Teacher Assisted/Directed Program

The Teacher Assisted/Directed Program is a supplement to the Teacher Review Program. It is offered for most subjects for Grades 6-12 and runs from September 1st through May 31st. Students who sign up for courses in our Teacher Assisted/Directed Program receive support from one (or more) of our teachers.

Middle School and High School Courses

Students in middle school (6th–8th Grade) or high school (9th–12th Grade) work one-on-one with a teacher who will:

Discuss texts and assignments with the student by phone and/or e-mail.
Explain problem concepts and provide tips on how to improve work.
Set goals for the student based on his current stage of intellectual formation.
Provide deadlines for the student (if requested by the parent or student).
Review and grade all papers and selected additional assignments and provide feedback on the quality of the work.

Meet Richard B – Class of 2006

Richard graduated from Thomas Aquinas College in 2010. Richard will be pursuing his PhD in philosophy at Catholic University of America. Richard received the Quaster Scholarship (full tuition renewable for three years), a stipend (renewable for three years) and the Ryan Doctoral Fellowship (for 2014-2015 and renewable). He was also accepted by Boston College for an MA in philosophy, and was awarded a full tuition scholarship there, and he was accepted into the Doctoral Program at University of Dallas and awarded a full tuition scholarship, plus a stipend (renewable for the duration of the course of studies).

In the Teacher Assisted/Directed Program students work with a teacher in one or more academic courses (i.e. Religion, Math, English Grammar, Science, History & Literature, and Latin). In this program, we offer two levels of support: Assisted or Directed; students are welcome to take courses at either level or may take a mix of courses at each level. For more information on the differences between Assisted & Directed services, please see the chart below.

In late August the teacher contacts the student and parent. In this introductory phone call the teacher discusses with the parent their academic goals for the student, and schedules phone calls with the student on a weekly, twice monthly, or monthly basis (depending on the number and level of courses the student has signed up for).

During the school year the teacher and student have regular phone contact in which they discuss the student's recently completed, current and upcoming assignments. (Note: the student is responsible for making the phone calls.) The student also submits written assignments regularly to the teacher. For more information on the type and frequency of assignments submitted to the teacher, please see the chart below. The teacher reviews these assignments, grading them and providing feedback using Mother of Divine Grace School's subject rubrics, and returns them to the student in a timely manner. Since we are a mastery learning program, the student has the option of submitting drafts and/or re-writing papers. The teacher, taking into account the student's particular strengths and weaknesses, works in a step-by-step process to help him meet our academic goals. In addition to the regular phone calls, the student may also contact the teacher with additional questions by phone or e-mail.

Meet Nathan S – Class of 2009

Nathan is a junior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a major in Software Engineering and a minor in International Relations. He has been the choir director and pianist for the Catholic Student Union. Nathan is also on the Catholic Student Union Board and in the Pro-Life group. He participates in the Model United Nations and the Model Senate and recently received the highest award at the Model Senate competition playing the role of Senator Marco Rubio (in a competition against students from many universities). Nathan is a certified Scuba diving instructor and works part-time for two dive shops in Daytona Beach. He is also a TA for a computer class (Scientific Programming in C) at ERAU. He is in the process of building a 4 seat airplane – the Cozy Mark IV. Nathan received a National Merit Finalist award and $2500 National Merit Scholarship while in high school. He also received a Navy ROTC scholarship, but did not stay in the program due to a car accident injury. Nathan is an Eagle Scout.

Parents play a key role in the education of their children in the Teacher Assisted/Directed Program. The teacher is here to assist the parent and student and to help direct the student's course of studies. But the teacher does not replace the parent as the primary educator of their child. The parent continues to hold a vital role in the student's education, primarily with regard to the daily discussions. The parent also remains involved by overseeing the student's schedule, making sure the student is submitting work on time and making his scheduled phone calls.

Students in the Teacher Assisted/Directed Program are required to use Mother of Divine Grace School's recommended syllabi and books for the courses they are taking in this program. However, as necessary, our teachers and consultants can work together to adjust assignments within the course. We also do offer a limited number of 'Modified' courses within the Teacher Assisted/Directed Program. Students who sign up for 'Modified' courses can have their parents and consultant work together to create a course plan and assignments using substitute texts. 'Modified' courses must also be approved by the Director of the Teacher Assisted/Directed Program.

