MODG Junior-Senior High School Credit Courses
For a detailed course description of these courses go to the appropriate grade level at www.motherofdivinegrace.org
Math:
8th grade: Algebra ½ (9th grade Intro to Algebra)
Teacher: Cindy Gentile
Text: Saxon Algebra 1/2 Homeschool Kit
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
9th grade: Algebra 1
Teacher: Cindy Gentile
Text: Saxon Algebra 1 Homeschool Kit
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
10th grade: Geometry
Teacher: Cassy Gilliam
Text: Jacob’s Geometry; Teacher’s Manual and Test Booklet
Fee: $8/week; $4/sibling/week
11th grade: Algebra 2
Teacher: Cindy Gentile
Text: Saxon Algebra 2 Homeschool Kit (2nd edition)
Fee: $8/week;$5/sibling/week
12th grade: Advanced Math Lab: Geom, Trig, & Alg 3/Pre-
Calculus
Teacher: Walter Nelsen
Text: Saxon Advanced Math Homeschool Kit
Fee: none
Math Lab: Algebra 1/Algebra 2
Teacher: Lisa Hawkins
Fee: none
Math Lab: Algebra 2+
Teacher: Jason Bolte
Fee: none
History & Lit:
9th grade: US History & Geography and American Literature (2 credits): This course studies US history from a Catholic perspective which is often not taught in history classes. The course is dual credit for history and literature in that many supplementary books are read (15) and various styles of papers are written on the historical time periods studied.
Teacher: Paula Brown
Texts: Christ and the Americas, by Anne Carroll, Atlas of United States History, by Hammond, Supplementary Materials; Mother of Divine Grace US History & Geography and American Literature Syllabus
Fee: $8/week; $4/sibling/week
10th grade: Ancient History & Geography and Ancient Literature (2 credits)
Teacher: Rachel Brown
Texts: The Founding of Christendom, by Warren H. Carroll; The Bible; Atlas of Classical History; Supplementary Materials; Mother of Divine Grace Syllabus for Ancient History & Geography and Ancient Literature
Fee: $8/week; $4/sibling/week
11th grade: Medieval European History & Geography and Medieval European Literature (2 credits)
Teacher: Rachel Brown
Texts: Churchill’s History of the English Speaking Peoples, edited by Commanger (This is available at Barnes and Noble Publishers. ISBN # 1566198135); A History of Medieval Spain, by Joseph O’Callaghan; The Cleaving of Christendom by Warren Carroll; Supplementary Materials; Mother of Divine Grace Syllabus for Medieval European History & Geography and Medieval European Literature
Fee: $8/week; $4/sibling/week
12th grade: American Government & Economics (1 credit)
Teacher: Greg Webb
Texts: American Government in Christian Perspective, A-Beka; Economics: Work and Prosperity in Christian Perspective, A-Beka; Quiz and Tests booklets available
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
12th grade: British Literature (1 Credit)
Teacher: Rachel Brown
Texts: The Harp and Laurel Wreath by Laura Berquist; Beowulf; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; Supplementary Materials; Mother of Divine Grace British Literature Syllabus recommended but not required
Fee: $8/week; $4/sibling/week
Electives:
Journalism: Growing technology, 24 hour news, constant media exposure... Our student MUST have awareness of how to evaluate news, explore their writing skills and jump into a new world of Journalism. As a group we look through Catholic news sources as well as "mainstream" media online sources in order to be informed and see how current writing styles fit into the journalism model. The students will be introduced and read through Blogs, twitter and other new media outlets. Learning how to evaluate writing, especially whether news is bias or unbiased will have a great impact on their critical thinking.
Course requires- weekly news reading and responding. Bringing a laptop to class will offer additional great benefits. Course work is turned in online as well as open discussions throughout the week. Additional Course Fee: $15 for printing
Teacher: Julie Lassiter
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
Speech/Photography:
SPEECH – 1st semester
Exploring the oratory skills, notetaking and the student's ability to present their organized ideas to a small and large group is only the beginning. Students will be expected to research, write and continue an adventure of personal discovery through just a few months while they write speeches on various topics and are open to student and teacher feedback. Course requires- weekly assignments, readings, and personal reflection. Bringing a laptop to class will offer additional great benefits. Course work is turned in online as well as open discussions throughout the week. Visits to the local Library and online databases for research and primary sources will be required for most research assignments.
Additional Course Fee: $10 for printing
PHOTOGRAPHY – 2nd semester
This course will take the students from the basics into a working knowledge of photography from beginning skills to professional practices. Weekly topics will include: technique, positioning, subject placement, studio and outdoor images, backgrounds, lighting, digital editing software, photojournalism, and even building a photography business. Students will need to have access to a digital camera (cell phones are not approved cameras), portable computer or tablets with editing software to class each week.
