Courses

Note: Although many of our teachers use a particular curriculum in their class, it is not our intention to replace your existing curriculum! We simply provide an organization to come together in one place for your convenience. Each teacher sets and collects his or her own registration, tuition and fees and is responsible for recording grades and issuing report cards on a regular basis.

Debate & Speech

Speech (Grades 7-12)
Instructor: Marlene Yousef

This course includes instruction in oral interpretation, the fundamentals of public speaking, and an intro to policy debate. Oral Interpretation: Students will prepare and present readings from selected prose and poetry. Fundamentals of Public Speaking: Students will research, write and deliver informative and persuasive speeches. Policy Debate: Students will be introduced to policy debate according to NCFCA rules. Students will participate in a classroom debate.

Registration: $10
Tuition: $40 per month

Debate (Grades 8-12)
Instructor: Marlene Yousef

This is a one semester course (fall semester only). Successful students will have strong, writing, and researching skills. This course requires access to the internet. Debate classes are taught with the intention of helping each individual improve his or her poise and confidence when speaking before an audience. Skills in critical thinking, defending worthy ideas, attacking invalid ideas, persuasion, research, organization, and writing will be developed. Students will research and write affirmative casses and negative briefs in preparation for rounds of in-class debate. This class will also prepare students who wish to participate in the homeschool debate league, NCFCA.

Registration: $30
Tuition: $40 per month

Podium Power
http://www.podiumpower.net
(512) 280-5407
mgyousef50@att.net

English

Writing I
Instructor: Jill Anderson

Writing I (Intermediate) is designed for 8-10th graders. It focuses on expository writing, and developing organizational skills and proficiency with complex sentences and vocabulary. I will allow older students in this course if there is a need for this level of instruction.  If you need or want a recommendation on which course would be most appropriate for your student, you can send me a copy of a recent piece of writing for evaluation.

Registration: $25
Tuition: $40 per month


Writing II
Instructor: Jill Anderson

Writing II (Advanced) for 11-12th graders is the equivalent to an AP English composition course or college freshman composition. It focuses primarily on rhetorical expression, persuasive writing, analytical writing, and research for a variety of disciplines. We will also work on writing under testing conditions.

Registration: $25
Tuition: $40 per month

Literature
Instructor: Jill Anderson

This class will cover a different genre each quarter. Students will become familiar with the conventions of each genre, principles of literary criticism, and analytical reading and writing through the exploration of high-quality novels, poems, short stories and plays from a variety of time periods.

Registration: $25
Tuition: $40 per month

Essay Writing for the College Bound
www.ewcb.org
(512) 203-4468

Foreign Language

Spanish I, II, III
Instructor: Amy Peek

Content: Spanish I, II, and III comprise the equivalent of three years of standard high school Spanish. Beginning in Spanish II and continuing through the third year students must have high speed internet access several times weekly. Structure: All classes have homework, lesson quizzes, unit tests, projects and a final exam. Materials and fees: Twin Peak Languages will secure materials for students who have submitted the $45.00 registration and materials rental fees by August 1. Those registering after August 1 may need to secure their own materials. Tuition: Monthly tuition is $40.00. In the event that siblings are concurrently participating in courses offered by Twin Peak Languages, the monthly tuition fees are reduced by $10 for each additional student.

Twin Peak Languages
www.twinpeaklanguages.com
(512) 515-5331
twinpeak@thegateway.net

Mathematics

Pre-Algebra (Math, Music and More)
Instructor: Carol Neil

Pre-Algebra is a culmination of all the concepts employed in the use of arithmetic operations. It also bridges the gap between these concepts and algebra by introducing the use of the unknown. The text is easy to read and has a Biblical foundation.

Registration: $40 per student
Tuition: $45 per month for first student, $40 if more than one student per family

Math, Music and More
www.mathmusicmore.info
(512) 990-3730
cneilm3@sbcglobal.net


Algebra I (Math, Music and More)
Instructor: Carol Neil

Algebra I covers the essentials needed for success in other math classes with humor, real life examples, and structured exercises to make the student think. It applies the algebra rather than just rote memorization of a string of facts. Text is easy to read and comprehend even for the student who does not think they like algebra.

