LANGUAGE ARTS, WRITING & LITERATURE

You will find the classes are color-coded by the recommended grade level.
GREEN (younger/middle elementary)
BLUE (elementary/Jr High)
RED (Jr High/ High School)

Mrs. Stephanie Gresham

Phonics, Spelling, & Grammar Levels 1-4 (PreK-G4)

OVERVIEW HSFM PHONICS
Children begin to decode the English language as they learn to recognize sound-symbol relationships, beginning with phonological awareness (sounds) of the alphabet.  As gradual mastery develops, children learn and practice more complex phonemes and their corresponding graphemes (letter combinations) that are used to spell whole words.  These classes are designed to help children advance according to their developmental levels when they repeatedly encounter phonemic patterns in direct, explicit, systematic, & multisensory activities. The HSFM phonics pathway includes a total of five Levels: Levels 1.0, 1.5, and Levels 2.0 & 2.5.  Level 3.0 takes students further with additional spelling rules and practice with orthographic mapping for long term success in spelling.

HOMEWORK PACKETS ~ Each week, students receive a homework packet at their level containing a variety of 12-20+ activity pages with coloring, tracing, mazes, find & dot, word sorts, cut & paste, color by pattern/rule, word searches, and more.  Weekly packets also contain students’ own reusable sorting activities, dice games, speed drills, and other activities that provide fun and interactive hands-on daily practice at home.  Spiral review worksheets that are included in L1.5 packets and above include a variety of language arts skills in addition to spelling, and are useful in preparing students for standardized tests in ELA.  Students feel a sense of accomplishment each semester as they watch their notebooks fill with their weekly activity pages.  With a variety of pages each week, students are sure to find favorites, and parents can adjust the workload according to the child’s readiness.

PACKET LEVELS 1.0 & 1.5 ~ Children beginning with Level 1.0 will learn the alphabet letters and sounds, one letter each week, with cumulative weekly review of letters previously learned.   Level 1.5 students will not only focus on a “Letter of the Week”, but will practice blending within word families (cat, hat, mat).  One vowel will be highlighted each week, so the 5 vowels cycle every 5 weeks.  At any five-week interval, children in Level 1 who become developmentally ready to blend consonants & vowels, can begin using Level 1.5 packets.  Children who are mastering one letter at a time but not ready to blend consonants with vowels will continue with L1.0 packets and focus primarily on the “Letter of the Week”.

PACKET LEVELS 2.0 & 2.5 ~ Students with phonetic awareness of the alphabet who are already blending consonants and vowels (c-a-t) are ready for Level 2.  Students will practice cvc words for each of the five vowels in five-week intervals.  Level 2.0 also includes consonant blends and digraphs (th, sh, ch), and practice silent-e & y as a vowel as they become ready to differentiate between short and long vowel sounds.  Level 2.5 moves more quickly in adding consonant blends, digraphs, & silent-e and also advances to long vowel pairs (ai, ea, oa, etc.) and r-controlled vowels.  Spelling rules for open and closed syllables are also introduced.  Level 2 students who are eagerly progressing can begin using the Level 2.5 packets at one of the five-week intervals.

Mrs. Gresham - G1-3
Level 2.0 at 10:15
Level 2.5 at 9:00
Mrs. Gresham's Phonics & Language Arts class time provides opportunity for students to receive direction and instruction for practicing and reinforcing the phonics rules at their level.
Instruction and activities are divided into 4 segments:

