Mark Twain famously said of teenagers, “When a boy turns 13, put him in a barrel and feed him through a knot hole. When he turns 16, plug up the hole.”
At Scholé Academy, we prefer to respond to the teenage years as Dorothy Sayers advised in her famous “Lost Tools of Learning” essay:
It will, doubtless, be objected that to encourage young persons at the Pert age [middle school] to browbeat, correct, and argue with their elders will render them perfectly intolerable. My answer is that children of that age are intolerable anyhow; and that their natural argumentativeness may just as well be canalized to good purpose as allowed to run away into the sands.
Here, we have worked to devise some “good purposes” to which middle-school students (target grades 6–9) can attend. We have a host of courses where young teens can build arguments, spot fallacies, hone their wits, and develop their loves! Logic, Latin, maths, sciences, history, literature, fine and common arts, coding, and a host of languages and electives mean that middle school students have plenty to keep their minds engaged, their hands purposefully busy, and their hearts tuned.
The voice of another adult in your child’s life, guiding her through a mathematical proof, helping him form a well-constructed essay, fueling his passion for woodworking, or teaching her a brand new language are some of the many reasons our courses may be a beautiful missing piece in your child’s education.
We invite you to learn more about what’s available by clicking/tapping on any of the course links below.
Your child is welcome in our online, classical Christian middle school classes!
Houses of Studies
Aquinas (Catholic)
Canterbury (Anglican)
St. Raphael (Orthodox)
New Course
Courses with a logo are taught according to a distinct Christian tradition. Courses without a logo are conducted according to the shared beliefs of the Nicene Creed.
Middle- / Upper-School Class Periods
8:00–9:15 (ET)
9:30–10:45
11:00–12:15
12:30–1:45
2:00–3:15
3:30–4:45
5:00–6:15
Houses of Studies
Aquinas (Catholic) Canterbury (Anglican) St. Raphael (Orthodox)
New Course
Courses with a logo are taught according to a distinct Christian tradition. Courses without a logo are conducted according to the shared beliefs of the Nicene Creed.
Middle- / Upper-School Class Periods
8:00–9:15 (ET)
9:30–10:45
11:00–12:15
12:30–1:45
2:00–3:15
3:30–4:45
5:00–6:15
Language Arts
Logic | Rhetoric
Humanities Bundles for Middle Grades
Each course can be purchased a la carte. Bundle discounts apply to the matching pairs below.
Ancients Bundle
Classical Bundle
Medieval Bundle
Modern Bundle
History | Literature Singles
Integrated Liberal Arts
Workshops
Mathematics
Programming
Special Interest
7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens & the Orthodox Mindset for Life | Fall
7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens & the Orthodox Mindset for Life | Spring
Entrepreneurship Workshop | Fall
Faithful Stewardship: A Christian Guide to Personal Finance and Investments
Ladylike: Learning to be Ladies of Virtue | Spring
Middle School Scholarship Skills Workshop | Fall
Middle School Scholarship Skills Workshop | Spring
Rooted in Christ: An Orthodox Seminar for Young Men
Wellness and Nutrition: Foundations for Healthy Habits | Fall
Arts | Fall
Common Arts
Fine Arts
Classic Children's Book Illustration | Fall
Comics and Graphic Narrative Art | Fall
Fundamentals of Painting | Fall
Intermediate Portraiture | Fall
Intro to Art: Dry Media and Acrylic | Fall
Introduction to Drawing with Grayscale | Fall
Introduction to Geometry in Traditional Art | Fall
Latin | French | ASL
Greek
Protestant Studies
Catholic Studies
Orthodox Studies
Why Choose Classical Christian Education for Your Middle School Student
Each student builds a portrait of themself, comprised of knowledge, experiences, faith, talents, and skills. These are the essential layers in the academic portrait of a child. It is essential, then, that every student be given an opportunity to learn in well-crafted courses, guided by master teachers, rich with engaging pedagogy and opportunities for growth. This is the nature of classical Christian education for the middle-school student.
In contrast to an education that is narrowly utilitarian, classical Christian education understands education to be life formation. Respecting and engaging the child as a whole and unique person with an eternal soul is the starting point; growth in virtue is the aim; and attending to developmental stages is the method. Far from abandoning pragmatic usefulness, this educational approach is what has made classical education so very effective. It is the form of education that has produced countless great leaders, inventors, scientists, writers, philosophers, theologians, physicians, lawyers, artists, and musicians over the centuries.
Why Homeschooling Families Choose Our Online Middle School Classes
At Scholé Academy, we have carefully considered the nature of young teens in the context of how we should engage our contemporary culture as believers in Christ (John 14:6). We think it is important to provide middle school students with tools and opportunities for practicing and honing critical skills, examining various cultural trends, analyzing ideas, and expressing ideas graciously, through the lens of orthodox, Christian beliefs. Homeschool families choose our online middle school classes as a welcoming, interpersonal format for developing important dimensions of their child’s whole life self-portrait.
Begin Your Classical Education Journey with Us Today
Classical education is a place your middle schooler can be at home. Thrilling reading, intriguing concepts, funny connections, and the development of good habits are built into the classical education journey with us. Whether you are a seasoned homeschooler, or whether you are just beginning, your family will find our courses meaningful, joy-filled, and supremely helpful.