Great Literature of the Western World

Description: This course will expose students to classic literature from the Western world. We'll read selections including Antigone by Sophocles; The Inferno by Dante; one of the tamer Canterbury Tales by Chaucer; The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, and Paradise Lost by Milton. These are challenging texts; an exposure to and developing the ability to understand these texts will greatly increase students' confidence in responding to literature of a variety of genres, periods, and themes. We'll discuss why these works are considered "great" literature; students will learn how to interpret and evaluate literature. We'll spend several class times focusing on poetry so that students will be able to identify and appreciate rhythm, meter, and other poetic techniques. Moving into the second semester, we'll read more modern works such as A Christmas Carol by Dickens, The Metamorphosis by Kafka, and The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, and short stories by Poe, Twain, Mansfield, and Rushdie. Class discussions about themes and worldview will be central to student learning. Students will also practice journaling about the works we're reading as well as learning to write "literary reflection papers" and critical essays, which are often required in college literature classes. One oral presentation will be required per semester.

Almost all texts are available for free download online. Instructor will either email the texts to the student and/or provide a link for downloading or online reading. Therefore, internet access is needed for this course.
Tutor: Becky Brist
Length: Full Year(new students accepted 2nd semester if space available)
Class Size: 8 - 20 students
Level: 8th - 12th
Prerequisite: None; but IEW writing class experience is recommended
Homework: Students will be expected to spend up to 5 hours per week on homework.
Materials Required:
Literary selections downloaded from the internet (student must download and print) or obtained from a personal or public library
3-ring binder(s)
Loose leaf paper
Pens, pencils, and highlighters of various colors
3x5 index cards
Class Tuition: $185 per semester (includes $10 materials fee)

Description: In numerous studies of CEO's and employers, the ability to communicate is cited as the number one job skill. In this one-semester Introduction to Communication and Speech, students will develop this critical skill by learning to organize their thoughts in prepared and impromptu presentations, by using effective delivery techniques (eye contact, body language, vocal variety) and by practicing interpersonal communication skills. Every student will speak in every session--some giving prepared speeches, some giving impromptu speeches and some evaluating speeches. Every student will also have the opportunity to give a personal testimony of faith or values.

Skills: Effective listening, critical thinking, organization of ideas, controlling nervousness, techniques of persuasion and influence, conflict resolution, impromptu speaking, storytelling, using logic and emotion to engage and persuade, time management, delivery techniques, providing helpful feedback to others.
Tutor: Diane Windingland
Length: Year Long
Level: 7th - 12th Grade
Prerequisite: None
Homework: 1-2 hours per week. Homework will include researching supporting points, writing speeches and practicing.
Materials Required: The instructor will provide materials, including a binder with lessons, loose leaf filler paper, and index cards. (Cost of materials is included in the fee)
Class Size: Minimum 6 students. Maximum 20 students.
Class Tuition: $180 per semester

*A tuition payment will also be required for the second semester of this class

http://www.writingfoundations.com/local-and-live-courses/

Description:Writing Foundations started in 2001 after Patsy Brekke completed the teacher training program from the Institute for Excellence in Writing. As an IEW Accredited Accomplished Instructor, Ms. B. takes the mystery and misery out of learning to write using her own program based on the IEW syllabus. See how Writing Foundations follows the IEW syllabus here: http://www.writingfoundations.com/2011/04/how-writing-foundations-follows-the-iew-syllabus/.

Writing Foundations is designed for students in grades 5-10 in efforts to prepare them for future high school and PSEO courses.

In some ways, this program approaches writing as an art to be imitated and shaped by the author. In other ways, Writing Foundations reduces writing to simple building blocks that empower young writers to master written language where they may have struggled before. Based on the elements of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, students will experience and practice the structure and style of quality written work. Although it is not a substitute for separate lessons, naturally and purposefully, participants will gain strength in basic skills such as handwriting, spelling, punctuation and grammar.

THREE LEVELS of Writing Foundations Classes: Starting at the elementary level, students need as many years of writing practice as possible before proceeding to advanced high school and PSEO courses where quality writing skills are an expected medium for learning. It takes time and repeated practice to digest effective writing skills, and students must start with small bites and gradually work to greater challenges.

Thus, Writing Foundations offers three levels: Level ½ for grades *5-7, Level 1 for grades 7-9, and Level 2 for grades 8-10. These courses provide time for meaningful practice, growing competence, and significant refinement of individual style.

Only students who have successfully - with independent competence - completed Level 1 should proceed to Level 2. Many students repeat Level ½ and Level 1 before moving on to the next level.

