MEMBERSHIP CLASSES
Membership classes consist of Core, PE, Science PreK-8, and Religion. *High school classes may have an additional cost per class.*CORE
3rd-12th Core classes are a literature-based history. These classes combine history, literature, composition, and geography in one class. Core classes follow a four-year classical educational cycle: Ancient, Christendom, Modern, and American History. Also included: critical thinking, geography, and memorization.
Pre K - 2 students are exposed to great stories from around the world and related activities in their own "core-style" class!
RELIGION
Religion classes are meant to guide our students as they learn the core elements of our beautiful Catholic faith. Materials include the Faith and Life book series by Ignatius Press and the Didache Series. Our youngest students use the St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism, Fr. Lovasik picture books, and do crafts and projects. Other studies include Theology of the Body for Teens, guest speakers, Dynamic Catholic, spiritual book studies, Ascension Press materials, and priest visits.
Preschool - 8th grade science classes use the Apologia series. On a roating basis, our students learn: Anatomy and Physiology, General Science, Astronomy, Botany, Chemistry and Physics, and Zoology.
High school classes rotate through Physical Science, Biology, Anatomy, Chemistry, and Physics.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Students will be outside whenever possible during the school year. Group games, lots of movement, and fun are the priorities!
ELECTIVE CLASSES
These classes are not included in the membership fee. There is a charge for each class that is paid directly to the teacher. These courses rotate and adjust to accommodate our families and student body. *This is not an all-inclusive list. As our membership needs grow and change, new opportunities are always realized and implemented.ART All materials provided
PreK - 2
In this class, while learning new things, young artists begin to bloom! Fine motor skills will develop in a fun, exciting way. Explore, color, color mixing and blending, texture, cutting, and gluing, as well as care and maintenance of supplies and tools.
Grades 3-6
This class will teach the elements of art: line, shape, color, texture, and value. We will use principles of design, repetition, rhythm, variety, contrast, balance, harmony and unity in our projects as well. We will paint, draw, and sculpt, using a fun and varied assortment of media.
Grades 7-12
Students observe demonstrations by the instructor and will use a wide variety of art materials. Materials include paints, printing inks, pen and ink, charcoals, pastels, and clay. They will develop skills in composition, design, drawing, painting, sculpture, and print making. We will study basic art principles and elements and art terminology.
Art History
From Leonardo da Vinci to Georgia O'Keefe, students will learn about the struggles and successes of some of the best known painters and sculptors from Europe and America. Art projects emphasizing the artists and their techniques will also be included. The is a cyclic course.
MATH
Math classes offered at Annunciation are Math Drills, Introductory Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Personal Finance, and Physics/Math projects. These classes are offered on a rotating and as-needed basis.
Recurring Electives
LANGUAGES, SPEECH, AND WRITING
Sign Language
Learn animals, colors, foods, counting 1-20, beginning words and move into combining words, greetings, days of the week, months of the year, and much more!
Spanish I and II
Beginning Spanish will focus on vocabulary, speaking/listening skills, as well as beginning conjugation and subject/verb agreement. Succeeding levels will further develop these skills. Class time will be spent on instruction, speaking, and listening practice.
Writing - Beginning
This course will be geared to the beginning writer. Beginning with basic sentence structure, students are led through the development of paragraphs and descriptive writing.
Writing I
Learn to express yourself logically, persuasively, and eloquently in this writing class! Students with a strong foundation of grammar and structure will focus on how to come up with good ideas, organize those ideas clearly, and express them effectively. The three canons of classical rhetoric - invention, arrangement, elocution - will help them do this. Our goal will be to take these tools and use them effectively to become strong, fluent writers.
Writing II
Continuing to develop and expound on the tools gained in Writing I, the focus will shift to the judicial address. In this course, we will continue to use the canons of classical rhetoric to help the students think deeply and consider different perspectives through their writing. The students writers will continue to develop habits in exploring both sides of an issue, structuring parallel thoughts, and reading closely. These are skills that transfer to all kinds of writing, as well as lay the foundation for formal logic. The students will improve in writing with both creativity and discipline.
