Language Arts
LANGUAGE ARTS
Lit Classes with 3 Cycles: 2024-2025 will be a Cycle A year.
Lit Classes with 2 Cycles: 2024-2025 will be a Cycle B year.
Younger Five in a Row (FIAR) - Grades K4-K6
Teacher: Jennifer Ervin
The Younger Five In A Row class at HELP utilizes the curriculum written by Jane Claire Lambert, a successful Homeschool teacher with more than 17 years of experience.
Younger Five in a Row is a 24 week class similar to our Five in a Row course that will cover Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Math and Science while introducing the student to classical children's literature. Each class will include a time to discover the setting of the story and find the location on a map, a discussion about the characters and setting of the story, plus considering how the problems in the story were solved and the life lessons we can learn from them. The complete program will provide the students with a unit-study approach to early education that will help them fall in love with learning. This specific class was designed for K4-K6 students. The books for this class will be different from the ones used in our other Five in a Row class allowing for a student to take the Five in a Row program for 3 years.
Annual Tuition and Class Fee: $250/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
Five in a Row (FIAR) - Grades K-3rd
Teacher: Jacquie Palazzolo
The Five In A Row class at HELP utilizes the curriculum written by Jane Claire Lambert, a successful Homeschool teacher with more than 17 years of experience.
FIAR is a two year course that will cover Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Math and Science while introducing the student to classical children's literature. Each class will include a time to discover the setting of the story and find the location on a map, a discussion about the characters and setting of the story, plus considering how the problems in the story were solved and the life lessons we can learn from them. The complete program will provide the students with a unit-study approach to early education that will help them fall in love with learning.
Annual Tuition and Class Fee: $250/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
Preparatory IEW for Younger Students (Pre-IEW)- Grades 3rd-5th
Teacher: Brandy Hopper
The wonderful Institute for Excellence in Writing program offerdat a much slower pace. We will cover 12 writing elements over the 24 weeks of classes focusing on one requirement for two weeks. The students will learn how to develop a keyword outline utilizing the basic IEW outline over the course of the year. They will be introduced to six "dress ups" and seven "sentence openers." A new writing assignment will be presented each week. This class will prepare your younger student for introductory IEW.
Annual Tuition and Class Fee: $270/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
Introductory IEW - Grades 4th-8th
Teacher: Mariellen Rechtin
This class will have a two year cycle
This beginning intro to Andrew Pudewa's Institute for Excellence in Writing program (IEW) focuses on STRUCTURE and STYLE. As the students move more slowly through the different units, they will learn the Keyword outline model (structure) for all types of writing, and they will also learn a variety of stylistic techniques to add interest and personal voice. This is a slower paced class. Students begin by reconstructing existing source texts and the stress of creating a work from scratch is eliminated.
Annual Tuition and Class Fee: $270/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
IEW--Institute for Excellence in Writing - Grades 4th-8th
Teacher: De Forbin or Mariellen Rechtin
Andrew Pudewa's Institute for Excellence in Writing program (IEW) focuses on STRUCTURE and STYLE. As the students move through the different units, they will learn the models (structures) for all types of writing, and they will also learn a variety of stylistic techniques to add interest and personal voice. Because they begin by reconstructing existing sourcetexts, the stress of creating a work from scratch is eliminated. *Introductory IEW is not a prerequisite, but it is recommended.
Annual Tuition and Class Fee: $270/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
Complete IEW-- Grades 6th-8th
Teacher: Baylee Jackson
Complete IEW is for the student who has completed the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) class and is ready to concentrate on the many different outlines and styles of writing that Andrew Pudewa's Institute for Excellence in Writing advocates. The keyword outline and stylistic techniques will be briefly reviewed before diving into story and report outlines with an emphasis on creative writing as well. Prerequisite - IEW Parents need to purchase the Institute For Excellence In Writing Bible Based Writing Lessons, ISBN 978-0-9801005-9-4
Annual Tuition and Class Fee: $270/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
More Than a Book Club - Grades 4th-8th
Teacher: Sarah Clarke
This literature circle will be a great opportunity for both avid and reluctant readers to broaden their horizons while reading, learning to analyze, and discussing excellent classic and modern children’s literature. Increasing important reading skills and igniting a love for reading will be the focus of this class. Reading great literature builds excellent writers and skilled communicators. It offers readers the ability to learn ANYTHING needed as long as one is not intimidated by the act of reading.
