Courses in Kennesaw near KSU
1210 Wooten Lake Rd NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Fees are per half year. Lower fee available for early registration.
(Registration opens March 1) Central European History (with optional trip) Ages : Middle and High School Cost : $190/$180 - per half year.
·
Year-long interdisciplinary course culminating in a
2-week trip to Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and Switzerland. The course can
be taken as: a) an elective; b) an middle school English course – there is lots
of reading; c) a social studies course; d) an arts course. What I teach in
class will remain the same no matter which option you choose. I will provide a
course description to meet whichever option you choose.
·
You can
select the ‘for credit’ high school version of the course (harder reading
level, more difficult assignments) or the middle school version.
·
The
2-week trip is worth a ½ credit and can also be used as a) an elective; b) a
social studies course; c) an arts course; or d) if you take my German course
can be used as a ½ credit of conversational German. I will provide a course
description to meet whichever option you choose. To get ‘credit’ for the trip, students
will be expected to turn in a travelogue of their trip featuring arts, history,
or whatever is appropriate for what they’re getting credit for.
High School Writing - Getting Ready for College Writing Required Materials : Optional - laptop computer. Students are permitted to write by hand in class, but essays must be turned in by e-mail so it may be easier for them to have access to a laptop for in-class work. • This year long course has four distinct sections so that students can join or leave the course during the year. Students will fulfill all the writing and research requirements for high school by the end of the course. • In each session, students will write in a specific style or genre: the 5 paragraph essay, the research paper, writing about literature, and persuasive writing. They will learn to write outlines, to write thesis statement in the introduction, well-constructed paragraphs, a conclusion and transition sentences that connect paragraphs into a coherent whole. They will learn to cite print or electronic sources properly when paraphrasing or summarizing information, quoting, or using graphics. They will learn to use appropriate strategies, such as providing facts and details, describing or analyzing the subject, and comparing or contrasting.
Advanced HS Writing - Critical Thinking - You CAN Learn It! Eligibility: Students
who have taken Freya’s HS Writing before
OR
With instructor approval:
Students who have taken Freya’s Jr. High Writing before
Students with other high school writing experience
Cost*: $215/$198
– per ½ year
In this course, students will learn college level material but with the support of a high school learning environment. Building on earlier writing classes, this course will cover:
- Critical reviews of articles
- Annotated bibliographies for research papers
- APA documentation style (in addition to MLA style)
- Introduction to resumé writing.
These additional writing skills will position students well for writing in upper level college courses in disciplines beyond English. Eventually, in college, almost all students will have to use these analytical writing forms, yet, in general, in college students aren’t taught HOW to do these; they simply receive an assignment that says “Write an annotated bibliography,” or “Provide critical reviews of the following articles.”
Junior High Writing - Building Confidence in Writing Ages: 7-10th grades (12+ only) Cost: $195/$185 per semester • Year-long course, though students can come and go between sessions. • For students who either: 1) want a solid writing course at a middle-of-the-road high school level, but without the demands and homework of a rigorous, pre-college writing course; or, 2) have completed middle-school level writing, and want a stepping stone before a rigorous, pre-college writing course. • In each session, students will write in a specific style or genre: the 5-paragraph essay, a short research paper, writing about literature, journalism. They will learn to write outlines, to write thesis statement in the introduction, well-constructed paragraphs, a conclusion and transition sentences that connect paragraphs into a coherent whole. They will begin to learn to cite print or electronic sources properly when paraphrasing or summarizing information, quoting, or using graphics. They will learn to use appropriate strategies, such as providing facts and details, describing or analyzing the subject, and comparing or contrasting. • Significant class time will also be spent on punctuation and grammar lessons as applicable to writing.
British Literature - The Classics Come Alive Ages: High School (ages 13+ only)Cost: $195/$185 Regular Course or $210/$198 Honors Course
· Make the classics come alive through hands on activities like
puppet shows, videos, skits, rap and more.
· Immerse learners in books by listening to or reading full length
novels and poems.
· All levels and styles of learners welcome. You select the assignments suited to your learner.
• My approach to literature is to read. Read, read,
read. I want kids to immerse themselves in books that are well-known classics
of specific eras. They will of course learn the appropriate
analysis skills of literature, but my belief about literature is that kids will
learn more about the world,
about ideas and about literature by actually reading, getting wrapped up in a
book, rather than getting bogged down in excruciating nit-picking at books.
Class time will be spent on vocabulary development, historical and cultural
background on specific works and on analysis skills, as well as fun,
interactive activities/projects that balance out the dreary job of having to
read, write and analyze all year long.
This class provides students with a secure
understanding of British literature. Students will read, discuss, and
write about the Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Elizabethan, Romantic, Victorian,
and Modern periods. They will go beyond this, however, by analyzing the
social, political, and religious influences that mark each period
historically and affect literary style. Through class discussions
and personal writing, students will establish their roles as critics,
becoming conscious readers/writers. • Honors and regular track available. Honors track involves extensive vocabulary development, essays and
end-of-year exam. Regular track involves novels + informal essays and is well
suited to students who read better by audio-book. Textbooks: Beowulf: Beowulf the Warrior retold by Ian Serraillier Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales retold by Geraldine McCaughrean Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice Pope, Alexander: The Rape of the Lock Swift, Jonathan: Gulliver's Travels Shelly, Mary: Frankenstein Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice Sir Walter Scott: Ivanhoe Dickens, Charles: Oliver Twist Bronte, Emily: Wuthering Heights Robert L. Stevenson: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Shaw, George Bernard: Pygmalion + selections of poetry to be supplied in class..
