Throughout 27 Years Leading Up to 2025-2026:
- Jill Dixon's Homeschooling Journey: Jill J. Dixon homeschools her four children from pre-K through high school, with three graduating college. This experience informs the foundation of EAL.
- Jill Dixon's Educational Career: Jill J. Dixon gains over four decades of experience in public and private education, including working with students with learning disabilities.
- Jill Dixon Develops Educational Materials: Jill J. Dixon authors and publishes numerous educational guides, diagnostic tests, learning styles assessments, a college and career guide, and bestselling curricula in vocabulary, writing, and literature. Key publications mentioned include:
- 1997: The Diagnostic Prescriptive Assessment – Revised Editions for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade
- 1998: The Concise Learning Styles Assessment; The Total Language Diagnostic Assessment with Answer Key (Kindergarten through Fifth Grade); The Total Language Diagnostic Assessment with Remedial Strategies and Answer Key (Kindergarten through Fifth Grade); Twenty Easy, Proven and Effective Ways to Raise Your Child’s IQ
- 1999: The Diagnostic Grade Placement Screening (Kindergarten through Eighth Grade); The Homeschooler’s Guide To Attentional Difficulties – Practical Tips For Daily Success
- 2000: Roots and Fruits – A Comprehensive Vocabulary Curriculum (Grades K through 12)
- 2001: The Homeschooler’s Guide For Learning Problems – Practical Tips For Daily Success; WRITE WITH THE BEST Vol. 1 – Modeling Writing after Great Works of World Literature (Grades 3-12)
- 2003: WRITE WITH THE BEST Vol. 2 – Modeling Writing after Great Authors of World Literature (Grades 6-12); POC4U Your Child’s Unique Learning Preferences Matched with the Specific Curricula to Ensure Homeschooling Success (Second Edition in 2005, Third Edition in 2006)
- 2006: The Complete Career, College, and High School Guide for Homeschoolers – Includes Middle School through Adult
- 2012: Roots and Fruits – Upgraded – A Comprehensive Vocabulary Curriculum (Grades K through 12); Write Your Own Autobiography; Read with the Best – American Literature – Vol. 1 Student Workbook; Read with the Best – American Literature – Vol. 1 Teacher’s Edition
- 2014: Read with the Best – American Literature – Vol. 2 Student Workbook; Read with the Best – American Literature – Vol. 2 Teacher’s Edition
- 2015: Read with the Best – British Literature Student Workbook; Read with the Best – British Literature Teacher’s Edition
- 2017: Read with the Best For the Middle Grades -The Ancient World Student Workbook; Read with the Best For the Middle Grades -The Ancient World Teacher’s Edition; TIME RIMES – THE ANCIENT WORLD
- 2020: Read with the Best For the Middle Grades -The Medieval World Student Workbook; Read with the Best For the Middle Grades -The Medieval World Teacher’s Edition; TIME RIMES – THE MEDIEVAL WORLD
- 2022: Read with the Best For the Middle Grades – American I Student Workbook; Read with the Best For the Middle Grades – American I Teacher’s Edition; TIME RIMES – American I
- 2023: Read with the Best For the Middle Grades – American II Student Workbook; Read with the Best For the Middle Grades – American II Teacher’s Edition; TIME RIMES – American II
- 1997: Jill J. Dixon establishes The Eclectic Academy of Learning (EAL) in Savannah, GA, to serve the local homeschooling community.
- Over 26 Years Leading Up to 2025-2026: EAL's curriculum is meticulously refined by Jill Dixon. Approximately 700 students across grades K-12 are served.
- Ongoing: EAL develops a four-year curriculum rotation cycle covering Ancient History, Medieval History, American History I, and American History II.
- Ongoing: EAL offers accreditation services for local high schoolers in the Savannah area.
- Ongoing: EAL students successfully transition to and from public/private school settings.
- Ongoing: EAL high school students who complete the four-year curriculum demonstrate readiness for AP and CLEP exams.
- Ongoing: EAL incorporates various educational philosophies, including Classical, Unit Studies, Charlotte Mason, Multi-Intelligence/Learning Styles Theory, Traditional Textbooks, and Core Knowledge-selected-revised/Cultural Literacy.
- Prior to 2025-2026 School Year: EAL expands beyond the Savannah, GA campus to include locations in Rincon, GA, Richmond Hill, GA, Tucker, GA, and Mesquite, TX.
- Prior to 2025-2026 School Year: EAL establishes the Alphabet Scouts and Adventurers program for ages three, four, and five.