Phonetic Concepts are taught with a creative and interactive lesson at the beginning of each class. Instruction is given to aid in the application and mastering of the phonics concept of the week. The weekly lessons are progressively customized to the students’ level as the weeks progress.
Activities provide students the opportunity to participate in group hands-on activities and games that reinforce the current and previous phonics skills that have been learned. A variety of manipulatives are used such as laminated word sorts & sentence mats, dice & board games, I-Have-Who-Has, and many other visual and hands-on activities ranging in complexity from CVC word families and simple blending to more complex rules as concepts are introduced (see packet descriptions above for Levels 2.0 & 2.5)
Story Time engages the children and helps cultivate a love for reading as they are also sharpening their listening and comprehension skills. A variety of age-appropriate readers and/or chapter books are chosen throughout the year that incorporate many of the concepts covered in the phonics lessons.
Penmanship practice reinforces the name, sound, and formation of the “Letter of the Week”. The goals for writing letters include: Legibility which helps children understand that their writing must communicate with other people; Accuracy so the formation of the letters is correct and avoids confusion with other letters. Consistency so letters are formed the same each time. This is an exercise in character and discipline. Individual style can develop when students are older and have mastered basic manuscript writing. The handwriting practice papers are added to the student’s personalized notebook in a tabbed section which will highlight their penmanship progression of all 26 letters by the end of the year. Regardless of each child’s current fine motor skills, children can improve week by week at his/her ability with explicit training, guidance, and encouragement.

Mrs. Byrne – PreK-1 (Levels 1.0, 1.5)
Level 1.0 at 10:15
Level 1.5 at 9:00
Mrs. Byrne’s Phonics class time will focus on the alphabet letters and corresponding sounds, which will be taught using stories, crafts, movement, music and games.  Children are engaged as she reads aloud a story that complements the letter of the week, and their imaginations and love for reading is fostered.  Each week, the children also make a collage craft that highlights the "letter of the week" that is then placed in the student's personalized notebook along with their weekly homework packets (either Level 1.0 or 1.5).  Based on each child’s readiness, appropriate instruction and class activities will progress to include review of all letters and sounds.  Consonant-Vowel blends and word families (ma, sa, etc.) are also practiced for children who are working at Level 1.5.
Registration Fee:  $305/year (26-week schedule)
Material Fee:  $75/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Levels 1.0 & 1.5 include notebook & supply pouch, collage crafts, weekly packet with activity pages, and use of HSFM class manipulatives & teaching resources.
Levels 2.0 & 2.5 include notebook & supply pouch, weekly activity packet with activity pages, penmanship inserts

Recommended Text or Supplies (provided by family):
Weekly lessons and homework are included with the material fee, and can be used as the student's phonics or spelling curriculum or as a supplement to other grade level curriculum at home. Reading children's books at home is highly recommended, and adds a valuable component to a child’s language arts and literacy development.

Mrs. Valerie Helms is a seasoned homeschool mom and teacher. Her journey with the Lord began at age 5 and was developed more fully with monthly trips to an orphanage in Mexico. In 1985, she earned a certificate from Cerritos College in Early Childhood Education. She has spent the last 30 years as a Sunday School teacher and the last 16 years teaching co-op classes for most grade levels and nearly every subject. She has a wonderful supportive husband who has helped facilitate their homeschool journey. They have hosted students from 4 countries for 12 years, as well as homeschooled their own two children that are now in college. She recalls one of her experiences in their journey where they constructed chicken coups when studying life cycles. At one point, they had 32 animals. Mrs. Helms is in leadership at a local Christian academy and thoroughly enjoys mentoring mothers and nurturing children. She loves the homeschool journey.

Level 3.0 Phonics & Language Arts G2-5

LEVEL 3.0 ~This abbreviated 40-min skills lab provides tangible instruction, practice, and encouragement for G2-5 students who need direct and explicit instruction to improve spelling. Level 3.0 includes complex phonemes (sounds) and their corresponding graphemes (letter combinations) that are used to spell whole words.  This class incorporates the Orton-Gillingham structured literacy approach that has been used effectively since the 1930’s, and continues to be a proven approach for helping struggling readers and those with dyslexia.  Children are taught explicitly the connections between sounds and their corresponding letter groupings (graphemes); and they practice orthographic mapping to solidify and retain the phoneme/graphemes that are learned each week.
Students who comfortably differentiate between short and long vowel sounds with silent-e, and have some familiarity with long vowel pairs (such as oa, ea, etc.) are ready for Level 3.0 where they will expand their understanding and usage of additional phonemes/graphemes for spelling rules that include long vowel teams, diphthongs (oi, oy, au, aw, etc.), r-controlled vowels, welded sounds, schwa, tenses, plurals, and prefixes/suffixes. Level 3 packet also includes identifying open and closed syllable types for recognizing long and short vowel spelling patterns for multisyllable words. In addition to reinforcing spelling rules, the student/parent friendly weekly packets include daily spiral grammar review pages that include, but not limited to, capitalization, punctuation, word roots, sentence types, tenses, plural, possessive, and parts of speech, and help to prepare students for future writing classes and standardized tests in ELA (English Language Arts).  Level 3.0 follows 2.5, but can also be used as a supplement to other curricula used by older students who need a solid foundation for recognizing phonemes and corresponding graphemes to improve reading fluency and spelling.
Registration Fee:  $230/year (26-week schedule)
Material Fee:  $40/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Instructional materials and class resources.
Weekly homework packets with 10-20 activity pages
Daily Spiral Grammar Review pages are included in the homework packets.

