PLA Middle & High School Courses

Tutor: Amy Holman

This high school science course will provide a broad overview of God’s creation as we gain a greater understanding of the study of life. Students will explore many topics including classification, protists, fungi, cell structure and function, plants, animals, genetics and so much more! We will be using the Apologia: Exploring Creation with Biology, 2nd edition, curriculum along with other supplemental materials to give students a detailed understanding of many forms of life. This course also includes the lab that is required for high school credit that will strengthen comprehension through dissections, group projects, lab activities, and experiments that will be conducted together in class. We will use the 2nd edition of the textbook which can be found used at a much lower price. This course is also an excellent choice for 8th grade students to take for high school credit. ISBN: 1932012540 / ISBN13: 9781932012545

Apologia Biology

Tutor: Larissa Reid

The first four weeks of the course will focus on God the creator and His creation. I chose to add these to the curriculum because I believe that “We are created in the image of an extravagant Creator”. I feel that art being the act of creating something has its origin in the first creative acts, thus making God the first and ultimate artist. 

The rest of the course the students will use the curriculum “God and the History of Art”. This curriculum is a comprehensive study of Art as it relates to our relationship with God and the stories in the Bible. I have rearranged the lessons to be more chronological than they appear in the curriculum. I learn history better this way and I feel the students do as well.

The curriculum also covers a lot of art theory. Lessons will include the color wheel, the elements of art and various types of media. The curriculum comes with (two books; paint and marker cards; and colored postcards depicting famous works of art). Make sure all of these are included in the set you purchase. Most of the homework will be based on these supplies. Also, it will be useful to have a good set of colored pencils. I prefer the Prismacolor brand. They are so soft and creamy that they blend beautifully. However, since they are so soft they break easily. Taking care of these pencils is a good lesson in itself; being careful to put them away when not using, refraining from tapping them on a table, and putting them on a mat or in a cup to keep them from rolling onto the floor while in use. The other item that would be useful is a good set of watercolor paints. I like the Cotman travel set. It has 12 half pan colors. 

Each week we will have a lesson, lecture or discussion in class and 4 days of lessons outside of class. There will be a test at the end of the first semester and one at the end of the course.

God and The History of Art

Tutor: Jess Sauer

 The Craft of Writing (HS English credit)

Course Description:   This class will focus on honing our craft in different writing styles and the ways we can master several different types of figurative language.  Students will keep a collective PORTFOLIO of their work including various writing forms such as descriptive writing, poetry, lyrics, speech writing, fiction, resumes, cover letters, and children's books. We will explore language, vocabulary, and style along the way as we study writing examples and participate in peer review workshops!  Our classes will consist of exciting journeys through the creation, editing, and production of different kinds of creative writing.  I am so excited to be teaching another year of Creative Writing with our students! 

Topics:  The craft of writing- creation and publishing, short story writing, speeches, journal/writing for personal expression, poetry, fairy tale writing, and review writing.  In the high school course, we will also create cover letters, resumes, and personal statements in preparation for postsecondary writing. 

Materials: 

We will be using various examples of creative writing from authors around the world in addition to a collection of small writing projects that students will keep in their portfolio throughout the year.  I will provide students with these materials! (ex: excerpts from beloved children's stories, fairy tales, psalms, short stories, poems, and fantasy writing)

Students will need the following materials:

• 1-2 inch binder (these may be creative and as fanciful as they like!) 
• Page protectors (at least 20)
• Binder dividers with tabs 

Tutor: Karie Ramirez

BJU Press Spanish 1 is a beginning Spanish course that focuses on basic .communication skills like asking and answering questions, giving and following directions, making small talk, and purchasing items. It also aims to integrate cultural understanding and the opportunity to share the Gospel in a Spanish-speaking context. The course emphasizes the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, while developing a novice-high level of proficiency. 

https://www.christianbook.com/bju-press-spanish-student-activities-manual/9781606829707/pd/500736

Tutor: Karie Ramirez

 Building off of our Spanish 1 basics - we dive deeper into conversations about our schedules and daily life while learning about different Spanish speaking cultures/countries. 

