All our Thursday Courses are listed below.
If you prefer to look at them on a printable PDF, click the button:
If you prefer to look at them on a printable PDF, click the button:
Thursday Courses (2019-2020)
HISTORY THROUGH STORIES: is intended for 5th through 8th grade students. Although there may be a wide range of ages, students have the ability to choose books and projects that will help them learn at their own level. We will be studying United States history from the founding of the country through the early 1900’s with an emphasis on U. S. expansion in the 1800’s and the Civil War. Each week students will choose books from my “book box” to read, answer questions, make some timeline cards or work on maps related to the history that we are studying. Because students are required to learn from books, I am flexible about whether they read them themselves, read with a parent, or listen to audio books (which is my favorite way to learn history, since I can listen in the car and also share stories with my own kids). About once a month, the students do a project for homework that relates to their reading and share it with the class so that the students can learn from each other. Making a timeline, each student will work on a yearlong project that will help them understand the relationship of different historical events to each other. When they make and add “why” arrows to their timelines, they will be challenged to think about the actions or attitudes that led to certain events. Additionally, we will use maps on a regular basis to get a picture of U. S. geography and how it relates to the historical events that we’re studying. Students are given a history reading challenge (including both nonfiction and historical fiction) with prizes for all the students based on their reading and/or listening. They surprised themselves and amazed me last year when each read or listened to between 900 and 6,000 pages for the year. Although there's no specific page reading requirement for this class, the choice of books with fascinating stories of people and events seems to have encouraged an abundance of reading. That’s the best way to learn history! Materials: $15.00 for timeline materials, maps, and copies. Taught by France Vivenzio.
WORLD HISTORY: FOUNDATIONS: (2 hour tutorial) This world history course is based on Tapestry of Grace, Year 1: The History of Redemption. We will be studying God’s working through the course of history from creation through ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, integrated with the Biblical history of God’s people, which ends up being invaluable for future Bible understanding. Each week students will be assigned vocabulary, map work, biography/timeline characters, history reading, some research, and some writing. On Thursdays we will have discussion and presentations based on the week’s work, group projects, related videos and activities, and a few hands-on projects, including simple celebrations of the Jewish feasts. Painting, architecture, and sculpture all have their foundation in the art of ancient Greece and Rome and students will become familiar with the art from the time period covered as it is connected to the rest of history, and look at the worldviews reflected in the art of the cultures studied. They also are touching a number of history-related subjects: theology, church history, philosophy, history of science, etc. A few special events and activities are also part of the hands-on experience, but are scheduled for other times. Although this course works well for high school students at any level because of the time spent building study and thinking skills, students doing well can count it as an honors course. Students should plan to spend approximately 4-5 hours per week working at home in addition to the 2 class hours. A student could easily log more credits for this course, simply by doing more of the work that we will just cover briefly. Fees: $70 licensing fee or $95 for both history and literature (unless you own the curriculum) and a $10 materials/copy fee. We send this money directly to Tapestry. If you choose to own the curriculum instead, or borrow it, even an older version will do. You will not be using it. Be sure to buy/rent/borrow Year 1, and then do not pay the licensing fee. Course taught by Julie Shorey and Tammi Visser.
