Nature Study
Required Materials:
Books and supplies are not included in the purchase of the course.
For Sections with Mrs. Brenda Tchoundjo
- Nature notebook, preferably one that lays flat and has paper thick enough to withstand liquid
- A set of watercolors
- A paint brush that has a fine point no larger than a size 6
- Such as Pentel Aquash Waterbrushes
- Pencil, erasable pens, colored pencils, double sided tape or glue stick
- Field guides
- Local guides will be most helpful if you can find them. Books are helpful for in-depth reference at home, but impractical to carry very many with you walk. Laminated folding guides are lightweight, indestructible and helpful for quick reference. Search Sibley's Folding Guides for your area such as Peterson Field Guides on YouTube
-
Optional:
- A jeweler's loupe is an excellent lightweight lens you can carry with you for a closer look.
- Magnifying glass
- Journaling A Year In Nature
- ISBN: 9781616342838
- Brush Drawing Basic Course
- ISBN: 9781616345938
For Sections with Mrs. Madison Johnston
- Details coming soon!
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Brenda Tchoundjo
[email protected]Brenda Tchoundjo holds a Master’s in Teaching and Learning with Technology (MATLT) from Ashford University and is certified in Teaching English as a Second Language. With a rich background spanning child development centers, community colleges, military programs, and homeschool co-ops, Brenda brings a dynamic, learner-centered approach to education.
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability—tailoring instruction to diverse learning styles and neurodivergent needs including autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Brenda’s experience with Department of Defense Dependent Schools and US Army Child and Youth Services has equipped her with a versatile toolkit of pedagogical strategies.
Her oldest daughter graduated from a classical school and is currently attending college, having earned Summa Cum Laude and Rhetorician of her class. Currently homeschooling her two sons, Brenda was introduced to Scholé Academy through The Center for Students with Learning Differences (CSLD), where the care her family received in differentiated instruction made her a lover of classical education. She soon became a tutor herself, deepening her secular knowledge of education with the rich and layered approach of a classical Christian education. Brenda began teaching corporate book club, writing and nature science classes in 2025.
Outside the classroom, Brenda finds joy in arts and crafts, reading historical fiction, nature walks with her family and toy poodle, church attendance with her family, women’s Bible study, homeschooling co-op and community events, and supporting her husband’s military career.
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Madison Johnston
[email protected]Madison Johnston holds a B.A. in History from Texas A&M University and an M.A. in Humanities with a concentration in classical education from the University of Dallas. While pursuing her classical education studies at the University of Dallas, Madison taught at Hillsdale-affiliated B.C.S.I (Barney Charter School Initiative) establishments in Dallas and Frisco, Texas.
After teaching at the B.C.S.I. schools, Madison became a humanities instructor at a micro-school called Scholaris Academy (Dallas, Texas), teaching Western Civilization, American History, and Medieval History to students ranging from ages 6-14 years old. She has worked as a private tutor to instruct students in reading, writing, arithmetic, and executive function.
In 2023, Madison moved with her husband to Oklahoma where she put her knowledge and experience as an educator and tutor to work as a grammar school teacher in south OKC.
Mrs. Johnston is trained and specializes in multi-sensory approach to instruction. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, walking their dog, and reading books.
Quarter 1
Sections with Brenda Tchoundjo
- Autumn
- Book: Burgess Bird Book Gutenberg.org
- Finding Direction without a Compass, What Tree Is It? Preserving Leaves, Autumn Leaf Color, How to Make Leaf Rubbings ,Why Do Leaves Change Colors?
Quarter 2
Sections with Brenda Tchoundjo
- Winter
- Project Gutenberg books: D’aulaire’s Greek Myths about the night sky
- Moon phases, Ursa Major and the Big Dipper, Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and Polaris, Big Dipper, Polaris, and Cassiopeia, Orion, Taurus, and the Pleiades
Quarter 3
Sections with Brenda Tchoundjo
- Spring
- Spring poetry provided by instructor
- Bird Beaks, Bird Feathers, Learn Bird Songs Flower Parts Diagram, Cloud Types, The Water Cycle, Learn to Draw Flowers, Press Flowers to Preserve Them Step-by-step, Guide to the Life Cycle of a Flower, Webs and spiders
Quarter 4
Sections with Brenda Tchoundjo
- Summer
- Storybook of Science excerpts from Gutenberg.org
- Ants, bees, beach/sand, birds, butterflies, clouds, creeks, dragonflies, fireflies, frogs and toads, lacewings (one of my favorite insects), lakes, marine life, moths, nests, night sky/stars, pond life, rivers, summer tree study, turtles, wildflowers
Computer: You will
need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better
on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8,
7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an
iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much
better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer.
Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain
features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation,
which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
High-Speed Internet Connection:
You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet
cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal
use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection
with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
Webcam: You may
use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations:
Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
Headset: We recommend
using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the
level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
Zoom: We use a web
conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to
gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy
to use. 
To
download Zoom:
- Visit zoom.us/download.
- Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
- Open and run the installer on your computer.
- In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
Scanner: In this
class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks.
Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.
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First, read the available course descriptions, noting prerequisites, target grades, and course objectives. If you think your student is prepared for the course, go ahead and register. After registration, a placement assessment may be provided to students, depending on the course and the student's previous enrollment with Scholé Academy. Registration is finalized when the student's placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.
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Read the Student-Parent Handbook.
Please take careful note of our teaching philosophy, our technology requirements, our school policies, the parent agreement, and the distinctions between our grade levels.
Double-check the course section dates and times.
Make sure they don't conflict with other activities in your schedule or other courses you are purchasing. Our system will not catch double-bookings!
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Our Assistant to the Principal will be in touch with you after your enrollment to help you with next steps, including any placement evaluations that may be required for your course selections.
This registration will be finalized when the student's placement assessment has been returned by the course instructor with placement confirmation.