Speech I and II
Public Speaking is a craft and this craft involves techniques that will be taught in this class. In a fun and lively manner students will be taught the mechanics of giving a speech and how to make the listener continue listening. Students will also be taught the three parts of speech writing and how to use note cards to give speeches.
Speech II is a fast-moving, activity packed class finessing the skills learned in Speech I. Students will learn job communication skills, speaking about a cause, travel to Springfield to be a page, and they will participate in speaking contests.
Grammar
This class guides students through complete grammar instruction covering parts of speech, types of sentences, capitalization, and punctuation.
Roots Roundup
Learn 100 roots, their meanings, and some derived vocabulary. These Greek and Latin roots will give meaning to many words that students will encounter in other subjects!
Critical Thinking I
We will cover the basics of critical thinking, identifying and evaluating evidence to make better decision. Mathematical and spatial reasoning will be introduced.
Critical Thinking II
Students will be introduced to the basic concepts of logic and put them into practice. We will cover the basics of critical thinking, obstacles to critical thinking, evaluating evidence, problem solving, ambiguity and vagueness, fallacies and doublespeak, arguments, and advertising.
Lettering and Mixed Media
A tool kit will be provided and expanded throughout this course. Students will learn and practice beautiful, elegant, fun, and curvy lettering styles. They will practice blending color, flourishes, and embellishing for added character. Mixed media supplies and techniques will be applied, including watercolor, paint, gels, and paste. These will be combined with lettering skills to create a variety of projects.
Basic Life and Survival Skills
Students will train in the skills such as sewing on a button, checking oil and tire pressure, using basic hand tools, and the many uses of duct tape! The adventure will continue with essential survival skills such as basic first aid, knot tying, using a map and compass, and perhaps something dangerous...
Choir/Music
Catholic songs, including Latin, with experienced musical and vocal instructors
Literature
Great Books Seminar
Who doesn't love to read and discuss great literature? This class exposes our students to powerful, funny, and enriching literature. A seminar style class, lecturing is kept to a minimum, and student participation is expected! No written work, we simply read great books and talk about them!
Pioneer Days
A hands-on class exploring the history, life, and culture of pioneer times. Reading books, doing crafts, creative writing, crocheting and other fiber arts, making traditional foods from the period, learning about beautiful Catholic traditions and agricultural customs, and more!Classical Literature - Elementary
Children will be brought into a quaint classical atmosphere, complete with real linens, china, flatware, decor, and refreshments. Engagement and learning will be the direct result of exposure to fine things, including literature, poetry, sacred art, and music. By the end of the course, each child will not only have an appreciation for classical elements, but also a basic knowledge of "all things beautiful" that God gave us.
3 Rs
Reading, wRiting, and aRthimetic. This class gets back to the core essentials of learning! What is more important than learning to read, learning to write, and learning to do math? Reading will be presented through use of phonemic awareness and tried and true classical methods. Writing will be presented through proper form of both d'nealean and cursive. Special emphasis will be given to the copy work of sacred texts. Arithmetic will cover basic addition, subtraction, measurements and times and division tables.
Grammar
Various levels: beginning to advanced, approximately 5th-12th grade.
Vocabulary
This course includes vocabulary study to develop the critical link between vocabulary and reading comprehension. A list of words is provided that the student will use through various exercises to familiarize themselves with the words and their usage in different contexts and meanings.
Pre-logic
These puzzles develop logic, reading comprehension, and mental organizational skills, as well as developing real-life problem solving skills.
Critical Thinking
These courses use verbal and non-verbal reasoning activities to improve students' vocabulary, reading, writing, math, logic, and figural-spatial skills, as well as visual and auditory processing. Helps develop thinking and communication skills for deeper content learning in other subjects.
