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ASL II – FULL

Bonjour!  Did you know that over 200 million people in over 50 countries speak the French language?  And did you know that French is the official language of the United Nations, NATO, the International Red Cross and the Olympic Committee?  It’s true!  In fact, you probably already know some French words and phrases that are commonly used in English today: chauffer (driver); chef (cook); déja vu (already seen).  How many times have you said “excusez-moi” (excuse me)?  In this course, we will work on building your French foundation by focusing on four key areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.  A variety of methods and resources will be used to encourage conversation, exchange of information, and expression of feelings, emotions, and opinions in written and oral French.  French will be used as much as possible in order to create a fun and immersive environment; however, English will be used to explain grammar and to introduce cultural concepts. Use of an online textbook will provide you with continuous access to native, audio files, songs, and flashcards, as well as, cultural videos.  What are you waiting for?!  Allons-y!

Algebra I – GROUP 3

Topics included in this course include writing, graphing & solving linear equations & inequalities, systems of linear functions, quadratic equations, exponential functions, polynomial equations, factoring, quadratic equations, radical functions & equations, data analysis, and how to use a graphing calculator. While students will learn the “step-by-step” methods of solving equations, they will also be given real world math problems and use reasoning & logic to make conjectures. This is a rigorous Algebra I course intended to prepare students for further levels of mathematics as well as Science courses that utilize Algebra I. Students interested in AP exams will gain a solid foundation of mathematical understanding that will support further studies that could lead to AP Calculus and the AP exams, should that be the student’s goal. 

All Excelsior math instructors will be utilizing the Middle School & High School Big Ideas Math curriculum written by Ron Larson, Ph.D. and Laurie Boswell, Ed.D. This material will prepare students for upper level and college math classes. Students will have access to a digital platform that has many tools to facilitate learning. The material Excelsior Classes math classes will use is not common core aligned.

Parents and students can expect weekly homework assignments, weekly quizzes, chapter tests, a midterm and final exam. 

Before registering, math students new to Excelsior Classes math classes should use these instructions and take the Algebra I Readiness Assessment. (The answer key may be accessed here. See prerequisites for more information.) While this course is typically done in the 8th grade (mature) or above, ability to do the work is more important than age or grade. The purpose of this assessment is to ensure students are well placed in Algebra I. If you have any questions about the results of the readiness assessment, please contact the instructor. Please know our goal is to set up your student for math success.

This class meets twice per week. Each meeting is 60 minutes. Regular, live attendance is strongly advised.

NOTE: As in all Excelsior Classes courses, math class instruction is tied to the curated syllabus, and the teacher will teach to the syllabus and not to a particular skill set of a student. In other words, the teacher cannot sacrifice content and expectations overall for an individual student as we need to stay in alignment with educational goals, class participant expectations, and NCAA approval of our courses.

Lights, Camera, Analysis: Studying Film as Literature

Which is better—the book or the movie? Neither one! Each is a separate artistic medium with its own merit.

Since the early 1900s, filmmakers have adapted literature for the movie screen. The practice of turning literature into movies is so common that there has been an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay since 1928, and nowadays about 75 percent of films that win Oscars have been adapted from written texts.

Studying film adaptation helps students to become more skilled in literary analysis, encouraging them to think deeply about concepts such as theme, characterization, and plot structure. It also helps students to better understand how storytelling is influenced by audience, time period, culture, and medium. In short, studying film adaptation helps us to better understand the techniques that both literature and film use to tell a story.

In this one-semester course, students will study film adaptation through a variety of literary genres (including novel, drama, short story, nonfiction and even children’s literature) and a variety of film genres (including drama, comedy, science fiction, musical, and animation). Students will be challenged to analyze the adaptations well beyond a basic how-the-movie-was-different-from-the-book comparison. They will discuss how film borrows from, intersects with, and transforms written texts; and they will examine the history, theories, benefits, and complications of film adaptation. By the end of the semester, students will have a greater understanding of the elements of literature and a greater appreciation for the art of filmmaking.

The course will rely heavily on discussion and written critical analysis. Students will watch seven movies, read the corresponding literature (including one work of the student’s choosing), and write three papers.

Chemistry – Group 3

Students will explore the fundamental principles of chemistry by comparing and contrasting matter and the mechanisms of its interactions.  This course will investigate chemical reactions and the role of energy in those reactions.  Topics include, but are not limited to:  measurement, atomic structure, electron configuration, the periodic table, bonding, gas laws, properties of liquids and solids, solutions, stoichiometry, acids and bases and nuclear chemistry.  Virtual and traditional laboratory techniques will be used to obtain, organize and analyze data.  Students will develop good methods of problem-solving and proper laboratory technique.

Biology – Group 3

High school biology is a fascinating journey that will aid students in understanding what life is and how it works.  Whether it is looking into the microscopic world of DNA or the vast array of animals and how they interact on this planet, students will appreciate the great design of God as the author and creator of all life.  Fall semester is dedicated to microbiology and includes topics such as characteristics of life, biomolecules, cells, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, DNA, protein synthesis, and cell reproduction.  Spring semester will focus more on macrobiology and includes topics of evolution and creation, classification of organisms, and study of the kingdoms of life including bacteria, protista, fungi, plants, and animals.  Students will participate in labs throughout the year to further their understanding of topics.  Labs will include some virtual online labs as well as some hands-on labs done at home.  Students will also learn how to write a lab report and will turn in several of these lab reports throughout the year.  Students will be tested over approximately 9 units over the year.  For each unit presented the fall semester, students will be given a note packet specifically for that unit.  Students will complete note packets by coming to class and filling in missing information in the notes as it is presented by the teacher.  This allows students to be able to see what information is most important to know and to then concentrate on what is being taught while filling in some notes. This not only relieves the pressure of knowing what to write down and how to study for tests, but it also provides a good experience for students learning how to take notes. By the second semester, students will begin practicing taking notes on their own as the note packets become less complete and students are required to take more notes on their own.

Introduction to Science

Introduction to Science is a hands-on study of the world that God created. Students will learn about the human body, cells, photosynthesis, ecosystems, nature and physical science concepts through colorful, easy to read texts, videos, experiments and observations. The process skills of observing, comparing, inferring, predicting, evaluating and applying the scientific method are emphasized. Interpreting […]