Discussion CoursesThe Online Academy is a place where students from across America meet to discuss history, literature, government, and economics. Our homeschoolers don’t sit through lectures. Instead, they develop arguments based on solid evidence and sound reasoning. We keep each of our courses to a maximum of 20 students to ensure that everyone gets a chance to participate in our Socratic discussions. And, we offer a writing component that runs in parallel to each of our live online classes.
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Check out this lesson from our Gov & Econ course:
We removed video feeds to protect student privacy.
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Online Homeschool History Classes
The Socratic discussion sits at the heart of our online homeschool history courses. Instead of telling students what to think, our teachers facilitate debate. Students leave our history courses equipped with critical thinking skills that help them navigate a complicated world.
In each of our history classes, students start by mastering our method, which teaches them to differentiate between fact and opinion, analyze primary sources, and present persuasive arguments. Then, they tackle open-ended questions that continue to inspire academic debate today. Here are a few of the questions found in our homeschool history curriculum:
We offer a writing supplement with each of our history classes, and writing students receive individualized feedback on persuasive essays that build on our discussions. While students must write at least one essay per month, our teacher will grade an unlimited amount of drafts for students. Our teacher is a freelance writer with over 11 years of experience writing for print and web publications.
Here’s a sample taken from our junior high American History debate on the following topic:
In each of our history classes, students start by mastering our method, which teaches them to differentiate between fact and opinion, analyze primary sources, and present persuasive arguments. Then, they tackle open-ended questions that continue to inspire academic debate today. Here are a few of the questions found in our homeschool history curriculum:
- What were the two most important reasons for the fall of Rome?
- Who held more political power in Medieval Europe: The Crown, or the Catholic Church?
- Compare and contrast Communism and Fascism. Which was worse?
We offer a writing supplement with each of our history classes, and writing students receive individualized feedback on persuasive essays that build on our discussions. While students must write at least one essay per month, our teacher will grade an unlimited amount of drafts for students. Our teacher is a freelance writer with over 11 years of experience writing for print and web publications.
Here’s a sample taken from our junior high American History debate on the following topic:
- Was Andrew Jackson a hero, or a villain?
We removed webcam videos to protect student privacy.
Each of our history courses meets once a week for 50 minutes. During our live online classes, our teacher clears up challenging sections of the reading before the students engage in discussion and debate. Our middle school history classes also use our history games, including our popular Go Fish! card deck, throughout the year.
We offer five history classes. They are:
If you're looking for our Government and Economics class, please scroll down to learn more.
We offer five history classes. They are:
- Middle School Ancient Civilizations
- Middle School Medieval Civilizations
- Middle School American History — The Story of Liberty
- High School World History
- High School American History
If you're looking for our Government and Economics class, please scroll down to learn more.
Online Literature Classes
Our online literature courses draw upon the same Socratic Method as our history classes. We offer two literature classes: one for middle school, and one for high school. In both, students read classic books and participate in open-ended discussions to develop a deeper understanding of big questions.
All of our literature students read one book a month, and classes meet on a monthly basis. Each of our live online classes has two parts:
Literature students who sign up for the writing supplement receive regular audio lessons with assignments that impart essential writing skills. Over the course of the school year, students learn to craft compelling introductions, structure their arguments clearly, and conclude essays with authority.
Check out this sample from one of our live online classes. In this lesson, middle-school students discuss Banner in the Sky, an award-winning mountain adventure novel:
All of our literature students read one book a month, and classes meet on a monthly basis. Each of our live online classes has two parts:
- During the first hour, students complete a systematic review of the book they’ve just read. The teacher plays an active role guiding students through the book to make sure that all the most important topics are covered.
- After a short break, students return to debate a discussion question that calls on them to analyze some aspect of the book in greater depth. The teacher facilitates the discussion by asking questions that help the students clarify their positions.
Literature students who sign up for the writing supplement receive regular audio lessons with assignments that impart essential writing skills. Over the course of the school year, students learn to craft compelling introductions, structure their arguments clearly, and conclude essays with authority.
Check out this sample from one of our live online classes. In this lesson, middle-school students discuss Banner in the Sky, an award-winning mountain adventure novel:
We removed webcam videos to protect student privacy.
Government and Economics Classes
Our government and economics classes are designed for high school students. Based on our American government homeschool curriculum, this course introduces students to the ideas that animate the US Constitution. It also teaches the foundations of economic analysis. As with our other courses, class sizes are kept small to ensure that each student can participate fully.
Because it is difficult to make sense of government policy without knowing how the market works, the first semester of this online course is devoted to economics. Classes explain how institutions like private property, prices, and interest rates coordinate economic activity in capitalist societies. Then, they tackle the economic problems posed by socialist and mixed economies.
Here are some of the Socratic discussion questions from our economics curriculum:
It's also worth noting that our economics textbook is available for free online! And as with our other courses, a writing supplement is available.
Once they have been equipped with the tools of economic analysis, students turn their attention to American government. Our curriculum begins by introducing the heritage of political thought that influenced the Founding Fathers. After tackling concepts like the rule of law and natural rights, students analyze the US Constitution. Then, they learn how the American government has developed over the centuries.
Here are some examples of the discussion questions from the government portion of this online home schooling course:
If you have any questions about our online homeschooling classes, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Because it is difficult to make sense of government policy without knowing how the market works, the first semester of this online course is devoted to economics. Classes explain how institutions like private property, prices, and interest rates coordinate economic activity in capitalist societies. Then, they tackle the economic problems posed by socialist and mixed economies.
Here are some of the Socratic discussion questions from our economics curriculum:
- What would happen if the government abolished monetary profit?
- What are the costs and benefits of the division of labor?
- Is the US in a debt crisis? If so, how should it be solved? If not, why not?
It's also worth noting that our economics textbook is available for free online! And as with our other courses, a writing supplement is available.
Once they have been equipped with the tools of economic analysis, students turn their attention to American government. Our curriculum begins by introducing the heritage of political thought that influenced the Founding Fathers. After tackling concepts like the rule of law and natural rights, students analyze the US Constitution. Then, they learn how the American government has developed over the centuries.
Here are some examples of the discussion questions from the government portion of this online home schooling course:
- Is the USA in a political crisis? If so, what is the source of this crisis?
- Which branch of the US Constitution is the strongest?
- How did Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s policies change the United States? Did these changes strengthen America, or weaken it?
If you have any questions about our online homeschooling classes, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Online Writing Classes for Homeschoolers
A writing supplement can be added on to each of our online courses. Our writing courses come in two flavors:
Our teacher, a freelance writer with over 11 years of experience, will grade an unlimited amount of assignments for each student.
- Writing in History: In the writing supplements to our history classes, students learn how to write persuasive essays. Feedback focuses on the strength of the arguments that students advance. Students must complete
- Writing in Literature: In the writing supplements to our literature courses, students learn how to write engaging essays. They listen to audio lessons on the elements of writing before completing assignments that help them compose interesting, high-quality articles.
Our teacher, a freelance writer with over 11 years of experience, will grade an unlimited amount of assignments for each student.
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