WAC Class Descriptions 2020-2021
English
Foreign Language
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Science
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Middle School Life Science
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High School Honors Physical Science (not offered in 2020-2021)
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High School Chemistry Lab (offered at Mrs. Taylor's home)
HS Credit Electives ​
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Intro to Computer Programming (1st semester for 16 weeks)
English
Intro to English- 1.5 hour class
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(Recommended for 6th – 8th grades)
Instructor: Jessica Evans
Email: jessicaevans1227@yahoo.com
Monday, 11:00-12:30
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Introduction to English will focus on the skills related to the process of writing, presenting original works in front of peers, English language grammar, and the nuts and bolts of attending a formal class. We will work our way through the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons, focusing on improving vocabulary, understanding grammar, structure, and stylistic techniques. Students will have daily grammar assignments using Easy Grammar. We will take a few breaks along the way to explore creative writing, poetry, and short stories.
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Text and materials list:
-The Gilgamesh Trilogy (By Ludmila Zeman)
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The Gilgamesh King
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The Revenge of Ishtar
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The Last Quest of Gilgamesh
-The Golden Goblet (By Eloise Jarvis McGraw)
-D` Aulaires` Book of Greek Myths (By Edgar and Ingri D` Aulaire)
-Who Was Alexander the Great (By Kathryn Waterfield)
-Detectives in Togas (By Henry Winterfield)
-The Bronze Bow (By Elizabeth George Speare)
-Just So Stories (By Rudyard Kipling)
-Choose a book from the Who Was Series, (Who Was King Tut?, Who Was Julius Caesar). Students will give oral and written reports on this book)
Easy Grammar, Grade 6, Student Workbook ISBN: 0936981466
Institute for Excellence in Writing's Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons, Student Book, ISBN: 978-1623412951
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Cost: $300 + $15 supply fee
Intermediate English -1.5 hour class
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(Recommended for 7th – 9th grades)
Instructor: Sarah Hood
Email: sarahelisabethhood@gmail.com
Monday, 11:00 - 12:30
Intermediate English—2020-2021
This class will focus on the main topics in English Language Arts including figurative language, structures, poetry, elements of literature, etc. Students will engage with these elements through in-depth novel studies while also analysing companion texts such as short stories and expository pieces. Writing will be a main focus of this class in having students demonstrate their analysis of these texts through in depth writing pieces properly using textual evidence to support their thesis/claim. Students will engage in cooperative discussions and will also complete classroom projects to be presented to the class. This course will require work outside of the class completed on Google Classroom. As a parent, you are welcome to adjust the assignments to meet the needs of your student, however, the student’s grade will reflect the instructor assigned work. You may assign an alternate grade to your own student’s transcript.
Text-Books:
Everything You Need to Ace English Language Arts by Workman Publishing
A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer within You by Ralph Fletcher
Grammar for Middle School: A Sentence-Composing Approach by Don KillGallon
Fiction Novels:
The Outsiders
Wonder
The Giver
A Christmas Carol
Non-Fiction Novels:
Brown Girl Dreaming (poetry)
I am Malala
Speeches:
John F. Kennedy’s Civil Rights Address
Martin Luther King Jr’s I have a Dream Speech
Poetry/Short Stories:
The Black Cat and Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Robert Frost selections
Gift of the Magi
Expository (Non-Fiction) selections of teacher’s choice as companion texts to the novels
Other short stories/poems supplemented within the course to enhance the novels
Plays:
A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream
The Diary of Anne Frank
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Cost: $300 + $15 supply fee
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HS Honors English 1/2 - 1.5 hour class
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Instructor: Sarah Hood
Recommended: 9th grade and up
Email: sarahelisabethhood@gmail.com
Monday, 8:00-9:30
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American Lit & Composition, Year One—2020-2021
The American Lit and Comp class is designed to expose students to the themes of major American writers from the Early Native American Era through post-World War 2. Students will enhance their note taking skills during brief lectures, practice their critical thinking and analytical skills through in-class and online, guided Socratic discussions about the texts and themes, work both cooperatively and individually to comprehend the texts, develop their language and writing skills through both literary analysis and argumentative papers, demonstrate their communication abilities by way of class presentations, and practice using an online learning management system by completing assignments on Google Classroom. This class’s content and pace are designed to be college preparatory. This course will require work outside of the class completed on Google Classroom. As a parent, you are welcome to adjust the assignments to meet the needs of your student, however, the student’s grade will reflect the instructor assigned work. You may assign an alternate grade to your own student’s transcript. Year two will focus on more modern novels and plays and include a special unit on Appalachian literature.