- Prior to 2025-2026 School Year: Directors are appointed for the various EAL campuses.
- Prior to 2025-2026 School Year: EAL develops a program to recruit and support new Directors.
Preparation for the 2025-2026 School Year:
- Prior to the start of classes: Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open and applications are being accepted at the Savannah, Rincon, Richmond Hill, Tucker (GA), and Mesquite (TX) campuses.
- Prior to the start of classes: Students must pay the annual non-refundable registration fee ($125.00 per student, varies by campus and class for Alphabet Scouts) and the annual non-refundable coursepacks fee ($110.00 per student for all campuses, except for Alphabet Scouts where CP fees are included in monthly tuition). Teachers/Helpers pay for coursepacks but not registration.
- Prior to the coursepacks order date: The $110.00 coursepacks fee must be paid in full.
- At the beginning of each semester (twice per year): Coursepacks are issued in class.
- Prior to attending class: Annual registration forms and paid fees must be completed.
- Before classes begin: A pre-attendance payment combining the registration and coursepacks fees is due ($235.00 for the Savannah campus).
- Throughout the preparation period: Directors for each campus are the primary contact for registration, fee details, and class information.
- Ongoing: Families are reminded to ensure their director has a working email address for critical updates.
- Anticipated for the 2025-2026 School Year: Potential announcement of Math classes for Grades 1-12 at the Savannah campus.
During the 2025-2026 School Year: The Medieval World
- The School Year Commences: Jill Dixon's Eclectic Academy of Learning begins its 28th year, focusing on "The Medieval World."
- Weekly (for 35 weeks):Classes for Grades K5-12 meet one day a week for 5.5 hours (drop-off program).
- Students receive hands-on instruction, participate in games, activities, drama, speech, and art.
- Students receive a course pack of work to complete at home.
- Weekly evaluations and grades are provided for students in grades 4-12.
- Elocution exercises, games, and special projects are conducted weekly.
- Students in grades 8-12 participate in weekly SAT/ACT activities.
- Weekly (at home): Students complete detailed and structured assignments for the other four days of school, with varying levels of parent assistance needed based on grade level.
- Weekly (in Explorers class, K-3): Students listen to read-alouds, review phonograms/word families, do vocabulary/root games, take spelling tests, participate in Reader's Theatre, review grammar, and read writing assignments aloud. They also complete/recite/act out Time Rimes, go over Geography songs/map skills, listen to Literature/History read-alouds, answer comprehension questions, and complete history-related art activities.
- Weekly (at home for Explorers): Students complete vocabulary worksheets, listen to read-alouds from parents, read/listen to Literature/History books and complete comprehension sheets, complete their own phonics, phonics word family worksheets, grammar worksheets (if appropriate), writing assignments, and handwriting/spelling programs. They also cut out timeline figures, read Time Rimes, listen to chapters from The Story of the World, and complete Geography map activities/practice songs.
- Weekly (for grades 4-12): Students learn about history, writing (including 16+ genres and research papers), critical thinking skills, vocabulary (including Greek and Latin roots), speech and oratory skills, English grammar and usage, editing and proofreading skills, literary analysis/critical reading, literature (American, British, World), Bible history (Year 1), Philosophy (Year 1), study skills, geography, government (Years 3 and 4), drama, art and art history, map skills, research skills, ACT/SAT Verbal preparation, and AP/CLEP Exam preparation.
- Weekly (in the Savannah Campus):EAL four-year rotation classes meet every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
- Guided EAL Study Hall (optional) for K-12 is offered on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Zoology classes for Grades 1-3 (9:30-11:00 a.m.) and Grades 4-7 (11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) are offered on Thursdays.
- Spanish I (Grades 7-12), Spanish II (Grades 9-12), and Chemistry (Grades 8-12) may be offered on Thursdays.
- Monthly: Tuition is due, with varying costs based on grade level and a $10 discount per student for families with multiple paying students. An additional $45.00 per month is charged for high school accreditation services in the Savannah area.
- Throughout the year: Students are immersed in the Medieval World curriculum through engaging literature, interactive history lessons (including cooking and dance), and theatrical plays.
- Throughout the year: History Festivals are held, including plays, dancing, and period cuisine.
- Throughout the year: High school students earn approximately 4-5 credits per year.
- Ongoing: Directors at individual campuses may make adaptations for special needs students.
- Throughout the year: Students build community and friendships.
- Throughout the year: Parents have the opportunity to run errands or have time to themselves while students are in class.
