Course Descriptions

Dialectic Level          Rhetoric Level          All Ages

GRAMMAR LEVEL

Classical Writing: Beginning Narrative/Grammar (GRAM-CW1)

Grades 4 - 5

The Classical Writing course focuses on beginning narrative writing for children in a minimum of fourth or fifth grade. This course will emphasize composition of narratives, grammar and punctuation using a variety of texts. 

Class meets for two hours, twice weekly.

Teacher: Wilma Lefler 

Text: Shurley 6 Workbook and Practice Book
Cost: $230 per semester

Classical Writing: Advanced Narrative/Grammar (GRAM-CW2)

Grades 6 - 7

This advanced narrative writing course is for children in the sixth or seventh grade with some experience with classical writing. The course will continue to develop skill in narrative writing, dexterity with vocabulary, as well as continued practice of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Class meets for two hours, twice weekly.

Prerequisite: Beginning Narrative Writing or teacher approval.

Teacher: Heidi Griffith 

Text: Classical Writing Aesop and Homer Student Workbook
and Harvey's Elementary Grammar and Composition
Cost: $230 per semester

Veritas Press OT and Ancient Egypt History
(GRAM-HLOT)

Grades 2nd -3rd

Learning History and the Bible Chronologically has proven invaluable. This course begins with the Old Testament and goes through Ancient Egypt. Students will get a good grasp on this time in history through memorization of names, dates and events through stories, songs and activities.
Class meets one hour twice weekly.

Need a minimum of 3 students.

Teacher: Rene McElhany
Cost: $115
Materials Fee: $12

Veritas Press Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation History/Literature  (GRAM-HL1)

Grades 4th-5th

We will be studying the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, using the Veritas Press History curriculum. Students will memorize names, dates and events through stories, songs and activities. Students will have a good grasp of this period of history by the end of the year. We will read a mixture of literature from this period of history as well as other age appropriate literature. Students will read together as a class as well as on their own.

Class meets for two hours, twice weekly.

Text: Veritas Press History Cards for Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation and song cd.

Teacher: Beth Saks

Cost: $230 per semester

Veritas Press Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation History/Literature  (GRAM-HL2)

Grades 6th and 7th

We will be studying the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, using the Veritas Press History curriculum. Students will memorize names, dates and events through stories, songs and activities. Students will have a good grasp of this period of history by the end of the year. We will read a mixture of literature from this period of history as well as other age appropriate literature. Students will read together as a class as well as on their own.

Class meets for two hours, twice weekly

Materials:  Veritas Press Cards and Memory Song CD

Teacher: Rene McElhany

Cost: $230 per semester

Materials Fee: $12

Song School Latin (GRAM-LS)

Grades K - 3

This one year course, including lots of activities, stories and a song and chant CD, is a delightful  introduction to Latin.
Class meets one hour twice weekly.

Need a minimum of 3 students for a class.

Rene McElhany

Cost: $115 per semester

Latin for Children A (GRAM-LA)

Grades 3 - 6

Latin for Children A is a beginning Latin course for children entering the third grade or for children who are older and have never taken Latin. We will be covering one chapter per week. In each chapter, the students will learn a chant and vocabulary which should be practiced each day at home. In addition, students will be learning about derivatives and grammar. They will learn the chants and vocabulary, view the DVD, play games to practice, and take quizzes. Each chapter also contains two pages of worksheets which will need to be completed at home during the course of the week. The parents will be expected to correct these two pages and go over the corrections with their child before the next class. One important thing in learning Latin is repetition, repetition, repetition. Class meets one hour twice weekly.

Text: Latin for Children A Student Book and History Reader Level A. Available from Classical Academic Press
Optional: Latin for Children A DVD and Answer Key for text.

Teacher:  Debbie Barker

Cost:  $115

Latin for Children B (GRAM-LB)

Grades 4 - 6

Latin for Children B is the second year course for children ready to progress from Latin for Children A; takes students through third declension neuter nouns and third conjugation verbs.

