Middle
School
7th & 8th Grades
COURSE DESCRIPTIONStop
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*In addition to the course and material fees listed below, each family will be invoiced for annual registration, building, and administrative fees*
| American History | ||
| General Science | Foundations of Math |
TUTOR: Brenda Gibbs
REQUIRED TEXTS: Master books: Wonders of the Human Body Link to text
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./30 weeks
CLASS TIME: Thursday 1:00-2:30
COURSE FEE: $260 MATERIALS FEE: $50
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will explore several systems of the human body. The function of the skeletal system and the basics of the muscular system make up the musculoskeletal system. We then move to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to study the body's circulation and breathing. Finally, we look at the Nervous system to include the central and peripheral systems, which encompass the brain and spinal cord.
TUTOR: Jennifer Orie
REQUIRED TEXT: Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science 3rd Edition Student Text
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./30 weeks
CLASS TIME: Tuesdays 10:30-12:00
COURSE FEE: $260 MATERIALS FEE: $50
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
GRADE LEVEL: 7th-8th Grades
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an actual general science course covering a wide range of branches of science. We will cover the history of science, scientific analysis, astronomy, geology, paleontology, meteorology, oceanography, chemistry, physics, life science (molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, botany, zoology, genetics), marine science, and environmental science. Classes will consist of short lectures and lots of hands-on activities. Students will learn how to design and conduct experiments and write lab reports correctly. Homework will consist of textbook reading, comprehension questions, completing lab reports, and take-home quizzes.
TUTOR: Jessica Kruse
CLASS LENGTH: 90 minutes twice a week
CLASS TIMES: Tuesday 2:30-3:30; Thursday 9:00-10:00
COURSE FEE: $555 MATERIAL FEE: $25
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Students must complete homework at least three days a week outside of Anchor's class time.
PRE-REQUISITE: Students should be working at a 6th-7th grade level. If you are unsure if your student is ready, please email Caroline Allie at [email protected].com
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will focus on the skills your students need to prepare for Pre-Algebra. Two to three new skills will be taught each week, and the tutor will work closely with students to ensure comprehension of new information. Students must complete assignments outside of class to keep up with the pace of the course. During class time, students will be working independently and in groups and instructed to maximize involvement and understanding. Topics reviewed and reinforced will include: positive & negative numbers, combining terms, equation & inequality solving, graphing, linear equations, and beginning geometry.
TUTOR: Jessica Kruse
CLASS LENGTH: 60 on Tuesdays and 90 minutes on Thursdays
CLASS TIMES: Tuesdays 1:00-2:00 (60 min) and Thursdays from 1:00-2:30 (90 min)
COURSE FEE: $465. MATERIALS FEE: $25
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Assignments on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
PRE-REQUISITE: Students should be working on at least 6th-grade math. If you are unsure if your student is ready, please email Caroline Allie at [email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will focus on the skills your students need to prepare for Pre-Algebra. The tutor introduces two to three new skills each week and work closely with students to ensure comprehension of new information. Students must complete assignments outside of class to keep up with the pace of the course. During class time, students will be working independently and in groups and instructed to maximize involvement and understanding. Topics reviewed and reinforced will include Whole numbers, rational numbers, integers, positive & negative numbers, combining terms, inequalities, ratios, area, and volume. You can find outlines here: 6th Grade Outline, 7th Grade Outline. The class will use a variety of these 2 curricula.
TUTOR: Cathy Backhaus
PREREQUISITE: Because this level of IEW moves at a more rapid pace, it is recommended that a student who is new to IEW be able to write an organized paragraph with a clear topic sentence and complete body sentences before enrolling in this course. If there is uncertainty about the placement of a 7th grader in an IEW class, it would be beneficial to speak with Mrs. Backhaus before registering.
REQUIRED TEXT & MATERIALS: IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons, Second Edition, November 2019 by Lori Verstegen (Student Book Only) Please note that this is a revised edition.
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./32 weeks
CLASS TIME: Tuesdays 9:00-10:30
COURSE FEE: $280 MATERIALS FEE: $45
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Approximately 30-45 minutes daily; varies from student to student.
GRADE LEVEL: 7th-9th Grades
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will develop composition, grammar, and vocabulary skills while students write about U.S. history. Incrementally, instruction will cover all the IEW models of structure and elements of style, including grammar rules, vocabulary, and stylistic techniques. We will be writing narrative stories, poetry, research papers, critiques, formal five-paragraph essays with proper formatting, and summarizing references. Daily journal entries to provide practice of written expression will be assigned every other week throughout the year. Also, we will complete weekly FIX-IT Grammar editing worksheets, which will boost the students’ general ability to communicate through the written word.
