The American Academy

In this course, students will explore the world of marketing, advertising and promotion. Learners will demonstrate an understanding of different forms of media and how each can be exploited to reach an intended audience; discuss the importance of branding and consumer psychology; and evaluate careers available in the advertising and promotion industries.

Students in Elementary Algebra will learn algebra as a style of thinking for formalizing patterns, functions, and generalizations. In this course, students will expand previously learned quantitative rational number relationships to include the irrational numbers.

This course offers a slower progression through the material and addresses the second half of a traditional Algebra 1 course. This option allows students to spend more time working with teachers and exercises as they solidify this basic skill set in preparation for success in higher level math courses.

In this course, students will build upon the knowledge previously learned in Algebra I and Geometry, expanding their ability to understand, perform operations and solve problems with real numbers. Students will focus on the importance of linear relations; develop fluency with the language and operations of algebra to analyze and represent relationships; and perform exercises in statistics and statistical methods to solve problems.

In this course, students will examine how works of art are created; evaluate classic examples of artwork within their historical context; and learn to effectively analyze, criticize and evaluate works of art.

In this course, students will study the ways in which ecosystems are shaped by interactions among living organisms and their physical environment. The class will emphasize the states of change and balance that are constantly at force on the environment and will study the role humans and other organisms play in impacting those states. Units will include an exploration of the composition of organisms; the relationship between organs and organ systems; and the role of DNA in reproduction and genetic expression.

In this course, students will study the branch of mathematics that deals with rates of change in continuous and varying quantities. The class will include exercises in the graphical, numerical, analytical and verbal representation of functions; derivative rates of change and the use of derivatives to solve a variety of problems; and derivative and definite integrals as expressed in both parts of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Students will communicate mathematical solutions both orally and with the written word; use technology to help solve problems, interpret results, and verify conclusions; and determine the reasonableness of solutions.

In this course, students will study matter on Earth and the periodic table of elements, including the relationship that exists between chemical behavior and the structure of atoms. The class will include units on the periodic table, the emission of high-energy particles resulting from nuclear changes, chemical bonding, chemical reactions and dynamic equilibrium.

In this course, students will establish a working knowledge of computers, develop proper keyboarding technique and apply document processing skills. Class participants will create and manipulate spreadsheets; discuss and demonstrate an understanding of ethics related to computer technology and access, evaluate and utilize on-line information resources. The class will culminate with a cross curricular presentation using acquired document processing, spreadsheet, and electronic presentation skills.

In this course, students will learn to understand and control a digital camera and employ it as a tool for a variety of situations; construct photographs by manipulating media and organizing the elements of an image; and effectively analyze, criticize and evaluate images created by others.

In this course, students will study economic problems and the methods by which societies solve them. Lessons will focus on the characteristics of the market economy of the United States and its function in the world. Students will apply a geographical view of economics; study the economic impact of current or historical forces for change and analyze the ways in which societies organize available resources for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services for the "public good."

In this class, students will focus on developing skills for analysis and interpretation of texts that include multiple ideas and perspectives. Writing exercises will stress synthesis and conclusion-making skills, as well as developing experience with the editing process.

In this course, students will focus on vocabulary development, comparing connotation with denotation and identifying word meanings using sentence structure. Reading instruction will stress inference; analysis of interesting and important information; character development and complex figurative language in narrative literature and poetry. Writing exercises will emphasize the comparison of multiple ideas and perspectives. Students will further develop skills in analytical evaluation and assessment of writing, including a study of the editing process and the evaluation of source materials.

In this course, students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to self-assess, create, conduct and evaluate personal fitness programs. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationships of movement, fitness and nutrition for the performance of fitness activities and exhibit personal and social behaviors appropriate for physical activity settings.

In this course, students will study how food is used to fuel human performance. Students will discuss the principles of food microbiology and chemistry; study the basics of nutrition and apply their developing knowledge to the creation of food products.

In the first section of this course, students will learn to engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions in written and oral French. Learners will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices, products and perspectives of French-speaking cultures and learn to use French within and beyond the school setting, using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment. In the second section of the course, students with develop a more complex relationship with the language, developing distinctive viewpoints that are only available through an understanding of French and French-speaking cultures.

In this course, students will explore geometry through inductive and deductive processes, technology, constructions, manipulatives and algebraic connections. Students will develop the structure of Euclidean geometry logically and apply the resulting theorems, proofs and formulas to address meaningful problems. Students will use experimentation and inductive reasoning to construct geometric concepts, discover geometric relationships and formulate conjectures. Students will employ deductive logic to construct formal logical arguments and proofs.