Grammar
Students will have grammar lessons and assignments posted through Google Classroom for weekly completion.
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See American Literature Reading List here
Tuition: $325 per year + $25 supply fee
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HS Honors English 3/4 - 1.5 hour class
Instructor: Sarah Hood
Recommended: 11th and 12th grades
Email: sarahelisabethhood@gmail.com
Monday, 9:30 - 11:00
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British Literature & Composition, Year ONE 2020-2021
This course is designed for the 11th or 12th grade student who can read more difficult texts independently and write well. We will be writing at least 4 essays per semester including in class assignments. Students will practice their critical thinking and analytical skills through in-class and online, analysis of the texts and themes, work both cooperatively and individually to comprehend the texts, further develop their language and writing skills through both literary analysis and argumentative papers, demonstrate their communication abilities by way of class presentations, and will keep up with an online learning management system by completing assignments on Google Classroom. Students will continue to improve their writing and thinking skills through both informal and formal assessments. This course will require students to spend about 6 hours per week outside of the class meeting time. Class time will be divided between brief lecture, large group discussion, small group discussion, writing instruction, and presentations.
British Literature Year Two will read 2 different Shakespeare plays and more modern British works.
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See British Literature Reading List here
Grammar
Students will have grammar lessons and assignments posted through Google Classroom for weekly completion.
Tuition: $325 per year + $25 supply fee
Science
Middle School General Science - 1.5 hr class
Instructor: Jessica Evans
Email: jessicaevans1227@yahoo.com
Recommended 6th grade and up
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Monday, 8:00 - 9:30
The first semester will be devoted to the history of science, scientific inquiry, analyzing and interpreting experiments, and the history of life including foundations of geology and the fossil record. The second semester will be focused on life science with an emphasis on the human body. Each semester will conclude with a final project.
Students will use a textbook for self-study during the week. Class time will be spent discussing concepts from the text and conducting experiments that illustrate those concepts. Students will be expected to keep a laboratory notebook and complete some work online. This will be an appropriate class for students to get accustomed to the expectations of a classroom environment and learn independent study skills.
Required Text: Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science (ed. TBD)
Tuition: $300 per year +$25 supply fee
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Middle School Life Science – 1.5 hr class
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Instructor: Jessica Evans
Email: jessicaevans1227@yahoo.com
Recommended: 7th grade and up
Monday, 9:30 - 11:00
Life Science is broken into 4 units (Cells and Heredity, Diversity of Living Things, Human Biology and Health, and Ecology). We will meet once a week for an hour and a half. We will cover 2 units per semester, with each unit containing 6-7 chapters; the last unit will cover 3 chapters.
Students will use a textbook for self-study during the week. Class time will be spent discussing concepts from the text and conducting experiments that illustrate those concepts. Students will need to keep a laboratory notebook, complete some online work (when needed), and be responsible for keeping a notebook of class notes. This class will be appropriate for students who have completed a middle school science class previously (General Science or an equivalent). Students will be expected to know how to demonstrate appropriate class behavior and independent learning skills for assignments completed at home.
Required Text: Pearson (Prentice Hall )Science Explorer Life Science Student Textbook (fish on cover).