TUTOR: Minda Anderson
REQUIRED TEXTS: TBD by the instructor
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./30 weeks
CLASS TIME: Tuesdays 10:30-12:00
COURSE FEE: $260 MATERIALS FEE: $30
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will explore nonfiction and fiction genres of Literature. During the Fall semester, students will utilize essays, speeches, autobiographies, and biographies to explore nonfiction. Students will choose a biography to read and develop a presentation for the class at the Fall semester conclusion. They will also be expected to write a variety of essay types in the Fall semester. During the Spring semester, the focus will shift to fiction as we explore drama, historical fiction, science fiction, and mystery genres. Students will explore creative writing and literary elements in the Spring semester. Goals for this course include familiarization with the two main categories of literature and their respective literary works. Students will also have the opportunity to develop brainstorming techniques for different varieties of writing and presentation preparation and delivery. Students will be expected to complete weekly homework assignments and to read selections in advance of class when required.
TUTOR: Becky Van Rees- [email protected]
REQUIRED TEXTS:
1.) A History of US: From Colonies to Country 1735 - 1791 by Joy Hakim
2.) A History of US: The New Nation 1789 - 1850 by Joy Hakim
3.) Our Constitution Rocks! by Juliette Turner
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins. /30 weeks
CLASS TIME: Tuesday 9:00-10:30
COURSE FEE: $260 MATERIALS FEE: $35
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate to heavy
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students in this course will investigate the political and cultural forces that made America…America. This course will offer students the opportunity to investigate historical questions by analyzing primary documents. We will take a Socratic approach as we explore U.S. history from the Mayflower Compact to the Civil War seeds. Students will learn to look deeper into text and examine history for themselves through close reading, contextualizing, and collaboration. Students will demonstrate their understandings through rich oral discussions, writing, independent research, historical simulations, blog posts, and digital projects.
TUTOR: Lauren Steakley
TEXT: Geomatters: a Trail Guide to World Geography
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./30 weeks
GRADE LEVEL: 7th-8th Grades
CLASS TIME: Tuesday 9:00-10:30
COURSE FEE: $260 MATERIALS FEE: $35
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course, students will explore World Geography by learning important features and traits of all seven continents and will identify important geographical terms. In addition, they will learn how to read and create maps through mapping activities and atlas usage, with reinforcement through drills, assignments, and projects. Independent research will be required weekly.
TUTOR: Logan Chambers
REQUIRED TEXTS: TBD by the instructor
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./17 weeks
CLASS TIME: Thursdays 1:00-2:30
COURSE FEE: $120 MATERIALS FEE: $30
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
GRADE LEVEL: 7th-12th
COURSE DESCRIPTION: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV) If this verse is true, what does that say about how we Christians should know, interact, and understand the Bible? In this course, we will be asking and answering those questions. The goal is not only that the students who take this course will learn how to study and use scripture in their daily lives but also that they fall in love with God’s word and understand who they are and who God made them be. We will do this by analyzing the truth revealed through the Bible.
This is a basic Inductive Bible study course where we will study and discuss Biblical translations and interpretations and the historical context of the text—the different literary forms throughout the Bible. Also, How to apply scripture to our cultural context right now.
TUTOR: Logan Chambers
REQUIRED TEXT: A Bible
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./17 weeks Spring semester
CLASS TIME: Thursday 9:00-10:30
COURSE FEE: $120 MATERIALS FEE: $30
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Light
GRADE LEVEL: 7th-12th Grades
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Whether you claim to be a Christian or not, the Life and ministry of Jesus completely changed the world. When we look in the bible, we have four different accounts of Jesus’ life: the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Do all four of these accounts tell the same story? Why was Jesus seen as radical during his lifetime? Did he claim to be the incarnation of God? What was the core of his message, and why did it impact history and still today? These are some of the questions we will explore in the Life of Christ. We will look at Jesus’ life from a historical and philosophical perspective to see what we can learn about the man who changed the planet.
We will discuss the themes of each Gospel writer. Why do Matthew, Mark, and Luke seem more closely connected than the book of John? Next, we will look into the parables and the sermon on the mount to get the core of some of Jesus’ teachings, how they applied to his immediate audience, and what they mean for us today. Finally, we will look into his trial, death, and resurrection from a cultural standpoint to see if this one man was who he claimed to be.
TUTOR: Gayla Kingston
REQUIRED TEXT: TBD
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins. /17 weeks
CLASS TIME: FALL or SPRING Thursday's 1:00-2:30
COURSE FEE: $140 MATERIALS FEE: $25
GRADE LEVEL: 8th–12th Grade
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
PREREQUISITE: Students should be proficient writers and have experience in structured essay writing.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this one-semester course, students will have the opportunity to unleash their imaginations and spark their creativity through their writing. Completing writing assignments such as short stories, blog posts, and poetry will allow students to fully develop their creativity and give them different outlets to express themselves. Students will not just be writing; they will expand their vocabulary, learn pre-writing strategies, and use story elements such as plot, character development, and conflict to create amazing, creative writing pieces. Students will be required to come to class fully prepared, complete all assigned work, and be ready to participate fully.
