Blog

Beyond the Paper: Why Creative Projects Are Enriching

Beyond the Paper: Why Creative Projects Are Enriching

Unlocking Literary Depth: The Power of Creative Projects​ As an English teacher, you will never hear me discredit the merit of writing a good analysis paper. There’s something magical about formulating a well-tuned claim and finding the precise evidence and wording to...

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The DNA Makes Protein!

The DNA Makes Protein!

Starting the DNA unit in biology each year in November is one of my favorite times of the school year! We start with a little introduction song to get us pumped up and also learn that the basic function of DNA is, well, to make protein! If you’re not sure about that,...

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Using SketchUp in Beginning Architectural Design

Using SketchUp in Beginning Architectural Design

Prior to SketchUp, “friendly and forgiving” were not words that came anywhere near a conversation about 3D modeling software. Architecture students would spend semesters of their lives in classes solely dedicated to demystifying a computer program that would turn...

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Exercising an Advanced Vocabulary

Exercising an Advanced Vocabulary

Would your students describe themselves as appearing on fleek? Or maybe they have moved on to using the term snatched to indicate a look that is just right. How many of our students would warm to being considered exquisite, of consummate beauty, or debonair? Would...

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Creative World Literature Projects

Creative World Literature Projects

 In English II: World Literature, we span history and culture to get a glimpse of lives very different than our own. Ruta Sepetys’ work Between Shades of Gray is the story of a sixteen year old girl from Lithuania who is exiled with her family to Siberia under Joseph...

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Sra. Lamolinara’s Spanish-Speaking Countries Project

Sra. Lamolinara’s Spanish-Speaking Countries Project

In my live classes, we speak Spanish, recite Bible verses and read stories in Spanish, and learn Spanish grammar using a variety of activities. Outside of class, students are assigned written and listening comprehension homework to practice the skills they are...

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A Journey to Self-Discovery: “La Huitième Planète”

A Journey to Self-Discovery: “La Huitième Planète”

This year, Excelsior Classes piloted a French IV class for students who wanted to take the next step in language learning. The focus of French IV is written and spoken fluency rather than just grammatical fluency. Over the course of the year, we read two introductory...

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5 Ways to Maximize Success in Online Classes

5 Ways to Maximize Success in Online Classes

So, you’re a homeschooler taking online classes. There’s a great deal of flexibility and independent options that you have while sitting in an online class. The question is, are you doing the right things - the things that will  help you get the most out of your...

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Who Are They? Three Steps to Clearer Writing

Who Are They? Three Steps to Clearer Writing

Steps to Clearer Writing So your student can write a complete sentence, structure a paragraph, even craft an essay. Great! What’s left to improve? What makes writing engaging to readers? When meaning is easy to grasp, readers can follow a train of thought and be...

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What Is So Important About the Blobfish?

What Is So Important About the Blobfish?

What Is So Important About the Blobfish? Have you ever taken a look at some of the animals that God has created and wondered “Why?” Well, there definitely are some exceedingly odd-looking animals in the animal kingdom, but when you really learn about them, you can see...

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How do you choose the best education for your child?

How do you choose the best education for your child?

Choosing the Right Path: Best Education Options for Christian Parents The list of choices for education and training grows longer every day.  As Christian parents, how can we wade through the best options for each individual child’s education?  The Bible actually has...

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