Tomball Classes for Homeschoolers
Meeting at Tomball Bible Church
Course Descriptions 

Word in Season Classes - Debbie Qualls  Word in Season:  History * Literature * Composition    A Word in Season is a four-year high school unit study that approaches history, literature, and composition from a Christian perspective.  It focuses on primary sources (works written in the time we study), presenting challenging readings in history, religion, philosophy, and fiction. Students compare the philosophies of each period with the teachings of Scripture, and note the progress (or regress) of the church and spread of the gospel.  They analyze the literature to discern the worldview of the authors.  Weekly expository or creative papers are edited for tutorial instruction and returned for the student to rewrite. Curriculum written by Patricia McFarland; available on CD  Word in Season II:  HISTORY – ancient classical Greece and Rome in the fall; Medieval Times in the spring. LITERATURE – The Odyssey, Julius Caesar (Shakespeare), Antigone; portions of The Aeneid, Plato’s Republic, and writings by Julius Caesar, Pliney the Younger, John Foxe, and Plutarch, among others. Eagle of the Ninth for high interest.  For Medieval studies: Beowulf, “Song of Roland”, King Arthur legends, portions of Divine Comedy, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, and early folklore of Iceland, Germany, and Ireland. COMPOSITION – structured expository paragraphs, 1-3-1 essays.  Creative assignments in various formats.  Outlining and documentation.  Students keep a reading response journal.  Allow at least 6-8 hours weekly for assignments at home.   3 credit hours.  12:30– 3:30 Tuesdays $50 mo. /10 mos.  Word in Season III:  Renaissance/Reformation & Age of Reason (history and literature). These are a  few of the readings:  Biography of Martin Luther; Macbeth; Faerie Queene; portions of Utopia, In Praise of Folly,Don Quixote, The Prince.  Robinson Crusoe, Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Gulliver's Travels, She Stoops to Conquer; various readings from the Enlightenment writers. Curriculum CD with all the readings, one for each semester, available from Patricia McFarlane, the author. Students write various creative papers based on the history and literature they are studying. They continue with expository forms, writing several 5-paragraph essays and one 11-paragraph research essay.

Science classes – michelle lanz  

Earth Science – Michelle Lanz (7th-8th grades) – Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Physical Science - 2nd edition.  Note that this course alternates years with the Life Science class for 7^th and 8^th grades.  This course includes the study of God’s creations of astronomy, meteorology, geology and the hydrosphere. Each week the student will complete assigned reading and homework.  They will attend class once a week for an hour to turn in homework, ask questions and complete a laboratory investigation. The lab is designed to reinforce the concepts introduced that week. Tuition is $35 per month for 10 months and includes grading and laboratory materials.  There will be a one-time supply fee of $35 due at the beginning of the year. 

Physical Science – Michelle Lanz (9th grade) – Bob Jones The Physical World textbook and student lab manual – 1st  edition; DiveintoMath Physical Science CD. No book is required for this class as the instructor has a class set. This course introduces the student to the physical sciences in preparation for upper level laboratory courses. Each week the student will complete assigned reading and homework and listen to the CD lecture. They will attend class once a week for an hour and fifteen minutes to turn in homework, ask questions and complete a laboratory investigation. The lab is designed to reinforce the concepts introduced that week. Tuition is $40 per month for 10 months and includes grading and laboratory materials. There will be a lab fee of $25 due at the beginning of each semester. If paid at the beginning of the year, it will be $45 for the whole year.

Biology – Michelle Lanz (10th grade) – Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Biology, 2nd edition. This course is a college preparatory class. This course covers the science of life, organisms, and human life; and includes topics such as cell structures, genetics, Biblical creationism, zoology, human anatomy and physiology. .  Completion of this course and Biology II will prepare the student for the AP exam.   Each week the student will complete assigned reading and homework.  They will attend class once a week for an hour and fifteen minutes to turn in homework, ask questions and complete a laboratory investigation. The lab is designed to reinforce the concepts introduced that week. Tuition is $45 per month for 10 months and includes grading and laboratory sessions.  There will be a specimen fee of $25 due at the beginning of each semester.  If paid at the beginning of the year, it will be $45 for the whole year.