Generally students work with a single teacher in the Teacher Assisted/Directed Program. This is our preference. However, under certain circumstances, we may need to assign a student to more than one teacher.

The following chart provides a comparison of the Assisted and Directed services in the Teacher Assisted/Directed Program.

Courses	Assisted Level Services	Directed Level Services
All Courses	Teacher reviews upcoming written assignments in monthly phone calls.	Teacher reviews upcoming written assignments, but they are discussed in more detail as there are more phone calls (i.e. weekly or twice-monthly).
	Teacher sets goals in accordance with discussions with parent.	Teacher sets short term goals as well as long term goals in accordance with discussions with parent.
	Teacher gives deadlines for assignments if requested by parent or student.	Teacher gives deadlines for assignments if requested by parent or student.
	Teacher provides study guides for tests if requested by parent or student. Note: available only for some subjects.	Teacher provides study guides for tests if requested by parent or student. Note: available only for some subjects.

Writing Courses – Religion – History – Literature – Science (non-Wile)	Teacher corrects all papers and selected assignments (i.e. all tests and quizzes).	Teacher corrects all papers and selected assignments (i.e. all tests and quizzes). (Note: e-mail is most beneficial for this, as work will be discussed more frequently).
	Teacher reviews rough drafts if requested by parent or student.	Teacher reviews rough drafts, and provides additional assistance with writing and the implementation of method.
	Teacher provides guidance in book selection if requested by parent or student.	Teacher provides guidance in book selection if requested by parent or student.

Non-Writing Courses – Math – Latin – Grammar – Science (Wile)	Teacher corrects selected assignments (i.e. all tests and quizzes).	Teacher corrects selected assignments (i.e. test and quizzes) and corrects some additional assignments (i.e. select lessons, exercises, or study guides).
	Teacher may review additional assignments that have been corrected by the parent if necessary to help identify areas of weakness.	Teacher may review assignments that have been corrected by the parent if necessary to help identify areas of weakness. Teacher can discuss these more frequently.
	Teacher answers conceptual questions for the student.	Teacher provides proactive assistance in catching conceptual errors as additional work is submitted.

Grade School Overview

We are very excited to offer a new addition to our Teacher Assisted/Directed Program: an overview program for students in 3rd-6th Grade. Students in 3rd-6th Grade who sign up for our new Grade School TA/TD Overview submit key assignments from their grade level in Religion, Math, English, Science, History and Latin. The assignments are chosen from our standard courses within the 3rd-6th Grade Syllabi. Students in the overview program receive many of the same benefits listed above for middle school and high school courses. However, they do not have regular one-on-one phone calls with the teacher and the parent takes a more active role in setting and maintaining goals and deadlines. (Note: While we do not offer regular phone calls for 3rd-6th Grade courses, the parent may call or e-mail the teacher with questions as they arise during the month.) The teacher receives and grades student work, providing much of the same accountability described above. The teacher provides written feedback to the student and is available for questions from the parent, but the parent is responsible for teaching and addressing concepts with the student. (Please note: Students in the Overview Program may take a limited number of non-standard courses, but they may not submit these non standard assignments to their teacher for grading.)

For more information on this program please see the FAQ's. For information on our Registration and Course Fees, please see the Enrollment - Pricing Breakdown page.

“As the parents who have used Mother of Divine Grace materials for the past 15 years, we have come to believe that, beyond the quality of the academic courses, the greatest benefit of homeschooling with MODG has been the spiritual formation the children have received and the self-motivation they have learned. This belief has been especially confirmed by the experiences of the four of our children who have either graduated from or are still attending college…. We feel that the experience of taking charge of one’s own education would have been very difficult to replicate in a conventional school, though it is certainly possible. And while a good education in academic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic are possible in many situations, the ability to use MODG’s liberal arts curriculum in the context of a large family has contributed uniquely to our children’s spiritual formation. We are very proud of all their achievements, but what makes us proudest is their strong faith, the manner in which they conduct themselves, and the affection that they have for each other. Without that, we feel that any success the world offers is, in the end, meaningless.”

– Jacqueline L

homeschooling mother of six, enrolled since 1997