Description
In literature, students will learn to attentively read American Literature through a collection of short stories. Short stories are a highlight of American literature. We will read authors like Flannery O’Connor, Edgar Allan Poe, Wendell Berry, Jack London, and Toni Morrison. They will learn to understand the works, times, and culture and how to read the works according to their nature. They will learn to express their experience, observations, and understanding through writing, discussion, and other projects. Enrolled students have the option of making this course an honors course. Please see the FAQ below for details.
In history, students will study American history. Rather than focus on a singular historical perspective, we will create a living dialectic through reading and comparing rich artifacts, cultural mythology, living history narratives, and primary documents, each embodying their unique perspective. Students will learn to trace our nation’s diverse political, cultural, and geographical history. Students will learn to ask good questions about history and how to navigate seemingly incompatible accounts of history. Students will respond to their reading through writing, discussions, notebooking, and projects. Enrolled students can make this course an honors course and add on the American Government & Economics extension course. Please see the FAQ below for details.
In Government & Economics, students will learn the fundamental principles and structures that shape American civic and economic life. This is an optional add-on asynchronous course for students in the High school program. This course draws on what the students are already reading in history and builds on it with additional readings, assignments, and written online discussions. By combining American History with Civics and Economics, we save students’ time, save parents’ money, and provide an opportunity for students to develop deeper connections and insight into how America works.
In writing, students study classical rhetoric and poetics. In classical rhetoric and poetics, students learn how to master coming up with what to write about, arranging their writing appropriately, and expressing their ideas most fittingly and beautifully. During their time in the academy, students at Paideia Academics progress through Rhetoric & Poetics I-III. The content of their writing is the authors, ideas, and works they study in history, literature, and philosophy.
Logic/Philosophy is an integrated and hands-on class. Students will learn about and practice the skills of logic and philosophy by practicing traditional and material logic exercises and attentively reading and responding to quotes and short works of philosophy related to literature and history. Students progress through Logic/Philosophy I-III during their time in the academy.
Oratory rounds out a student’s studies with classical rhetoric and poetics. Students learn how to become intimate with short writing selections, get an empathetic sense of the piece, memorize it, and perform it in a way that embodies the truth of the piece. Students practice this with selections from literature, speeches, plays, and poems from history, literature, and philosophy. Students perform their selections at various times throughout the year.
The Books
- Literature: American Short Stories by Various Authors (PDFs provided by teacher)
- Short Stories by: Flannery O’Connor, Wendell Berry, Washington Irving, Toni Morrison, Jack London, Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Alice Walker, Nella Larsen, Issac Asimov, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edith Wharton, F Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Ray Bradbury, Louise Erdrich, and Shirley Jackson.
- Selections from American Poetry
- Philosophy: American Transcendentalists (PDFs provided by Teacher)
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Margaret Fuller, + others.
- Oratory:
- Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Folger Edition
- Selected Speeches & Essays from American History (Provided by teacher)
- Selected American Poetry (Provided by teacher)
- History
- Humanitas: History of America, Volume 1 & 2, a living and primary documents-based history curriculum by Classical Academic Press (View Curriculum here). Note: Volume 1 will be available in 2-3 months. Volume 2 will be available before we begin with it in winter 2024.
- Selected fine art, music, maps, and primary documents (Included in Humanitas Curriculum or provided by the teacher as PDFs)
- American Government & Economics (if you choose to participate in the add-on course)
- Basic American Government, by Clarence B. Carson
- Common Sense Economics: What Everyone Should Know About Wealth and Prosperity, by James D. Gwartney
- Select Primary Documents (Provided by Teacher)
- Rhetoric & Poetics I
- Rhetoric & Poetics I Handouts (Provided by Teacher)
- How to Read a Poem, by Burton Rafel
- Rhetoric & Poetics II
- The Writer’s Workshop: Imitating Your Way to Better Writing, by Gregory Roper
- Rules for the Dance: A Handbook for Writing & Reading Metrical Verse, by Mary Oliver
- Logic I
- Traditional Logic I by Memoria Press Student Workbook and Text
- Logic II
- Traditional Logic II by Memoria Press Student Workbook and Text
The Logistics
Who: 9th – 12th-grade students. (Depending on their skill level, 9th graders can enroll in either the middle school or high school program.)
When: Monday- Thursday 11:00am – 12:15pm EST (8:00-9:15am PST; 4:00-5:15pm GMT)
(American Government & Economics add-on, Asynchronous)
Calendar: 33-weeks, August 21, 2023 – May 31, 2024; Parent Orientation: Thursday, August 17th, 2023, 8:00pm EST
Breaks:
– Labor Day Holiday: Monday, September 4th, 2023
– Fall Break: October 9th – 13th, 2023
– Thanksgiving Break: November 20st – 24th, 2023
– Nativity/New Years Break: December 18th, 2023 – January 5th, 2024
– Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday: January 15th, 2024
– Winter Break: Monday, February 19th – Friday, February, 23th, 2024
– Easter Break: March 25th -29th, 2024
– Pascha Break: April 29th – May 3rd, 2024
Where: Zoom for Live Classes & Canvas for our Virtual Classroom
Teachers: Mrs. Angela Burke and Mr. Drew Mery
- 5 hours of Live Classes (Instruction, Discussion, and Community) Weekly (1hr 15min daily, M-Th)
- Weekly Threaded Written Discussions in our virtual classroom
- All Classes are Recorded and available in our virtual classroom.
- All assignments, materials, and class correspondence are available in our virtual classroom.
- All syllabi, assignments, projects, teaching, assessment, and record-keeping are completed by the teacher.
- Transcripts and course descriptions made available at the end of the year for each student
- Total High School Classes/Credits: 3.5-4.5 High School Credits
1. English/Literature, 1 Core Credit (Honors Option)
2. American History, 1 Core Credit (Honors Option)
3. Philosophy/Logic, 1 Elective Credit
4. Oratory, 0.5 Elective Credit- (Optional) American Government & Economics, 1 Core Credit
Tuition: $1847 (Five Classes, One Program)
Honors add-on for History & Literature: $175
American Government & Economics add-on: $375
Pay all at once, by the semester, or in 10 monthly installments.
Seats Available: 16
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