Corvallis Leadership Commonwealth
Scholar classes
Scholar classes are designed for ages 12+. We offer classes for practice, apprentice and self-directed scholars. With each phase students are developing skills and abilities which are independent from and ultimately of higher importance than the content of the class. Each phase builds on the previous phase. For further description of scholar ladders please see http://ifamilyleadershipacademy.org/about-us/scholar-ladders/ and for blogs on scholar ladders please see Kathy Mellor's five blogs https://libercommunities.com/why-lemi-scholar-projects-part-1/
Please consider training to mentor a scholar class! We are always looking for new mentors.
Please look under the Schedule tab to see our current class offerings, their price and times.
Shakespeare
PREREQUISITES: 12 Years and older
CONTENT: William Shakespeare and the Renaissance
Shakespeare is a Practice Scholar Project in the LEMI continuum. The objective of each Practice Scholar Project is to motivate the scholar to do the hard work of learning through: inspiring mentors, positive peer pressure, a culminating activity, outward motivations to choose (competitions and rewards), completing the project, and by planting seeds of determination to do hard work.
During the first semester, scholars become familiar with the challenging language of Shakespeare by studying a Shakespearean tragedy. The scholars will further be challenged to give an oral presentation on medieval life and history, watch or read at least 15 of Shakespeare’s plays, memorize a passage from a play, and participate in a Shakespeare Feast. The second semester focuses on actor training and implementing everything learned about language and human nature by preparing and performing in a Shakespeare comedy for performance in the spring. As all the hours of labor for the play are volunteer, families should be prepared to assist in some way to help make this a grand experience!
Key of Liberty
PREREQUISITES: 14 years and up
CONTENT: Colonial America and the Revolutionary War
Key of Liberty is a Practice Scholar Project in the LEMI continuum. As practice scholars begin their journey into the Revolutionary Era they take a look at what our lives would be like without freedom. They will delve into the lives of some of the founders and study original documents including the Mayflower Compact and The Declaration of Independence. In the second semester, scholars will do an in-depth document study of The Constitution of the United States of America. As they re-write the document in their own words, they will gain understanding and a greater love and respect for our nation. The culminating experience is a Constitution Bowl, where scholars compete in their knowledge of The Constitution. During this class, each scholar is challenged to earn awards by completing specific requirements.
Sword of Freedom
PREREQUISITES: 16 years and up
CONTENT: Civil War
Sword of Freedom is a semester-long, Transition-to-Apprentice Scholar Project on the LEMI continuum. This class studies the principles of freedom and the U.S. Constitution against the dramatic backdrop of the Civil War. It dares scholars to read challenging classics, to decide and discuss their opinions, to write a research paper about one of their heroes from the time period. We fight battles everyday, our principles and values are going to be tested. How and where do we find truth? Where we find truth determines on which side of the battle we find ourselves. Scholars will discover where their allegiance lies and explore ways it might be tested in the safe environments of simulations and discussions.
Quest 3
PREREQUISITES: 17 years and up
CONTENT: Worldviews, Jurisprudence, and Economics
Quest III challenges students to study different worldviews, comparing and contrasting how different people view the world. Students work on identifying their own worldview, and seeing where it is similar and different with others. Through this process students learn to better communicate with others who have differing points of view. Also, students study the 7 Habits, and see how to apply them more effectively in their lives. A study of principles of good government and jurisprudence is capped with an intense Supreme Court Simulation in which they learn to successfully write a technical law brief and present and support oral arguments to a panel of attorneys and judges. The final unit introduces the study of economics, macro, micro and schools of thought, and how economic policy impacts our nation.
Georgics
PREREQUISITES: Ability and maturity to participate and contribute to the level of a practice scholar.
CONTENT: Georgic Principles of Stewardship
NOTE: Taken in conjunction with The Marvels of Math
Georgics will provide an environment for scholars to begin to see the world around them from a bigger picture perspective and to begin to recognize the many connections between themselves and their choices. Students will begin to realize that they have control over many things in their lives and that taking this responsibility increases their personal freedom. The purpose of this project is not to present a comprehensive course in agriculture, but rather to provide an environment where the students will learn to be good stewards; feel and take responsibility for their choices; know and live the Georgic principles and gain the results of living them; feel self-validated as they know they can do hard things; lead by example; share what they have learned with others; have a homesteader vs squatter mentality.
The Marvels of Math
PREREQUISITES: 12 years and up
CONTENT: Basic mathematical concepts
NOTE: For kids ages 12-14, this is taken in conjunction with Georgics
NOTE: For kids ages 14 years and up, this is taken in conjunction with Classic Greek Writing Workshop and Colloquium
Marvels of Math will create a broad understanding of math by studying basic mathematical concepts through hands-on learning, encourage critical thinking skills, and discover significantly historical individuals who have influenced our world. Class will be spent discovering historically significant individuals who have influenced our understanding of math and applying concepts learned through hands-on experiments and art. Students will be encouraged to work individually and in group settings.
Classic Greek Writing Workshop and Colloquium
PREREQUISITES: 14 years and up, and ability to write with fluency
CONTENT: Classic writing and great books
NOTE: This is taken in conjunction with Marvels of Math
The first half of class will work on classic style writing with an emphasis on writing narratives and fables with a sprinkle of grammar. The second half of class will delve into great books and share and ponder great ideas. Students must read/listen to the books prior to class and come with questions and thoughts to share with the group. Students will be asked to keep a commonplace book.
Classes not offered this year
Pyramid (offered 2024-2025)
PREREQUISITES: 15 years and up
CONTENT: Mathematics and Habits of a Scientist
Pyramid project is a Transition to Apprentice Scholar Project on the LEMI Continuum. Scholars will learn how to think, not what to think. The four corners of the pyramid represent Logic and Reasoning, Truth, Habits of a Scientist, and Newtonian Mathematics. We are connecting mathematics and science to the world around them in a holistic way helping them to see their relevance. Developing the habit to log one’s study is emphasized as they learn to emulate Nathaniel Bowditch and his amazing self-education depicted in Carry on, Mr. Bowditch. We will learn how great scientists of all times learned to wonder, see patterns, and ask the right question. During the second semester, scholars will study the great philosophers of the past. They will delve into the sciences of Logic, Reasoning, Mathematics, and Geometry. Throughout the course there is a growth in the scholars’ ability to think logically and to measure things they encounter in the world against their core book (which may be scriptures or any other book that the scholar and their family uses as a foundation of truth). Scholars will read great classics, be introduced to many new ideas and views, develop the skill to test those ideas/views for truth, and develop the habits of a scientist.
Quest 1-2 (offered 2025-2026)
PREREQUISITES: 16 years and up
CONTENT: Leadership Principles, Public Speaking, and Writing
Students will study in-depth, leadership characteristics of certain prominent leaders chosen by mentors, and chosen by students. By studying the lives and events of these leaders, students will gain more knowledge of history, while learning certain characteristics that bring about effective leadership. Students will then apply principles learned to their own lives as they focus on certain traits monthly: Virtue, Wisdom, Diplomacy, Courage, Inspiring Greatness in Others, and Moving the Cause of Liberty. Through service projects, essays, and presentations, students will gain a greater knowledge on the value of living into these traits, and finding ways to influence others to live into these traits through writing and speaking. Blue book exams and oral exams will be administered to give students the ability to practice writing and speaking on the spot. A final research paper will be written and a mock TEDx talk presented on a topic of choice to give students an opportunity to find their voice and influence others.
