Welcome!
Teach to the Text offers live, asynchronous, and independent study courses for homeschooled students and lifelong learners, with a special focus on high school composition and classical literature. Most writing courses are secular, while most literature courses are taught from a Christian worldview, grounded in the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Your Teacher
Ellen Finnigan has been teaching writing online to homeschooled students since 2008. She taught at St. John Bosco, a hybrid school in Atlanta, from 2012-13 before teaching in the high school English and Literature department for nine years at Kolbe Academy Online, a classical school for homeschoolers. In 2022, she founded Teach to the Text to promote contemplative learning. She holds a B.A. in English from Boston College and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. Her writing has been published in a variety of venues, both online and in print.
WWW.TEACHTOTHETEXT.COM
WWW.ELLENFINNIGAN.COM
Questions? Email me at:
These unique, 2-in-1, live courses combine "college prep" level writing instruction with an in-depth study of classical literature for a totally epic experience!
Open to: students in 9th-12th grade
FREE DOWNLOAD
Compare the two flagship courses and see everything at a glance.
We frequently add new courses and offerings. Please subscribe to the newsletter to stay updated!
This camp will help your student take his or her essays to new heights! It's also a great way to test the waters if you're considering enrolling your child in a flagship course.
Recommended for: 7th grade and up
(Ms. Finnigan may recommend that younger students repeat the first course for extra practice with the fundamentals, rather than going through both courses included in the camp.)
These self-paced courses come with: a hard copy Study Guide written by Ms. Finnigan, video lectures, quizzes, and office hours. Go at your own pace. Feel free to stop in to office hours to ask questions or to discuss the book with Ms. Finnigan. The Study Guide encourages close reading and reflection, and helps with literary analysis. It also includes writing prompts, enrichment suggestions, and project ideas. No grading is included with your purchase (other than the quizzes, which are graded automatically).
Recommended for: ages 14 and up
Let's Read The Iliad!
Available Now
The Iliad is the natural starting place for a classical course of study, as it is the first story we have in Western civilization, dating to around 850 B.C.
Ages 14 and up
Taught by Ms. Finnigan
Let's Read The Odyssey!
COMING SOON
Greek warrior and King of Ithaca must battle strange creatures, the elements, and his own nature on his journey home from the Trojan War. The he must set things right in his kingdom.
Ages 14 and up
Taught by Ms. Finnigan
Let's Read Agamemnon!
COMING SOON
Aeschylus, "The Father of Tragedy," explores ideas of justice in this play about a king's return from the Trojan War and the ugly fate that awaited him.
Ages 14 and up
Taught by Ms. Finnigan
Courses Starting Second Semester
Exact times and dates TBD. Email Teach to the Text to be put on the waitlist. There's no commitment but families on the wait list will be able to provide input about the best dates and times that would work for them!
