Offering different course options that allow the flexibility that homeschool families need, while also offering the connection for group discussions, labs, and activities. Each course will list the teacher and the format. Read carefully and choose the option that is best for you and your student.
For 2025-2026, these offerings are only open to Essential students and families as we develop our resource center.
A one-time $25 registration fee per student is required to cover costs for safety, insurance, and administrative expenses. Most courses offer full payment, biannual payment, or monthly payment plans.
If you would like to teach or offer an extracurricular experience, please contact us about the process.
Registration Now Available for Select Courses
2025-2026 Courses
Chemistry
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Instructor: Linsey Williams
Dates: August 18, 2025 – May 11, 2026
Class Days: Mondays 9-11am at Essential Church School offices
Grade Level: 9-12
Format: In-person classes for review, tests, and labs. At-home component will consist of assigned reading and comprehension questions.
Requirements: Recommended prerequisite is algebra, at least concurrently. We will use Berean Builders Discovering Design with Chemistry. Text and workbook will be bulk-purchased by instructor.
All-Inclusive Fee: $500 which includes instruction, hardcover text, spiral-bound workbook, tests, and lab materials. ($105 non-refundable for materials)
Course Description:
This college-preparatory course covers fundamental aspects of chemistry such as the classification of matter, atomic structure, spectroscopy, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, physical change, chemical change, stoichiometry, solutions, ideal gases, acid/base chemistry, reduction/oxidation reactions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. Weaving together concepts and their mathematical applications, the course teaches students how to think as a chemist so they can analyze the major changes that occur in matter.
Contact Linsey for more information: linseysteadman@bellsouth.net
Elementary Writing—“Structure and Style for Students 1A” from IEW
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Instructor: Shaley Fabris
Dates: August 18, 2025-May 4, 2026
Grade Level: 4-6
Format: In person meetings once a week. Mondays from 9:30-10:45. Daily assignments for the rest of the week as students complete assignments at home.
All-Inclusive Fee: $300, which includes instructor, evaluations and grading, worksheets and binder.
Course Description:
We will use SSS1A from the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). This program introduces students to the technical aspects of forming well-developed and well-organized paragraphs and short compositions. The focus is both on developing skills in structuring different types of assignments and on elevating a student’s style of writing. See further description of this program at IEW.com.
Contact Shaley for more information: shaleyfabris@hotmail.com
English Grammar & Composition I
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Dates: August 18, 2025 – April 13, 2026
Instructor: Kristy Trent
Grade Level: 9-12
Format: Online directed study with virtual meetings for Chapter Reviews and Oral Presentations
Requirements: Device for online access to the class as well as internet access
All-Inclusive Fee: $300 which includes textbook, instructor, evaluations and grading, and online assignments/tests ($50 nonrefundable for materials)
Course Description:
We will use the Rod & Staff Communicating Effectively Book One to review English mechanics, grammar, composition, oral presentations, and some Biblical reference work. This course will be a true exploration of language arts.
Contact Kristy for more information: kristy@essentialchurchschool.org
English Grammar & Composition II
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Instructor: Kristy Trent
Dates: August 18, 2025 – April 13, 2026
Grade Level: 9-12
Format: Online guided study and assignments with scheduled virtual or in-person meetings for presentations and discussions (a schedule will be posted soon)
All-Inclusive Fee: $300 which includes instructor, evaluations and grading, worksheets and textbook. ($50 non-refundable for materials)
***This course does NOT require English Grammar & Composition I to be completed first.***
Course Description:
We will use the Rod & Staff Communicating Effectively Book Two to review English mechanics, grammar, composition, oral presentations, and even parliamentary procedure. This course will be a true exploration of language arts.
Contact Kristy for more information: kristy@essentialchurchschool.org
High School Writing—“Structure and Style for Students 1C” from IEW
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Instructor: Shaley Fabris
Dates: August 18, 2025-May 4, 2026
Grade Level: 9-12
Format: In-person meetings once a week on Mondays 12:45-2:00. Daily assignments for the rest of the week as students complete assignments at home.