This laid-back and more informal approach to “studying” literature will still include touching on basic building blocks such as elements of a story, point of view, and other literary devices. While a bulk of the class will rely on reading (in class and out of class) and discussing what we read, there will also be expectations for some basic expressions of ideas. These might include simple in-class reading responses, participation in group discussion and notebooking opportunities. Homework, outside of reading, will be minimal or optional based on parent preferences. We'll be doing at least one end of year project as a final response, and playing Jeopardy throughout the year to test our skills.
I've worked hard to select books (I pre-read every one!) that I feel will provide good discussion, while capturing our minds and hearts. We won’t purposefully avoid hard subjects, but good quality children’s literature knows just how much information to offer a child in a way that respects the reader’s ability to grapple with tough topics while at the same time not talking down to him/her just because of age. We will explore a combination of novels, illustrated children’s books and poetry. These will be the books utilized for this class that the parents need to provide: Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park, Bridge to Terebithia, by Katherine Patterson, Beyond the Bright Sea, by Lauren Wolk
Parents will need to purchase these books for the class or check them out from the library. A linked list will be sent in email to all parents of registered students.
Cycle A: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Words on Fire, Island of the Blue Dolphins, and Restart
Cycle B: Swallows and Amazons, A Long Walk to Water, Bridge to Terebithia, Beyond the Bright Sea
Lit Classes with 2 cycles: 2024-2025 will be a Cycle B year.
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $250/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
Younger Junior Literature - Grades 3th-5th
Teacher: Brandy Hopper
This class designed for the younger student uses exciting and adventurous books to stimulate students to fall in love with literature. Students will learn literary concepts such as hero and heroine, metaphors, and simile as they analyze each book, and comprehension questions for basic literature understanding. the exciting books that will be used for this course are:
Cycle A: Mary Poppins, Cricket in Times Square, The Sword in the Tree, Charlotte's Web, Sign of the Beaver, Whipping Boy
Cycle B: Minstrel in the Tower, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Door in the Wall, Farmer Boy, Sarah Plain & Tall, Greastest Christmas Pageant Ever
Lit Classes with 2 cycles: 2024-2025 will be a Cycle B year.
Parents will need to purchase these books for the class or check them out from the library.
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $250/$40
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
Junior High Composition & Literature - Grades 7th-8th
Teacher: Baylee Jackson
This class is designed to challenge and enrich the Christian mind. This will be a two semester program which will include a literary analysis of classic works. Total Language Plus and Progeny Press study guides are used as a touchstone for class discussion, vocabulary, and essay themes. Reading classical literature paves the way for composing meaningful essays. The vocabulary broadens and enhances communication skills. All essays are presented using The Institute For Excellence in Writing structure and style techniques. The students will be required to complete a research paper following the same format. Logic and light rhetoric will be introduced as the students engage in debate. The class will study the following books, which will be provided for you:
Lit Classes with 2 cycles: 2024-2025 will be a Cycle B year.
Cycle A: Amos Fortune, Free Man, Number the Stars, Treasure Island, The Bronze Bow, Redwall, Wrinkle in Time
Cycle B: Johnny Tremain, Biography of George Washington, Across Five Aprils, Out of the Dust, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $375/$80
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 16 Weeks
High School
High School Nothing but Writing - Grades 9th-12th
Teacher: Heather Rosewell
Explore different styles and types of writing and refine your writing skills! This course will focus on nothing but writing! Students will learn proper mechanics and syntax for compositions as this is foundational to writing. Structures for all types of writings will be taught to the students. Some of the types of expository writings that will be covered this year besides the basic essay will include classification, exposition of a process, and the essay answer. Other types of writings to be taught in this course will include some of the following: character sketch, type sketch, and other creative works. The second half of the year, the steps in preparing and documenting a research paper will be presented to the students for them to complete a research paper of their own. Students will have ample opportunity to master grammatical concepts and become more proficient writers. Writers INC : A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning ISBN-1a0: 066952994X
- ISBN-13: 978-0669529944 (hardback) required text for class.