Take your students on a cultural adventure and strengthen their foundations in Spanish communication! As students follow the stories of eight students from Spanish-speaking countries, they will be introduced to authentic, natural communication between native speakers. Unit themes give students a context for the vocabulary and structures they learn so they can use them in real conversations with their classmates.

https://www.christianbook.com/bju-press-spanish-student-activities-manual/9781606829707/pd/500736

Tutor: Hope Bokoles

This is a literature-based course, and we will be reading exceptional classic literature that is middle school level and also watching movies that have been made from the books. Reading and movie watching will be done in class and at home. These books are engaging and will help grow your students in reading and develop a love for reading. The movies are all age appropriate.  There will be discussion questions for each book  and movie. We will have vocabulary words, essay writing, comparing and contrasting as well as hands-on activities and fun projects to enhance the learning experience for each of these literary/film works. This course is sure to have something for all middle school students.  Each book will be approached like a new adventure as we learn about the authors and explore their various styles of writing. Each film will also be a new adventure as we discuss producers, actors, budget and sales.  This is a unique way to learn language arts by pulling all material from the exciting books the students are reading and movies they are watching.  The books may be audio books for any that need that style of learning. Book list will be posted by June 1, 2025.

Tutor: Larissa Reid

This class changes year to year. Even if a student has taken this class before, this year will be different. The students will be introduced to new art mediums and new ways to use familiar ones. We often use pen and ink, graphite pencils, watercolor, pastels (both soft and oil) and a touch of acrylic painting. This class relies heavily on drawing to improve hand/eye coordination and observation skills. The students will create projects inspired by other artists and art movements. Often, the projects will take multiple classes to complete, helping to develop the ability to plan and execute projects. This will help them learn to troubleshoot problems and overcome adversity.

Tutor: Eric Massengill

 “All the world’s a stage…”

Since its beginnings the center of drama has been communication and involvement with the objective of understanding the world. Through active and interactive classes, students will gain self-confidence, leadership skills, and cooperation. Further, students will become comfortable being in front of others, will learn to think creatively, and acquire skills necessary for the audition process. By participating, students will have a hands-on opportunity to participate in their own learning through the exploration of various forms of drama such as mime, improvisational theatre, reader’s theatre, musical theater dance and choreography, music and song, and creative drama. They will learn how to develop character, create environments, express emotion, movement, and learn memorization techniques.

Additionally, students will have the opportunity to learn the behind the scenes aspects of theatre. The class will touch on various theater styles throughout history (It’s important to know how we got to where we are!) and encourage exploration of their own expression. The class will culminate in a full-length musical theater performance in mid to late April.

There is no textbook required for this class. The student’s supply fee will be used to purchase materials for the end-of-year performance.

Tutor: Hope Bokoles

Take a trip around the world and learn about the seven different continents as you are on your journey. This course will be taught just like you are a tourist exploring the world with your own passport. So, pack your bags and come explore this wonderful world God has made for us. We will be using the Around the World in 180 Days curriculum. There will be adventures in each country we explore. There will be hands-on projects in class and homework projects that will be researched based. There is a workbook that accompanies the curriculum that will have questions and definitions that will be done. This course will count for high school credit.

Around The World in 180 Days

Tutor: Teresa Burrow

 Math-U-See 

The Pre-Algebra course will take students from an understanding of operations with positive and negative numbers; to exponents, roots, and radicals; commutative, associative, and distributive properties; solving for an unknown; absolute value; ratio and proportion; least common multiple and greatest 

common factor; polynomials; geometry concepts; and much more. 

store.demmelearning.com

Pre-Algebra Level Up Base Set $107 

Includes the Student Workbook, the Test Book, the Instruction Book, the DVD's, and the Digital Pack 

Also Available through Christianbook.com for the same price 

 Tutor: Amy Holman

This high school science course covers both the anatomy and physiology of each of the organ systems in the human body including skeletal, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, muscular, integumentary, lymphatic, urinary, endocrine, and reproductive. We will be using the Apologia: Advanced Biology, Human Body Edition, 2nd edition,(Anatomy and Physiology) curriculum along with other supplemental material to give students a detailed understanding of the amazing human body. This course includes the required lab for high school credit which will include performing lab activities, experiments, group activities, and dissections in class. High school Biology is a prerequisite for this course, and a general knowledge of basic chemistry would also be helpful. Anatomy and Physiology is recommended for 11th/12th grade, although it could be taken earlier if the science prerequisites are met. This incredible course is perfect for students who are interested in any science or healthcare-related field as it covers subject matter that will prepare students for college level work.

Apologia Advanced Biology 2nd edition

Tutor: Jess Sauer

Composition and Critical Reading (11-12 English)

Course description: Composition and Critical Reading is a study of writing skills and critical thinking skills. All literature selections will be used for the improvement of reading strategies, literacy interpretation, and critical analysis. Students will study different genres of literature (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and plays). 

Topics:  

Composition-- writing techniques that enhance student’s ability to analyze tests, respond to literature, develop language and style, and produce various types of writing. We will focus on writing, revising, workshopping, and editing.

Critical Reading- 5 critical reading techniques (Survey, Ask Questions, Read Actively, Respond to Questions, Record Key Ideas) We will read work from various genres in order to learn interpretation and analysis skills. 

