Literary Analysis: Windows to the World facilitated by Renee Velker
Classes Scheduled to meet Mondays 1 to 2 for a 15 week semester
Class Fee is $5 a class for drop ins and $3 a class for co op families.
This is considered the LEVEL B requirements for the History Based Writing. This class will focus on the last 4  Units of IEW and is available for those who have already had experience with IEW and wish to be independent writers preparing for the Lost Tools One Persuasive Essay writing. Integrated with this will be the Windows to the World  offered from IEW Literary Analysis. This is an intensive IEW class mixed with the Windows to the World 9th thru 12th grade curriculum. This class is perfect for the writer hoping to refine and independently own the last 4 units of IEW along with diving into advanced topics of literary analysis. Elements of Lost Tools of Writing will be peppered in preparing a path for persuasive essay writing.


Additionally, student must have an IEW student resource notebook, a 3 ring binder with notebook paper, access to a computer/printer at home is helpful.
**All work assigned will be supported by the parents and evaluated by the parents. Evaluations are available for an additional fee upon request.
Communicate with Renee thru reneevelker@gmail.com
Renee graduated from University of South Florida with a bachelor degree in special education and elementary education. She began homeschooling 13 years ago. She now homeschools her seven children in Cumberland County. She attended IEW workshops and trained with IEW methods in writing formally in 2005.  She has taught all History-Based Writing classes as well as tailoring all 9 units from IEW to specific literature used. She received further composition training as an intern with Circe Institute and has taught Lost Tools of Writing Level One and
Level Two.
Art of Argument with Pamela Burdett
Scheduled for Thursdays 9:30 to 11

Cost for the class is $5 per drop in class or $2 per class for co-op participants.
Required text _The Art of Argument_ Student Text ISBN 978-1-60051-018-2  Current version is 8.0. http://classicalacademicpress.com/the-art-of-argument/#.Vwr2S9T3arU
You may use a copy from wherever you can find it most cheaply.
Class is geared for Grades 7-9. Upper-level high school students who have not had an exposure to the study of logic are also invited to participate.
From the publisher's website: “My chief objection to a quarrel,” G.K. Chesterton wrote, “is that it ends a good argument.”
Middle and high school students will argue (and sometimes quarrel), but they won’t argue well without good training. The Art of Argument is designed to teach the argumentative adolescent how to reason with clarity, relevance, and purpose. The mastery of informal logic (the logical fallacies) is a foundational subject by which other subjects are evaluated, assessed, and learned.
In this class, we will work through the student text and worksheets; participate in skits, dialogues, and dialectic discussion; and examine real-world examples (political, social, and commercial) of logical fallacies. This class is intended to directly bolster writing clarity, enhance coherent public speaking skills, refine interpersonal dialogue, and provide a foundation for further study of formal logic. Students will complete approximately 90% of the required work for the class in the class itself, though students will be encouraged to study for evaluations via chapter tests.
Pamela Burdett has bachelors degrees in computer science, social psychology, and nursing. This will be her twelfth (non-consecutive) year of home schooling. She works full time as a hospice RN in the far eastern tip of Tennessee, and she has experience as a classroom teacher, a used-car salesperson, a book rep, and a writer/tutor/trainer. After having been away for thirty-one years since graduating from Cumberland County High School, she, her high school sweetheart Terry, and her youngest child Addie moved back to their home town of Crossville last August.
Middle Ages World History course run by Sara Carey.
Scheduled for 15 classes in semester.
Scheduled to Meet Wednesdays 10 to 11
Cost is $5 a class for drop in students or $3 for co op participants
Readings will come mainly from Western Civilization by Jackson J. Spielvogel.  Miss Sara has used this book before when teaching Western Civilization for Roane State Community College. This book and the following Western Civ book can be found at McKays.  All editions will work. There is a volume 1 and volume 2 or a combined volume. Please do not pay top dollar for this as there are used copies available for reasonable prices. There will be core readings/assignments required for this class for a high school credit. Other Core Books to purchase to be posted by the end of May! The main spine will be Spielvogel.
Communicate with Sara thru pinkinator1@gmail.com
We will cover the time period of the Fall of Rome through the Adams' administration. This is an exciting study!!
These weekly discussions enhance the understanding needed to study the literature and utilizes the information from the history in the Lost Tools of Writing/IEW  courses offered by Renee Velker.
Government Class offered with Mrs. Sara Carey
Scheduled for 15 classes in semester.
Scheduled to Meet Wednesdays 11 to 12
Cost is $5 a class for drop in students or $3 a class for co op participants.
Reading books required for this year.
On Medieval Origins of the Modern State by Joseph R. Strayer
The Theme is Freedom by M. Stanton Evans
There will be additional government source documents required for reading
This class covers government topics from the government of the Middle Ages through American Government in the colonial era. This covers European government and the birth of American government. (Next year will continue the government studies with Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville.)
Sara Carey has a B.A. in History for Secondary Education from Maryville College, Maryville, TN; an M.A. in History from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA; and an M.P.S. (Master of Pastoral Studies) in Parish Life and Administration from Loyola University, New Orleans, LA.  She has a teaching license for the state of Tennessee in Social Studies 7-12 and Government 7-12 (current through 2018).  She spent two years teaching for Helicon, an agency that provides education to youth in state custody.  After moving to Crossville, she taught Western Civilization and U.S. History at Roane State Community College for 8 years at their Cumberland County, Scott County, Oak Ridge, and Fentress County locations.  She has been the Director of Religious Education at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Crossville since 2000, working closely with children, youth, families, and adults in all areas of faith formation and education.
Story of the World Year 2 offered by Renee Velker
scheduled for (15 classes in semester)
Scheduled for Wednesdays 10 to 11
Cost is $5 a class for drop in class and  $3 a class for co op participants.
Communicate with Renee thru reneevelker@gmail.com


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