Fireside Academy 2012-2013 Course Catalog About Fireside Academy Community Co-op Our co-op classes are held on Tuesdays, September 11 th to May 14 th . Our classes meet at Carpenter's Community Church, 4609 Newburg Rd., Nazareth, PA, 18064. The Fireside Academy Community Co-op for Homeschoolers is a unique, not-for-profit organization, offering support and encouragement to parents who are teaching their children at home through traditional and cyber-education methods. Fireside Academy helps foster a sense of community for homeschooling families. Our enrichment classes and extra-curricular activities provide opportunities for social interaction with others who understand a lifestyle focused on family and education. Our website and free on-line newsletter keep families informed of upcoming events and opportunities for families of Lehigh and Northampton Counties of Pennsylvania, as well as western New Jersey. Full Membership $65 + Volunteer Commitment** A full membership is necessary for those families wishing to take advantage of our co-op classes. Fireside Academy Classes offers a variety of academic and enrichment courses in a supportive environment for families. Our co-op classes will meet one day a week for thirty weeks, from September to May, with intermittent breaks. Our weekly classes serve to create an environment that encourages children to love learning while providing opportunities for academic excellence and achievement. We assist families by offering weekly classes taught by specialists in each field who are usually homeschooling parents as well. By pooling our resources, we are able to offer a rich diversity of expertise that helps families build upon their own knowledge and abilities by providing broader educational experiences. Our classes support the home education program through classroom experiences, giving both a framework as well as outside accountability and mentoring. Often when homeschooled children reach middle school, they will wish to pursue subject matter that is difficult or foreign to the parent teacher. Many high school diploma programs require courses which some parents feel uncomfortable teaching on their own. Our classes help meet these needs for families by bridging any gaps in the home education program, while offering the benefits of a small-sized classroom experience for students. More than academics, our classes provide homeschooling families with the opportunity to work cooperatively in an atmosphere of mutual respect, organized structure with flexibility, and interest driven exploration. We feel that offering opportunities for homeschooled children to participate in musical theater, or to develop new hobbies by learning to knit, paint, or sew, are vital to a rich educational experience. We also offer the opportunity for youth to create a yearbook and newspaper, documenting their experiences and providing information for our co-op families. We offer informal small groups, such sewing circle, chess, runner's, and game clubs. **CO-OP means COmmunity + CoOPeration Our wonderful classes are only part of the experience here at Fireside. We strive to create a true homeschooling community for our children and parents. We know that if we pool our efforts, we are
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Fireside Academy 2012-2013
Course Catalog
About Fireside Academy Community Co-op
Our co-op classes are held on Tuesdays, September 11th
to May 14th
.
Our classes meet at Carpenter's Community Church, 4609 Newburg Rd., Nazareth, PA, 18064.
The Fireside Academy Community Co-op for Homeschoolers is a unique, not-for-profit organization,
offering support and encouragement to parents who are teaching their children at home through
traditional and cyber-education methods. Fireside Academy helps foster a sense of community for
homeschooling families. Our enrichment classes and extra-curricular activities provide opportunities
for social interaction with others who understand a lifestyle focused on family and education. Our
website and free on-line newsletter keep families informed of upcoming events and opportunities for
families of Lehigh and Northampton Counties of Pennsylvania, as well as western New Jersey.
Full Membership $65 + Volunteer Commitment**
A full membership is necessary for those families wishing to take advantage of our co-op classes.
Fireside Academy Classes offers a variety of academic and enrichment courses in a supportive
environment for families. Our co-op classes will meet one day a week for thirty weeks, from September
to May, with intermittent breaks.
Our weekly classes serve to create an environment that encourages children to love learning while
providing opportunities for academic excellence and achievement. We assist families by offering
weekly classes taught by specialists in each field who are usually homeschooling parents as well. By
pooling our resources, we are able to offer a rich diversity of expertise that helps families build upon
their own knowledge and abilities by providing broader educational experiences.
Our classes support the home education program through classroom experiences, giving both a
framework as well as outside accountability and mentoring. Often when homeschooled children reach
middle school, they will wish to pursue subject matter that is difficult or foreign to the parent teacher.