Registration: $40 per student
Tuition: $45 per month for first student, $40 if more than one student per family

Math, Music and More
www.mathmusicmore.info
(512) 990-3730
cneilm3@sbcglobal.net


Geometry (T3)
Instructor: Jo Lindberg

Geometry is everywhere. Pyramids, building blocks, ice cream cones, playground balls, and soft drink cans, to name a few, are all geometry. Jacob's makes the geometry come alive with real life examples, well thought out problems, humor, and discussions that capture the students' interest. To quote Jacob's directly, "In addition to using inductive reasoning throughout your study of geometry to discover what is true, you will also learn how to reason deductively to be able to understand why."

Registration: $40 per student
Tuition: $45 per month for first student, $40 if more than one student per family

TCubed (T3)
www.tcubed-austin.com
(512) 401-0812
tcubed@austin.rr.com


Algebra II (T3)
Instructor: Jo Lindberg

As a second year algebra course, it is much more than a rehash of the first year. Real life problems are emphasized and thus critical thinking skills are developed in this course. Foerster challenges the student with problems that combine several mathematical concepts instead of just using the current one in the lesson. It brings it all together to make pre-calculus a review instead of all new material.

Registration: $40 per student
Tuition: $45 per month for first student, $40 if more than one student per family

TCubed (T3)
www.tcubed-austin.com
(512) 401-0812
tcubed@austin.rr.com

Precalculus
Instructor: Carol Neil

Precalculus is designed for a full-year course following Algebra and Geometry. The purpose is to famaliarize students thoroughly with concepts they will encounter a subsequent Calculus course. They will use functions as mathematical models of real world phenomena including triangular relationships and other mathematical concepts.
Pre-Requisites: A successful completion of Algebra II.
Text: Precalculus with Trigonometry By Paul A. Foerster (ISBN: 978-1559537889)
Calculator: TI-84+ or the equivalent

Math, Music and More
www.mathmusicmore.info
(512) 990-3730
cneilm3@sbcglobal.net


Calculus
Instructor: Jo Lindberg

Calculus is a transition course from high school mathematics to college level mathematics. It uses technology and the rule of four (geometric, numeric, algebraic, and verbal presentations) to focus on conceptual understandings of mathematics. In addition, the strength of the traditional calculus is maintained by the rigor of proofs and the full variety of traditional topics.
Pre-Requisites: Successful completion of Pre-Calculus (at least a B).
Text: Calculus: Concepts and Contexts, 3rd Ed By James Stewart (ISBN: 978-0534409869)
Calculator: TI-84+ or the equivalent

TCubed (T3)
www.tcubed-austin.com
(512) 401-0812
tcubed@austin.rr.com

Science

Physics
Instructor: Ted Neil

Exploring Creation with Physics provides a detailed introduction to the methods and concepts of general physics. Heavily emphasizing vector analysis, this text is ideal preparation for a university-level physics course. It provides the student with a strong background in one-dimensional and two-dimensional motion, Newton’s laws and their application, gravity, work and energy, momentum, periodic motion, waves, optics, electrostatics, electrodynamics, electrical circuits, and magnetism. The text, from Apologia Ministries, is easy to read and has a Biblical foundation.

Pre-Requisites:
This college-prep physics course is designed for the student who has completed Algebra II and has had an introduction to the definitions of sine, cosine, and tangent. This course is designed to be a first-year high school physics course and gives the student a rigorous foundation in physics, in order to prepare him or her for a college-level course. Students who take and understand this course will be very well-prepared for a tough university physics course.

Math, Music and More
www.mathmusicmore.info
(512) 990-3730
cneilm3@sbcglobal.net


Chemistry
Instructor: Ted Neil

This high school course gives the student a rigorous foundation in chemistry in order to prepare him or her for college-level studies. The course covers significant figures, units, classification, the mole concept, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, acids and bases, redox reactions, solutions, atomic structure, Lewisstructures, molecular geometry, the gas laws, and equilibrium. Students who successfully complete this course will be well prepared for a tough college chemistry course. The text, from Apologia Ministries, is easy to read and has a Biblical foundation. The Student is required to provide and use a pair of safety googles for experiments in class.