- ISBN-10: 0-669-52995-8 (paperback)
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $375/$40
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 16 Weeks
High School Composition & Literature - Grades 9th-12th
Teacher: Baylee Jackson
Lit Classes with 4 Cycles: 2024-2025 will be a Cycle C year.
Cycle A: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Red Badge of Courage, The Scarlet Letter, The Yearling, The Great Gatsby
Cycle B: Swiss Family Robinson, Hiding Place, Christmas Carol, Heart of Darkness, Julius Caesar, Great Expectations
Cycle C: Tale of Two Cities, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Fahrenheit 451, Merchant of Venice, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Jane Eyre
Cycle D: Animal Farm, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Things Fall Apart, Frankenstein, The Alchemist, and a unit on short stories
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $375/$95
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 16 Weeks
Notgrass High School Composition & Literature - Grades 9th-12th
Virtual Tuesdays 10:15-11:15 (Fall semester 12 weeks---Spring Semester 16 weeks)
Teacher: Gwyn Stout
(Can be taken in conjunction with Notgrass US History)
HELP is offering virtual classes on Tuesday mornings facilitated by Gwyn Stout using Notgrass curriculum. This course is inclusive of 1 year credit in high school U.S. History, Language Arts, and Bible (if parents choose to complete this part at home). Studies have shown that students who are presented with a concept through different disciplines tend to understand and remember the information more completely. We will only be offering the history and language arts portions. They can be taken together or separately. Each class will require approximately 1 hour of work per day.
High School Composition & Literature: This one-year course provides one credit in Language Arts. Your student will gain a rich understanding of our World's history by reading the history narrative and primary source documents about the issues and ideas in history. This class will provide and experiential approach to World History while learning the concepts and facts.
The student will read classic works of American literature including novels, short stories, essays and poetry. How the literature reflects the historical settings of the works is a particular emphasis. The student will also have several writing assignments using the historical issues in the various periods of American history and an option. The writing assignments take several forms including essays, editorials, and letters. There will be a research paper assigned during the second semester. This class will provide one credit in English Language Arts.
Class Time: Tuesdays 10:15-11:15 via Google Classroom
In August, your student will be receiving an email to accept and create a password for a Google email and join our Google Classroom. The only way your student will be able to access the classroom will be using this assigned Gmail address. This is Google’s way of keeping the classroom safe. After your student is in the Google Classroom, parents will get an email to enroll as guardians.
If you would like a more holistic approach to your high schooler’s education you are encouraged to also enroll in the virtual US History course that will follow that precedes this Composition & Literature course. The first class will be High School American History using the Notgrass Curriculum. It is comprehensive, giving students a survey of events and issues from European exploration to the war on terror, with extensive coverage of the 20th century. The students will survey American history from the time of the Native Americans and first European explorers to the administration of Barack Obama. (Please click here for more details) Class Time: Tuesdays 9:00-10:00 (Fall Semester 12 weeks--Spring Semester 16 weeks)
Lit Classes with 2 Cycles: 2024-2025 will be a Cycle B year.
Cycle A: The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne), Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (Frederick Douglass), Co. Aytch (Sam Watkins), To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee), The Giver (Lois Lowry)
Cycle B: Heroes of History: Davy Crockett (Janet & Geoff Benge), Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe), Across Five Aprils (Irene Hunt), Miracle in the Hills (Mary T. Martin Sloop and LeGette Blythe), Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Mildred Taylor)
- Parents are responsible to purchase these titles or borrow from the library. Links are provided for recommended editions. For more information or to purchase the whole literature package click here but we will not be reading all of the novels.
- Each student will also need a copy of the Notgrass American Voices (part of the US History set). If your child is only taking the Composition & Literature class and you are unable to find a cheap copy or would prefer not to buy one, that is ok. Please let Mrs. Stout know.
- Students will also need a computer/laptop with camera and microphone. iPad will work but they are a bit more challenging to maneuver through Google Classroom
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $280/$40
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 16 Weeks
Not offered 2024-2025
Junior Literature - Grades 5th-7th
Teacher: De Forbin
This class uses exciting and adventurous books to stimulate students to fall in love with literature. Students will learn literary concepts such as antagonist, protagonist, and climax as they analyze each book, and comprehension questions for basic literature understanding. The exciting books that will be used for this course are:
Cycle A: The Cay, Indian in the cupboard, The Secret Garden, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, Anne of Green Gables, Stone Fox
Cycle B: Crispin: The Cross of Lead, Magician's Nephew, Shiloh, Shadow of the Steeple
Cycle C: Where the Red Fern Grows, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Big Wave, Give Me LIberty, Holes, and The Horse and His Boy.
