Classes 2007-8
Click on Class for Details
|
Science |
Mathematics |
|
Economics offered in 2008-09 |
|
|
Logic offered in 2008-09 |
|
|
|
|
|
Language |
Fine Arts |
|
Latin 1 Part 1 offered in 2008-09 |
|
Science
Biology - This one-year course is one of the primary high school sciences. Students wishing to pursue pre-med and/or scientific studies in college will find themselves well prepared. However, students pursuing non-science majors will not find it too difficult. All students will acquire a solid foundation in understanding the wonderful living world around us, and hopefully come away from the course amazed at God's creative genius!
The course provides the student with a strong background in the scientific method, classification, microscopy, biochemistry, cellular biology, molecular and Mendelian genetics, evolution, dissection, botany, and ecosystems. It also provides a complete survey of the five kingdoms in creation.
Classes will consist of lecture, topic related activities and laboratory experiments. Dissection labs will be included. In order to accommodate home school lifestyles, both the class and lab time are scheduled on the same day. The curriculum is from Apologia Educational Ministries and has a Christian worldview.
In addition to the coursework presented in the textbook, additional activities and topics are provided to enrich the curriculum. For example: human anatomy is not covered in the text, but we cover it in this course. We also do extra activities in the genetics unit to help students gain a better grasp of this sometimes-difficult subject. Finally, we do go on field trips so that students can see how biology applies to the real world.
This course is equivalent to 1 credit of science.
Instructor: TBA
Class time: TBA (Probably - Tuesday, 8:30AM - 11:00PM)
Cost per Semester: $170 tuition + $60 lab fee/semester
Class size: 8
17-week semester
Level: High School
Required text: Exploring Creation with Biology(student text + solutions & tests)
Science Roots: Latin and Greek Roots for Biology and Life Science Note: There is also a set of cards you can also purchase to cut down on the amount of time required to make the vocabulary cards. The cards are optional. The book is required.
The Human Anatomy Coloring Book
by Margaret Matt and Joe Ziemian
Chemistry -
This one-year high school chemistry course is designed to prepare students for college level study. It may be taken either before or after biology. Students will acquire a solid foundation in the fundamentals of chemistry and will find themselves well prepared for higher levels of study. This course is suitable for science and non-science majors alike.The course provides students with a strong background in metrics, atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometry, the kinetics and thermodynamics of chemical reactions, equilibrium and reduction/oxidation. Students will become adept at use of the periodic table. Chemistry is an intense integration of mathematics and science, so mathematic applications are integral to the course.
Classes will consist of lecture, topic related activities and primarily laboratory experiments. The foundation of the curriculum is from the Apologia Educational Ministries' text, which has a Christian worldview. To complete the course, I have added additional laboratory work and content. Wherever possible, real world application and experimentation is added to the class. This is a two-semester course is equivalent to 1 credit of science.
Instructor: Caroljeanne Phillips
Class time: Thursdays, 10:00AM - 12:30PM.
Cost per Semester: $170 tuition + $60 lab fee
Class size: 8
Semester length: 17-weeks
Level: High School
Prerequisite: Algebra I
Required text: Exploring Creation with Chemistry
student text + solutions & tests
Health, Wellness and Physical Fitness
- This one semester course presents the traditional concepts of health, wellness and physical education through a creative process of research and many hands-on activities. It will be packed with fun and self-discovery. Additionally, students will learn to evaluate their own "health quotient", develop their own nutrition and fitness plans and begin implementing these plans during the semester. The fitness plans can be followed to accumulate the 150 hours of required physical education credits.Major Topics covered include: Nutrition, physical fitness, preventative health, analysis of popular "diets," development of personal nutrition and fitness plans, and meal planning and implementation at home.
Note: Students in this class will need easy access to a computer, and Internet availability will be most helpful. This class emphasizes research and short writing projects and will include fun "projects" that can be done easily outside of class.
Instructor: Tonya Patterson
Class time: Wednesday 9:30 to 11:00; fall semester only
Required Text: None
Cost per semester: $125.00 tuition + $40.00 materials & lab fees
Class size limit: 12
Semester length: 15-weeks
Level: 8th grade and up
Junior High Science –The theme for the fall is Biology. The theme for the spring semester is Astronomy. Class time will be hands-on activities and experiments with class discussion and minimal lecture. The students will have assigned reading from provided supplements and/or research each week to prepare for class. Homework assignments are hands-on as often as possible. More than any other subject, science receives the greatest benefit from group interaction. As experiments are performed, new questions and ideas arise and the resolution thereof brings benefit to the entire group. Doing science with a group of junior high students is an energizing and exciting experience!