WORLD LITERATURE: FOUNDATIONS: When you read “Do not kick against the goads” in the book of Acts, do you realize that that line is actually a quote from a Greek tragedy written by Aeschylus? Yes! Ancient literature, from the Epic of Gilgamesh (the first heroic epic) to the Aeneid (the Roman view of social government), has influenced our lives in innumerable ways. Many of Shakespeare’s characters, themes, and allusions are borrowed from classic literature, and the literary beauty of Scripture has been quoted again and again. Studying ancient literature helps us to understand not only the people, beliefs, and customs of the ancient world, but also gives us a “cultural shorthand” to understand other literature we study. This year, we will be studying portions of the Bible to understand their literary beauty, some of the Greek tragedies (the birthplace of drama), as well as portions of the Iliad, Odyssey, and The Aeneid. We will finish the year with Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (and perform the classic spoof "Rinse the Blood off my Toga"). Reading, literary analysis, and discussion of the worldviews of the ancients, compared and contrasted with a Christian worldview are all part of this course. The literature is chosen to complement the Tapestry world history course, and students will benefit greatly from taking both the history and the literature classes, but this course can be taken separately from the history class. Students will be expected to read 25-40 pages of literature each week, answer comprehension and analysis questions, participate in class discussions, and complete quarterly tests. Projects (writing and performing our own “Greek” tragedies, “Design-a-Monster”, etc.) and a short literary analysis paper also are included in the course. Tutor will send book list to registered students. Fees: $70 licensing fee if alone or $95 in combination with history class (unless you own the Tapestry curriculum) and a $10 materials/copy fee. Taught by Tammi Visser.
SPANISH 1: Have your kids tried to do a foreign language program on their own with a computer program that promised speaking fluency in one week or less? Have they gotten discouraged when they don’t understand why the language works the way it does, and the program offers no explanation? Have you gotten discouraged that they aren’t progressing through the program for which you paid a substantial amount of money? If you can relate to this, sign your kids up for a tutorial class in Spanish 1. This is a high school level Spanish 1 class in which students will be instructed in Spanish vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, with an emphasis on reading and listening comprehension, leading to ease in writing and speaking. No prior experience in the language is needed to begin, but if your child has started and stopped a Spanish 1 program before, he will build on what he has previously learned. In the tutorial class, daily grammar homework and online vocabulary memorization (using Quizlet) will be assigned and quizzed weekly, to make sure that students stay “on track.” If students have a question mid-week, they are encouraged to contact the tutor with questions no matter how small. Students should expect to spend approximately 30-60 minutes per day outside of the Thursday tutorial working on the language; the only way that students can succeed in learning a foreign language is to spend time on it every day. Parents are expected to monitor and check the completion of their child’s work at home, and assist in helping their child to check and correct homework using answers provided by the tutor. Students will use Spanish for Mastery 1 by Valette & Valette (provided by instructor). Copy fee: $12.00. Taught by Tammi Visser
SPANISH 2: Has your child completed a Spanish 1 class before but not continued on? Does he have a firm grasp on basic Spanish pronunciation, verb conjugation, and vocabulary? If your child has successfully completed a rigorous beginning Spanish class (like Spanish 1A and 1B), he may be able to move into the Spanish 2 tutorial. This high school level class picks up where the Thursday Spanish 1 tutorial left off, quickly reviewing beginning vocabulary, pronouns and present-tense verb conjugations, and noun/adjective agreement. Students again will be instructed in Spanish vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, with an emphasis on reading and listening comprehension, leading to ease in writing and speaking. Daily grammar homework and online vocabulary memorization (using Quizlet) will be assigned and quizzed weekly, to make sure that students stay “on track.” Students should expect to spend approximately 30-60 minutes per day outside of the Thursday tutorial working on the language; the only way that students can succeed in learning a foreign language is to spend time on it every day. If students have a question mid-week, they are encouraged to contact the tutor with questions no matter how small. Parents are expected to monitor and check the completion of their child’s work at home, and assist in helping their child to check and correct homework using answers provided by the tutor. Contact the tutor if you have placement questions before registering. Students will use Spanish for Mastery 2 by Valette & Valette (provided by instructor). Copy fee: $12.00. Taught by Tammi Visser
INTERMEDIATE SPANISH (Spanish 3/4): This course provides intense emphasis on the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Most colleges require two or three years of foreign language study, and top schools highly recommend four years. Learning a language is about more than memorizing vocabulary and conjugating verbs. When students take intermediate and advanced levels of a language, they begin to engage with literature, conversation, and writing. Spanish is the second most common language spoken in the US, so being fluent will help students as they pursue careers in many fields, will introduce them to people, travel, and opportunities they might not have experienced otherwise. The students will continue learning vocabulary to describe their interests and activities; as well as asking for information and giving advice. They will develop listening and speaking skills by articulating current and past events in their own lives in the target language. The students will enrich their Spanish through learning to express themselves in the future tense by describing events that will take place. They will use a variety of sources to present oral reports on topics of personal interest. Reading skills will be developed by processing the content and contextual meaning of reading selections. The writing skill will consist of a variety of compositions in the target language that mimics aspects of real life. Students will be given opportunity to express their creative writing and defend their opinions. The cultural emphasis is on Mexico, Venezuela, Spain, and Puerto Rico. By the end of the year the students will have a strong command of the language. Students will need a binder, folder, and loose leaf paper. They should plan on about 4-5 hours of homework per week.Materials: $25.00. Taught by Mikaela Shorey.
