The high school years are years well spent in preparation for the next stage of their lives.  Our students are required to earn thirty-two credits for graduation which includes:  Bible (four credits), mathematics (four credits), English (four credits), science (three credits), social studies (three credits), foreign language (two credits), physical education (two credits), music (one credit), graphic art (one credit) and computers (one credit).

Curriculum

BIBLE

We are a people of the Word. As such, the fifty-five minutes a day set aside for Bible time is focused on understanding, application, and the witnessing of its truths. We work on this through reading from the Bible daily; memorizing scripture; and discussions in small groups, reading from great Christian teachers.

Our daily Bible readings this year will focus on the book of John, the Old Testament before Abraham, Romans, the Old Testament during the time of Abraham, and then finishing with Acts. All readings and teachings focus on Christ and how the Bible points always to Him.

Memorizing scripture is meant to provide our students with the skill of having Scripture always ready in their prayers and discussions. Each week students memorize five to ten verses.

Wisdom from mature, experienced teachers is invaluable for all subjects, including the Bible. Our cadre of authors includes Josh McDowell, John MacArthur, John Piper, C.S. Lewis, R.C. Sproul, Jerry Bridges, and Wayne Grudem. Students read a section of a book individually, and then meet with their fellow students in small groups to discuss their answers to a set of questions and finish with a group discussion with their teacher. Over half of the books focus on maturing a believer's knowledge and faith. The rest of the readings are concerned with applying that knowledge to living out their faith.

MATHEMATICS

Junior High and High School
Teaching Textbooks
Books:   Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra 2, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus

Click here for the math grading sheet.

As with all of the textbooks and teaching materials we use, the math books are tools to assist us in providing our students the skills we expect them to have when they graduate.  All three publishers we use employ the practice of “spiraling” in their daily lessons.  Essentially, a lesson is introduced, practice is provided and the daily lesson reviews previously taught lessons, keeping knowledge constantly practiced.

The Horizons K-3 textbooks are really strong textbooks – high expectations, great spiraling, and good practice.  They changed authors for their later books and so did the expectations of the texts.

Saxon 5/4, 6/5 and 7/6 have key components the other two publishers do not have built into their systems – mental math and facts practice.  Saxon does a fine job with spiraling and practice.

Teaching Textbooks continue to include the “spiraling” system of instruction and review.  Its strengths are clearer explanations, less problems each lesson, and unlike Saxon there are no lessons which are inserted from out of nowhere to meet a state's math curriculum expectation.  Teaching Textbooks is focused in providing the math skills students need.

Our instructional method for math is essentially the same for all of the grades.  The teachers in the kindergarten and primary classes provide clear one-on-one instruction for each student, check for understanding, then send the student back to their table to practice the concept.  If the student makes a mistake or the work is not neat enough, then the student returns to their table to correct their mistake.

In the elementary grades through high school, each student reads their lesson, and then explains their understanding of the lesson to the teaching individually.  The teacher can say “Great job!” and the student completes their practice, or “Here is what you misunderstood, let me help you” and the teacher will provide additional explanation or practice until the student shows understanding. 

In grades kindergarten, primary, and elementary, memorization of math facts is emphasized.

 ENGLISH

Learning to be proficient in the English language involves much more than studying grammar from a text book.

Our students become proficient in the speaking, reading and writing of the English language through listening and practice. The listening is provided by the interaction throughout the day between the student and his/her teachers. Each teacher in each subject models for the student the correct English and pronunciations when discussing the individual lessons. The teacher also confirms correct speech and corrects incorrect speech from the student during that discussion.

Each student's use of the English language is expanded through the literature read and discussed in his/her classes. From Hamlet to A Christmas Carol to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the reading of classic literature expands a student's vocabulary. Each book is discussed in small groups with application to Biblical expectations.

Grammar in the 9 th and 10 th grades is taught using Easy Grammar Plus. Easy Grammar Plus provides a simple system of identifying the parts of speech.

Written expression is taught through meaningful practice. Students write for national, state, and local contests which include essays, research papers, and poetry. Each assignment is individualized for each student and their particular goals.

Technology

Junior High: Type to Learn
High School: Shelley Cashman Word, Excel, PowerPoint 2007

Our seventh grade students spend three quarters of the year learning and improving their keyboard skills using the program Type to Learn. In addition, one quarter is spent learning the basic skills of how to use Microsoft Word 2007.

The freshman class spends one semester in furthering their Microsoft Word 2007 skills and the second semester learning the basic skills to maneuver around Microsoft Excel 2007 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2007.

Of course, each student is instructed in our very effective individualized goal and instructional methods.

The students work on one of our thirty-seven MacBook laptops.