Instructor: Biology: TBA
Instructor: Astronomy: TBA
Class time: TBA (Probably - Tuesday, 11:15 AM - 12:30PM)
Required texts: TBA if necessary
Cost per Semester: $150 tuition + $60 lab fee
Class size limit: 8
Semester length: 15-weeks
Level: 6th – 8th grades
Language
Geography and Language Arts – It’s an unusual combination, but they actually work quite well together. The foundation of the geography curriculum is "Mapping the World by Heart." This is a dynamic geography program that emphasizes cartography. Students interact with, make, and copy maps of various kinds until they can reproduce the political map from memory. Along the way they learn latitude, longitude, projections, political boundaries, continents, countries, capitals, mountain ranges, major rivers and much more. Each student studies a few countries in-depth and learns about the people, culture, food, traditions, terrain, and agriculture etc. of their chosen countries. Students prepare research papers and oral presentations for each country on which they concentrate. Year one students cover North America, South America, Antarctica and Oceania. During year two, Europe, Asia and Africa are covered.
The year one Language Arts portion of the class will cover writing the research paper using the "Institute for Excellence in Writing" (IEW) method as well as some basic grammar. The IEW method is a step-by-step approach to learning excellent writing skills beginning with systematic note taking. As the semester progresses instruction in various writing elements are added. The results of the IEW program among our students have been outstanding. The MLA Handbook will be used to teach students style sheet formatting and proper citations. Students will be using all of the Language Arts elements to write their geography research papers.
Year two Language Arts covers persuasive writing, the expository essay, the compare and contrast essay, the editorial, argumentation writing, grammar, and multi-media reporting. Geography research will be integral to most of the writing projects.
Instructor: Caroljeanne Phillips
Class time: Tuesday, 8:30AM - 11:00AM (Both Year One and Year Two are two semesters each)
Cost per Semester: $220 tuition + $20 lab fee
Class size: 12
Level: 6th grade and up
Semester length: 15-weeks
Required Meeting: For parents of Year One students—Thursday, August 23rd.
Computer Access: Students must have easy access to a computer. In addition to needing it for Internet research and use of World Discovery Deluxe, all papers are required to be typed. If your child doesn’t yet know how to type, the summer is a good time!
Required texts:
MLA Handbook (6th edition or later)
World Geography Deluxe (Software)
Premier World Atlas (This will lead you to an ISBN Search)
Dictionary (parent choice)
Thesaurus: The Synonym Finder by J.I. Rodale - STRONGLY recommended, but not required
Latin I Part 1 – Did you know that Latin is NOT a dead language? Dead languages are not in use, and you use Latin every day. English and all of the romance languages are based on Latin. No other study helps in more areas of learning than Latin--except of course the Bible! Students who take Latin do better in every area of schooling, especially literature, science, language and history. This is a course that is a vital part of anyone’s education. I strongly recommend that Part I be taken in the 7th Grade and Part 2 in the 8th Grade as culmination of junior high school English studies.
Artes Latinae is one of the best Latin curricula on the market. The course consists of the programmed text, which students read independently, memorization of basic sentences, vocabulary and scripture (in Latin) and translations from the Reader. The independent work requires approximately one hour and fifteen minutes per day on non-class days (slightly longer the second year). It is a simple straightforward program, which I have now used for ten plus years. In addition to using the supplements I have written, students create language notebooks declining every noun and adjective they learn as well as conjugating all of the verbs. English diagramming is also practiced throughout the course. When they complete the course they have not only learned a very useful language, they have compiled an incredible reference tool. This course is preparatory to all future language studies and foundational to reading classical English literature. Students who complete level 1 consistently score higher on standardized tests.Parts 1 and 2 are only be offered in alternate years. Latin Level I part 1 will not be offered again until 2008-09 school year.
Parents should note that Latin I is a two year course and while it is honor level because of the depth and thoroughness it is still considered 1 credit of language.
Instructor: Caroljeanne Phillips
Class time: TBA
Cost per Semester: $170 tuition + $15 materials (Part 1 is 2 semesters)
Level: 7th grade and up
Semester length: 17-weeks
Class size: 10
Required texts: Trivium Pursuit. Order by phone 309-537-3641
Artes Latinae Level I, Part 1 textbook
Artes Latinae Level I reader (Lectiones Primae)
Artes Latinae Level I test book
Tapes 1&2, 3&4 - Rent from Caroljeanne
Latin I Part 2 – This is the second half of Latin Level I (See Part 1 for description - Scroll UP )
Instructor: Caroljeanne Phillips
Class time: Tuesday, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Cost: $170 tuition +$15 materials /semester (Part 2 is 2 semesters)
Level: 7th grade and up
Class size: 10;
16-week semester
Additional Required texts:
Latin / English Dictionary
Additional Text : TBA
Shakespeare/Drama – This course is intended to cover the Shakespeare portion (½ L.A. credit) of high school Language Arts and the Fine Arts requirement (½ Drama credit) as well. Students will be reading and viewing many of William Shakespeare’s comedies, histories, and tragedies. We will delve into plot and character development, character types, poetry, themes, setting, the nature and history of Elizabethan drama, costume, and the stage. Students will prepare for and present scenes from various Shakespeare plays at the end of the semester. In addition to regular class time, students should expect to give extra rehearsal time in the latter half of the semester.
