Q: In Writing and Composition classes, do teachers grade as well as give comments, or do parents assign the grade? A: For writing courses, the teacher provides feedback on papers and also offers suggested grades for final drafts, but final grades are at the discretion of the parent.
Q: Do students do some of the group projects, such as debates, which are listed in some of the Tapestry of Grace Year Plans? A: For discussion classes, teachers usually only cover the discussion scripts for each week-plan. While we do some debating in our classes as outlined in discussion scripts, we do not assign the larger group projects.
Q: What kinds of things do the teachers do to keep classes interesting? A: We use polls, debating, the whiteboard, PowerPoint presentations, short video clips, breakout rooms, etc. in class to promote creativity and participation. We also play games, such as a variant of Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit. The software used in online classes allows for both variety and interaction between teachers and students.
Q: Are the classes recorded for those who have an occasional absence? A: Yes, we record classes for students to watch when they are absent.
Q: Will you give completion certificates? A: No, we are not a degree-granting or legal-covering organization. Our purpose only includes aiding parents in teaching their children at home. However, parents can print an official grade report for each class their children attend.
Q: Will you require students to turn in answers for Accountability and Thinking Questions each week? A: No, students do not turn in Accountability and Thinking Questions each week.
Q: How are students in integrated discussion classes graded for their weekly work? A: All our integrated discussion classes are graded each week using the appropriate RHETORIC or DIALECTIC rubric to evaluate their discussion participation and mastery of the material. Since we value the use of Socratic discussion in our integrated classes, our approach to grading is tailored to encourage a vibrant discussion of the material.
Q: What is the difference between rhetoric and honors history and literature courses? A: Our rhetoric classes and honors classes meet together each week to discuss their studies, but honors students' independent work is more challenging. Our rhetoric students cover about 75% of what the Tapestry of Grace curriculum assigns, while honors students read 100% of Tapestry recommendations. In addition, when exams are given, honors students take a more aggressive exam, often writing an essay, in addition to the question portion of the exam.
In our literature classes, we take out a few books so we can spend a little more time on the more difficult reads. All students also do a few mini-presentations throughout the school year, in preparation for an independent analysis project and presentation at the end of the school year that is a bit of a final exam to see if they can put into practice everything they have been learning. There are two main differences for honors students. First, while rhetoric students analyze and do mini-presentations on works we have already read for class, honors students must read the works that we did not cover in class and then present them during their mini-presentations. In that way, they cover 100% of the Tapestry of Grace curriculum.
In our history classes, rhetoric students read about 75% of the books Tapestry of Grace recommends (generally, the core readings) and then supplement with short articles (much like the teacher notes in the curriculum) to fill in the gaps. Q: How do you handle absences? A: We understand that you are a homeschool family and desire flexibility in your schedule. We allow one absence per unit, with a total of four absences for the school year. We find that many students who travel take class right along with them and don’t miss any classes. A parent should contact the teacher to let her know when any absences will occur. If a student will be traveling for any length of time, please contact each teacher for further instruction.
Q: How does Lucerna Academy handle Global Tapestry of Grace Updates? A: Tapestry of Grace "Global Updates" primarily include updated pages from the Book Updates Charts. Lucerna uses the Global Updates for the following school year. For instance, if the Global Updates are released in January 2020, Lucerna will use them for books, assignments, etc. for the 2020 – 2021 school year.
Q: What should I do if I experience technical difficulty with StudyPlace or GatherPlace (GP7)? A: Live Chat support can help you with problems using the StudyPlace and GatherPlace (GP7) software. They do not work for the Lucerna Academy and can't help with assignments, finding documents, getting clarification on grades, etc. If you are in doubt about who to contact with your questions, please contact your teacher or theLucerna director first.
To get help with technical difficulty with StudyPlace or GatherPlace (GP7):
If you are already signed into StudyPlace, you can also click on the "help" icon on the desktop to initiate a live chat conversation with support.
Live Chat support is conveniently accessible all day (except during school breaks). Please note that they do not offer tech support by phone. Instead they use an application that allows them to see your screen (with your permission) and walk through things with you. After hours and during weekends and school breaks, the Live Chat icon converts to an email icon.