Biology II or Advanced Biology-- Michelle Lanz (11th or 12th grade) – Marieb’s Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology and the 9^th edition Anatomy and Physiology Coloring Workbook by Elaine N. Marieb.  Note that the student is only required to buy the coloring workbook as the instructor has a class set of the text for student use.  This course is considered an advanced biology course and is college preparatory.  It covers both the anatomy and physiology of the human body’s 11 organ systems.  This course will not only allow the student to take the college AP biology exam upon completion, but will also help the student to understand and implement a healthy lifestyle based on the body’s processes.  This course is probably one of the most practical courses that a student can take, and is also a great course for students that do not wish to continue the more mathematical science route of Chemistry and Physics.  Each week the student will complete assigned reading and homework.  They will attend class once a week for an hour and fifteen minutes to turn in homework, ask questions and complete a laboratory investigation. The lab is designed to reinforce the concepts introduced that week. Tuition is $45 per month for 10 months and includes grading and laboratory sessions.  There will be a specimen fee of $25 due at the beginning of each semester.  If paid at the beginning of the year, it will be $45 for the entire year.

Chemistry – Michelle Lanz (11th grade) – Bob Jones Chemistry Textbook, 3rd Edition and Lab Manual – 3rd edition and the Diveintomath Chemistry CD.  This course is a college preparatory class and allows the student to experience the chemistry they are learning in the laboratory setting. This course will teach concepts such as atomic structure, periodic properties, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, nomenclature, reactions, solutions, and kinetic theory. Laboratory procedure and techniques will be stressed.  Algebra II is a prerequisite (you must have taken it or be currently enrolled in it). Each week the student will complete assigned reading and homework and listen to the CD lecture. They will attend class once a week for an hour and fifteen minutes to turn in homework, ask questions and complete a laboratory investigation. The lab is designed to reinforce the concepts introduced that week. Tuition is $45 per month for 10 months and includes grading and laboratory sessions.  There is a laboratory fee of $25 due at the beginning of each semester.  If paid at the beginning of the year, it will be $45 for the entire year.

Physics – Michelle Lanz (12th grade) –Prentice Hall’s Conceptual Physics 2009 with CD, Conceptual Physics Reading and Study Workbook, Conceptual Physics Laboratory Manual.  This course is a college preparatory class. This course will teach concepts such as Newton ’s laws, statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, optics, waves, electromagnetics and special relativity. This book is designed to provide success with college physics, though it is also very appropriate for those students just desiring a physics overview. Laboratory procedure and techniques will be stressed.  Advanced math is a prerequisite (you must have taken it or be currently enrolled in it).   Each week the student will complete assigned reading and homework. They will attend class once a week for an hour and fifteen minutes to turn in homework, ask questions and complete a laboratory investigation. The lab is designed to reinforce the concepts introduced that week. Tuition is $45 per month for 10 months and includes grading and laboratory sessions.  A lab fee of $25 will be due at the beginning of each semester.  If paid at the beginning of the year, it will be $45 for the entire year.

Life Science – Michelle Lanz (7th-8th grades) – Bob Jones Life Science Text -  2nd edition.  Note that this course alternates years with Earth Science for the 7^th and 8^th grade students.  No book is required for this course as the instructor has a class set. This course includes science and its relationship to God’s Word and examines the attributes of life, classification, cells and Biblical creation. There will be concepts in botany, microbiology and zoology presented. Each week the student will complete assigned reading and homework.  They will attend class once a week for an hour to turn in homework, ask questions, and complete a laboratory investigation.  The lab is designed to reinforce the concepts introduced that week.  Tuition is $35 per month for 10 months and includes grading and laboratory materials.  There will be a one time supply fee of $35 due at the beginning the year.

Marine Biology - Michelle Lanz (11th or 12thgrade) – Apologia’s Marine Biology and The Marine Biology Coloring Book by Thomas M. Niesen.  This class is an advanced biology class and allows the student honors credit. This course will look at the many aspects of life in our world’s oceans.  Included will be the requirements of life in the sea, the ocean ecosystem, a review of the 1st 4 kingdoms, and an in-depth look at marine invertebrates and marine vertebrates.  Various saltwater communities including estuaries, intertidal zones, coral reefs, the continental shelf and the deep oceans will be studied.  We will conclude with the effects we have on the oceans.  Each week the student will complete assigned reading and homework.  They will attend class once a week for an hour and fifteen minutes to turn in homework, ask questions, and complete a laboratory investigation.  The lab is designed to reinforce the concepts introduced that week.  Tuition is $45 per month for 10 months and includes grading and laboratory sessions.  There will be a $25 lab fee due at the beginning of each semester.  If paid at the beginning of the year, it will be $45 for the entire year.