ISBN: 0-13-366859-2
Tuition: $300/year + $25supply fee
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High School Honors Physical Science- 1.5 hr class
Instructor: Kimberly Taylor
Recommended: High school
Prerequisite: Algebra 1 or taking Algebra 1 concurrently
Email: wacteachertaylor@gmail.com
Monday, 11:00 - 12:30
This course contains one semester of introductory Chemistry and one semester of introductory Physics. We will meet once a week for an hour and a half. There will be a concentration on developing the skills necessary to study high school science. We will be spending time learning how to take the multitude of information the text presents and break it down into manageable chunks for studying.
Course topics first semester will include: metric system, proper lab reports and experimental design, matter, atomic structure, the periodic table and chemical reactions. Second semester topics include: work, fluid mechanics, statics, dynamics, and energy. The course will explore these two disciplines using hands-on activities, projects, discussions, and applications. Students should expect to spend 3-4 hours per week outside of class time on assignments. No prerequisites are necessary, but concurrent enrollment in Algebra 1 is recommended.
Tuition is $325 per year + Supply fee $30
Required Text (finalized):
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Physical Science: Concepts in Action, by Wysession, Frank, and Yancopoulos. Prentice Hall. ISBN-13 # 978-0-13-362817-3
Please get the text WITHOUT earth science.
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2" binder with loose leaf paper, scientific calculator TI-30XIIS
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High School Honors Biology
Instructor: Kimberly Taylor
Recommended: 10 th grade
Email: wacteachertaylor@gmail.com
Monday, 9:30-11:00
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Prerequisites: There is no math component to this course. This course is typically taken after
physical science and before chemistry, but the order is flexible.
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This class will cover major concepts in high school biology as detailed in the Kentucky Academic
Expectations for Science as published by the Kentucky Department of Education. These
concepts include: basic cell structure, osmosis, diffusion, photosynthesis, classification, Kreb’s
Cycle, glycolysis, transcription, translation, mitosis, evolution, and genetics. Although evolution
is a touchy subject, Mrs. Taylor feels it advantageous for her students to know the concepts so
they may successfully defend or refute them since they will be tested on them in
standardized college testing as well as encounter them in the college classroom---not just in
science classes. She will approach evolution using the textbook as well as a Christian
paperback, Case for a Creator, student edition.
The 2020-2021 school year will be different than normal because we are beginning online. In order to
have a successful experience in biology, class will be taught via Zoom sessions and videos on
Google Drive. First, Zoom sessions will take place during the “normal” class time of 9:30-11:00.
However, these sessions should only be around 30 minutes. The bulk of teaching will NOT be
done this way. This is to simply answer questions and re-affirm important points. The main
lecture will take place via video. A link to the Google Drive video will be sent each week and
these videos will be around an hour in length.
There will also be “office hours” on Zoom each week on Wednesday from 1:00-2:00 for
additional questions.
Finally, assignments, homework, quizzes, tests, and discussion questions will be on the learning
management system called Schoology. The beauty of this method is that you should NOT need
to print things. All assignments should be submitted, graded, and returned on Schoology.
At the end of the first semester, a major project includes a research paper and PowerPoint
presentation. Further information as to how this will be accomplished virtually will be supplied
as the time approaches.
Tuition: $325 per year + $30 communication fee (34 weeks)
Required Text and Materials (finalized):
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Biology, Pearson Prentice Hall, Miller and Levine ISBN# 0-13-036701-X
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Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel, student edition, ISBN# 0-310-24977-5
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Students will also need a binder with notebook paper and pencils
Any high school student is permitted to register.
If the corresponding lab is desired, Mrs. Taylor will be offering a separate Biology Lab class at her
home off Exit 99 (approx. 20-25 minutes from FUMC). See details in the description below.
High School Honor's Biology Lab (offered at Mrs. Taylor's home)
Instructor: Kimberly Taylor
Recommended: High school
Email: wacteachertaylor@gmail.com
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The lab will coordinate with the topics covered in the biology course taught at Wellspring Academic Center. However, it is NOT necessary to be enrolled in the academic center course to participate in the lab. We will examine enzymes, cell structures and processes, isolate DNA, do microscope work, and multiple dissections.