TUTOR: Olivia Allie
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Monthly Creative Cloud (student discount) Subscription
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./17 weeks
CLASS TIME: Tuesdays 1:00-2:30, Thursdays 2:30-4:00 (Separate Classes)
COURSE FEE: $140 MATERIALS FEE: $20/month Creative Cloud Subscription (Total $60)
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
GRADE LEVEL: 8th-12th
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students will learn the basics of graphic design: line, shape, space etc., and how it comes together to create a finished product. Also learning how to use programs created for graphic design. Students will learn terms commonly used in graphic design like foreground, background, focal point, and more. Homework includes creating artwork based on that week's lesson (lines, shapes etc.) and bigger projects incorporating multiple concepts learned throughout the course.
TUTOR: Tracey Ernst
REQUIRED TEXTS: TBD
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./17 weeks
CLASS TIME: Thursdays 10:30-12:00
COURSE FEE: $140 MATERIALS FEE: $20
HOMEWORK LEVEL: ?
COURSE DESCRIPTION: ?
TUTOR: Liesl Schiavone
TEXT: Playbook
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./16 weeks
CLASS TIME: Thursday 10:30-12:00 (Spring)
COURSE FEE: $140 MATERIALS FEE: $50
GRADE LEVEL: 7th-12th
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Light
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will teach beginning and intermediate acting skills, improvisation, and the elements involved in putting on a theatrical production from beginning to end. Students will audition and be assigned roles to prepare throughout the semester for their final performance. Students will be required to memorize lines and stage directions and contribute artistically to the production. Material fees will cover script, performance fees, a recording fee and set costs. Students will be responsible for their own costumes.
TUTOR: Angela Somers
REQUIRED TEXT: Provided by the tutor
CLASS LENGTH: 45 mins Tuesday and Thursday
GRADE LEVEL: 7th–12th Grades
CLASS TIME: Tuesdays 2:30-3:15, Thursdays 9:00-9:45
COURSE FEE: $280 MATERIALS FEE: $35
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The primary focus of the course is to introduce students to American Sign Language. In addition to learning ASL, students will be exposed to the fundamental aspects of the Deaf community. By following the historical development of the Deaf community in America as its foundation, this interdisciplinary course will explore Deaf history, Deaf culture & community, American Sign Language, literature, and art. In level 1, students should greet others, describe basic activities, types of weather, basic daily and weekly routines, tell where you live, name family members, friends, types of relationships, and I am happy to be adding Christian signs!
TUTOR: Angela Somers
REQUIRED TEXT: Provided by the tutor
CLASS LENGTH: 45 mins Tuesday and Thursday
GRADE LEVEL: 7th–12th Grades
CLASS TIME: Tuesdays 3:15-4:00, Thursdays 9:45-10:30
COURSE FEE: $280 MATERIALS FEE: $25
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Moderate
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Part 2 of our ASL class offered in 2021-22, the students will continue to learn new signs and become proficient in using American Sign Language to communicate with others. The primary focus of the course is to introduce students to American Sign Language. In addition to learning ASL, students will be exposed to the fundamental aspects of the Deaf community.
TUTOR: Jonathan Allie
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Comfortable clothing and sneakers
CLASS LENGTH: 40 mins
CLASS TIME: Tuesday 1:00-1:45 and 1:45-2:30, Thursday 10:30-11:15 and 11:15-12:00
COURSE FEE: $85/semester
GRADE LEVEL: 7th-12th Grades
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will be 40 minutes of high-energy and fun-filled activity, starting with a dynamic warm-up, a series of exercises, and ending with games. By making exercise fun, students get excited to move around. Moving around results in becoming physically stronger and more energetic. It's a great first step on the road to cultivating a lifetime of health and fitness!
TUTOR: Laura Thompson
REQUIRED MATERIALS: The tutor will send a supply list via email.
CLASS LENGTH: 90 mins./17 weeks Spring semester
CLASS TIME: Thursdays: 9:00- 10:30 or 10:30-12:00
COURSE FEE: $140 MATERIALS FEE: $55
HOMEWORK LEVEL: Light
GRADE LEVEL: 7th-12th Grades
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will take fine art learning to the next level and lead the students to create artwork that reflects themselves or that conveys a message. Sketchbooks will log techniques which will ultimately create a wonderful reference book. Students will have a deeper exploration of the creative process with tools of drawing, painting, wood-burning, and clay.
*Students will be asked to purchase a specific journal for the class that is not included in the fee*