Recommended Text or Supplies (provided by family):
Weekly lessons and homework are included with the material fee, and can be used as the student's phonics or spelling curriculum or as a supplement to other grade level curriculum at home. Reading children's books at home is highly recommended to complete the student's language arts experience at his/her grade or developmental level.

Nature-based Charlotte Mason Lang. Arts - G1-5

A Charlotte Mason approach to language arts is designed to provide enjoyable language arts experiences. Language lessons using the 1911 classic Emma Serl’s Primary Language Lessons (PLL) provide the foundation for the weekly packets.
Year1 class contains *Part 1 of Emma Serl’s Primary Language Lessons
Year2 class contains *Part 2 of Emma Serl’s Primary Language Lessons
Each lesson draws upon thought provoking exercises that use pictures and drawings from classic artists, nature and observation, poetry and short selections, and dictation of sentences and poetry.  Abbreviated unit studies complement the PLL lessons and the weekly activity packets include specifically designed pages to expand the child’s understanding and imagination of subjects that are used in the language lessons.  Oral discussions spark thoughtful responses to questions that give the child opportunity to clearly write his/her responses.  Writing organizers and templates for in-class written responses introduce children to the writing process.  Grammar and punctuation are interwoven; and spelling rules and correct word usage are reinforced explicitly and by example.  D’nealian handwriting pages help guide fine motor skills for improved penmanship.  “Eye Spy Spelling” sheets that complement the unit study give children an enjoyable activity to review and practice a variety of spelling rules/phonemes found in selected classic children’s poetry.  Classic literature and poetry are used throughout and enrich each week’s unit study and language lessons.  Each selection is aimed to nurture moral character, to foster a joy and appreciation for nature and science, and to instill a joy of reading.  Stories are taken from a variety of children’s classics which may include (but not limited to) the 1920 classic, “The Burgess Animal Book for Children” and literature from award-winning children’s authors such as, but not limited to, Laura Ingalls, James Herriot, Oscar Wilde, Patricia MacLachlan, Catherine Vos, Aesop, and many others.  Consideration is given to grade level requirements for G2-4 language arts, but the lessons will encompass much more than learning and memorizing rules. By using Emma Serl’s 1911 Primary Language Lessons worksheets and implementing a Charlotte Mason unity study approach for language arts, this class teaches the “whole child”, expands the child’s knowledge and appreciation for nature and science, and develops language arts skills that meet or exceed grade level expectations.
Registration Fee:  $305/year (26-week schedule)
Material Fee:  $40/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Instructional materials and class supplies
Notebook, weekly activity pages, small projects, & worksheets.
Daily Language Review pages

Recommended Text or Supplies (provided by family):
No additional curriculum is needed. All weekly lessons and homework are included with the material fee, and can be used as the student's phonics or spelling curriculum or as a supplement to other grade level curriculum at home. Reading children's books at home is highly recommended to complete the student's language arts experience at his/her grade or developmental level.

Mrs. Karen Massa is a veteran teacher who began her journey in education at John Brown University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. As her journey continued, she received a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University, Irvine. Mrs. Massa has taught in private Christian schools for 13 years grades 1-3. She is happily married and continues to teach (but in a more private setting at home) her two amazing daughters.

