MAJOR AREAS OF STUDY OFFERED
BY
CONNECT THE THOUGHTS™
STUDY ESSENTIALS (BASICS) - Courses that should be done by students of all ages. These courses offer detailed explanations and exercises which will assist the student to master those skills needed to study ANY subject quickly and effectively. Courses in this category include: Information - Right or Wrong; How To Do Research; Computer Literacy; Spelling; Reading; Manners .
HISTORY - Our history courses are global in their orientation, rather than oriented toward a single nation or segment of history. History courses cover, in sequence and as they occurred, the major movements and discoveries found in all corners of the globe. These include scientific discoveries; political movements; philosophical and religious ideas and movements; social changes; artistic schools and movements, including the works and lives of great artists; the history of economics; the tale of nationalism, wars and peace; and the development of literature. These are presented as an integrated whole, rather than as separate subjects. We experience them as an integrated whole which we call "life". They should be taught as such, and not as separate and unrelated subjects. Each course is filled with exercises and field trips to be done by the student, to help them fully understand and evaluate for themselves the vast history of our world.
SCIENCE - Our Science Courses are non-faith based. They are pure science courses. Science courses are taught in a practical sequence, always starting with Science Basics, a course explaining what science itself is, and what the most important tools of science are. Basics are followed by courses in Earth Sciences (in Upper School, these are Geology, Oceanography and Meteorology, very thorough courses). Earth Sciences are followed by structural sciences, those explaining our universe; Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Astronomy. Each course is filled with experiments and exercises, often hundreds of them, to be done by the student in order to truly master an understanding of that field. (However, math is generally avoided in favor of conceptual understanding! We leave mathematics to curricula specializing in mathematics.)
CREATIVE WRITING - Creative Writing is the "crown jewel" of our curricula. Starting with the most basic basics which explain what "writing" is, the student rapidly develops a complete understanding of the elements of great story telling, including plotting, characterization, dialogue and action. These are thoroughly detailed, and the student is always given many exercises, in order to truly improve their understanding and skills. This part of our curricula, authored by an Emmy-award winning writer/educator, has been in very successful use for nine years. After completing the first five courses (around 2-3 years), a student may do one of our Master's courses in writing, in specialized areas such as Playwriting; Screenwriting (TV/film); Poetry & Lyrics; Novels and Short Stories; Creative Nonfiction; and Marketing & P.R. (Our Master's Courses can be done by serious writers who already have some real experience and interest in that field, without having done earlier Creative Writing courses.)
ARTS ELECTIVES - Arts are often sadly neglected today in education. We offer extensive programs in Music Theory and Composition; Animation; and Acting, all designed for home school use. These highly creative, detailed courses provide an education in depth, with an eye toward the creation of professionals. They should generally be done in sequence by the student interested in that art form.
READING - Designed for the literate student who enjoys reading.
CURRENT EVENTS - Connect The Thoughts™ is currently developing a complete program of current events courses. Each one offers a great deal of information, and structured research to be done by the student to discover the current situation regarding that area of concern. The complete program, will be available late in 2008, but any individual course can be done independently to provide the student a real view of our world today! These courses currently include Poverty & World Hunger; Endangered Species; Religious Intolerance; and Terrorism. There will be about 12 courses offered in this most important educational arena, when complete.
