English Courses
English Tutors
Tutor: Amy Kobb
Biography: Amy Kobb is a veteran homeschooling parent who home-schooled her three
children for 20 years. She completed a B.S. in Education at Geneva College, a private
Christian college in western Pennsylvania. It is her God-given desire to help other
homeschooling families in educating their children through the upper grades. She also
serves on the Arete board.
Tutor: Susannah Lane
Biography: Susannah Lane began homeschooling her daughters in 2007, when her oldest began struggling academically. She loves the approach homeschooling allows, as it
empowers students to learn in the way they can be most successful. Wanting to better
understand and support children and families, she received her Bachelor of Science in
Psychology from Regent University. Susannah has always had a desire to meet others
where they are and help them grow into who God created them to be, especially young
people. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cross-stitching, and spending time with her
family.
English Courses
(Click Course Name to expand or hide details)
| Title | Middle School Language Arts and Literature |
|---|---|
| Grades | 7th-8th |
| Prerequisite | None |
| Tutor | Susannah Lane |
| Frequency | 2 Days per Week |
| Costs | $60/month; $40 supply fee for the year |
| Books | Textbook is supplied by teacher |
| Supplies | Supply fee includes journals, class handouts, book studies, and a $15 rental fee for additional reading books; the rental fee is refundable at the end of the year as long as books are returned in good condition. The books will be rented from me to ensure the students have the correct edition, as there are variations for many of the books. |
| Description | The purpose of this class is to develop a foundational understanding of language arts and literature for students so they will be prepared when they enter high school. Students will learn how to infer an author’s meaning, analyze different literary works, identify themes in literature, develop grammar skills, and develop a fundamental ability in writing. Class lessons will be taught on a middle school level with age-appropriate texts, and written assignments will be focused on the MLA writing style.
|
| Title | Middle School US History and Literature |
|---|---|
| Grades | 7th-8th |
| Tutor | Not offered this year |
| Contact | |
| Frequency | 2 Days per week |
| Costs | $75/Month; $TBD supply fee for the year |
| Books | |
| Description | This class will primarily be a study of history that will include limited reading and study of works of literature. It will rotate each year from a US History and Literature focus to a World History and Literature focus. For 2024-25, our focus will be US History. We will be using a history text which will be supplemented by 2 works of fiction (1 each semester). |
| Title | Middle School World History and Literature |
|---|---|
| Grades | 7th-8th |
| Tutor | Not currently offering |
| Contact | |
| Frequency | 2 Days per Week |
| Costs | $75/Month; $TBD supply fee for the year |
| Books | |
| Description |
| Title | High School Language Arts & Elements of Literature |
|---|---|
| Grades | 9th-12th |
| Prerequisite | A graded writing sample from another class will need to be submitted prior to the first class. Access to a computer with internet/e-mail connectivity will be required, as all compositions will be typed and shared with the instructor online. |
| Tutor | Susannah Lane |
| Contact | |
| Frequency | 1 Day per Week |
| Costs | $60/month; $40 supply fee for the year |
| Books | Abeka, Themes in Literature, 5th Edition |
| Supplies | Supply fee includes journals, class handouts, book studies, and a $15 rental fee for additional reading books; the rental fee is refundable at the end of the year as long as books are returned in good condition. The books will be rented from me to ensure the students have the correct edition, as there are variations for many of the books. |
| Description | The purpose of this class is to introduce students to the different elements of literature to provide a foundational understanding. Students will then be taught how to take that knowledge and apply it to understanding the different themes in literary pieces. There will also be a heavy focus on language arts so students will know how to apply appropriate structure to their writing. Students will work from a textbook as well as other literature pieces to build their knowledge and understanding of the elements and themes of literature. This class will include several writing assignments for the application of the information the students have learned; the MLA writing style will be used. Additional books for reading will be included in the syllabus students receive at orientation. *Note – There is an honors option for this class; if that is something you are interested in, please contact me for more information. |
| Title | World Literature |
|---|---|
| Grades | 10th-12th |