Language Arts w/IEW Bible Heroes - G2-4

2025-26 HSFM Scope & Sequence for writing classes using IEW curriculum, based on IEW recommendations:

PRIMARY Bible Heroes - G2-4 classes provide an entry level writing class for primary grades, and can be repeated as needed.
LEVEL A Frontiers- G4-6 classes provide an entry or repeat level writing class for G4-6 students as well as for older students who are reluctant writers, have minimal writing skills, are reading below grade level, or those who wish to repeat IEW’s A Level curriculum for other reasons. Titles rotate each year.
LEVEL B Ancient History-based - G6-9 classes provide a more advanced IEW experience for students who are reading at grade level, and also for high school students with minimal previous writing instruction. These classes help students meet high school transcript requirements for an English composition class (before taking high school literary analysis classes).

This language arts class uses IEW’s Bible Heroes curriculum and prepares children for future IEW classes.  Students get to know the heroes of the Bible while learning and practicing six of nine “Structure and Style” writing units by IEW.  No prior writing experience is expected, other than being comfortable writing simple sentences and ability to read at G2 level. The Bible Heroes student book (included with material fee) includes assignments, blank outlines, source texts, checklists, vocabulary cards, and grammar helps.
Using a theme or literature-based writing curriculum in the early grades captivates young writers and provides thoughtful content and “keywords” that make the writing process approachable and successful, even for reluctant writers who would otherwise have a “blank page” on which to write. The IEW writing approach by Andrew Pudewa is based on “key word outlines” that the student builds from sample Bible stories. The words are then used to reconstruct the information or story into paragraphs. In addition to learning writing elements, the curriculum includes vocabulary builders. Grammar is learned and applied by requiring students to add “dress-ups” to the paragraphs they have written (quality adjectives, strong verbs, -ly adverbs, etc.)  Students also learn different styles for sentence openers. Using the IEW approach, students overcome the fear of writing and acquire very concrete tools for writing with structure and style. Class instruction and assignments will be tailored to the students' ages and abilities as needed for a positive and successful writing experience.
Registration Fee:  $305/year (26-week schedule)
Material Fee: $50/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Student Workbook – “Bible Heroes” by IEW
Additional class resources as needed

Writing using IEW Frontiers in Writing - G4-6

2025-26 HSFM Scope & Sequence for writing classes using IEW curriculum, based on IEW recommendations:

PRIMARY Bible Heroes - G2-4 classes provide an entry level writing class for primary grades, and can be repeated as needed.
LEVEL A Frontiers- G4-6 classes provide an entry or repeat level writing class for G4-6 students as well as for older students who are reluctant writers, have minimal writing skills, are reading below grade level, or those who wish to repeat IEW’s A Level curriculum for other reasons. Titles rotate each year.
LEVEL B Ancient History-based - G6-9 classes provide a more advanced IEW experience for students who are reading at grade level, and also for high school students with minimal previous writing instruction. These classes help students meet high school transcript requirements for an English composition class (before taking high school literary analysis classes).

Students taking writing with IEW’s Frontiers Level A class will learn to write with “Structure and Style” method, covering 9 Units. This course is recommended by IEW for G3-5, and suitable for students taking IEW for the first time and for students repeating Level A for additional writing experience and greater confidence. Students G3 who enjoyed and confidently completed an IEW Primary Level course such as Bible Heroes, may also find Frontiers to be a comfortable option. In this theme-based writing curriculum, students will write about intriguing topics such as Halley’s Comet, the Mona Lisa, the Wild West, and other interesting subjects. Class instruction and assignments will be tailored to the students' ages and abilities as needed for a positive and successful writing experience. Teachers provide feedback on student papers for encouragement and guidance. Meeting each student at his or her level of writing proficiency to develop skills at the student’s pace is fundamental. Each year HSFM rotates IEW titles for the G4-6 class so students can take additional Level A courses before moving on to Level B courses designed for G6-8.