Writing curriculum: 

• Literary Analysis
• Argumentative Essay
• Research Paper

Texts:

Provided by teacher:

• “Canterbury Tales"  -Geoffrey Chaucer
• “Beowulf" - Old English  - Author unknown
• "A Modest Proposal" - Jonathan Swift

To Purchase:

• "The Fellowship of the Ring" (Lord of the Rings)- J.R.R. Tolkien
  • https://a.co/d/dwaC6uW 
• "The Importance of Being Earnest" - Oscar Wilde
  • https://a.co/d/b9SfHuM 
• "English Romantic Poetry: An Anthology" - Dover Thrift

https://a.co/d/b9SfHuM  

Tutor: Ryan Sims

This year-long homeschool tutorial offers middle and high school students a unique opportunity to build foundational skills in both guitar and piano. In the fall semester, students will focus on beginner guitar techniques, learning basic chords, strumming patterns, simple melodies, and familiar worship songs. In the spring semester, the focus will shift to piano, where students will learn basic note reading, simple rhythms, chord progressions, and beginner-level worship and classical pieces.

Throughout the year, students will develop a strong understanding of music fundamentals, including rhythm, melody, harmony, and musical notation, while also gaining hands-on experience applying these concepts to two versatile instruments. Instruction will emphasize playing by ear, reading chord charts, and understanding how music can be used in both personal devotion and worship settings.

No prior experience is required. Students will be encouraged to practice regularly at home and will have opportunities for group play, solo practice, and small performances.

Course Components:

Beginner Guitar (Fall Semester)

Beginner Piano (Spring Semester)

Music theory fundamentals integrated throughout

Playing worship songs and hymns

Ear training and chord recognition

Group and individual practice opportunities

Optional end-of-year recital or presentation

Required Materials:

Acoustic guitar (fall semester; Preferred but optional: I'll have at least 2 guitars available)

Piano or keyboard; preferred with full-size 88 keys (spring semester; Preferred but optional: I'll have at least 2 keyboards available)

Guitar picks, capo (recommended)

Notebook or binder for notes and practice logs

Goals:

By the end of the course, students will be able to confidently play beginner-level songs on both guitar and piano, understand basic music theory, and use their skills to participate in personal or group worship.

Tutor: Jess Sauer

Course description: English II: Literature and Composition is a study of the major topics and themes across the history of world literature.  Students will focus on the major literary forms of England and America, analyze literary themes and trends, and research and compose written assignments including a Literary Analysis. 

Topics:  narrative writing, theme, author’s purpose, diction, figurative language, grammar in context, poetry, non-fiction essays, allegory, symbolism, and dystopian novel studies.  

Writing assignments:

• Literary Analysis
• Poetry response- Poetry writing
• Poetry comparison/device essay 

Texts:

• “The Giver” by Lois Lowry
  • The Giver: A Newbery Award Winner (Giver Quartet, 1) https://a.co/d/bSNDXjt
• "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien
  • https://a.co/d/6J0QuKQ 
• “The Good and the Beautiful: Level 8 Book Studies: Wild Like the Foxes”

(Purchase the "Wild Like the Foxes" BOOK only!  I will purchase the “Book Studies” for the class!)

• https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/products/level-8-book-studies-language-arts/
• Purchase the following books: 
  • “Wild Like the Foxes" by Anauta
• Poetry: various works (provided for students!) 
• Short stories from “The Great American Short Stories”   (Provided  for students!)
  
• **Each student will need a 1 inch binder to keep the material they will receive each semester! This will cover the poetry and short story section, the “Wild Like the Foxes” book study packet, and grammar work. 

Tutor: Amy Holman

The ACT can be a very intimidating and anxiety-provoking test, especially for homeschoolers who often haven’t had much practice taking standardized tests. This course will provide students with key test-taking skills, strategies, and lots of practice to help improve confidence and decrease stress. We will use The Official ACT Prep Guide along with other supplemental materials provided by the tutor to become familiar with ACT format, types of test questions, and test-taking techniques.**Please do not purchase the book yet. The ACT is undergoing a lot of changes and the new guide will come out later this spring.

Book Link:

Please do not purchase the book yet. The ACT is undergoing a lot of changes and the new guide will come out later this spring.

Study Skills for College Success (Spring Semester)

This course is designed to prepare students for success in college (and high school) by providing tools and strategies for skills that are vital in a college setting. Skills covered include time management, organization, note taking, creating presentations, studying effectively, test taking, and communication skills. Students will learn techniques for 

these necessary skills and have opportunities to practice both individually and in groups.

The Everything Guide to Study Skills