Course requires- Students will NOT need to print their images, but will have to have access to the internet to submit the images online for the class to view and share projects and turn in assignments. Weekly photography assignments, caption writing and skill reflections. Students will create a portfolio of their work throughout the semester.
Additional Course Fee: $15 for printing (documents and image portfolios)
Teacher: Julie Lassiter
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
Yearbook: The St. Louis Catholic Homeschool Association puts together a yearbook with the help of Mrs. Dawn Huffman. This club meets during the course of the school day for one hour, once monthly. There is no fee, but cost of the publishing are defrayed by selling ads and fundraisers.
Teacher: Dawn Huffman
Fee: none
Grammar/Composition:
7th – 8th grade: Excellence in Writing; by Andrew Pudewa
Text:
Teachers: Cheryl Hoeber and Melissa Nelsen
Fee: none
9th grade: Grammar & Composition: In this course the student will move on to a deeper understanding of English grammar, composition, spelling and vocabulary. The composition assignments are closely tied to the written assignments in the 9th grade religion class, Faith & Morality.
Teacher: Lisa Hawkins
Texts: Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition, Third Course; Answer Key to Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition, Third Course
Fee: none
Science:
7th grade: General Science
Text: Exploring Creation With General Science (Text, Solutions & Tests Manual) by Dr. Jay L. Wile
Teacher: Jeanne Schulte
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
8th grade: Physical Science
Text: Exploring Creation with Physical Science (Text, Solutions & Tests Manual) by Dr. Jay L. Wile
Teacher: Jeanne Schulte
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
9th grade: Earth Science: The texts in this course are meant to achieve four goals: 1. Learn about earth science 2. Learn how to do research 3. Learn how to write a technical essay 4. Learn how to order items according to their logical relationship
Teacher: Cassy Gilliam
Texts: Geology: Rocks and Minerals; Oceanography; Weather; The Solar System by Milliken Press; Astronomy for All Ages by Harrington and Pascuzzi
Fee: $8/week; $4/sibling/week
10th grade: Natural History: The goals of this course are how to learn from experience and studying the powers of the soul of the living thing.
Teacher: Cassy Gilliam
Texts: King Solomon’s Ring by Konrad Lorenz; Fabre’s Book of Insects by Jean Henri Fabre, Nature Drawing: A Tool for Learning by Clare Walker Leslie
Fee: $8/week; $4/sibling/week
11th grade: Biology (1.5 credit)
Teacher: Jeanie Schulte
Texts: Exploring Creation with Biology (Text, Solutions and Tests) by Dr. Jay L. Wile; Darwin’s Black Box by Michael Behe (ISBN 0-684-82754-9), Humani Generis by Pope Pius XII (free to download)
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
12th grade: Chemistry (1.5 credit)
Teacher: Greg Webb
Texts: Exploring Creation with Chemistry (Text and Solutions & Tests Manual) by Dr. Jay L. Wile; The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin Wiker, The Chemical History of a Candle by Michael Faraday
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
12th grade: Health: Casti Canubii (.5 credit; 1st semester): In this course, the student will study the encyclical, Casti Canubii (On Christian Marriage), by Pope Pius XI. There will also be readings in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the encyclical, Humanae Vitae, by Pope Paul VI. The semester class will culminate in a research paper on a topic dealing with human life.
Teacher: Cheryl Hoeber
Texts: Mother of Divine Grace Health Syllabus using Casti Canubii by Pope Pius XI (found in syllabus; Catechism of the Catholic Church
Fee: none
Foreign Language:
7—8th grade: Introduction to French
Teacher: Stephanie Steitz
Text: First Start French; by Danielle L. Schultz (publisher: Memoria Press), ISBN 1-930953-65-8 or ISBN 9781930953659; First Start French, Book 1 pronunciation CD set (pub. Memoria Press); Collins French Concise Dictionary; binder for course notes with 10 tabbed sections
Fee: none
9th grade: Spanish I:
Teacher: Christina DeWilde
Texts: Spanish Now! Level 1, text, key and workbook available from setonbooks.com
Fee: none
9th grade: Latin IA: The class will move more slowly through the Mother of Divine Grace Latin I syllabus so that by the end of the year one-half of the syllabus with be completed. This slower pace will help students solidify the Latin and help them master the material taught during the course of the year. One credit for Latin IA will be earned.