ENGINEER IT: Ideal for students in grades 5-7. The lessons and challenges in this class are rotated every other year, so that students can take Engineering for two consecutive years during middle school. * New Lessons and Challenges will include Fluid Power Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. This hands-on science class will lead students through the engineering design process. Students will learn to ask questions, research/ brainstorm, plan, build, test and redesign their solutions. In class time, they will work in teams to problem solve and think creatively. During the week, they will learn about different aspects of engineering and complete their own challenges by using a variety of curriculum including Teachengineering.org, Design It!, online videos and Middle School Engineering Projects. Students will learn new vocabulary, research famous engineers and engineering history and complete a report each month. An “Engineering Design Notebook” (provided) will be used for all homework assignments and is graded monthly. Up-cycling materials will be used as much as possible. Materials Fee: $35. Taught by Denise Mudge.
EXPLORING CREATION WITH CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS: named after the Apologia text by Jeannie Fulbright, this class is an exciting bridge between the elementary Exploring Creation series and Apologia’s General Science. Geared towards 6th graders, or middle school students who are not yet ready for General Science, students will be introduced to the fascinating world of chemistry and physics, covering topics such as atoms, molecules, simple chemicals, laws of motion, electricity, magnetism, and simple machines. Class time will be packed with fun hands-on experiments and projects to make the concepts come alive! Students will have weekly reading (approximately 5-9 pages/week) and skill building/comprehension written assignments in the form of note-booking pages and worksheets to be completed at home to prepare them for class. Students will not be given tests. Required materials: Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics by Jeannie Fulbright; and a STURDY 2-inch 3-ring binder with plastic pocket on the front. Materials: $50.00. Taught by Christine Murphy.
GENERAL SCIENCE: This Apologia junior high school level course is the foundation for all the upper level Apologia high school science courses due to its easy introduction to areas of biology, physical sciences, and anatomy and physiology in a simple and approachable manner. Labs and fun projects will be done in class while bi-weekly tests will be proctored at home. Apologia science courses follow a routine and rhythm that helps the students and that routine is established effectively in this foundational course. Required Materials: Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science, 2nd edition, by Jay Wile; 3 ring binder notebook. Materials/lab fee: $20.00. Taught by Dana Cloutier.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE: (1½ hour tutorial) This course is labeled 8th grade by Apologia, but suits most transcripts as a 9th grade course as well. This course begins with detailed discussion of what makes the world work, and then travels to the universe for further appreciation of God’s creation. Topics include air and the atmosphere, weather, the physics of motion and Newton’s laws, gravity, magnetism, atoms, sound, light, and an introduction to astrophysics. Students will do labs and have instruction and discussion in class, with all tests proctored at home. Prerequisite: Students should have completed Pre-Algebra or be taking it concurrently. Required Materials: Exploring Creation with Physical Science, (2nd edition required) by Jay Wile, Composition Notebook (for labs), 3 ring binder with single subject notebook. Materials/lab fee: $20.00. Taught by Denise Mudge.