| Prerequisite | Elements of Literature, British Literature or American Literature classes or similar. A strong writing background is recommended. |
| Tutor | Susannah Lane susalan79@gmail.com |
| Frequency | 2 Days per Week |
| Costs | $75/Month; $50 supply fee (includes student notebook and all class handouts provided by tutor) |
| Books | Abeka, World Literature, 5th Edition |
| Supplies | Supply fee includes journals, class handouts, book studies, and a $15 rental fee for additional reading books; the rental fee is refundable at the end of the year as long as books are returned in good condition. The books will be rented from me to ensure the students have the correct edition, as there are variations for many of the books. Supplies: 1 inch binder, subject dividers, notebook paper, textbook |
| Description | The purpose of this class is to introduce students to different literary pieces from around the world that have impacted the subject of literature. Students will study satire, poetry, autobiography, and general forms of writing. In their study, students will learn to identify different aspects of an author’s writing, apply analysis to the writing and characters, and learn to infer deeper meanings in what they’re reading. Students will also study various excerpts from the textbook, applying the same learning to these readings, as well as work on their reading comprehension. This class will also work on standard grammar application and the use of the MLA writing style. Additional books for reading will be included in the syllabus students receive at orientation. *Note – There is an honors option for this class; if that is something you are interested in, please contact me for more information. |
| Title | American Literature |
|---|---|
| Grades | 11th-12th |
| Prerequisite | Elements of Literature and/or World Literature or approval from tutor. A writing sample for all students new to Areté is required. Contact the tutor for more details. |
| Tutor | Susannah Lane |
| Frequency | 2 Days per Week |
| Costs | $75/month; $50 supply fee for the year |
| Books | Abeka, American Literature: Classics for Christians, 4th Edition |
| Supplies | Supply fee includes journals, class handouts, book studies, and a $15 rental fee for additional reading books; the rental fee is refundable at the end of the year as long as books are returned in good condition. The books will be rented from me to ensure the students have the correct edition, as there are variations for many of the books. Supplies: 1 inch binder, subject dividers, notebook paper, textbook |
| Description | The purpose of this class is to introduce students to the importance of American literature, teach them how to analyze different literary pieces, and how to apply that knowledge in various writing styles. During each semester in this class, students will focus on different books that have had an impact on American literature, as well as read various excerpts from the textbook. This will broaden the students’ knowledge of different styles of writing, work on their reading comprehension, and their ability to infer an author’s meaning in their writing. This class will also work on standard grammar application and the use of the MLA writing style. Additional books for reading will be included in the syllabus students receive at orientation. *Note – There is an honors option for this class; if that is something you are interested in, please contact me for more information. |
| Title | British Literature |
|---|---|
| Grades | 11th-12th |
| Prerequisite | Elements of Literature, World Literature or American Literature classes or similar. A strong writing background is highly recommended. |
| Tutor | Amy Kobb |
| Frequency | 2 Days per Week |
| Costs | $75/Month; $50 supply fee (includes student notebook and all class handouts provided by tutor) |
| Books | Books Needed: Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, George Orwell’s 1984. Confirmed reading list, any additional books and Honors Level requirements will be emailed in early August. |
| Supplies | Computer/printer, textbook; |
| Description | While we will review the terms, styles, era, and purposes of British literature, students will be assigned numerous reading and writing assignments to be discussed and considered in class. Papers and essays will be assigned for each book that we study. This upper-level high school course is designed to challenge students’ reading and writing abilities. Students are expected to be self-motivated and have a good grasp of grammar and MLA formatting. This class is writing intensive, and participation is required. A computer and printer are a must for successful completion of this class. |
Our English classes focus on reading comprehension, creative and academic writing, grammar, literature analysis, and public speaking. Whether students are developing early literacy skills or tackling classic novels, our supportive environment encourages critical thinking, clear expression, and a lifelong love of language.
