Other Core Class Options
Art and Music History - Shelli Wells, Instructor
wellsshelli@gmail.com
Through class lectures, class discussions, and assigned work, students will survey the major art movements through the ages. Music, drama, and dance will be woven throughout the materials, partnering with art to identify the worldview ideas integrated in different cultures and periods.
Careful consideration has been taken to select art content that avoids nudity, particularly in the classroom; however, not all nudity can be completely eliminated from the study of art. The course materials will indicate when this is the case. It is recommended that parents view these materials prior to the student’s access and provide the appropriate oversight for their student.
This course meets once a week and is geared toward 11th and 12th grade students. Students can expect to spend 1-2 hours per week on assignments outside of class.
Required Texts:
Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals, & Meaning by Nancy Pearcey (ISBN-13: 978-1462787722)
Optional Texts:
The Gift of Music: Great Composers and Their Influence by Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson (3rd Edition, ISBN 13: 978-0891078692)
Art and Music History will not be offered the 2022-2023 academic year.
wellsshelli@gmail.com
Through class lectures, class discussions, and assigned work, students will survey the major art movements through the ages. Music, drama, and dance will be woven throughout the materials, partnering with art to identify the worldview ideas integrated in different cultures and periods.
Careful consideration has been taken to select art content that avoids nudity, particularly in the classroom; however, not all nudity can be completely eliminated from the study of art. The course materials will indicate when this is the case. It is recommended that parents view these materials prior to the student’s access and provide the appropriate oversight for their student.
This course meets once a week and is geared toward 11th and 12th grade students. Students can expect to spend 1-2 hours per week on assignments outside of class.
Required Texts:
Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals, & Meaning by Nancy Pearcey (ISBN-13: 978-1462787722)
Optional Texts:
The Gift of Music: Great Composers and Their Influence by Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson (3rd Edition, ISBN 13: 978-0891078692)
Art and Music History will not be offered the 2022-2023 academic year.
Bible Survey - Reid Thomas, Instructor
reidsthomasjr@gmail.com
Through interactive class lectures, class discussions and personal Bible reading, students will gain a deeper understanding of the breadth and depth of theological themes of the Old and New Testaments. Attention will be given to how the two testaments interconnect, especially through prophecy, as well as to the various literary forms and historical/cultural contexts of the Bible. Furthermore, the skills of inductive Bible study will be taught so that each student will be prepared for life-long, life-changing study of the Bible. Bible Survey meets once a week and is intended for 9th through 12th graders. Students can expect to spend 7-9 hours per week on assignments outside of class.
Required Text and Materials:
The Holy Bible (New International Version)
*The teacher will provide each student a Composition Notebook or an online equivalent for Bible study journaling assignments.
reidsthomasjr@gmail.com
Through interactive class lectures, class discussions and personal Bible reading, students will gain a deeper understanding of the breadth and depth of theological themes of the Old and New Testaments. Attention will be given to how the two testaments interconnect, especially through prophecy, as well as to the various literary forms and historical/cultural contexts of the Bible. Furthermore, the skills of inductive Bible study will be taught so that each student will be prepared for life-long, life-changing study of the Bible. Bible Survey meets once a week and is intended for 9th through 12th graders. Students can expect to spend 7-9 hours per week on assignments outside of class.
Required Text and Materials:
The Holy Bible (New International Version)
*The teacher will provide each student a Composition Notebook or an online equivalent for Bible study journaling assignments.
Church History and Major Worldviews - Reid Thomas, Instructor
reidsthomasjr@gmail.com
Through class lectures, discussions and assigned work students will gain a deeper understanding of Christianity and how it compares to major worldviews such as naturalism, nihilism, post-modernism, Islam, and others. Attention will be given to the history of Christianity to provide context for the ways Christianity interacts with various worldviews. This course meets once a week and is designed for 11th and 12th graders. Students can expect to spend 5-6 hours per week on assignments outside of class.
Required Texts
Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity by Mark Noll (3rd Edition, ISBN # 0801039967)
The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog by James Sire (5th Edition, ISBN # 0830838503)
The Holy Bible (New International Version)
Church History and Major Worldviews will not be offered the 2022-2023 academic year.
reidsthomasjr@gmail.com
Through class lectures, discussions and assigned work students will gain a deeper understanding of Christianity and how it compares to major worldviews such as naturalism, nihilism, post-modernism, Islam, and others. Attention will be given to the history of Christianity to provide context for the ways Christianity interacts with various worldviews. This course meets once a week and is designed for 11th and 12th graders. Students can expect to spend 5-6 hours per week on assignments outside of class.