Text: Latin for Children B Workbook and also the Answer Key book. Available from Classical Academic Press
Optional:  Latin for Children B DVD

Teacher: Beth Saks

Cost: $115 per semester

Latin for Children C (GRAM-LC)

Grades 4 - 6

Latin for Children C is the third year course for children ready to progress from Latin for Children B. This class meets one hour twice weekly.

Text: Latin for Children C Workbook and also the Answer Key.  Available from Classical Academic Press
Optional:  Latin for Children C DVD.

Teacher: Wilma Lefler

Cost: $115 per semester

DIALECTIC LEVEL

Pre-Algebra (DIAL-PREALG)

This course covers the advanced concepts necessary for success in higher level math classes.  Students will be exposed to beginning algebraic equations and will review the essential computation skills needed for success.  

Class meets for one hour, twice weekly. An average of three hours of work outside of class can be expected.

Text:  Saxon Algebra 1/2 and Answer Key.

Teacher: Mary Ann Luers

Cost: $140 per semester  

Algebra I (DIAL-ALG1)

Grades 7 - 9

This course covers the beginning lessons in Algebra.  Students will master linear and quadratic equations, simultaneous equations, and similar concepts.  Students should have completed a pre-algebra course to be successful in this class.

Class meets for one hour, twice weekly. An average of  four hours of work outside of class can be expected.

Text: Jacobs Algebra 1 and Solutions Manual

Teacher: Mary Ann Luers

Cost: $140 per semester  

Art of Argument; Informal Fallacies: A Course in
"Street-Fighting Logic" (DIAL-AA)

Grades 7 - 9

Logic is at the heart of the Dialectic stage of a classical, Christian education. It is the "Central Processing Unit" that can help convert the "data" of the Grammar stage into the well-reasoned "output" of the Rhetoric stage. It is a tool which our young people can use to improve their reasoning skills and to grow in discernment.

This semester-long course,(to be followed by Argument Builder in the spring semester) covers "street-fighting" or "practical" logic, which makes use of informal fallacies - everyday errors in thinking - to evaluate the recommendations and opinions of other people and to avoid our own faulty reasoning.

Class meets one hour twice weekly.

Texts:  Art of Argument ( www.classicalacademicpress.com)
The Fallacy Detective
( www.ChristianLogic.com).

Teacher: Debbie Barker

Cost: $140 per semester

Argument Builder (DIAL-AB)

Grades 7 - 9
Offered in the spring semester only.

This course builds on the skills learned in Art of Argument and takes students further into abstract thinking by introducing them to the principles of formal logic.  Students are usually ready for this class when they reach Algebra I or have completed the earlier logic course.

Class meets one hour per twice weekly.  

Text: Argument Builder available from Classical Academic Press

Teacher: Debbie Barker

 Cost: $140 per semester

Traditional Logic II (DIAL-T2)

  Grades 7-9

This course builds on the skills learned in the pre-requisite class: Traditional Logic 1. 
Students will explore the concepts of advanced formal logic as they further 
study categorical syllogisms.  These skills are essential for understanding rhetoric
and life in general.   Class meets one hour, once weekly.             
             
          
   

Text: Traditional Logic II from Memoria Press 
Prerequisites: Students should have successfully completed Traditional Logic 1 
Teacher: Leslie McCrea          

Cost: $110 per semester

Classical Writing: Diogenes/Chreia (DIAL-CW)

Grades 7-9 

Diogenes/Chreia is for the advancing essay writer, typically 8th grade.
(This course is, however, appropriate for a high school course.) Literary selections
(models) include those from Aeschylus, Seneca, the early Church Fathers, Robert
Louis Stevenson and Alexander Schmemann.
The progymnasmata paragraph types are introduced one at a time, as students are introduced
to rhetoric theory in preparation for the modern five-paragraphy essay for expository writing. 
Modern paragraph conventions, proper reference citations, and timed essay writing in preparation
for university-level writing will be included. Thesis formulation and topic sentence development 
will be emphasized. 

 
 Class meets for 90 minutes, once weekly.
 
Texts required:  Classical Writing: Diogenes: Chreia  
Discounts for quantity orders are available. Collegium will order texts and
 bill parents. No refunds availablefor textbooks.
Harvey's Revised Grammar (recommended edition) or Harvey's Elementary Grammar
Teacher: Leslie Schwager
Note: Writing samples are welcome if needed to assess appropriate class level.
 