Students will write four short research papers for this course. Students, who have not taken year-one of the LA/Geography course or Writing the Research Paper course, must take the IEW/MLA course designed specifically as an add-on for this class. IEW/MLA course is lecture information and class time practice; there are no additional assignments.
The main assignment list is available by using the Assignment and Resources link below. Students should begin this early in order to spread out the viewing of as many videos of Shakespeare plays as possible. (This is one area to earn extra credit!)
Instructor: Caroljeanne Phillips
Class Time: Spring Semester Only, Wednesday, 10:00-11:30ish AM - ending time will vary.
IEW/MLA Class Time: Spring Semester Only, Wednesday, 11:30ish AM - 12:ish PM- ending time will vary.
Required Texts:
Additional Text - TBA
MLA Handbook (6st ed. Or later)
Students will also need a dictionary and thesaurus
Costs: $170 tuition + $25 materials
IEW/MLA Costs: $50 tuition
Class size: 14
17-Week Semester; One semester
Level: High School
Mathematics
Geometry – This honors level course covers the high school geometry material that follows Algebra 1. Geometry is a two-semester course. The Discovering Geometry curriculum is an intensely hands-on program. The compass and straight edge are always in use. The curriculum operates as if the students are Euclid trying to solve geometric problems. Along the way they truly discover the principles, postulates, and theorems as they work up to proofs. Topics covered include: inductive and deductive reasoning, line and angle properties, properties of triangles, polygons and circles, area, volume, trigonometry, logic and proofs.
Note: It is STRONGLY recommended that students taking this course also take Logic. Because of the nature of this Geometry course, the two courses go hand-in-hand and are a great benefit to each other and consequently enhance the students' understanding as well as application abilities.
Instructor: Caroljeanne Phillips
Class time: Thursdays, 8:30-10:00 AM
Class size: 10
Semester length: 17-weeks
Level: High School
Cost per Semester: $170 tuition + $15 materials fee
Additional Cost: $30 supplements fee (one-time)
Prerequisite: Algebra 1
Recommended: Logic
Required text: Discovering Geometry 2nd ed.(1997)
This will lead you to an ISBN Search)
Note: This edition is no longer in print. I have several rental copies for $10/year
This course is applied mathematics on the upper level. The meat of this course will be the hands-on projects and field trips. Students will plan their wedding, funeral, and the cost of feeding and clothing themselves, learn how to purchase a car and a home and deal with a mortgage, gain an understanding of insurance, calculate living expenses, and research salaries based on planned career, etc. We will visit a realtor, perhaps do a little house hunting, meet with a banker, go to a funeral home and meet with a director, meet with someone in investments, go to car dealer, etc. This is by far one of the most useful math courses I teach. The kids have a lot of fun but it is sobering to learn the real cost of living as opposed to that found in the "Game of Life"!Economics -
Not Offered in 2007-08, will be offered in the 2008-09 school year.
Parents need to plan on taking turns transporting students on the many field trips.
Instructor: Caroljeanne Phillips
Class time: TBA
Class Size: 8
Semester length: 17-weeks
Level: High School
Cost per Semester: $170/tuition + $15 material fee
Prerequisite: Algebra I
Note: Students will need access to EXCEL or a similar spreadsheet program. If they are using a program other than EXCEL, they will need a resource person to guide them in program usage.
Required Texts:
Money Matters for Teens Workbook for Ages 15-18
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? (This will lead you to an ISBN Search)
The Treasure Principle (This will lead you to an ISBN Search)
This two semester sequence covers the essentials of formal logic. Topics covered include informal fallacies, categorical syllogisms, propositional logic, and tests for validity. The course will introduce students to diagramming arguments, and to graphical techniques for examining the validity of arguments, such as Venn diagrams and the Square of Opposition. Lively classroom discussion will include logical puzzles and opportunities to apply the techniques learned to arguments given in Scripture and literatureLogic -
Not Offered in 2007-08, will be offered in the 2008-09 school year.
Instructor: Troy Riggs
Class time: TBA
Cost per Semester: $160
Semester length: 16-weeks
Level: 7th grade and up
Class size limit: 10
Required text:
Fall Semester Introductory Logic (textbook only)
Spring Semester Intermediate Logic (textbook only)
Fine Arts: Principles of Design
– This course is an introduction to art and design principles. It is appropriate for any student interested in any type of art whether it be 2 or 3-dimensional, craft or fine, applied or academic. It will cover basic design principles that are central to all art disciplines through a variety of media and methods both 2 and 3 dimensional. Focusing more on the creative process than the finished product, the course is designed to introduce the student to the power of these central design principles. With both individual as well as class projects this class it is intended to be a fun introduction to art.Instructor: Debbi Wagner
Class Time: Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. –12:30 p.m.
Required Texts: none
Cost per Semester: $150 tuition
Class size: 8
NOTE: Due to the nature of the class, students will also be asked to "rummage" for some materials either around the house or at yard sales.
Level: Jr. and Sr. High School
High School student work will be the equivalent of ½ credit of fine arts