All-Inclusive Fee: $400, which includes instructor, evaluations and grades, worksheets and binder.
Course Description:
It is recommended that students in this class have some experience with IEW and/or are proficient writers. At this level, students move through all nine units of the IEW program and introduce stylistic techniques into their writing at a very quick pace. Students who have not had formal instruction in essay writing or who struggle with longer writing assignments should consider taking the middle-school-level course. SSS1B would count as a “high school level” course for those of high school age.
This course from The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) will help students move to the next level in their writing. IEW’s unique approach provides the structure students need to develop confidence in the writing process while gradually guiding them toward greater independence and creativity. Students will learn nine structural models (note taking, writing paragraphs, stories, simple reports, writing from pictures, research reports, creative writing, essays and critiques) to help them organize any type of composition. Additionally, stylistic techniques (strong verbs, quality adjectives, sentence openers, and more) are taught incrementally to gently move the student from the basics into more sophisticated writing.
Contact Shaley for more information: shaleyfabris@hotmail.com
Medieval/Renaissance World Literature
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Dates: August 4, 2025 – May 15, 2026
Group Discussion Days: Tuesdays at 10am (Online)
Instructor: Kristy Trent
Grade Level: 9-12
Format: Online directed study with virtual meetings for discussions. Grading is based on completion of assignments and participation in discussions.
Requirements: Device for online access to the class
All-Inclusive Fee: $550 which includes books and materials, instructor, evaluations and grading, and online assignments (After class, gently used books can be returned for credit with Essential, and $150 is nonrefundable if a student withdraws before the deadline.)
Fee without books: $400 includes instructor, evaluations and grading, and online assignments (Parent will be responsible for securing required texts)
Participation without grading: $150 includes access to online assignments and group discussion (Parent will be responsible for checking work, evaluating progress, and securing required texts)
Course Description:
We will primarily use the curriculum from Tapestry of Grace to explore and learn about literature during the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and colonization time periods. These literature studies include literary analysis and a study of different types of literary genres. Readings include Norse mythology, Beowulf, Canterbury Tales, The Divine Comedy, Shakespeare, Pilgrim’s Progess, Paradise Lost, English & American poetry, Gulliver’s Travels, Jane Austen, etc.
Contact Kristy for more information: kristy@essentialchurchschool.org
Medieval/Renaissance World History
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Dates: August 4, 2025 – May 15, 2026
Meeting Days: Thursdays at 11am
Instructor: Kristy Trent
Grade Level: 9-12
Format: Online directed study with virtual meetings for discussions
Requirements: Device for online access to the class
All-Inclusive Fee: $550 which includes books and materials, instructor, evaluations and grading, and online assignments (After class, gently used books can be returned for credit with Essential, but $150 is nonrefundable if withdrawing)
Fee without books: $400 includes instructor, evaluations and grading, and online assignments (Parent will be responsible for securing required texts)
Course Description:
We will primarily use both history textbooks and literature to explore the life and culture of civilizations during the Middle Ages through the Colonial Period. Toward the end of the year, we will incorporate early American history.
Middle School Writing—“Structure and Style for Students 1B” from IEW
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Instructor: Shaley Fabris
Dates: August 18, 2025-May 4, 2026
Grade Level: 6-9
Format: In-person meetings once a week. Mondays from 11:15-12:30. Daily assignments for the rest of the week as students complete assignments at home.
All-Inclusive Fee: $400, which includes instructor, evaluations and grading, worksheets and binder.
Course Description:
We will use SSS1B from the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW). This course from The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) will help students move to the next level in their writing. IEW’s unique approach provides the structure students need to develop confidence in the writing process while gradually guiding them toward greater independence and creativity. Students will learn nine structural models (note taking, writing paragraphs, stories, simple reports, writing from pictures, research reports, creative writing, essays and critiques) to help them organize any type of composition. Additionally, stylistic techniques (strong verbs, quality adjectives, sentence openers, and more) are taught incrementally to gently move the student from the basics into more sophisticated writing.
Contact Shaley with any questions: shaleyfabris@hotmail.com