Many high school diploma programs require courses which some parents feel uncomfortable teaching
on their own. Our classes help meet these needs for families by bridging any gaps in the home
education program, while offering the benefits of a small-sized classroom experience for students.
More than academics, our classes provide homeschooling families with the opportunity to work
cooperatively in an atmosphere of mutual respect, organized structure with flexibility, and interest
driven exploration. We feel that offering opportunities for homeschooled children to participate in
musical theater, or to develop new hobbies by learning to knit, paint, or sew, are vital to a rich
educational experience. We also offer the opportunity for youth to create a yearbook and newspaper,
documenting their experiences and providing information for our co-op families. We offer informal
small groups, such sewing circle, chess, runner's, and game clubs.
**CO-OP means COmmunity + CoOPeration
Our wonderful classes are only part of the experience here at Fireside. We strive to create a true
homeschooling community for our children and parents. We know that if we pool our efforts, we are
able to operate a smoothly-flowing experience, and offer greater opportunities outside of class days. As
such, each family is responsible to fulfill a volunteer commitment to the co-op. Please visit our
“Volunteers” tab on the website, and review the requirements and escrow program, understanding
that volunteer sign up must occur at time of registration (or promptly thereafter for mail in
registrations.) We will be having a parent mixer at Red Robin in August for new families to introduce
them to some of the Fireside staff to help answer any question, and to all for in person volunteer sign
up for a job that suits each lifestyle. (date TBA)
Full Membership also includes all benefits of the social membership listed below.
Social Membership $20
A social membership allows participation in many activities such as field trips, workshops, and teen
events. We have members-only events for parents as well, that will include instructional seminars and
small groups. We offer special events for homeschooled students such as educational fairs, picnics, and
a high school prom. Social Membership also includes one free entry into our educational fairs per
family. Each family with a social membership will receive an annual directory.
Mission Statement It is the purpose and mission of Fireside Academy Community Co-op to provide homeschooling
families and families of cyber-educated students’ opportunities to participate in cooperative, enriching,
group learning experiences. It is the aim of Fireside Academy to keep the natural love of learning alive
by offering engaging learning experiences in the sciences, mathematics, language arts, foreign
languages, fine arts, history, social studies and physical education and other special interest subjects.
We believe that it is important to create a learning environment that acknowledges differences in
learning styles, nurtures a student's self esteem and embraces students from all denominations, races,
and sectors of life.
Philosophy
Fireside Academy operates under the premise that learning is a gift with its own intrinsic rewards. We
believe that learning flourishes when students are given opportunities to become involved in the
process of their own education. We believe that it is important for students to interact with enthusiastic,
knowledgeable, respectful facilitators in a friendly, non-threatening social environment. Learning
fostered through a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect allows students the freedom to explore and
expand their boundaries without the fear of making mistakes.
Non-Discriminatory Policy
The Fireside Academy Community Co-op is truly an ecumenical group. It admits students of any sex,
race, color, national, ethnic origin and religious affiliation to all rights, privileges, programs, and
activities made available to students in the program. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
national and ethnic origin or religious affiliation in the administration of policies, or any program-
administered events, activities or classes.
Fireside Academy Community Co-Op
Course Descriptions
2012-2013
English and Humanities
CHILDREN’S CHOIR 1-6 (MUS100) Enrichment
Take your singing out of the shower and into the real world! It’s time to learn to sing in a group, learn
about melody and harmony, and put it all together in performances! Students will learn elementary
pitch and music skills through folk music, holiday tunes, international favorites and top it all off with a
very special part in the Music Theatre performance of “Willy Wonka” in the Spring. Performances to
include holiday concert at lunch during Fireside, and participation in Musical with the Music Theatre
class. Required Text: none Supplies: folder Homework: personal rehearsal time approximately 10-
Students will begin with a brief unit on hand-sewing, then use basic sewing skills to make a tomato
pincushion. They will then learn the basics of how to operate a sewing machine by sewing with
different stitches on pieces of paper. After that, they will move to simple sewing projects such as a
heart-shaped pillow and a drawstring bag to hold their sewing supplies. From there, projects will be
chosen based on class preferences, leading up to the end of the year in which students will be able to
choose individual projects to make. As students become more proficient, possible projects could
include a wind sock, a stuffed toy, a quilt block, an apron, or a simple skirt or pair of shorts or pajama
pants. Required Text: None Supplies/Equipment: Sewing Machine helpful but not necessary, folder.
