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Social Studies Courses (Click Course Name to expand or hide details)

Middle School US History and Literature​

TitleMiddle School US History and Literature​
Grades7th-8th
TutorLandry Estes
Contactkyrenlandryestes@gmail.com
Frequency2 Days per Week
Costs$65/Month; $30 supply fee for the year
BooksAmerica from the Beginning by Joshua Franklin and Debbie Lawrence
These books are hard to find. I have secured some copies that the students can rent for $40.00
Literature is TBD. The history text will be supplemented by 3 works of Historical fiction.
DescriptionThese classes will cover major events in history. But, we will also cover some lesser known events in a way that draws the student in discovering why history is relevant today. “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” Elie Wiesel
My goal is to bring history from the pages of a book to life, while emphasizing God throughout it all. The Literature class will follow along with the timeline of the history we are studying. We will be doing 2 research papers in MLA format that will be taught.
My goal is to have two field trips within the school year.
This class will rotate each year from US History and Literature/ World History and Literature.
For 2024-2025 we will doing US History and Literature

Middle School World History and Literature

TitleMiddle School World History and Literature
Grades7th-8th
Tutor
Frequency2 Days per Week
Costs$65/Month; $30 supply fee for the year
BooksWe will be using BJU World Studies 4th edition student text, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, study guides for the history portion of the class. For Literature we will read: an online short story about “Aladdin,” All Quiet on the Western Front by Enrich Maria Remarque, and Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill.
DescriptionThese classes will cover major events in history. But we will also cover some lesser-known events in a way that draws the student to discover why history is relevant today. “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” Elie Wiesel
My goal is to bring history from the pages of a book to life, while emphasizing God throughout it all. The Literature class will follow along with the timeline of the history we are studying. We will be doing 2 research papers in MLA format that will be taught.
My goal is to have two field trips within the school year.
This class will rotate each year from MS US History and Literature to MS World History and Literature.
For 2023-2024 we will be doing World History and Literature

Virginia History

TitleVirginia History
Grades9th-12th
Tutor
Frequency1 Day per Week
Costs$55/Month; $50 supply fee for the year
BooksThere is no textbook, but students will be given handouts with information needed.
SuppliesStudents need a binder that is at least 2 inches and notebook paper.
DescriptionThrough lectures, videos, journaling, and projects students will explore the rich history of Virginia. The goal will be not only to learn the facts but to connect with the people and events that make our state great. There will be quizzes, a midterm and final exam, three projects, and homework. Homework will often consist of journaling and watching videos. Students will need access to YouTube. Students will choose their own projects from a list of ideas. Due to the extensive amount of copying the supply fee will be $40.
This course is 1 credit of high school history.

World History

TitleWorld HistoryTop
Grades9th-12th
TutorStephanie Whittington
Contactstephwhitt@gmail.com
Frequency2 Days per Week​
Costs$65/Month; $30 supply fee for the year
BooksWorld History Student Activities 4th Editon by BJU Press
If you can’t find the 4th Edition, the 5th Edition is acceptable but not preferred.
A small quantity of books are available to be rented from me during the school year. It will be first come, first served. Please email me regarding this option.
DescriptionThis class will trace the major patterns in world history, following them as they lead to the triumph of the Kingdom of God. The class will cover creation, post-Flood civilizations, Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and will include information on civilizations in Africa and Asia. It will be a full study leading up to the 20th century and into the 21st century.

World Geography

TitleWorld GeographyTop
Grades9th-12th
TutorTeresa Gary
Contactteresagary3@gmail.com
Frequency1 Day per Week
Costs$55/Month; $30 supply fee for the year
BooksAbeka History Series: World Geography in Christian Perspective, 2nd Edition
Christianbooks.com or Abeka.com
DescriptionWe will start the year with the basics of Geography and then do a deep dive into each continent and explore the cultural diversity such as their language, religion, and governments. We will also be learning about the current events happening around the world. Students will be expected to do daily readings and questions at home throughout the week to stay on track with what we are discussing in class. Assignments will also include mapwork, quizzes, tests, and a midterm exam. The end of the year exam will be a project that outlines everything the students have learned about a specific area.