NOTE – Due to the high demand for the G4-6 class at 10:15, an additional class may be offered using IEW’s Investigations Level B course. Older or repeat students may welcome this title as a stepping stone before taking HSFM’s G6-9 IEW writing classes with IEW’s History-based courses. Interested families for either Frontiers or Investigation can register for the G4-6 Frontiers class with the option to bump up to the Investigations class should class numbers warrant the additional class.
Registration Fee: $315/year (26-week schedule)
Material Fee: $50/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Student Workbook – “Frontiers in Writing” by IEW included

Grammar & Spelling Review Packets & Supplements

Language Arts with Greek & Latin Roots - G4-8

"Get to the Root of It” is a curriculum with Book 1 and Book 2 options (provided with material fee) and alternate every-other-year on the schedule. The two-year curriculum is not sequential so students can begin in either year and take the class for one or both years. The English language is derived from Greek and Latin roots. Students who recognize these roots are especially equipped to decode unfamiliar words they encounter in science, literature, and math. Each week, students are introduced to three Greek or Latin roots and ten related vocabulary words by means of a power point presentation and a weekly homework packet with engaging sketch/doodle pages that help the students retain meanings. Class activities reinforce the meaning and usage of the roots and words introduced. Word sorts, Bingo, Go Fish, sketch pages, and a variety of group and hands-on activities provide fun and engaging practice. In addition to teaching Greek and Latin Roots, this course includes daily "Five-a-Day" packets which provide practice in grammar, parts of speech, and word usage with analogies. The "Five-a-Day" review curriculum was written to teach, review, and prepare students for standardized tests in ELA (English Language Arts). Acquiring meaningful vocabulary based on roots and gaining confidence in proper grammar are essential skills that prepare students for writing success, and enhanced reading comprehension in other subjects as well.
Registration Fee: $315/year (26-week schedule)
Material Fee: $40/year
Materials purchased by HSFM provided for your student:

"Get to the Root of It" curriculum with weekly homework packets (incl. sketch pages)
"Five-a-Day" weekly ELA review packets
Instructional materials and class supplies

Recommended Text or Supplies (provided by the family):

A set of colored pencils.

TBD

Writing w/IEW
Ancient History-based Writing- G6-9

2025-26 HSFM Scope & Sequence for writing classes using IEW curriculum, based on IEW recommendations:

PRIMARY Bible Heroes - G2-4 classes provide an entry level writing class for primary grades, and can be repeated as needed.
LEVEL A Frontiers- G4-6 classes provide an entry or repeat level writing class for G4-6 students as well as for older students who are reluctant writers, have minimal writing skills, are reading below grade level, or those who wish to repeat IEW’s A Level curriculum for other reasons. Titles rotate each year.
LEVEL B Ancient History-based - G6-9 classes provide a more advanced IEW experience for students who are reading at grade level, and also for high school students with minimal previous writing instruction. These classes help students meet high school transcript requirements for an English composition class (before taking high school literary analysis classes).

Students will learn to improve their writing skills while exploring famous places and events in ancient history. The writing assignments will include all 9 Units of “Structure and Style” method. Instruction and supplemental materials teach students how to write strong, well-crafted paragraphs. Teachers provide feedback on student papers for encouragement and guidance. Meeting each student at his or her level of writing proficiency to develop skills at the student’s pace is fundamental. The primary goal of the course is to increase mastery of writing structure and style for writing paragraphs and essay compositions as presented in the IEW curriculum. Sparking each student’s interest and adding understanding of significant events and people in ancient history is an added feature of IEW’s history-based writing curriculum. History-based writing curriculum may complement a student’s history curriculum and the G4-8 Art Around the World class. Each year HSFM rotates IEW titles for the G6-9 class so students can take additional Level B courses before moving on to high school literary analysis English classes.
Registration Fee: $330/year (29-week schedule)
Material Fee: $60/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

IEW Ancient History-based Writing workbook
IEW’s Student Resource Notebook

Required Text or Supplies (provided by family):
IEW workbook and handouts included with material fee.

