In our last blog post we discussed the values of excellence and rigor which Excelsior Classes brings to the homeschool experience. But isn’t that boring? J Where’s the joie de vivre in that? Learning should be more than just challenging and professional. It should also unleash and express enthusiasm and delight!
Plutarch has said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” If this is true, then a passionate instructor serves as an accelerant! Excelsior Class instructors are known for their content mastery and the ability to share their enthusiasm for their areas of expertise. This is great news for parents as our teachers connect with students when parents might not have the space, time, content-knowledge, or enthusiasm to feed that burgeoning passion. Some of our former students have decided to follow in the passion-igniting field. Sydney N., a former student of several Excelsior teachers, is now pursuing a degree in English. She explains, “During high school, two classes, a Survey of British Literature and a Survey of American Literature, prompted me to pursue a career as a literature teacher. In these classes, my teachers challenged me to see relevant truths within literature and also to form and share my own opinions. I had formerly viewed literature as an individual hobby, but as my teachers encouraged me to participate in insightful class discussions, I became passionate about sharing literature with others.” This is music to our ears!
Other students have been inspired by our science teachers. One former student of Mrs. Kerrie Childress now “is focused on pursuing medicine as a result of the initial spark created by Mrs. Childress…” A perennial student favorite is Lt. Col. Gene Doremus. A teacher of science as well as history, the Lt. Col. Is known for his flair and ability to make everything fun. One grateful parent expressed that “Gene Doremus is a class act–from his perpetual enthusiasm for all-things-space to his variety of bow tie attire for each class. My child is not into online learning so much; however, Mr. Doremus changed all that! His class is interactive, and his assignments are meaningful–not busy work. If your child enjoys project-based learning, this science class is ideal.”
Excelsior Classes’ wide assortment of classes, ranging from fine arts courses to government and to science and beyond, is sure to satisfy curious students. Teachers have created and designed completely unique courses sure to stimulate student curiosity. Consider How Do You Know? and Judge for Yourself! as two examples to create thoughtful students. Our arts courses (including Comic Books, Filmmaking, culinary arts courses, and more) as well as computer hardware and software intensive courses such as PC Pro, Network Pro, Photoshop, InDesign, and Adobe Muse will permit your student to learn valuable skills.
Finally, another distinctive which Excelsior Classes brings to the virtual homeschooling world is a keen sense of community. Our classes utilize multiple tools for increasing a sense of belonging and collegiality. From our live classroom tool to the learning management system, Excelsior instructors seek to increase student interactions. Alexandra M., a recent student of Excelsior teachers, commented, “I created so many wonderful friends through online classes because my teachers opened up discussions and allowed us to interact with each other. My teachers always made a point to personally connect with each student and this really promoted a sense of community that made my online class experience even better than I expected.” Our classes are communities in every sense of the word.
Students also may participate in many of our clubs as a further extension of community. There are clubs for book lovers, aspiring chefs and artists, computer-curious, and language aficionados. There is even a club for moms wanting a night out of crafty-fun! As Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., quipped, “To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” Our clubs are places to practice and to feed the soul. Students aren’t the only ones allowed to grow, however, because many of our clubs cater to adult learners as well! Ladies’ Night Out: DIY Fabulous is one such club for moms to create phenomenal crafts together!
Excellence, rigor, passion, and community are the hallmarks of a great online experience, and Excelsior Classes endeavors to provide such.
Jodi Guerra is an Instructor and Coordinator with Excelsior Classes, a consortium of online teachers dedicated to excellence in online instruction. She has been involved in the education of children and adults serving in public schools, private schools, and corporate America. For the last twenty years, Jodi has worked with homeschool students in private classes, tutoring situations, and in the virtual world of online education. She seeks to make every learning situation fun yet productive. Besides teaching, Jodi loves to read and finds both cooking and sewing to be creative expressions.
The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the author and should not be taken to represent the views of Excelsior Classes, LLC or the consortium of teachers.