US History

TitleUS HistoryTop
Grades9th-12th
TutorStephanie Whittington
Contactstephwhitt@gmail.com
Frequency2 Days per Week​
Costs$65/Month; $30 supply fee for the year
BooksUnited States History, 4th Edition Student Text by BJU Press
Text is available on Amazon and sites like thriftbooks and AbeBooks. Please be sure to get the 4th edition, as the one available on BJU’s website is the newer 5th edition. I’m trying to keep the cost down as the new edition has very few used versions available at this time.
A small quantity of books are available to be rented from me during the school year. It will be first come, first served. Please email me regarding this option.
DescriptionWe will study American History from the Native Americans to the present day. Students will be expected to keep up with textbook reading and take notes in class. There will be tests, a midterm, and a final exam. Two projects will be assigned, one per semester. Students will choose from a list of options.

Government

TitleGovernmentTop
Grades11th-12th
TutorKathy Dean
Contactkathy.b.dean1@gmail.com
Frequency1 Day per week
Costs$55/Month; $20 supply fee for the year
Books● U.S. Government: American Government in Christian Perspective, 3rd Edition by Abeka
(I have a limited amount available for rent $15 for the year)
● Virginia Government Book: TBD
Supplies3 ring binder: 1 inch, Pencils and/or pens, 2 textbooks
DescriptionThis class will cover both the United States government and Virginia government.
This course will look at the beginning of both governments and where they are today.
Discussion will be done with a Christian perspective.
Class Structure: Before classes there will be reading assignments. The class is conducted in a
combination of lecture style and class discussion.
Grades are based on tests/quizzes, class participation, homework assignments and 2 mini projects.
It will be a full 1 credit course

US History and Government

TitleUS History and GovernmentTop
Grades11th-12th
Tutor
Frequency2 Days per Week​
Costs$55/Month; $30 supply fee for the year
BooksUnited States History, 4th Edition Student Text by BJU Press (available on christianbook.com or bjupress.com for about $62.00) AND American Government in Christian Perspective, 3rd Edition (available on christianbook.com for about $30.00)
A small quantity of books are available to be rented from me during the school year. It will be first come, first served. Please email me regarding this option.
DescriptionThis class will be a combined study of US History and Government which will meet the requirements for 2 credits of high school Social Studies. We will be using both a History text and a Government text. This class will include an overview of US history from the American Revolution through the present, as well as the structure and function of the US government, all from a Christian perspective.

Social Studies Tutors

TutorKathy Dean
Emailkathy.b.dean1@gmail.com
BiographyKathy Dean attended the University of Iowa where she received a BS degree in General Science with a double emphasis: math and chemistry. She obtained my JD from the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana. Her first 10 years of practice were as a litigator for two private firms before moving to a corporate setting as an attorney with the Chicago Board Options Exchange. After moving to Springfield, IL, she started her own practice in order to accommodate her duties as a wife, mother, and lawyer. She officially “retired” from the formal practice of law when she moved to Virginia so that she could stay home and raise her three children. Since then, she has kept busy as a volunteer and then as a supervisor for Henrico CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), and for the last 6 years, as a Legislative Aide for Senator Steve Newman (R District 23). Her favorite class in law school was Constitutional Law. As most are aware, this document provides the foundation of our government. She is hoping to impart to the students her love of the Constitution and our founding fathers' vision for our nation so that they might have a sense of what American Exceptionalism really means particularly in view of the Creed stated in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal, that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights given to us by our Creator, that governments are instituted among men to secure these rights, and finally that such governments are given their just powers only by the consent of the governed.
CourseGovernment
TutorLandry Estes
Emailkyrenlandryestes@gmail.com
Biography
CoursesMiddle School US History and Literature​
TutorTeresa Gary
Emailteresagary3@gmail.com
BiographyTeresa Gary started off in the field of early childhood development. With the Dream to open a Christ-centered daycare. She decided to become a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her first child. After the birth of her third, she and her husband prayerfully chose to homeschool. All three of her children have attended Areté. She loves to volunteer with The Fix Ministry, teach teen girls through Community Bible Study, and play slow pitch softball with her family and friends.
CourseWorld Geography
TutorStephanie Whittington
Emailstephwhitt@gmail.com
BiographyAfter teaching Elementary Special Education and preschool for several years, Stephanie began homeschooling her own children in 2015. As a life-long lover of history, field trips to historical places were one of her favorite things about homeschooling! Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in psychology along with a teacher certification from JMU and her master’s degree in special education from ODU. She enjoys volunteering at her church, Cool Spring Baptist, watching documentaries, and listening to podcasts about theology, culture, and history. Stephanie and her husband Rick have two children, Abby and Andrew.
CoursesSkills for Academic Success, Introduction to Psychology, World History, US History