Teacher: Audrey Fischer/Rita Brown
Texts: First Year Latin by Robert J. Henle, S.J.; Latin Grammar by Robert J. Henle, S.J.; Answer Key to First Year Latin by Robert J. Henle, S.J.; Chant Chart Set I
Fee: $20/month
Religion:
9th grade: Faith and Morality
Teacher: Jason Bolte
Texts: Chief Truths of the Faith; l Catholic Morality by Fr. John Laux; Mother of Divine Grace Faith & Morality Syllabus
Fee: none
10th grade: Sacraments and Apologetics
Teacher: Bolte
Texts: Mass and the Sacraments; Catholic Apologetics by Fr. John Laux; Beginning Apologetics1 by Fr. Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham; Study Guide for Beginning Apologetics 1 by Jim Burnham and Steve Wood; From Baptist to Catholic Apologist by Tim Staples (CD); Mother of Divine Grace Sacraments & Apologetics Syllabus
Fee: none
11th grade: Introduction to the Bible
Teacher: TBA
Texts: Introduction to the Bible by Fr. John Laux; Ignatius Bible; Mother of Divine Grace Bible Study Syllabus
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
12th grade: Catholic Doctrine
Teacher: Paula Brown
Texts: Following Christ in the World by Anne Carroll; Surprised by Truth by Patrick Madrid; *Rerum Novarum by Pope Leo XIII; *Aeterni Patris by Pope Leo XIII; *Humane Vitae by Pope Paul VI (*free to download); Mother of Divine Grace Catholic Doctrine Syllabus
Fee: $8/week; $4/sibling/week
Fine Arts:
Beginner Guitar Class:
Teacher: Ann Therese Mettner
Fee: $5/week
Intermediate Guitar Class:
Teacher: Ann Therese Mettner
Fee: $5/ week
Private Music Lessons: Private lessons will be available for piano, guitar, flute and voice. Call to schedule a time, (636) 219-6493.
Instructor: Ann Therese Mettner
Fee: $15/week
Performing Arts: This course will focus on curriculum for the first semester. We will focus a lot on the art of character development and researching the background of characters from a historical and social perspective. We will discuss the writings of John Paul II on art in our culture. We will resume with the acting warm-ups, exercises, games, and discussions from this past semester. We will discuss how acting can help us in our social lives and how it can help us come out of our shell and help us overcome shyness, social awkwardness, and raise our confidence level and how it can help us discover our identity and independence. This upcoming semester we will spend more time in class discussing characters in depth. We will also discuss storytelling and how significant it is and how influential it is. We will study different stories and the cultural and moral relevance of them. We will also learn about the production process of a play production and all the roles and positions that people have in that process. We will also discuss the art of directing, directing a play and the creative choices that go into this art.Auditions will be held around October or November, and then we will spend the entire second semester rehearsing for the play production. The play will more than likely be "The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood" a hilarious family comedy with a lot of roles.
Teacher: Chris O’Brien
Fee: $8/week; $5/sibling/week
Science:
General Science
Teacher: Melissa Nelsen
Texts: Exploring Creation With General Science (Text, Solutions & Tests Manual) by Dr. Jay L. Wile
Fee: none
Mission Statement
The St. Gianna Catholic Homeschool Co-op is dedicated to supporting the right of Catholic parents, as primary educators of their children , to teach their children through a Catholic classical approach to education, modeled on Mother of Divine Grace School based in Ojai, CA. This approach teaches the child to think by supporting his natural love of learning, while being mindful of the child’s individual needs. Most importantly, this Catholic classical education model supports the spiritual formation of the child, helping him grow in his relationship with God.
What is a classical education?
Laura Berquist, founder and director of Mother of Divine Grace school explains, “Liberal education, which we also call classical education.. involves the seven liberal arts: grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. It also includes the study of nature, the soul, ethics and politics, the highest created objects, and finally that to which all the others are ordered—theology, an understanding of the divine. Liberal education in its perfection is Catholic education, for it has the same end, identically, as the Catholic faith: the highest, best, and most perfect object, God.”
Why we use the Mother of Divine Grace model for the St. Gianna co-op?
Mother of Divine Grace is the model from which we model our classes, as the parents who conceived the idea of a homeschool co-op at St. Gianna parish were familiar with the classical education and methodology offered by Mother of Divine Grace. It has been a successful method of Catholic education since 1995, and offers syllabi for the courses offered at St. Gianna. For more information on Mother of Divine Grace school go to www.motherofdivinegrace.org.
In addition, the goal of the St. Gianna Homeschool Co-op is that parents as well as students come “to know, love and serve God in this world and to be happy with Him in heaven. “ (Baltimore Catechism) We strive to do this by “loving God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. “ (Baltimore Catechism0