ALL materials will be supplied. However, students should bring a large shirt or lab coat. We will make messes---especially when dissecting!
Cost: $150 for the year (10 labs), must be paid in full in July
The lab will be held at the home of Mrs. Taylor (off Exit 99-approx. 20-25 minutes from FUMC) from 9-11 am on the following Wednesdays in 2020-2021 (tentative): 8/19/20, 9/16, 10/7, 11/4, 12/2, ,3/3/21, 3/24, 4/7, 4/21, 5/5. Upon registration, the address will be emailed to you.
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High School Chemistry Lab (offered at Mrs. Taylor's home)
Instructor: Kimberly Taylor
Recommended: 9th - 12th grades
Email: wacteachertaylor@gmail.com
Location: Mrs. Taylor's home
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This laboratory is designed to be taken concurrently with Chemistry. Lab experiments will reinforce concepts covered in the text. The student will gain experience in laboratory safety, proper equipment use, measurement, and studying chemical behaviors.
Prerequisites: Because there is a math component to this course, it is recommended that students have already completed an algebra course. Students who have already taken Chemistry I, but need to complete their high school lab requirement, may be admitted.
Required Text: There is no required text for this course.
Independent Study: Students can expect to have an average of 1-2 hrs of independent work to be completed at home each month. This time will be spent reading over the upcoming laboratory experiment, preparing a brief summary of the procedure before class, and completing a full laboratory report at the end of each experiment.
Cost: $150 for the year (10 labs), must be paid in full in July
The lab will be held at the home of Mrs. Taylor (off Exit 99-approx. 20-25 minutes from FUMC) from 9-11 am on the following Wednesdays in 2020-2021(tentative)*: 8/26/20, 9/23, 10/14, 11/11, 12/9, 3/17/21, 3/31, 4/14, 4/28, 5/12. Upon registration, the address will be emailed to you.
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*Please note: The above lab dates intentionally skip the winter months because much of this lab class will occur outdoors.
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Chemistry Lab Syllabus 2020-2021
Chemistry Lab Schedule 2020-2021
Foreign Language
Spanish I - 1.5-hour class
Instructor: Rebekah Nutter
Recommended: High school
Email: rebekah.nutterky@gmail.com
Monday, 9:30 - 11:00
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Spanish I is designed to give students a core group of vocabulary that they can use to communicate
quickly with others. Spanish I covers the simple present and present progressive tenses, and introduces
the past tense. The class is taught using the TPRS (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and
Storytelling) methodology. In each class, students will learn a set of key vocabulary words and phrases.
Class time is used to understand and use the vocabulary in context. Students then collaborate with the
teacher to create an original story using the vocabulary of the day. Student created stories usually
contain wild, imaginative, and improbable plot elements that make learning Spanish a lot of fun.
Students practice reading as they re-read their crazy stories. Short grammar explanations are
incorporated throughout the lesson. Homework will include activities and quizzes to practice the
vocabulary, grammar exercises to solidify grammar knowledge, and small group work to practice
speaking, reading, and translation. Assessments will include reading, writing, speaking, and listening
tasks to assess all 4 areas of language acquisition. We will be using the textbook “Cuéntame Más” ISBN#
978-0-9777911-0-1. I will provide a new textbook for each student, as well as a supplemental reader, as
part of the course supply fee. Therefore, no textbook purchase by students will be necessary. If you
have questions, feel free to email me.
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Tuition: $325 per year + $40 supply fee
Spanish II - 1.5 hour class
Instructor: Rebekah Nutter
Recommended: High school
Prerequisite: Spanish I
Email: rebekah.nutterky@gmail.com
Monday, 11:00 - 12:30
Spanish II is designed to build on the vocabulary and grammar introduced in Spanish I with Mrs. Duncan.