Required Texts
Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity by Mark Noll (3rd Edition, ISBN # 0801039967)
The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog by James Sire (5th Edition, ISBN # 0830838503)
The Holy Bible (New International Version)
Church History and Major Worldviews will not be offered the 2022-2023 academic year.
Economics & Finance – Kelli Gowan, Instructor
coreeconfinance@gmail.com
This course consists of one semester of economics, the study of economies and markets, and one semester of finance, specifically navigating major personal financial decisions.
The economics portion of the course presents an introduction to microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts. Students learn the basics of supply and demand and study how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions about the use of scarce resources in a world of unlimited wants and needs.
The finance portion of the course teaches students how to make informed decisions relating to banking, credit, insurance, taxes, savings, and investing. Students learn about the stock market, the trade-off between risk and return, the time value of money, and how to calculate payments and interest.
The course is open to 9th through 12th grade students, with preference given to upper classmen. While there are no pre-requisites for this course, students should be comfortable with simple algebraic equations.
Students can expect to spend 3 to 5 hours per week on assignments and projects outside of class.
Required texts for the course:
Prentice Hall’s Economics, O’Sullivan, Sheffrin, Wiggins. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-368019-5
McGraw Hill’s Personal Finance, Kapoor, Dlabay, Hughes, 10th edition. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-353069-7
coreeconfinance@gmail.com
This course consists of one semester of economics, the study of economies and markets, and one semester of finance, specifically navigating major personal financial decisions.
The economics portion of the course presents an introduction to microeconomic and macroeconomic concepts. Students learn the basics of supply and demand and study how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions about the use of scarce resources in a world of unlimited wants and needs.
The finance portion of the course teaches students how to make informed decisions relating to banking, credit, insurance, taxes, savings, and investing. Students learn about the stock market, the trade-off between risk and return, the time value of money, and how to calculate payments and interest.
The course is open to 9th through 12th grade students, with preference given to upper classmen. While there are no pre-requisites for this course, students should be comfortable with simple algebraic equations.
Students can expect to spend 3 to 5 hours per week on assignments and projects outside of class.
Required texts for the course:
Prentice Hall’s Economics, O’Sullivan, Sheffrin, Wiggins. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-368019-5
McGraw Hill’s Personal Finance, Kapoor, Dlabay, Hughes, 10th edition. ISBN-13: 978-0-07-353069-7
Public Speaking and Truth Seeking – Reid Thomas, Instructor
reidsthomasjr@gmail.com
This class combines the practice of public speaking with the study of apologetics, which is the art of explaining one's beliefs. The first semester emphasizes the mechanics of public speaking, providing students with several opportunities to prepare and present various speeches. The second semester will then utilize these public speaking skills to think through and discuss key beliefs about the person and work of Christ. The two primary objectives of "Public Speaking and Truth Seeking" are 1) improved skill at speaking before a group and 2) greater effectiveness in explaining one's faith in an increasingly skeptical culture. This class will provide vital preparation for a variety of professions that involve communication, leadership and/or management skills. This course meets once a week and is designed for 11th and 12th graders, though mature 9th and 10th graders are welcome. Students can expect to spend 3-4 hours per week on assignments outside of class.
Required Texts:
The Case for Christ (Student Edition) by Lee Strobel, ISBN# 0310234840
The Holy Bible (New International Version)
*The teacher will provide each student with copies of the public speaking Student Handbook developed by the Institute for Excellence in Writing (cost of copying included in the copy fee)
reidsthomasjr@gmail.com
This class combines the practice of public speaking with the study of apologetics, which is the art of explaining one's beliefs. The first semester emphasizes the mechanics of public speaking, providing students with several opportunities to prepare and present various speeches. The second semester will then utilize these public speaking skills to think through and discuss key beliefs about the person and work of Christ. The two primary objectives of "Public Speaking and Truth Seeking" are 1) improved skill at speaking before a group and 2) greater effectiveness in explaining one's faith in an increasingly skeptical culture. This class will provide vital preparation for a variety of professions that involve communication, leadership and/or management skills. This course meets once a week and is designed for 11th and 12th graders, though mature 9th and 10th graders are welcome. Students can expect to spend 3-4 hours per week on assignments outside of class.
Required Texts:
The Case for Christ (Student Edition) by Lee Strobel, ISBN# 0310234840
The Holy Bible (New International Version)
*The teacher will provide each student with copies of the public speaking Student Handbook developed by the Institute for Excellence in Writing (cost of copying included in the copy fee)
Reading Workshop – Danielle Saxton, Instructor
dsaxton.ky@gmail.com
The objective of this course is to teach students how to interact with the written word in order to comprehend and enjoy texts. This is a beginning, upper-level reading class intended to prepare students for the advanced reading and analysis of high school English classes. Students will practice reading fiction and non-fiction closely and purposefully. The course will introduce and instill practical reading strategies that will enhance comprehension and foster intelligent responses to texts. In addition, students will learn how to intentionally expand their vocabularies through weekly lists and creative methods. Though there will be some writing assignments, the emphasis of the course will be reading comprehension and analysis.