TBD

Language Arts with Literature - G6-9

Engaging literature helps students learn to think critically about books, stories, & poems, as well as the devices that make each piece effective & enjoyable. Approachable writing assignments for Jr. high that are relevant to the selected literature will give students a confident boost before high school literature classes. Reading good books improves a student’s reading comprehension, but also helps them engage in the process of literary analysis where they learn to explore an author’s purpose, message, theme, conflicts within a story, plot, and a personal reflection. Students’ core language arts skills are improved such as vocabulary and grammar; and students also grow in their listening and communication skills through captivating teacher-lead discussions. Curriculum and book lists will be provided (coming soon), with the goal for developing a student’s enjoyment and appreciation of good books.
Registration Fee: $330/year (29-week schedule)
Material Fee: TBD
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Various handouts, worksheets and instructional resources

Recommended Text or Supplies (provided by the family):

Mrs. Stephanie Olin holds a Ryan Single Subject K-12 teaching credential. She majored in Physical Education and minored in Biology at CSULB, then became the assistant director of the employee health and fitness center for the school district. She also taught elementary PE and Jr. High Science & Health for seven years. In previous years, Mrs. Olin has taught high school biology lab, high school Anatomy, and AIG's God's Design for Life and AIG's Heaven & Earth Science. HSFM families have appreciated her heart for the Lord and her desire to see each student love learning. She homeschooled her son and daughter from 2006 to 2015 and is an avid gardener and outdoor athlete who enjoys biking, hiking, kayaking, photography, jewelry design, and metalsmithing.

Write Shop 1 - G7-10

WriteShop's incremental writing program contains step-by-step assignments that give students the opportunity to practice descriptive, informative, and narrative writing assignments. No prior writing course is required and students who have taken other writing courses will benefit from additional instruction on the writing process with concrete “skill building” exercises and straightforward writing assignments that help students master the types of writing covered in WriteShop 1. Students will practice grammar skills, apply them to their current writing project, and edit and revise their compositions. Evaluation checklists for each assignment are completed by both the student and teacher and provide the means for weekly improvement. The publisher recommends that students begin with Write Shop 1, unless they have previously established a solid foundation in writing paragraphs with descriptive, informative, and narrative writing. Write Shop 2 progresses much more quickly than Write Shop 1, with an emphasis on persuasion and essays, and it is more appropriately suited for students who have already taken WriteShop 1 or other comprehensive writing program. Students G11-12 with academic discipline and the aptitude to quickly grasp the WriteShop editing process, and who are committed to completing weekly assignments on time, may consider taking WriteShop 2 in order to receive instruction in persuasion and the 5-paragraph essay needed before graduation. Please note that most students will need some parental oversight and management in submitting rough drafts and/or final copies each week. The workload is realistic and doable each week as long as students keep with the schedule and do not fall behind. Mrs. Olin will help each student succeed, and requires that students are committed to completing and submitting assignments on time. This is a very rewarding class and enables faithful students to excel in their writing abilities. Additional information about the curriculum can be viewed on the Write Shop website: www.writeshop.com
Registration Fee: $345/year (29-week schedule)
Material Fee: $60/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Write Shop 1 notebook and instructional materials.

WriteShop 2 - G8-12

WriteShop's incremental writing program contains step-by-step assignments that give students the opportunity to develop a solid foundation in the writing process that will prepare students for high school level writing as well as standardized and SAT testing. According to the authors, “Writeshop 2 offers more challenging assignments than WriteShop 1 such as descriptive narration, point of view, narrative voice, persuasion, and introduction to 5-paragraph essays (including timed essays). The publisher recommends that students begin with Write Shop 1, unless they have a previous foundation in descriptive, informative, and narrative writing. Write Shop 2 progresses more quickly than Write Shop 1 and can be challenging for students who are not adequately prepared. This course is more appropriately suited for students who have previously taken WriteShop 1 or other comprehensive writing program, or who are G11-12 with academic discipline and aptitude to quickly grasp the WriteShop editing methods. Both WriteShop 1 & 2 focus on the writing process with concrete “skill building” exercises and straight forward writing assignments. Students will practice grammar skills and apply them to their current writing project, and will edit and revise their compositions. Evaluation check lists for each assignment are completed by both the student and teacher and provide the means for weekly improvement. Please note that most students will need parental oversight and management in turning in various rough drafts and final copies each week. The workload is realistic and feasible each week as long as students keep with the schedule and do not fall behind. Mrs. Olin will help each student succeed, and requires that students are committed to completing assignments on time with parental supervision as needed. This is a very rewarding class and enables faithful students to excel in their writing abilities. Students who have not taken WriteShop1 previously will need to be approved by the instructor to ensure the student is prepared to succeed in WriteShop 2. Additional information about the curriculum can be viewed on the Write Shop website: www.writeshop.com

Registration Fee: $345/year (29-week schedule)
Material Fee: $60/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Write Shop 2 notebook and instructional material.

