For many families seeking a truly rigorous and inspiring language arts experience, the Michael Clay Thompson curriculum has become a trusted choice year after year. With Royal Fireworks Online Learning, students have a rare opportunity to study that curriculum in a live setting. Our MCT online courses bring the full depth and beauty of the curriculum to life through guided instruction, discussion, and expert teaching.

Most exciting of all, this is the only opportunity for students to study directly with Michael Clay Thompson himself. Michael teaches select live courses each year, allowing students to learn from the creator of the curriculum and experience firsthand the insight, humor, and intellectual depth that have made his work beloved by families and teachers around the world.

Families consistently give rave reviews to the live courses. Students appreciate the lively discussions and intellectual challenge, while parents value the clarity and structure that help students grow as readers, writers, and thinkers.

Courses are available for students from third grade through college-prep high school. This means that a child can learn language arts with Michael for ten years and can develop a significant personal relationship with him during that time. (Check out this helpful video to find out which level your child should begin at.)

Flexible scheduling makes participation easy. Multiple class times are available for several of the levels, and every session is recorded so that students can review lessons or catch up if they miss a class. Whether students attend the live sessions every week or occasionally rely on recordings, they receive the full benefit of expert instruction.

• Study grammar, vocabulary, literature, writing, and poetics through the full MCT curriculum.
• Learn directly from Michael Clay Thompson in select live classes, including two that go beyond the curriculum.
• Participate in rigorous, discussion-based classes that encourage deep thinking about language.
• Choose from multiple class meeting options for several of the courses to fit your schedule.
• Benefit from class recordings for review or missed sessions.
• Learn alongside motivated students from across the country and around the world.
• Build advanced reading, writing, and analytical skills through a proven curriculum.

The MCT curriculum itself has a long record of success. A study published in the Roeper Review found that sixth-grade students using The Word Within the Word performed at the level of eighth graders on vocabulary recall, closing a two-grade gap in a single school year.*

• 9× First Place Practical Homeschooling Reader Awards for MCT Language Arts
• 4× First Place i-Learn Awards for MCT Language Arts Online
• Repeat winner of a Practical Homeschooling i-Learn Award
• 5x Best Homeschool Curriculum & Resources Awards from HowtoHomeschool.com
• Winner of the prestigious Richard W. Riley Award for “superior services to the gifted community”

Today the curriculum is used in more than forty countries by homeschool families, school systems, gifted programs, and international schools that value intellectual depth and thoughtful language instruction.

In addition to teaching select MCT language arts courses, Michael Clay Thompson also offers two unique live online courses: World Cultural Geography, an exploration of global geography and culture, and Chess Club, where students develop strategy and compete in a lively team format using Michael’s Chess Belt system.

Learn more about all of the MCT courses and view full details on the Online Learning page.

If you’ve been considering MCT for your child, the live courses offer a powerful way to experience the curriculum with expert guidance and a community of motivated learners.

Installment Pay Option: We offer installment payment plans at no additional cost. For more information and to enroll, visit the Online Learning page.

As always, if you have questions or need assistance in selecting a course, feel free to call us at (845) 726-4444. We’re here to help! Our phone lines are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Happy learning!
The Royal Fireworks Team

* Gallagher, S. A. Exploring the Efficacy of The Word Within the Word. Roeper Review.