BIOLOGY: (1½ hour tutorial) This high school biology course is an introduction to general biology topics including: classification of organisms, basic cell biology, biochemistry concepts, anatomy and physically of organisms, genetics, ecology, and a discussion of evolution. Laboratory experiments, including dissections, are performed throughout the year. Students will create Biology Laboratory books so to demonstrate to college admissions the true nature of this Lab Biology course. Homework and bi-weekly examinations help build students’ understanding of the material. Required Materials: Apologia - Exploring Creation with Biology, 2nd edition, Jay Wile and Marilyn Durnell. Material/Lab fee: $20.00. Taught by Dana Cloutier.
CHEMISTRY: (1½ hour tutorial) This high school class provides an introduction to general and physical chemistry topics, ranging from the structure of atoms & molecules, energy & heat, the phases of matter, measurement making, and chemical equations. It also provides an overview of more advanced chemistry topics, including acid/base chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, and even a bit of quantum mechanics. This class provides a solid foundation for future science classes in college, and prepares the student for chemistry questions on standardized tests (ACT, SAT). This course contains laboratory experiments that help illustrate the topics in the class; the student will maintain a laboratory notebook to document the experiments performed and provide evidence to college admissions that the class included a lab section. Students can take this class at the standard level or the honors level. The honors level requires additional work with each module. Prerequisite: Algebra 1. Please purchase: Exploring Creation with Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Jay Wile. Students will also need a calculator. Lab and materials fee: $20.00. Taught by Sandy Tracy.
PHYSICS: (1½ hour tutorial) This high school class provides an introduction to physics. This course covers motion in one dimension, one-dimensional motion equations and free fall, two-dimensional vectors, motion in two-dimensions, Newton’s laws, applications of Newton’s second law, uniform circular motion and gravity, work and energy, momentum, periodic motion, waves, geometric optics, Coulomb’s Law and the electric field, electric potential, electric circuits, and magnetism. This course contains laboratory experiments that help illustrate the topics in the class. Students will maintain a laboratory notebook to document the experiments performed and provide evidence to college admissions that the class included a lab section. Student can take this class at the standard level or the honors level. The honors level requires additional work with each module. Prerequisites: Algebra I and Geometry. Co-requisite: at least concurrent enrollment in Algebra II. Please purchase: Exploring Creation with Physics, 2nd Ed. Jay Wile. A scientific calculator is also requires. Lab and materials fee: $20.00. Taught by Sandy Tracy
MATH CONCEPTS: (1½ hour tutorial) Understanding math concepts, the whys behind what we do with a math equation, is key to future success in math and science. As our world becomes more and more technical, being comfortable with these skills becomes even more essential. There is a big difference between getting the correct answer to a math problem and understanding why it is correct and how to extrapolate what you are learning to new situations. Students often learn math as a lot of different, separate things they need to memorize and approach in separate ways. As a result, they quickly reach a point where they can’t keep it all straight, feel overwhelmed, and conclude that they are no good at math. The goal of this course is to help students understand the concepts and the connections between the different concepts. This enables them to broaden their math knowledge and see how they can make connections between what they already know and the new things they are learning. This course is designed for middle school students who have completed their basic elementary math work (7th and 8th graders, although some 6th graders may be ready for this course). We will work through the basic math concepts that will lay a strong foundation for Algebra and high school level science. We will approach the material through a variety of learning approaches which makes the material accessible to all learning styles. Your student will need Pre-Algebra for Christian Schools (1st edition, trees on the cover) by Bob Jones University Press (this can be purchased used on Amazon). Although it is optional, it is highly recommended that parents purchase the teacher’s edition and check their student’s daily work. Copy fee: $15. Taught by Sandy Tracy.