Lit Classes with 3 Cycles: 2022-2023 will be a Cycle B year.
Parents will need to purchase these books for the class or check them out from the library.
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $250/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
Preparatory IEW for Younger Students (Pre-IEW)- Grades 3rd-5th
Teacher: Anne Nelson
The wonderful Institute for Excellence in Writing program offerdat a much slower pace. We will cover 12 writing elements over the 24 weeks of classes focusing on one requirement for two weeks. The students will learn how to develop a keyword outline utilizing the basic IEW outline over the course of the year. They will be introduced to six "dress ups" and seven "sentence openers." A new writing assignment will be presented each week. This class will prepare your younger student for introductory IEW.
Annual Tuition and Class Fee: $270/$20
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
TOTAL IEW with Wordsmith-- Grades 6th-8th
Teacher : Margie Nesteroff
This is a 2 semester class that will cover the nine units of the Institute for Excellence in Writing syllabus. The IEW writing style and structure will be incorporated and developed covering all types of writing; creative writing with pictures, report writing, narrative essay writing, imitations of fables and fairytales, interest stories and critiques. The stylistic techniques will be developed using a writer's checklist for each weekly assignment. These invaluable writing tools can be applied to any type of writing and can be carried with you all through your educational career.
More Than a Book Club Sr. - Grades 8th-12th
Teacher: Sarah Clarke
This class will be a perfect way for both avid and reluctant readers to broaden their horizons while reading, analyzing and discussing excellent classic and modern middle grade/YA/Adult literature. Increasing important reading skills and igniting a love for reading will be the focus of this class. Great literature builds excellent writers and skilled communicators. Nobody can learn to write well if they can’t first appreciate the written word.
This laid-back and more informal approach to “studying literature” will still include learning about basic building blocks such as imagery, tone, theme, elements of a story, literary techniques, point of view, and other literary devices. While a bulk of the class will be based on a “Book Club” format, there will also be expectations for some basic expressions of ideas. These might include reader response games, participation in group discussion/ literary analysis and notebooking opportunities. Homework, outside of reading, will be minimal or optional based on parent and child preferences.
This class will offer reading challenge kits and reader response kits for interested teens who want more opportunities.
These will be the books utilized for this class that the parents need to provide: A Long Walk to Water, Brown Girl Dreaming, Tuck Everlasting, and Bud, Not Buddy.
Parents will need to provide the books for this class.
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $250/$30
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 12 Weeks
LITERATURE & COMPOSITION - Grades 11th-12th
Teacher: Lori Krull
Cycle A: Silas Marner, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Raven, Animal Farm, Beowulf, The Crucible
Cycle B: Tale of Two Cities, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Fahrenheit 451, Merchant of Venice, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Jane Eyre
Cycle C: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Tess of the D'Ubervilles, Macbeth, Emma, Robinson Crusoe, and In Pursuit of Wisdom.
Notgrass High School Composition & Literature - Grades 9th-12th
Virtual Tuesdays 10:15-11:15 (Fall semester 12 weeks---Spring Semester 16 weeks)
Teacher: Gwyn Stout
HELP is thinking outside the box for next year and we are going to offer 2 virtual classes Tuesday mornings facilitated by Gwyn Stout. We have decided to offer the Notgrass American History course. This course is inclusive of 1 year credit in high school American History, Language Arts, and Bible. Studies have shown that students who are presented with a concept through different disciplines, tend to understand and remember the information more completely. We will only be offering the history and language arts portions. They can be taken together or separately.
The first class will be High School American History using the Notgrass Curriculum. This one-year course provides credit in American history. Your student will gain a rich understanding of our nation's past by reading the history narrative and primary source documents about the issues and ideas in history. This class will provide and experiential approach to American History while learning the concepts and facts that have formed America. (Please click here for more details)
Class Time: Tuesdays 9:00-10:00
If you would like a more holistic approach to your high schooler’s education we encourage you to also enroll in the virtual Composition & Literature course that will follow the American History course.