Cost: $140
Material Fee: $12

Latin Alive (DIAL-LA)

Grades 7 - 9

If you are l ooking for an introductory Latin program for your middle to high-school student, this is the class for you! This class, using the Classical Academic Press text Latin Alive! is  full of history, stories, and myths and is excellent both as an introduction to Latin, and as a bridge of accelerated review (containing more translation for students who have completed a grammar school Latin program, such as Latin for Children.)  For beginners, this text will leave no stone unturned.  You will learn all the basics of the language including all 4 conjugations and 5 declensions. 

Class meets 90 minutes, once weekly.   Another 2 hours work outside of class should be expected.

Text:   Latin Alive (available from www.classicalacademicpress.com)

Teacher: Donna Rene' Hopkins

Material Fee:  $5

 Cost: $140 per semester

Omnibus II: Early Church Fathers through Reformation(DIAL-O2)

Grades 7 - 9

The second class in a three year course studying Western Civilization, begins with a look at the Middle Ages up through the Reformation.  Students will study history, literature and theology with some of the greatest works of this time period.  We will study the historical context of each work as we wrestle with the normative questions these works raise.  Prospective students should have strong reading skills, good study habits, and a desire to participate in class discussions .

Prerequisites: Strong writing skills or concurrent enrollment in a writing course is recommended.

Required Texts:

Omnibus II, Edited by Douglas Wilson and G. Tyler Fischer
Western Civilization: A Brief History: Volume I: to 1715, Jackson Spielvogel
Various original source texts

Course meets two hours, twice weekly.  Student should expect outside reading and course work of an additional six hours .

Note for high school students: 1 credit history, 1 credit of literature

Teacher: Leslie McCrea

Cost:  $230  per semester
Materials fee: $10  per semester

RHETORIC LEVEL

Geometry (RHET-GEOM)

This is a course in Euclidean geometry.  We will spend time on the development of proofs and the application of geometric principles.

Class meets 90 minutes, twice weekly.

Teacher: Karen Nelson

Text: Jacob's Geometry

Cost: $215 per semester

Algebra II (RHET-ALG2)

This course will continue the study of functions begun in Algebra I.  We will examine linear, quadratic and exponential functions as they relate to real life. New concepts include matrices, determinants, and logarithms.  Prospective students should have successfully completed both Algebra 1 and  Geometry.

Class meets one hour, twice weekly.

Teacher: Karen Nelson

Text:  Advanced Algebra, University of Chicago School Mathematics Project  (A group order for several used copies will be placed in July for interested enrolled students, otherwise, contact Mrs. Nelson for correct edition to order.)

Cost: $165 per semester

Material Logic (RHET-ML)

Grades 10 - 12

TBD ...Rhetoric level logic course...

Teacher: TBD

 Cost: $140 per semester

Biology (RHET-BIO)

This course is designed to be the students first high school science lab course and is a college-prep biology course that provides a detailed introduction to the methods and concepts of general biology. Heavily emphasizing the vocabulary of biology, it provides the student with a strong background in the scientific method, the five-kingdom classification scheme, microscopy, biochemistry, cellular biology, molecular and Mendelian genetics, evolution, dissection, and ecosystems. Hands-on labs will be facilitated to reinforce content learned at home.  Students will gain valuable experience and skills related to a variety of life science fields through microscopic and macroscopic investigative studies.

Class meets 90 minutes, once weekly.  Students should expect 3 hours work outside of class weekly.

Teacher:  Donna Rene' Hopkins

Required text: Apologia Biology (2nd Edition)

Cost: $165 per semester

Lab Fee: $25 (cost to cover dissection samples and lab equipment)  

Chemistry (RHET-CHEM)

Grades 9 - 12

Course Description:  This one year course will use the Jay Wile Exploring Creation with Chemistry. One module will be completed every two weeks. Student will keep a laboratory notebook and write up labs using the scientific method. Topics covered include measurement, heat, atoms and the Periodic Table, matter and change of state, writing chemical equations, acids and bases, solutions, kinetics, thermodynamics, ionic and covalent bonds, oxidation and reduction.

