Description: The purpose of this course is to lay the groundwork for success in high school, so it will provide students with opportunities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. We will learn the parts of speech, sentence patterns, and sentence diagramming; analyze literature; and write informally in a journal. At the beginning of the semester, we will focus on writing good sentences and paragraphs, building the framework of short essays. We will also practice all steps in the writing process, from prewriting, creating a rough draft, revising, editing, to polishing the final draft. Students will write narrative, expository, descriptive, and persuasive essays.

Tutor: Kim Witthuhn works as a professional editor and has taught literature, writing, grammar, history, and geography at various homeschool organizations over the last 20 years, including homeschooling her own children. She is also a career consultant and enjoys helping people discover the unique design God gave them. She is passionate about helping students enjoy learning and knowing God better by studying His Word and the world He created. Mrs. Witthuhn graduated from Concordia University with a BA in English and Social Science Education. She lives in Eden Prairie with her husband and two of her four children and enjoys studying the Bible, reading, learning, and spending time with family.

Cost:  $242, $252, or $262 per semester (depending on registration date)
Level:  Grades 7-8
Prerequisite: none
Homework:  3-4 hours per week
Text: The instructor will purchase the grammar text Analytical Grammar Level 3 ($32) and collect payment the first week of class. The remaining texts (to be purchased by parents) are listed below.

1st Semester Texts (to be purchased by parents, any edition is fine):

• Holes (Louis Sachar)
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Elizabeth George Speare)

2nd Semester Texts (to be purchased by parents, any edition is fine):

• Island of the Blue Dolphins (Scott O'Dell)
• A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L'Engle)

Supplies:  Students need to purchase the above four books and a 1-inch binder or folder for class handouts.