HOMESCHOOL MINISTRY

Elementary Reading Lab: Our Reading lab is designed to help Elementary level children continue to develop their reading skills. Therefore, we will divide the children up into three basic groups (Early, Able/Learning, & Established) depending on their current abilities. Please know that we may make changes to which class your child attends based on how they develop throughout the year.

Beginning Readers: The Beginning Readers class is geared towards students who are early on in their reading journey. We will begin by reviewing letter sounds and move into blending sounds to form words (CVC words, words with consonant blends, words consonant digraphs, and long vowel-sound words). We will also focus on reading fluency and comprehension of passages using these word patterns. The class will follow the scope and sequence of the West Virginia Phonics Curriculum and The Science of Reading. The goal of this class is to build early literacy skills and help students develop a life-long love of reading. 

Able/Learning Readers: The students in the Able reading class will be using the SRA reading laboratories for the first 8 weeks.The SRA Reading Labs have been a classic in classrooms across America and in other parts of the world. Students will be reading stories that cover a range of topics from the origins of the  circus and the ice-cream sundae to the benefits of protecting vanishing species and preserving the environment! There is folk literature and many contemporary stories with characters your child can relate to.The beginning goal is to improve reading skills as well as reading comprehension. Letters will be sent home periodically as the instruction will progress to higher levels.

Established Readers: This class is for students who are proficient readers on a 3rd-5th grade reading level. The goals of this class are to build reading confidence, to inspire readers to explore the world of literature, to stimulate imaginations, and to expand vocabulary skills. This semester we will be “ The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster. This book will inspire imaginations as we read about a bored young boy who randomly receives a tollbooth that transports him to a very silly and magical land where he learns valuable lessons about the things he used to find boring. We will be using a novel study along with reading aloud to incorporate vocabulary, reading comprehension, and literary devices.

Elementary Physical Education: PE will be a combination of physical activity, nutrition and health. This year we will be focusing on teaching each kid the basics of sports like baseball, soccer, and basketball, and some track and field as well as active games and less popular sports like bowling, hula hooping, and many others. Teachers will work with the students at their level to help them progress towards healthy goals and fun learning.

Lower Elementary Social Studies

Children in grades K-2 will spend the first semester learning geography and the second semester exploring America and principles responsible citizenship. Using adaptations of Little Social Studies Thinkers by Karen Jones, students will learn about maps, major landforms, bodies of water, and the continents. We will also do a fun Thanksgiving themed mini unit and learn about the first Thanksgiving. During the second semester we will explore America, symbols of our nation, how we make laws, and what it means to be a good citizen in our country and for God’s glory.

Upper Elementary Geography

Students in grades 3-5 will study geography using elements of Explore His Earth from Masterbooks. We will learn about our earth’s atmosphere, maps and globes, major landforms, bodies of water, and the continents and their people and cultures. Explore His Earth aims to teach elementary students about our Father’s World with excitement and a mind for God’s people.

Middle School Science

Students in grades 6-8 will explore creation through the science topics of meteorology and our universe this year as we use the book Heaven and Earth from Masterbooks. In the first semester we will study weather and water, exploring topics such as the earth’s atmosphere, weather, the oceans, and climate change. In the second semester we will explore the rest of creation throughout our universe with the topics of the sun and solar energy, our solar system, stars, asteroids, and space exploration.

Middle School Geography

Middle School students will spend first semester studying the culture and geography of the countries that make up the Holy Land. Students explore Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan from a Biblical worldview and look at the conflicts of faith in the region. In addition, students will learn about the differences between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. As an anchor text for this course, we will use the book Explore the Holy Land by Masterbooks. It is not necessary for you to purchase a copy of the book.

Middle School Literature: 

Learning History Through Literature: The Revolutionary War Period – The Gilded Age. This class is designed to help students better understand the time period of American History, from the Revolutionary War Period to the Industrial Age (nicknamed The Gilded Age) of the late 1800s, through the use of Literature. We will explore various age-appropriate Literary genres of Nonfiction and Fiction, including Autobiography, Biography, Essay, Narrative, Speech, Historical Fiction, Poetry, and Short Stories. We will be reading selections from Primary Sources, as well as third person fictional and non-fictional narratives and historical accounts.

High School Biology:

Discover the world of biology including basic cell structures, genetics, DNA, plants and animals. Spend the first-class period covering the basic information followed by hands on experiences with microscopes, dissection and more during second period class to reinforce the lesson.

High School Literature: 

Learning History Through Literature: The Revolutionary War Period – The Gilded Age. This class is designed to help students better understand the time period of American History, from the Revolutionary War Period to the Industrial Age (nicknamed The Gilded Age) of the late 1800s, through the use of Literature. We will explore various age-appropriate Literary genres of Nonfiction and Fiction, including Autobiography, Biography, Essay, Narrative, Speech, Historical Fiction, Poetry, and Short Stories. We will be reading selections from Primary Sources, as well as third person fictional and non-fictional narratives and historical accounts.