Mrs. Christine Sheppard received her B.S. degree in marketing in 1991 from the University of Maryland and later received her M.A. in Spiritual Psychology, and PsyD in Counseling. Mrs. Sheppard did not know the Lord in her youth, but accepted Jesus in her late twenties. Since that time, she has been grateful for opportunities to grow in God’s grace along with her husband, and to be homeschooling their son so he too can become grounded in God’s Word and his faith in Jesus. She currently serves as a group leader for CCPSP and spends time as a team leader for youth camps through Calvary Baptist, our host church. Since 1995 she has worked as a business and training consultant. She enjoys working with adults and teens and has coached both ages in triathlon and endurance sports, having completed multiple triathlons, including iron distance races. During her time as an HSFM mother, she has been a class helper for various classes, experienced the different teaching styles on campus, and is welcoming the opportunity to teach our high school students this year.

College, Career & Vocational Writing - HS

aka Writer’s Workshop
Although writing a formal essay for academic purposes can be an intimidating assignment, everyone is faced with various writing tasks throughout life. This class will provide practical writing assignments that improve writing skills whether for college prep, or for personal, vocational, ministerial, or professional purposes. This class will focus on developing critical thinking skills and the “7 C’s of effective writing: Clear, Concise, Concrete, Complete, Courteous, Coherent, & Constructive. Writing workshops will help students develop strong paragraphs, short persuasive & narrative essays, informational & technical writing, along with manageable projects that give students the opportunity to practice the 7 C’s of writing. Learning to write a narrative essay is a practical skill for college or work applications. Practicing the art of persuasion improves one’s ability to influence others and negotiate effectively. Even informational writing is more effective when utilizing the 7 C’s of communication for memos, emails, letters, business communications, and social media posts. Writing mechanics will improve throughout the course as students enjoy the writing process through a variety of practical college prep, business, and practical life applications. This class is not a literary analysis class, and any literature selections (limited) will be used to facilitate particular writing skills such as persuasion.
Registration Fee: $345/year (29-week schedule)
Material Fee: TBD

Various handouts, worksheets and instructional resources

Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

TBD

World Literature - HS

College-Prep and General Ed options available
The World Literature class includes a selection of whole books with themes and topics that complement the study of world history, and consists of four major components: reading, class discussion, response essays, and various other assignments.  Families desiring a lighter workload can choose to complete assignments tailored for a general-ed transcript course.
This course places great emphasis on independent reading and assignments that aid the student in literary analysis. Accordingly, class-time must be very focused and productive. Students are provided with questions, engagements, and topics to keep in mind while completing the reading assignments and preparing for class discussions. Instructional materials and study guides help students analyze literature and identify literary devices used in each story. By completing the weekly reading assignments at home, students are prepared for class discussions. Participating in class prepares students to write responses to the literature.  Throughout the year, students are given constructive feedback, so writing skills improve over time.  Instruction in the writing process related to the literature may include descriptive, informative, narrative, character analysis, compare and contrast, and persuasive essays.
Students wishing to cover corresponding world history lessons and assignments will benefit from enrolling in the World History class (see World History high school course description). While students are not required to take both courses simultaneously, concurrent enrollment will ensure that both history and literature are adequately covered for transcript purposes. The reading for World Literature illustrates pivotal moments in Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman history, and also more modern periods in Russian and German history. The literature selections also provide insight into African, Indian, English, and Canadian cultures. The reading list includes (but not limited to):  The Cat of Bubastes by G.A. Henty; Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare; The Children's Homer by Padraic Colum; A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling; Animal Farm by George Orwell; Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan; The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom; The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba; or other assigned selections. Instructions or links for purchasing the books will be provided, so families can place orders through Amazon or other distributors; and in some cases, options to be included on group orders may become available.
Registration Fee: $345/year (29-week schedule)
Material Fee:  $60/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Various study guides, worksheets and instructional resources including but not limited to Progeny Press.
HSFM Literature Notebook with worksheets, outline templates, writing resources, and guidelines for Literary Analysis ($10 credit for students re-using their notebook from a previous HSFM HS Literature class)

Recommended Text or Supplies (provided by family):

Students will need to purchase or borrow literature books according to the course outline which will be provided by the instructor.