Parental Involvement: Parents must function as "Narration Listener" and as "Personal Proofreader" on a weekly basis for rough and revised drafts of various assignments.

While Ms. B. edits and offers points for each assignment, parents are responsible for all record keeping and cumulative course grading of their student's work.

To better nurture, reinforce and benefit from these skills, parents are enthusiastically encouraged to attend classes with their students.

NOTE:
Writing Foundations is not the same as IEW's student video curriculum. Regardless of past writing experience, ALL NEW STUDENTS MUST START AT LEVEL ½ or 1.

Level ½ is not required, but it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED before Level 1.

Students should repeat Level ½ and Level 1 until they are ready to move on. Although the same units are reviewed, Writing Foundations offers new assignments in each class every year.

A student may take only fall semester of Level 1, but may not proceed to Level 2 without a full year of Level 1.

Taking a break between Levels 1 and 2 is NOT recommended! It is best to take Writing Foundations consistently until the student has successfully completed Levels 1 and 2 consecutively.

Regardless of past WFD history, no mid-year entry is allowed. Students must take Fall and Spring semesters of each level within the same school year.

Supplies Required for all Levels:
o 2" 3-ring binder
o 12 tabbed dividers
o loose leaf filler paper
o ball point pens
o different colored fine tipped markers or colored pencils: yellow, orange, red, pink, green, blue, purple, brown, black, or students may use a color printer for printing colors from the computer
o The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale or a quality college-level dictionary.
o A mini stapler and scissors (optional, but handy)
Class Tuition for all Levels: $225 per semester.
Tuition includes portfolio cover and all handouts that create personal writing handbook.
All classes are 90 minutes long.
Registration for Class must done through Writing Foundations at:
http://www.writingfoundations.com/online-registration-new/

Level ½ Skills: note taking, outlining, narrating, journaling, drafting, editing, revising, fables, narratives, summaries, short essays, stylistic techniques, vocabulary, grammar lessons, year-end portfolio project and presentation.

Tutor: Patsy Brekke

Length: Full year
Level: *5th – 7th grades (*4th graders may attend with weekly parent attendance.)
Prerequisite: None
Homework: 2-6 hours per week depending on assignment
Materials Required: See Above
Class Size: Minimum of 10 students with a maximum of 20 students
Class Tuition: $225 per semester.

Registration for Class must done through Writing Foundations at:
http://www.writingfoundations.com/online-registration-new/

Level 1 Skills: note taking, outlining, narrating, journaling, drafting, editing, revising, stylistic techniques, fables, narratives, summaries, citations and bibliographies, 5-paragraph essays, SAT-style timed essays, grammar lessons, vocabulary and quizzes, year-end portfolio project and presentation. Length: Full year

Level: 7th – 9th grades
Prerequisite: None
Homework: 2-6 hours per week depending on assignment
Materials Required: See Above
Class Size: Minimum of 10 students with a maximum of 20 students
Class Tuition: $225 per semester.

Registration for Class must done through Writing Foundations at:
http://www.writingfoundations.com/online-registration-new/

Level 2 Skills: note taking, outlining, narrating, journaling, drafting, editing, revising, stylistic techniques, flashbacks, summaries, citations and bibliographies, multi-source reports, research report, persuasive essay, ACT-style timed essays, grammar lessons, vocabulary and quizzes, year-end portfolio project and presentation.
Level: 8th – 10th grades
Prerequisite: Completion of Level 1 in the previous school year.
Homework: 2-6 hours per week depending on assignment
Materials Required: See Above
Class Size: Minimum of 10 students with a maximum of 20 students
Class Tuition: $225 per semester.

Registration for Class must done through Writing Foundations at:
http://www.writingfoundations.com/online-registration-new/

Writing with Confidence:
American History-Based Writing Lessons II

Description: Students will practice writing the following types of structures: poetry, summarizing references, taking notes from lectures, oral reports, narrative stories, research reports with bibliographies and in-text citations (MLA format), the “super essay,” thesis statements, essay tests (“blue book” exam), and critiques. They will learn to strengthen their writing by using the stylistic devices they learned in Year One and with the following stylistic devices: eliminating boring words, consonance, assonance, questions, commands, triple extensions, repetition, and persuasion. Students will learn and use a new set of challenging vocabulary words, including words specifically used in critiques. While continuing to correctly use the grammar concepts they learned the previous year, students will learn and practice more sophisticated grammar concepts, including semicolon rules, colon rules, more frequently confused words, action verbs, parallel construction, the difference between which and that, quotation marks, and pronoun-antecedent agreement. (Description of course content covers both first and second semester content.)