The student will read classic works of American literature, from Calico Bush to The Giver. The literature includes novels, short stories, essays and autobiographies, memoirs, poetry, and hymns. How the literature reflects the historical settings of the works is a particular emphasis. The student will also have several writing assignments using the historical issues in the various periods of American history. The writing assignments take several forms including essays, editorials, speeches and letters. There will be a research paper assigned during the second semester.
Class Time: Tuesdays 10:15-11:15
The American Literature works that we will be reading this year are:
- The Scarlet Letter (Nathaniel Hawthorne)
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (Frederick Douglass)
- Co. Aytch (Sam Watkins)
- To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
- The Giver (Lois Lowry)
- Each student will also need a copy of the Notgrass American Voices (part of the American History set). If your child is only taking the Composition & Literature class and you are unable to find a cheap copy or would prefer not to buy one, that is ok. Please let Mrs. Stout know.
Parents are responsible to purchase these titles or borrow from the library. For more information or to purchase this whole set: https://notgrasshistory.com/collections/exploring-america/products/exploring-america-literature-package.
If you choose to take both the Notgrass American History and Notgrass Composition & Literature Class you can purchase the entire Exploring America bundle here:
https://notgrasshistory.com/collections/exploring-america/products/exploring-america-bundle
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $240/$40
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 16 Weeks
Notgrass High School Composition & Literature - Grades 9th-12th
(Can be taken in conjunction with Notgrass World History)
Virtual Tuesdays 10:15-11:15 (Fall semester 12 weeks---Spring Semester 16 weeks)
Teacher: Gwyn Stout
HELP is again going to offer 2 virtual classes Tuesday mornings facilitated by Gwyn Stout using Notgrass Exploring World History curriculum. This course is inclusive of 1 year credit in high school World History, Language Arts, and Bible. Studies have shown that students who are presented with a concept through different disciplines, tend to understand and remember the information more completely. We will only be offering the history and language arts portions. They can be taken together or separately. Each class will require approximately 1 hour of work per day.
High School Composition & Literature: This one-year course provides one credit in Language Arts. Your student will gain a rich understanding of our World's history by reading the history narrative and primary source documents about the issues and ideas in history. This class will provide and experiential approach to World History while learning the concepts and facts.
The student reads classic works of world literature including novels, short stories, plays, theological essays, biographies, memoirs, poetry, and hymns. Emphasis is placed on how the literature reflects the historical settings of the works. The student also has several writing assignments. Most of these are based on historical issues from the various periods of world history. The writing assignments take several forms, including essays, editorials, speeches, and letters. There will be a research paper assigned during the second semester.
Class Time: Tuesdays 10:15-11:15
If you would like a more holistic approach to your high schooler’s education we encourage you to also enroll in the virtual Composition & Literature course that will follow the American History course.
The first class will be High School World History using the Notgrass Curriculum. This one-year course provides one credit in World history. Your student will gain a rich understanding of our nation's past by reading the history narrative and primary source documents about the issues and ideas in history. This class will provide and experiential approach to World History while learning the concepts and facts. (Please click here (and scroll down) for more details)
Class Time: Tuesdays 9:00-10:00
The Literature works that we will be reading this year are:
- Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt (G.A. Henty), Dover Publisher
- A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens), Dover Thrift Edition
- The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom, Bantam Publisher
- Animal Farm (George Orwell), Signet Publisher
- Bridge to the Sun: A Memoir of Love and War (Gwen Terasaki)
- Each student will also need a copy of the Notgrass In Their Words (part of the World History set). If your child is only taking the Composition & Literature class and you are unable to find a cheap copy or would prefer not to buy one, that is ok. Please let Mrs. Stout know.
- Students will also need a computer/laptop with camera and microphone
Parents are responsible to purchase these titles or borrow from the library. Links are provided for recommended editions. For more information or to purchase this whole set: https://notgrasshistory.com/collections/exploring-america/products/exploring-america-literature-package.
Annual Tuition and Class Fees: $280/$40
Fall 12 weeks--Spring 16 Weeks