In this course, students will develop an understanding of patterns of behavior that impact human health, with emphasis on the importance of balancing physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual needs to achieve greater well-being. The class will stress the connection between healthy lifestyles and active, productive and successful lives.

In this course, students will investigate the process of scientific inquiry through the study of the human organism. The class will include units on the skeletal, muscular, respiratory, reproductive, immune, circulatory and nervous systems. Students will identify the structure and function of each part of each system, gaining a rich understanding of how the systems interact to permit human beings to function.

In this course, students will review the technical and ethical dimensions of journalism, including fundamentals of communication, types of journalistic communication and the role of the American free press. Students will engaged in current affairs through a variety of media and will practice the identification, collection and dissemination of news products.

In the first section of this course, students will become acquainted with the Latin language and its connections to many of its daughter languages. In the second section, students will increase their understanding of the language and further develop written and oral fluency. In the third section, students will further develop their written and oral command of the language and study the contributions Latin has made to today’s spoken languages and the use of Latin as a tool for learning and understanding modern languages.

In this class, students will explore the use of their bodies, voice and instruments as means of musical expression; improvise and compose music; and expand their listening skills and vocabulary to analyze and evaluate music.

In this course, students will focus on preparing for the college, technical training and careers through the development of cover letters, resumes, applications and interview skills. Students will further complete a portfolio of work samples demonstrating their talents, competencies and professionalism.

In this course, students will expand their knowledge of quadratic, exponential and logarithmic functions to include power, polynomial, rational, piece-wise and trigonometric functions. Students will investigate and explore mathematical ideas, develop multiple strategies for analyzing complex situations and use graphing calculators and mathematical software to build understanding and solve problems.

In this course, students will learn about the role that human attitudes, values and behaviors have on promoting health and safety, learning skills, work productivity, child and adolescent development, and human effectiveness. Lessons will include the psychological roots of crime and violence, poverty and prejudice, environmental and consumer issues. Students will gain an understanding of the complexities of human thought and behavior, the factors related to the differences between people and the scientific methods that are at the core of the discipline. In lessons and exercises, students will directly apply knowledge gained to their daily lives.

In this course, students will learn to engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions in written and oral Spanish. Learners will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices, products and perspectives of Hispanic cultures and learn to use Spanish within and beyond the school setting, using the language for personal enjoyment and enrichment.

In this course, students will study a variety of genres of sports literature and develop an appreciation of expressive language, communication skills and the importance of culture and context to each work. Students will write analytical and personal essays; create works of sports journalism; compose short stories; and construct poetry related to the world of athletics. The class will emphasize literary analysis and criticism, historical commentary, political statements, and culturally and historically significant literary works.

This course was developed in conjunction with the SUCCESS Foundation. SUCCESS for Teens uses real teens telling real stories to help their peers learn to use the Slight Edge principles in their own lives. Teens develop strong goal setting skills, perseverance and learn to understand that the circumstances of their lives do not dictate who they are. This is a great feel good course for students just getting started in online learning and anyone learning to manage life's challenges.

In this course, students will learn to understand and cope with personal, family and social challenges common during transitionary teenage years, with an emphasis on communication, decision-making skills and building stable relationships with family and peers. Students will identify and recognize personal communication styles and discuss the importance of quality communication skills as they relate to issues that impact teenagers, including self- concept, substance abuse, personal loss, dating, pregnancy and child abuse.

In this course, students will study the role of investigate the relationship between events of different time periods in American history; beginning with an exploration of the nation’s pre-reconstruction period. Learners will further study the significance of the American Revolution in the industrial development of the United States; understand the structure and function of the United States government established by the Constitution; explore the territorial growth of the United States before the Civil War; examine the expansion of the political system and social rights before the Civil War; and understand the significance of the Civil War Era to the United States.

In this course, students will investigate the interrelationships, over time, of the world's peoples, including the impact of “colliding” areas of the world and the political, economic, social, philosophical, religious, scientific, technological and artistic contributions of many of the world’s most influential civilizations. Units of study will include ancient and classical civilizations; the Middle Ages; the ages of revolution, imperialism and industrialism; and the modern world.

In this course, students will explore the fundamentals of Navajo government, including an investigation of how the system is similar and different from other democratic systems and the role of history and culture of the formation of the government. Students will study the impact of American history on the Navajo nation, explore the concept of having one nation exist within another and investigate the ways in which tradition impacts governance.