American Literature - HS

College-Prep and General Ed options available.
The American Literature class includes the reading of classic and award-winning literature by American authors, and students are guided in thinking analytically for the writing process. Families desiring a lighter workload can choose to complete assignments tailored for a general-ed transcript course.
As the students read various selections from American literature, they will not only learn how to analyze the material, but will also develop critical thinking skills. Through literary analysis worksheets, they become increasingly familiar with genre, setting, major and minor themes, tone, point of view, and the elements of the plot such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Students learn to identify literary devices such as motifs, symbols, metaphor, simile, foreshadowing, suspense, imagery, irony, humor, and more. The construction of five-paragraph literary analysis essays is taught and students learn to express their understanding and opinions. In order to foster confidence in writing, each student begins at their writing level and receives positive reinforcement of their work while being shown step-by-step how to improve. Students learn how to recognize the world view of the author, and how it serves to evidence itself within the literary work. The course includes approximately 5-8 literary classics such as (but not limited to): Up from Slavery, Tom Sawyer, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, The Giver, Fahrenheit 451, and selected classic American poems and short stories. Thought provoking class discussions inevitably point students toward the Lord and a Biblical worldview. Instructions or links for purchasing the books will be provided so families can place orders through Amazon or other distributors; and in some cases, options to be included on group orders may become available.
Although not required, students studying American literature are encouraged to also enroll in the American history class using the text, Exploring American History by Notgrass. The publisher describes the curriculum as “an American history high school curriculum combining American history, American literature, and Bible”. However, HSFM history and literature classes are offered separately for high school transcript credits.
Registration Fee: $345/year (29-week schedule)
Material Fee: $60/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Various study guides, worksheets and instructional resources including but not limited to Progeny Press.
HSFM Literature Notebook with worksheets, outline templates, writing resources, and guidelines for Literary Analysis ($10 credit for students re-using their notebook from a previous HSFM HS Literature class)

Recommended Text or Supplies (provided by family):

Students will need to purchase or borrow literature books according to the course outline which will be provided by the instructor.

TBD

British Literature - HS

While reading selections from each of the literary periods in British history, students will not only gain a better understanding as to why the literary piece is relevant but how the culture and literature has impacted civilization. They will learn how to analyze the material, while developing critical thinking skills. Literary analysis worksheets will serve to help the students become increasingly familiar with genre, setting, major and minor themes, tone, point of view, and the elements of the plot such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. The students will identify literary devices such as motifs, symbols, metaphor, simile, foreshadowing, suspense, imagery, irony, humor, and more. Essays in the form of a five-paragraph literary analysis will be assigned in which the students will express their understanding and opinions of the books. In order to foster confidence in writing, each student will be met at their writing level and receive positive reinforcement of their work while being shown step-by-step how to improve. The students will learn how to recognize the world view of the author, and how it serves to evidence itself within the literary work. Students will read literary classics such as (but not limited to): Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, Frankenstein, A Study in Scarlet, Jane Eyre, Oliver Twist, and The Screwtape Letters, along with selected poems and essays. Of course, there will be thought provoking class discussions, and the literature will always be used to point toward our glorious God. Instructions or links for purchasing the books will be provided so families can place their own orders through Amazon or other distributors; and in some cases, options to be included on group orders may become available.
Registration Fee: $345/year (29-week schedule)
Material Fee: $60/year
Materials provided by HSFM (through Material Fee):

Various study guides, worksheets and instructional resources including but not limited to Progeny Press.
HSFM Literature Notebook with worksheets, outline templates, writing resources, and guidelines for Literary Analysis ($10 credit for students re-using their notebook from a previous HSFM HS Literature class)

Recommended Text or Supplies (provided by family):

Students will need to purchase or borrow literature books according to the course outline which will be provided by the instructor.