Constitutional Literacy

New American Cursive is an easy-to-follow resource for teaching beginning cursive. It presents simplified letter forms, using multi-sensory methods to aid in the learning of motor skills necessary to write well. Developed by Iris Hatfield, with over 35 years of experience in the handwriting field, the book improves the process of teaching handwriting and allows students to start at a younger age.

The character Mr. Meerkat is the book’s guide, making learning tasks fun; step-by-step, he shows the way to draw each letter and encourages creativity. There are clear arrow directions for letter creation, and plenty of shaded letters to trace for practice. The book is bound at the top for equal access for left- and right-handers.

NAC’s simplified strokes and letter forms allow first grade students to truly master beautiful cursive. We have used NAC in our Highlands Latin School, with dramatic results. Every child can master cursive in the first grade, and many of our first graders write better than typical third graders. Learning cursive early ensures that students are not slowed down or frustrated in the upper grades when they are focusing on other subjects, such as grammar and composition.

Girls of American History was created to be used with the popular American Girl historical, fictional series. Each unit in Girls of American History is meant to last six weeks. Of course you can lengthen or shorten this based on what works for your family.

Each unit will include a suggested weekly schedule, list of required and suggested books, craft resources, field trip ideas and suggestions, party and meal ideas, templates, and other resources. This guide is meant to add depth, interest, interaction, crafts, and a historical perspective into a particular time period.

Twelve units are available, which can be purchased individually or as a bundle.

Units available are: Nez Perce – Kaya, American Revolutionary – Felicity, South Western – Josefina, Pioneer Times – Kristen, Civil War – Addy, Industrial Revolution – Samantha, The Great Depression – Kit, World War II – Molly, War of 1812 – Caroline, New Orleans in the 1850’s – Marie-Grace and Cecile, New York Life in 1914 – Rebecca, Growing Up in the USA in 1974 – Julie

With a focus on the character, as well as the accomplishments, of these people who have done great things with their lives, readers will find multiple elements of these biographies to relate to. Short (page-and-a-half) biographical sketches present a quick look at the innovation and courage many had, profiling what they are remembered for today, and providing insights into their motivations. Critical thinking activities include sequencing of events and true/false questions; maps help students to see where events took place; and timelines provide an overview of particular time periods. An activity extends the lesson, and various games (crosswords, word scramble, etc.) provide a fun way to remember the important part of each biography. Read about everyone from Marco Polo to John Smith to Handel to Sacagawea to Francois Millet! 20 profiles; 203 pages, softcover, answer key included. Grades 3-5. 3 volumes, each has 20 profiles.

Former medical university professor Dr. Menton takes two teens on a teaching-tour through the major systems of the body. Dr. Menton is loved worldwide for his humorous and insightful talks that leave audiences in hushed awe at the Creator’s wisdom. In this series, Menton employs anatomical props, models, and microscopic images to teach about God’s amazing designs for life.

Geared for teens and adults, Body of Evidence is great for anyone studying the human body, plus all who want to be able to show their skeptical friends some of the most amazing designs that point unmistakably to our Creator. Produced in cooperation with the AFA Homeschool Channel. 30-40 minutes per part. Study guide also avaiable.

Discover the foundational elements of the universe and the building blocks of creation withExploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics! Study how the universe functions through this exploration of matter and energy; lessons cover atoms and molecules, pH levels, types of mixtures, mechanics, laws of motion, dynamics of motion, energy, waves, light, machines, magnets, and more. Filled with bright photographs, fun “Try This!” experiments, and integrated narration questions, this Charlotte-Mason inspired guide to physics and chemistry will keep kids interested and engaged. Experiments, notebooking activities, “what do you remember?” narration questions, projects, and experiments help to reinforce concepts. 279 pages, hardcover. Index and answers to the narrative questions are included, as well as a supply list.  Scriptures taken from the NIV, NASB, and ESV. Elementary Grades; Grades 1-6. May be completed in one semester or one year depending on the desired schedule.

Brave Writer online classes are specially designed with the busy homeschooling parent in mind. Classes last anywhere from four to six weeks. We offer courses that address a specific writing need so that you can take the ones that suit your family throughout the school year. Short class sessions enable you to work around family vacations, out-of-town swim meets, recovering from wisdom teeth removal, and visits from grandparents. We operate on the quarter system, including a summer session. Our most popular classes repeat each quarter, while others are seasonal.

Writing is done at home and then typed into the classroom, and shared with both the instructor and other classmates. You’re not required to be online at any specific time of the day. We have students from all over the world participating in our classes so “live” discussion is impossible. Instead, the online classroom enables the instructor to post information and assignments when it is convenient to the instructor. Then, when it is convenient for you, you come to the classroom and read the latest postings.