Program

Overview

            History Reading/video (Year 1)

Students will watch one or more videos online in relation to a historical time period. Some videos have been created by the school, and others are found at other online sources. A class will be held to discuss the material. For first year students, learning materials are predetermined. The course is an overview of western history from the beginnings of written language, to the cold war era. Reading will be determined and assigned in relation to this study.

First year history brings students very quickly from the beginning of civilization to our current era. The education is designed to show how one period of time transitioned to another. Having completed history one, students will be able to weave all their future history learning into the tapestry of time they developed in this introductory course. The course emphasizes the development of representative government in the west and takes special note of English and American history.

             History reading and report (Year 2-3)

History 2-3 is self-guided. Students are now ready to focus on their interests and educate themselves in a way that will help them fulfill their missions. Students will choose a historical event, person, place, or other interest to study and report on to the class.

            Personal book

Students will choose a book, read it, and discuss it with a teacher. The teacher will be required to read the book with the student.

            Personal Report

Students will choose any area of interest and do a presentation on the subject. This can be science or history or any other subject.

            Science report

Students will choose an area of scientific study and present a report on it. Science is all self-guided. However, if a particular student knows little to nothing about the water cycle/earth systems, genetics, soil health, or the solar system, they will be encouraged to choose these areas of study at some point during the course.

            Group Book

The curriculum holds one teacher chosen great book per block. Students will be required to read and discuss it together in a group setting. Group books allow the students to discuss books with others and see more perspectives.

            Writing Lab

Students will write papers. Teachers will review the paper with the student and point out ways it can be improved. The student will resubmit the same paper with improvements, and the teacher will repeat the same process going over possible improvements. The student will then make more improvements and submit a final draft. The purpose of a writing lab is to help students improve their writing skill not to grade their current skill level.

            Exam Review

This will be an oral exam where we will discuss all that has been learned during the block. Study guides will be given beforehand regarding history for first year students. The purpose of an exam review is primarily to touch on information again to help move it from short term into long term memory and to gain further insights on materials covered.

            Educational inventory

This is a Mentor meeting between the teacher and student where we discuss commitments made, kept, and broken. Students will also come prepared with their choices of personal study, science, and a personal book. If they wish for help choosing what to study or read, this is a time where the teacher can help direct them. It’s important for students and teachers to have time to touch base and hold each other accountable to maximize what can be gained from the education process.