We will continue using the present and present progressive tenses and we will add the past and
conditional tenses. We will also begin working with the subjunctive mood. Vocabulary will be
expanded, with an emphasis on vocabulary and structures needed to tell about our own lives and carry
on conversations with native speakers. The methodology of the class will be the same as Spanish I,
TPRS (Teaching Reading through Reading and Storytelling). In-class activities include learning and
practicing using the vocabulary of the day with guided questions. Students collaborate to write a class
story that incorporates the new vocabulary (and previously learned vocabulary and grammar
structures.) New grammar is explained in the context of the story, and old grammar is reviewed and
reinforced by questions during the class. Homework will include vocabulary activities and quizzes,
additional readings, and grammar exercises. Students will also work in pairs or small groups (either in
person or online) to complete speaking and translation exercises. Students will also read at least 1 short
novel during the year. Spanish II assessments will include unit and semester assessments, with progress
reports given at mid-term and semester end.
PLEASE NOTE: Because this year students will be learning Spanish with a
new methodology, it is important to choose a text or learning materials wisely. Students registering for
Spanish II should contact me at rebekah.nutterky@gmail.com to set up a time for a zoom meeting. I will
make a final decision about the textbook based on my meetings with students. Any textbook or other
materials will be provided, so no textbook purchase is required.
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Tuition: $325 per year + $40 supply fee
WAC High School Credit Electives
Intro to Computer Programming-1.5 hour class (16 weeks)
Instructor: Brian Ramsay
Email: brian.ramsay@gmail.com
Recommended: 9-12th-grade students
When: Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:30, Fall 2020, Berea Makerspace (address and info will be shared with enrolled students)
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This course is an introduction to programming concepts using the Python programming language. Students will learn the building blocks of every computer program - variables, loops, conditionals, and functions, as well as complete a small project at the end of the semester. If students have their own ideas for projects they would like to attempt, Mr. Ramsay will try to make that possible.
- No prior math or programming experience is needed, as we will learn the basics of the Python language in class.
- Students should be comfortable using a mouse and keyboard, and with web browsing.
- Students should expect to spend 1-3 hours per week outside class working on projects or online lessons.
- Students who already have some experience with Python or another programming language are welcome. If they have taken this class once before they would benefit from taking it a second time (but probably not a third).
- A computer at home is required - a laptop the student can bring it to class is preferred, but we can work it out if that isn't possible. Windows, Mac, and Linux are all acceptable - a Chromebook will work for most exercises, but projects may require either another computer or a yet-to-be-determined workaround.
Tuition: $145 per semester + $25 supply fee (Supply fee is for the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express. If the student already has one, no supply fee is necessary.)
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Game Programming - 1.5 hours (16 week class)
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Instructor: Brian Ramsay
Email: brian.ramsay@gmail.com
Recommended: 9-12th-grade students
When: Wednesdays, 12;00 - 1:30, Spring 2021, Berea Makerspace (address and info will be shared with enrolled students)
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This course is an intermediate-level course in the Python programming language taught through video game creation. Students will learn about and manipulate data structures, learn the basics of object oriented programming, and implement event handling while creating and modifying video games on their own hand-held device! Game concepts covered may include the game loop, collision detection, sprites, pathing, etc.
- Students should have either taken the WAC Introduction to Programming class or have had some programming experience (be familiar with functions, loops, conditionals, variables, and Python syntax).
- Students should expect to spend 2-4 hours per week outside class working on projects or online lessons.
- A computer at home is required - a laptop the student can bring it to class is preferred, but we can work it out if that isn't possible. Windows, Mac, and Linux are all acceptable - a Chromebook will work for most exercises, but some projects may require either another computer or a yet-to-be-determined workaround.
Tuition: $145 per semester + $40 supply fee (Supply fee is for the Adafruit PyGamer. If the student already has one, no supply fee is necessary.)