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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
If your student complains about studying poetry, rest assured that you are not alone! Of the various elements of literature that I teach, the one that undoubtedly is met with the most skepticism is poetry. I am never surprised, but I am always a little sad to see that...
Winnebago Adventures: Gourmet Foods and Tips for Traveling Chefs Camping is a fond memory from my childhood, but with homeschooling this has been an adventure. My parents are close to retirement, so they have purchased a Winnebago for weekend and seasonal trips. At...
I was 16 when I decided I wanted to be an architect, but beyond my high school drafting class, I had no idea what an architect actually does. Not to mention my knowledge of what architecture is. I couldn’t imagine much outside of quaint, suburban housing. I had never...
Have you ever wondered about the steps of the legislative process? Maybe you’ve even asked yourself how a bill becomes a law? The legislative process is an important aspect of our American governmental system and an area that my American Government course with...
Exploring Study Abroad Options: Enhancing Your Resume and Cultural Experience Becoming fluent in a language is something that requires lots of study and practice. There is no better way to practice than to be immersed in the language. For a student who is serious...
The high school foreign language requirement is one of the more debated topics in modern curricular design. Just recently, there was a bill put forth in Virginia (read more here) to allow computer coding to replace the foreign language requirement in public education....
Camera Envy (or Intimidation) in Young Filmmakers I've met and taught hundreds of young filmmakers over my career who get caught in the same trap. If you're a parent of a passionate young filmmaker, you'll know the tendency for them to obsess over their camera and...