Class meets 90 minutes, twice weekly.  Student should expect 3 hours of work outside of class weekly.

Teacher: Keli Stoddard

Required text:  Apologia Chemistry

Cost: $215

Classical Writing: Herodotus (RHET-CW)

Grades 10-12

Classical Writing: Herodotus covers the classical progymnasmata (writing exercises) 
of Refutation, Confirmation, and Commonplace. The final essay in this volume is 
a modern argumentative essay. The literary models used in this book include 
selections from Herodotus' Histories, Aeschylus' Oresteia, the Greek myths, 
Athanasius' On the Incarnation, and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the
English People, just to mention a few. 


Logic and rhetoric concepts will be reviewed using Traditional Logic I and II from Memoria Press 
(Note: Completion or concurrent study of Traditional Logic is prerequisite to this class.) While
these concepts concerning the form of an argument are reviewed, Unit Four of this text will
introduce material logic, an investigation into the content of our argumentation.
Herodotus will also continue to develop the students' skill in advanced paragraph writing, 
proper citation technique, and summary and precis writing. Students will practice timed-essay 
writing in preparation for university-level writing, and continue to strive propriety and grace 
in their writing style. 
Text:  Classical Writing:  Herodotus
Discounts are available for quantity orders.  Collegium will order texts
and bill parents.  No refunds are available for textbooks.
Rhetorical Grammar, 4th edition, ISBN 0321103386, Available used (www.abe.com) 
Traditional Logic I  and II, (for review)
 
Teacher:  Leslie Schwager
Note: Writing samples welcome for assessment of class level.
 
Cost: $165
Material Fee: $12

Omnibus V: Medieval Answers to the Age-Old Questions (RHET-HL)

Grade Level: 10-12  

Description:    What is the nature of God?  What is the nature of man? What are truth, 
goodness,  and beauty?  How ought man to be governed?  These are age-old questions 
about the most important aspects of life.  In this course, we will explore what the Early 
Christian Fathers and the great minds of the Medieval Age of Western civilization thought 
about these topics. Class discussions will require a close reading of assigned books; writing 
assignments will require an ability to communicate persuasively, through essays, the students'
 own ideas and biblical research about the questions the text raises. Students should expect 
outside class work of at least six hours per week. (Nota bene:  T his class will read similar 
texts to the Omnibus II class, but more will be expected of these more advanced students.)     
               

Course meets two hours, twice weekly

Teacher: Leslie McCrea

Required texts:  Extensive email will be sent to enrolled students with book list.
Cost: $230 

Spanish 1 (Dialectic or Rhetoric level) (RHET-S1)

Spanish 1 presents the basics of the Spanish Language as spoken in Latin America.  Students learn greetings, verb conjugations, basic vocabulary, pronunciation and grammatical structures.  Students develop a beginning reading and conversational ability.  The material emphasizes understanding and practical application.

Course meets 90 minutes, once weekly.  Students should expect homework and practice daily.

Required Texts:
Spanish 1, text by BJ Press
Test set
Spanish/English Dictionary

Prerequisites:  basic understanding of English grammar

Teacher:  Alex Saks

Cost: $165 per semester

We are pleased to offer to all Collegium students and their families the privilege and convenience of a quiet study room.  Students who will have time to wait between classes will need to register to use the study hall.  At this time, we are not charging any fee to use this room, but to keep it that way, we need a commitment of volunteer support from the parents of students using the Study Hall.  A parent monitor will be needed at various times during the day to help maintain the right atmosphere for study, so please consider a time when you can be available to help with that task.  While this is the most immediate need for volunteer support, there are other opportunities for parents to help that would allow their student the use of the study hall.

Please note:  If a student is not in class and not enrolled in study hall, he or she must be picked up immediately after class.  No loitering in the building is permitted.

Tae Kwon Do (ALL-TKD)

Class meets one hour weekly.

Students get the opportunity to improve their fitness, learn self defense, and enjoy gaining great friendships.  Purchase of a uniform is strongly suggested. This class is for beginner to intermediate belt levels.

Teacher: TBD by Master Kunkel
Cost: $75