ALGEBRA 1/HONORS ALGEBRA 1: This is a high school level math course that meets TWICE per week. Prerequisite to admission into this class is successful completion of the Math Concepts class or passing an Algebra readiness test administered by the instructor. [If a student is not ready for Algebra 1, the Math Concepts course offered on Thursdays is a great place to begin.] Since math is a difficult subject to take in an entire week’s worth of instruction at one sitting, it will meet TWICE a week for 1 hour each session. This format allows for more in-depth interaction with the concepts. The course requires about an hour of DAILY work outside of class, and can be taken at the standard level or the honors level. A goal of this course is to help students understand why the concepts work, not just how to find the answer. This helps promote mathematical reasoning and conceptual growth which allows students to analyze new situations and deduce answers. The concept of function is emphasized throughout the course. We will start with Chapter 3 of the textbook because Chapter 1 and 2 are Pre-Algebra topics. Required summer assignments will review these earlier topics. Some of the other topics covered include integers, word phrases and algebraic expressions, solving equations and inequalities, polynomials and factoring, radical and quadratic equations, rational expressions and equations, and quadratic functions. Additionally, statistics topics (which are now included in the SAT exam) are introduced as well. Required Materials: Algebra 1, by Larson, Bosewell, Kanold and Stiff, published by McDougall Littell, Copyright 2007, ISBN 0618594027. (Can be purchased used through Amazon, Abe Books and other used book sources.) A 3-ring binder with 5 dividers, lined and graph paper. You will also need a calculator that can handle trig. functions and logarithms (the Casio FX-300 ES PLUS, the Casio fx-300MS, and the TI-30XS MultiView are examples for under $20). Do not purchase a graphing calculator. Material fee $60 – includes one year subscription to aleks.com and summer review assignments. Taught by Sandy Tracy.
ALGEBRA 2/HONORS ALGEBRA 2: This is a high school level math course that meets TWICE per week. It can be taken at either the standard level or the honors level. Prerequisite to admission into this class is successful completion of the Algebra 1 class or passing an Algebra 2 readiness test administered by the instructor. [If a student is not ready for Algebra 2, the Algebra 1 course is a great place to begin.] Since math is a difficult subject to take in an entire week’s worth of instruction at one sitting, it will meet TWICE a week for 1 hour each session. This format allows for more in-depth interaction with the concepts. The course requires about an hour of DAILY work outside of class. A goal of this course is to help students understand why the concepts work, not just how to find the answer. This helps promote mathematical reasoning and conceptual growth which allows students to analyze new situation and deduce answers. We will start with Section 2.6 of the textbook because the earlier sections are Algebra 1 topics. Required summer assignments will review these earlier topics. Topics covered in this class include: systems of inequalities, factoring quadratics, quadratic equations and functions, rational expressions, complex fractions, irrational and complex numbers, direct and indirect variation, polynomial equations, systems of equations in 2 or more variables, exponential and logarithmic functions, triangle trigonometry, and trigonometric applications. Required Materials: Algebra 2, by Larson, Bosewell, Kanold and Stiff, published by McDougall Littell, Copyright 2007, ISBN 0618595414. (Can be purchased used through Amazon, Abe Books and other used book sources.) A 3-ring binder with 5 dividers, lined and graph paper. You will also need a calculator that can handle trig. Functions and logarithms (the Casio FX-300 ES PLUS, the Casio fx-300MS, and the TI-30XS MultiView are examples for under $20). Do not purchase a graphing calculator. Material fee $60 – includes one year subscription to aleks.com and summer review assignments. Taught by Sandy Tracy.
UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES: (offered on all three days) Don’t let your high school student graduate without this course by Summit Ministries which focuses on comparing six fundamental worldviews of Western Civilization: Marxist Leninism (communism), Secular Humanism, Cosmic Humanism (New Age movement), Islam, Post-Modernism, and Biblical Christianity, all easily discovered in the current culture. Students quickly learn to do that, as well as being grounded in answers for them. Students learn to understand how worldview affects all other disciplines and how to defend their own faith. Those questioning their beliefs are encouraged to ask questions. Try taking this excellent (and free) worldview test yourself and then have your high schooler do it, to perhaps obtain some real insight into the need: http://www.secretbattlebook.com/checkup.html Where apologetics is mostly studying the basics of the Christian faith from the Bible, this course involves studying what the other worldviews believe and how they compare to Christianity, also using the Bible as the final authority. You have heard the statistic that 50% of professing Christian students leave the faith in college? The number is even higher now, but instruction in the biblical worldview dramatically changes the statistic. The lively discussion/application format is very effective in encouraging students to interact about the things that really matter, and it is what the students love most about this class, along with the video lectures by experts in every field we study. Check out the college credit option at http://understandingthetimes.com/college-credit/. The material was written for juniors and seniors in high school, but, though challenging, it need not be limited to that age. This class meets for 1½ hours per week. Materials fee includes hard cover textbook, student manual, access to online video lectures, and copy fee. Materials: $75.00. Taught by Julie Shorey.