Pre-Requisites: To be successful in chemistry, a student needs to be extremely proficient at rearranging algebraic equations to solve for an unknown variable. Typically, this proficiency is achieved by the time a student has completed one year of an algebra course.

Calculator: Scientific Calculator - trig functions; scientific notation.

Registration: $40 per student
Tuition: $45 per month for first student, $40 if more than one student per family
Chemistry Lab Fee: $30 (for whole year)

Math, Music and More
www.mathmusicmore.info
(512) 990-3730
cneilm3@sbcglobal.net

General Science (Middle School)
Instructor: Cheryl Taylor

In this general science course, students will study the same topics traditionally studied in an 8th grade science class in order to prepare them for success in their high school science courses. This interdisciplinary course will cover a wide range of topics in line with the state requirements for middle school science, such as: ecology, heredity, earthquakes and volcanoes, the solar system, chemical reactions, motion, energy, waves, and more. Since the class will only meet two hours per week, students will be given approximately 2.5-3 hours of homework from the text and internet to complete between classes. Much of our class time will be spent engaged in laboratory experiments although we will always take time to go over material students found difficult in their home studies.

Materials and Lab Fee: $45 (includes all materials except textbook)
Tuition: $45 per month
Textbook: Glenco Science Level Blue (ISBN: 0-07-860052-9)
(This textbook can be purchased from vendors of second-hand books such as Amazon.com. Note: I did not choose the latest edition of the text to keep book prices down.)

Taylor Made Science
www.taylormadescience.com
(512) 739-2146
cheryl@taylormadescience.com

Pre AP Biology (9th to 10th Grades)
Instructor: Cheryl Taylor

In Pre-AP Biology, students will learn about the topics traditionally included in a Biology course, such as: cells, genetics, microbiology, plants, animals, human anatomy & physiology, and the environment. As a Pre-AP class, the studies will go a little more in-depth into microbiology and biochemistry to give students the background they need to be successful in AP Biology (to be offered next year). Even if students do not choose to take AP Biology, the Pre-AP class will give them a strong foundation in Biology. Since the class will only meet two hours per week, students will be expected to spend approximately 3.5 hours each week on independent study. Much of our class time will be spent engaged in laboratory experiments although we will always take time to go over material students found difficult in their home studies.

Materials and Lab Fee: $55 (includes all materials except textbook)
Monthly Tuition: $60
Textbook Biology: (ISBN: 0-13-115291-2)
(This textbook can be purchased from vendors of second-hand books such as Amazon.com. The ISBN is for the Texas Edition of this biology text, but any edition of Prentice Hall Biology with the dragonfly on the cover will work. Note: I did not choose the latest edition of the text to keep book prices down.)

Taylor Made Science
www.taylormadescience.com
(512) 739-2146
cheryl@taylormadescience.com

AP Environmental Science (Prerequiste: Biology)
Instructor: Cheryl Taylor

AP Environmental Science is designed to prepare students to take the AP Test for college credit. A complete description of the course and the test can be found at this address. As with any AP course, students will be expected to devote a considerable amount of time outside of class studying the material. This will be especially important since we will only be meeting for 2 hours each week. Much of our class time will be spent engaged in laboratory experiments although we will always take time to go over material students found difficult in their home studies. Note: Some universities require proof of laboratory work before they will award lab credit for AP examinations. AP Environmental students will keep a formal lab notebook to serve as documentation of their lab experiences. Students will spend time outside of class doing pre-lab work and formal lab write-ups.

Materials and Lab Fee: $50 (includes all materials except textbook)
Tuition: $65 per month
Textbook: Environmental Science (ISBN: 0-13-144200-7)
(This textbook can be purchased from vendors of second-hand books such as Amazon.com. Note: I did not choose the latest edition of the text to keep book prices down.)

Taylor Made Science
www.taylormadescience.com
(512) 739-2146
cheryl@taylormadescience.com

CCSA & CYSA

For information about music classes with the Christian Choral Society of Austin or the Christian Youth Symphony of Austin, please visit the CCSA website at: CCSA.info or the CYSA site at: CYSAustin.info.