Biology - Science Is a Tool, Not a Body of Facts Ages: 13+ years old through adult Cost: $330/$305 Required Materials: Campbell, Reece, Mitchell, Taylor. Biology: Concepts and Connections.
This year-long course will cover all the major topics in high school biology with a syllabus that meets honors level criteria. (Honors level high school biology covers more cellular, viral, bacterial and genetics biology than regular level.) The course is designed so that students can choose assignments that fit either a ‘regular’ or an honors level course. The in-class instruction and labs will be the same for either choice. There will be at least 24 hands-on labs, 12 in ‘large’ biology areas and 12 in ‘small’ biology areas.
My philosophy of science education:
My philosophy of science education is that in high school students should learn the scientific method, lab report writing, how to interpret graphical data and how to think scientifically about the world. We don’t find memorization of facts valuable in the internet age, and it just encourages students to “cram” rather than think. However, if your student is motivated to remain in the sciences, retention of key facts may be useful. Additionally, students who have difficulty focusing while reading may find it helpful to have a study guide.
Public Speaking - Everyone Succeeds Required Materials : Cardstock paper. For sessions 2-4: access to a computer in class
• Prerequisites for sessions 2-4: A) basic computer skills including: typing ability or familiarity with keyboard; finding, opening and saving files; copying, cutting and pasting. • Supplies for sessions 2-4: Students need to have access in class to a computer with a word processing program and Open Office presentation (PowerPoint look-alike). • Each session is self-contained so students can join or leave the course during any session. • Learning to express yourself in public settings is an asset that will be valuable throughout life. The more professionally you can present your ideas, the greater will be the response by others and the more opportunities you will have to progress in areas that are important to you. Public speaking skills will build your self-confidence, can get you a job, get you into college, land a sales contract, help you build and share your convictions and influence other people’s opinions. • Session One: Students will learn (or improve) the basics of delivery: voice control and projection, articulation and diction, appropriate manner and body language, the use of physical actions, and how to manage note-cards as they present an already prepared age appropriate selected text. • Session Two: Students will learn (or review) proper research methods to ensure an adequate, accurate and properly documented presentation. They will learn how to choose a topic, how to prepare their own note cards, and how to design and manage PowerPoint presentations and to use these to illustrate their talk. They will learn about the composition of that material into a presentation with an effective introduction, appropriate choice of words, clear organization of ideas, adaptation of material to audience and occasion and an effective conclusion. • Session Three: Students will learn about the composition of a persuasive presentation: effective introduction, choice of words, organization of ideas, adaptation of material to audience and occasion and effective conclusion. They will also incorporate what was learned in session two on how to design and manage appropriate visual aids. • Session Four: Students will learn impromptu speaking. This is a skill that is a huge asset when needing to speak in situations where someone else gets to choose what you will talk about, situations like college, scholarship or employment interviews, or thesis defense in grad school.
Middle School English - Gentle Introduction to Formal English Classes Ages: 10-13 years oldCost: $185/$175
What: Students will read 4 Newberry award winning novels during the four sessions. These novels will be the basis for developing vocabulary, reading comprehension skills, and short (250 word minimum) creative writing. All authors have penned many additional books so students who find an book they love can continue reading more by the same author and in some cases in the same series. Books: Avi: Crispin. Madeline L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time. Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game. Laurence Yep, Dragon's Gate. Who: This course is for upper elementary through middle school students. Upper elementary means students who are about 10 years old, but have the social and emotional maturity of middle school students and who have the writing and reading skills appropriate for at least solid 6th grade work. Middle school means students who are working at a traditional 6-beginning 8th grade level in language arts. This class is not intended for academically advanced middle school students. Homework: There will be reading and vocabulary homework and a little writing. Optional grammar and punctuation drill available.
Latin 1 Ages: 12+ years old Cost: $310/$275 Required Materials: Ecce Romani Latin I with accompanying workbooks LAB 1A and 1B. • I strongly urge any parents who want a rigorous high school curriculum to have their kids take 2 years of Latin. For the last 8 years in a row, the average score on the SAT of students who took Latin was higher than any other student, even if they took other languages. • This course covers Latin noun usage in all five cases and all five declension groups, all three declensions of adjectives, plus verbs of all conjugation groups in all six tenses in active voice, indicative and imperative moods. Additionally, the various Latin pronoun forms are introduced. Students will translate passages of Latin adapted for their level of grammatical mastery. The grammar exercises require not only Latin-to-English translation, but some composition in Latin as well. Students will memorize approximately 350 additional Latin vocabulary words and will study related English derivatives. Students completing this course with a B or better grade will be ready to progress to Latin II.
Latin 3 Ages: 14+ years old Cost: $250/$200 Required Materials: Ecce Romani Latin 3 and SAT Latin Subject Test by REA.
This is a year-long course. Open to students who have completed an approved Latin 2 course Prep for National Latin Exam and SAT Subject Test Reading of original Roman-era authors
FreyaFitzpatrick@gmail.com
|
|