Reading Workshop is a good companion course for the Writing Workshop; together they complete a high school English credit. This course is designed for 8th and 9th grade students though older students are also welcome. Students who successfully complete both the Reading Workshop and the Writing Workshop classes, and who receive a recommendation from the instructor, are eligible to take English 1 without an assessment. Enrollment for Writing Workshop and Reading Workshop is limited to students who are 13 by October 1.
Texts:
dsaxton.ky@gmail.com
The objective of this course is to teach students how to interact with the written word in order to comprehend and enjoy texts. This is a beginning, upper-level reading class intended to prepare students for the advanced reading and analysis of high school English classes. Students will practice reading fiction and non-fiction closely and purposefully. The course will introduce and instill practical reading strategies that will enhance comprehension and foster intelligent responses to texts. In addition, students will learn how to intentionally expand their vocabularies through weekly lists and creative methods. Though there will be some writing assignments, the emphasis of the course will be reading comprehension and analysis.
Reading Workshop is a good companion course for the Writing Workshop; together they complete a high school English credit. This course is designed for 8th and 9th grade students though older students are also welcome. Students who successfully complete both the Reading Workshop and the Writing Workshop classes, and who receive a recommendation from the instructor, are eligible to take English 1 without an assessment. Enrollment for Writing Workshop and Reading Workshop is limited to students who are 13 by October 1.
Texts:
- Holt, Rinehart, Winston’s Elements of Literature Second Course, copyright 2000. (Must be the student edition) ISBN-13: 978-0030520594
- Nadler, Burton Jay, Jordan Nadler, and Justin Nadler. Words You Should Know in High School: 1,000 Essential Words to Build Vocabulary, Improve Standardized Test Scores, and Write Successful Papers (ISBN 1-59337-292-9)
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
- A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
- The Tempest by William Shakespeare (Folger Shakespeare Library edition)
Writing Workshop – Danielle Saxton, Instructor
dsaxton.ky@gmail.com
This course teaches the foundations of academic writing, including organizing and clarifying ideas, constructing sentences and paragraphs, and effectively using essay form. In addition to honing a clear understanding of correct grammar and punctuation, students will practice using thoughtful vocabulary in their writing. During the second semester, students concentrate on research papers. Using the skills learned during the first semester, they write two short research papers. The first is a heavily-directed practice research paper, which leads up to a more individual effort to complete the semester. Students who complete the writing workshop will gain confidence in the face of the challenging writing assignments typically found in high school English classes.
The Writing Workshop complements the Reading Workshop class; together they complete a high school English credit. This course is designed for 8th and 9th grade students though older students are also welcome. Students who successfully complete both the Reading Workshop and the Writing Workshop classes, and who receive a recommendation from the instructor, are eligible to take English 1 without an assessment. Enrollment for Writing Workshop and Reading Workshop is limited to students who are 13 by October 1.
Texts:
dsaxton.ky@gmail.com
This course teaches the foundations of academic writing, including organizing and clarifying ideas, constructing sentences and paragraphs, and effectively using essay form. In addition to honing a clear understanding of correct grammar and punctuation, students will practice using thoughtful vocabulary in their writing. During the second semester, students concentrate on research papers. Using the skills learned during the first semester, they write two short research papers. The first is a heavily-directed practice research paper, which leads up to a more individual effort to complete the semester. Students who complete the writing workshop will gain confidence in the face of the challenging writing assignments typically found in high school English classes.
The Writing Workshop complements the Reading Workshop class; together they complete a high school English credit. This course is designed for 8th and 9th grade students though older students are also welcome. Students who successfully complete both the Reading Workshop and the Writing Workshop classes, and who receive a recommendation from the instructor, are eligible to take English 1 without an assessment. Enrollment for Writing Workshop and Reading Workshop is limited to students who are 13 by October 1.
Texts:
- Writing With Skill, Level 1: Student Workbook (The Complete Writer) by Susan Wise Bauer ISBN-13: 978-1933339535
- The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation: 11th Edition by Jane Strauss ISBN-13: 978-1118785560
- The Little Seagull Handbook by Richard Bullock and Francine Weinberg ISBN: 978-0-393-91151-0
- *Students need access to a public library membership for this course.