Homework: minimal; if student is significantly behind he or she may be asked to take a project home
and work on it there. Tuition: $120 Materials: $50 Instructor: Theresa Marlin MAXIMUM: 10
students
Mathematics & Economics
After great consideration, Fireside Academy has discontinued teaching upper level math year-long
courses. We firmly believe that mathematics is a discipline that requires an incremental progression
and more instruction than is possible given one hour weekly class needed to ensure success. We
conferred with the 25+ parents represented at a planning meeting, and agreed the best option is to offer
elective math classes that support students instead.
We also researched and met with numerous math instructors who all agreed the best instructional math
program currently on the homeschool market is Teaching Textbooks. Many of us are currently using it
with great success in our own homes, and agree with the recommendation.
MATH STRATEGIES 4-6 (MAT200) Enrichment
Is math a struggle in your house? Does math time give you headaches? Then this class is for you! This class is designed to show children that math can be FUN and easy! We will be working on helping
each student gain skills as well as confidence in all math operations, especially multiplication. We will also
cover problem solving, place value, fractions, graphing and other math skills through manipulatives and
interactive games. Required Text: None Helpful Equipment: "Cuisenaire Rods Small Group Set -
155 Wooden or Plastic Rods. Please note that the "connecting Cuisneaire rods do not work as well for
the activities we will be doing". Supplies: A 3 ring binder with paper and folder for homework and a
pencil case with pencils. Homework: 10-15 minutes a day Homework: 5-10 minutes daily review.
Tuition: $120 Materials: $30 Instructor: Christine Allen MAXIMUM: 12
Science
FORENSIC SCIENCE 8-10
TH (SCI301) Core-Curriculum, graded, HSC 1.0
Forensic Science incorporates many methods of a variety of sciences to help solve crimes, as well as
noncriminal events. We will learn the art of studying evidence, analyzing clues and interpreting
information so we can construct reasonable explanations as it may relate to investigations. In this class
we will be exploring concepts such as: logical reasoning, empirical evidence and the basic steps of the
scientific method. I invite my students to practice science as a problem solving entity, by engaging in
critical thinking and participating in labs and in class activities. Learning Objectives: Study and apply
scientific method as it relates to a criminal investigation, collecting data by observing and measuring
with precision. Analyze, evaluate and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations and
predictions from direct and indirect evidence. Required Text/Books: Teaching materials will be
provided. Supplies/Equipment: 3 ring binders with lined paper, writing utensils, and a functioning,
well nourished brain! Homework: Homework will vary depending on class assignments and lab work.
Students will be required to submit lab work and some labs may be assigned as at home projects. There
will be quizzes, guest speakers and many hands on activities. Approximate 2 hours weekly. Tuition:
$180 Materials Fee: $50 Instructor: Toni Mazzariello Maximum: 16
HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS10th
-12th
(SCI302) Core-Curriculum, graded HSC 1.5
Conceptual Physics is designed for college bound students who have successfully completed Algebra I.
Topics covered will include Mechanics, Waves, Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, and
Light and Optics. The text and most labs will be digital. Extensive problem solving will be required.
Required Text/Books: The text will be the Kinetic book Conceptual Physics available at
kineticbooks.com. We will use the 1-year web access version (part 47606) currently $49.95 and 1-year
web access Virtual Physics Labs (part# 43141) currently $29.95. (teacher will coordinate for students)
Supplies/Equipment: Students must have access to a computer at home with web access. A laptop
that can be brought to class would be a bonus. Students must have a scientific calculator capable of trig
functions. Homework: Homework will require 4-5 hrs. or more per week and will consist of working
through the digital textbook, completing assigned homework problems, and completing lab write-ups.
Prerequisite: Algebra I Tuition: $180 Materials: $30 Instructor: Dr. Salli Wood MAXIMUM: 8
students
MIDDLE SCHOOL PHYSICAL SCIENCE 6-8th
(SCI200) Core-Curriculum, graded
Middle School Physical Science will cover physical science basics like force, motion, speed, velocity,