CONTACT MICHELLE at 281-795-1251 or email neblanz@hotmail.com

CLASSES TAUGHT BY KAREN   karen@handsuplifted.com
Visit www.handsuplifted.com for more information and a registration form.
Intro. to ASL (American Sign Language), Ages 6-12,  1 hr. class
This is a fun introductory course for students who would like to learn some basic conversational signs through games, signing to songs, role playing, skits, field trips and DVDs.  In addition to learning conversational vocabulary, the students will learn how to effectively communicate in ASL grammar through appropriate facial expressions, body language, body shifting, listing, and gesturing.  By the end of the school year, the students will have a foundation of ASL grammar and a conversational vocabulary of over 250 signs. 

No previous signing experience is needed.  There is no textbook.  To cover the cost of her handmade original curriculum, a minor $15 supply fee (non-refundable) will be added to the tuition per year per student .  Tuition $35 month or $160 each semester (If paid in full by 1^st day of class each semester.)  This is a year course.  (2^nd child can take the class for $30 month or $135 each semester (If paid in full by 1^st day of class each semester.).   

ASL I (American Sign Language I) – Ages 13-adult,  2 hr. class
NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
This is a fun way to earn your foreign language credit.  Even 7^th graders can use this fun curriculum as high school foreign language credit.  Since the curriculum, Signing Naturally I, is used by most high schools and accredited universities, one can earn dual college credit – credit through college examination.  The students will learn how to carry everyday conversations with a Deaf person, understand basic ASL grammatical rules (facial expressions, body language, body shifting/direct address, listing, eye gaze, classifiers, some mouth morphemes, and gesturing), begin learning sign to voice interpreting skills, develop an awareness of Deaf culture values, and sign a song translated into ASL. 

These objectives will be met through classroom instruction, role-playing, DVDs, games and field trips.  Very little talking will be permitted in class; most interaction between students and teacher is in ASL.  By the end of the year, the students will be able to converse in ASL for over two hours.  No previous signing experience needed.  There will be tests, presentations, and typed reports.  Requires 2 hours of studying per week.  Tuition $55 month or $250 each semester (If paid in full by 1^st day of class each semester.)  Texts $75 for DVD and workbook.  Only one DVD and workbook needed per family.  Supply fee $15 for year per student (non-refundable).  This is a year course.  (2^nd child and/or parents can take the class for $50 month or $225 each semester (If paid in full by 1^st day of each semester.)

ASL II (American Sign Language II )- Ages 13-adult, 2 hr. class
This class is a continuation of the American Sign Language I class (prerequisite ASL I or teacher approval by evaluation). We will continue our study and practice of conversational signing, ASL grammatical rules (including non-manual markers, classifiers, direct address, and gesturing), sign to voice interpreting skills, and knowledge of Deaf culture values.  Instead of signing songs translated into ASL, the students will each translate and present their own song in class.  In addition, we'll learn Christian vocabulary, develop additional numerical vocabulary (which is very elaborate in ASL), and begin learning voice to sign interpreting skills.  Communication in the classroom will be in ASL (both by the teacher and students).  

These objectives will be met through classroom instruction, role-playing, DVDs, games and field trips.  Very little talking will be permitted in class; most interaction between students and teacher is in ASL.  There will be tests, presentations, and typed reports.  Requires 2 hours of studying per week.  Tuition $55 month or $250 each semester (If paid in full by 1^st day of class each semester.)  Texts $75 for DVD and workbook.  Only one workbook and DVD needed per family.  Supply fee $15 for year per student (non-refundable).  This is a year course.  (2^nd child and/or parents can take the class for $50 month or $225 each semester (If paid in full by 1^st day of each semester.)

ASL III (American Sign Language III) – Ages 13-adult, 1.5 hr. class

This class is a continuation of the American Sign Language II class (prerequisite ASL II or teacher approval by evaluation).  We will continue our study and practice of conversational signing, ASL grammatical rules, interpreting skills, and Deaf culture.   The primary emphasis of this course is fivefold:  learning additional ASL strategies (along with its formal terminology), new vocabulary will be taught, retaining the grammar and vocabulary they have already learned, mouth morphemes are emphasized on a deeper level, and further development of voice to sign interpreting skills.

These objectives will be met through classroom instruction, role-playing, DVDs, games and field trips.  Very little talking will be permitted in class; most interaction between students and teacher is in ASL.  There will be tests, presentations, and typed reports.  Requires 1.5 hour of studying per week.  Tuition $45 month or $200 each semester (If paid in full by 1^st day of class each semester.)   No textbook fee.  We will continue using the same workbook and DVD from the ASL II class.  Supply fee $15 for year per student (non-refundable).  This is a year course.  (2^nd child and/or parents can take the class for $40 month or $185 each semester (If paid in full by 1^st day of each semester.)