APOLOGETICS: This course has a dual-purpose: to re-examine the doctrines and theology of our faith that we know so well, and to equip our students to explain and defend them in the real world. We believe that our Christian faith is at the heart of all that we do, and that this faith will come under attack by the world throughout our entire lives. The ability to dig into the truth of Scripture ourselves, and to be able to defend that truth to others, is essential to our calling as disciples of the Messiah. Because GCT is an overtly Christian organization, we do assume a basic level of Biblical knowledge on the part of our students. However, this course is designed to account for a wide range of theological training, as well as a spectrum of denominational perspectives, so no student will be left in the dark. We are also sensitive to our role in support of, and not as a replacement to, the parents at GCT, as they seek to raise their children in the fear of the Lord. This class is by no means meant to be the primary source of spiritual guidance or teaching in the student’s life. Our goal is to provide a condensed, academically rigorous overview of orthodox theology, and training in the defense of those truths. The content of the course centers on the doctrines of God, the Scriptures, Christ, Man, and Salvation, which lie at the center of orthodox Christianity. These topics align with the set of questions published by the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA) for their Apologetics competitions. We highly encourage students to compete at NCFCA tournaments throughout the year, which offer an excellent opportunity to put into words the things they have learned. However, competition is not mandatory for participation in the class. Required books and materials: Grudem’s Systematic Theology, a large notebook, and of course, Bibles. Apologetics workbook: $25.00. Taught by Aaron Filipe.
DEBATE: (1½ hour tutorial) How many skills can be learned in debate? Current events, logical thinking, research and organization skills, persuasive speech, effective listening, and the list goes on. This class focuses on preparing students to compete NCFCA-sanctioned tournaments, and generally has a mix of both new and experienced debaters. Students will learn to form arguments, research background information, and develop cases. These critical thinking skills are beneficial in all areas of life, and can be especially helpful in other areas of study. Considerable time will be spent examining the annual topic selected by the league, and analyzing it in depth. The main focus of each class time will be on learning the theory and structure of debate, as well is some time spent in practice rounds, drills, and other exercises. In order to facilitate effective learning during the class time, students are expected to do as much work on their own debate cases and skills as homework, Private tutoring can also be arranged with the tutor for those wanting extra help for competition preparation. Competition is a requirement for second semester participation in this class, as the focus is there. If students would like to study debate first semester, participating in class time debates with no formal competition, they may take the class for the first semester only. Taught by Aaron Filipe.
AP U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS: This class meets for 2 hours weekly, providing a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project. AP U.S. Government and Politics is equivalent to a one-semester introductory college course in U.S. government. Please note: there is summer reading (see below) which is required and will be quizzed on the first day of class. Each spring break, pending student interest, our class travels to Washington D.C. to meet representatives, policy makers and observe our national government first hand. Approximate cost of trip ($125). If you have additional questions, please contact tutor directly at bauer@gmail.com)
Course Materials (Required)
* Wolfford, David, United States Government & Politics (Advanced Placement)
ISBN 978-1-5311-1283-7 ($25.00)
* Cracking the AP US Government & Politics Exam by Princeton Review (Premium 2019 edition) ($16)
* Gideon’s Trumpet by Anthony Lewis (summer reading requirement)(at your local library)
Materials fee: $25. Taught by Bauer Evans.
