Below is a list of our courses, along with descriptions, schedules, teachers, required texts, and course fees. Before you register, please read the next few paragraphs explaining our philosophy and policies.
Our Part and Your Part
We are a “tool”, not a “school”. Washington state allows you to home educate your child as long as you follow its rules for home-based instruction, and in doing so you are outsourcing a portion of your responsibilities with us. We are happy to provide lessons, homework assignments, tests and grade reports; however, we are not home schooling your child — you are. Your duties include supervising your students’ weekly homework and watching his overall grade. Writing Home works well for families who take these duties seriously, but it does not work well for those who fail to monitor their students’ progress. If you are not willing or able to ensure that your student turns in his homework each week and/or studies effectively for tests, Writing Home is not for you.
Writing Home specializes in academic courses. For 2026-27, we are offering English, science, and algebra courses for students in 2nd – 12th grades. Class sizes are limited, and we will admit students on a first-come basis. Students are officially enrolled when 1) we receive his/her online registration form, and 2) we receive your registration fee. When courses fill, we will begin a wait list.
Below is a list of the courses offered for 2026-27. Registration opens on April 1, 2026.
Questions about anything? Please ask! Email us here – kimbaum@writinghome.org
Courses for high school (grades 9 – 12)
- High School English
- Washington State History
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Algebra 1
- Algebra 2
Courses for Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Middle School Writing
- Middle School Science
- Washington State History
- Pre-Algebra
Courses for Elementary School (grades 2-5)
- Elementary Languare Arts (2nd – 5th graders)
- Elementary Science (2nd – 5th graders)
Course Descriptions:
Elementary Language Arts
Especially suited for students in 2 – 5th grades*, ELA is ideal for beginning or reluctant writers, as well as the more eager ones. We will learn to freewrite with confidence, construct proper paragraphs in our own words, enjoy good literature, and read aloud in front of an audience. Our philosophy focuses on the writing process over the product, promoting language fluency and building confidence.
Students who took ELA in 2025-26 are welcome to join class again next year as the assignments will be different.
*If your 2nd grader is not reading at grade level, please wait another year before enrolling him/her in ELA.
Meeting time: Tuesdays, 12 – 12:50 p.m.**
Textbook: Most materials will be provided; however, expect to purchase a paperback novel in January for our literature unit.
Teacher: Mrs. B
Cost: $300
Class limit: 20 students
**If your student attends both elementary classes, have him/her bring a sack lunch for the break between them.
Elementary Science
Students in 2nd – 5th grades will explore science with Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Earth Science. Geology is a fascinating subject: rocks, minerals, and crystals, plus mapping the earth, atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, weather, climate, volcanoes and earthquakes!
Meeting time: Tuesdays, 11 – 11:45 a.m.
Textbook: You purchase Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Earth Science. DO NOT purchase the accompanying “Note Booking Journal”.
Teacher: Mrs. B
Cost: $350
Class limit: 20 students
Middle School Writing
Appropriate for 6th – 8th graders middle school students will write expository essays, reports, and personal narratives. Because I have the same students for 2 – 3 years, I vary our writing assignments each new year. All writing is communication, so we keep our audience in mind as we write, we follow grammatical and stylistic guidelines, and we enjoy ourselves in the process!
Meeting time: Tuesdays, 9 – 9:50 a.m.
Textbook: To be determined…I’m looking for a different grammar/style workbook for next year.
Teacher: Mrs. B
Cost: $325
Class limit: 20 students
Middle School Science
We’ll use Exploring Creation with Earth Science (same text as elementary science) to study the spheres of the earth – hydro, geo, atmosphere. Included is a look at rocks, crystals, minerals, earthquakes, volcanoes, climate, and weather.
Middle schoolers love science labs, and they’ll complete plenty of them in this course. If your 8th grader is looking towards biology for his/her 9th grade science course, earth science is an excellent preparation for high school lab sciences.
Meeting time: Tuesdays, 10 – 10:50 a.m.
Textbook: You purchase Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Earth Science. DO NOT purchase the accompanying “Note Booking Journal.”
Teacher: Mrs. B
Cost: $450
Class limit: 20 students
*Do you have multiple students taking elementary and/or middle school science? They may share this textbook.
High School English
HSE is open to any student in 9th – 12th grades, including those who have taken English from me at any time in the past. This year our focus will be on non-fiction essays, which fall into three categories: Closed Form, Open form, and Investigative. We’ll learn techniques for all three using the five-paragraph expository essay format, examining a problem from many viewpoints –sometimes to explore a question, other times to craft an argument.
Students will learn how to conduct research responsibly and ethically, and how to cite their sources. Please know that I am an “old school” English teacher, and will therefore forbid any use of AI, ChatGPT, etc.
And, because it’s so much fun, we’ll read Hamlet.
Meeting time: Wednesdays, 1- 1:50 pm.
Textbook: You purchase the “No Fear Shakespeare” edition of Hamlet by January 5.
Teacher: Mrs. B
Cost: $400
Class limit: 25 students
Washington State History
A study of the people, geography, and key events in the history of our state will begin on January 5, 2027. Open to 7th -12th graders, this half-credit course will be team-taught by Mr. and Mrs. B this year. Students will learn about native cultures, exploration, pioneer settlement, geography, and the government of our home state, as well as key events in the 20th century. Text is Washington’s History by Harry Ritter.
Meeting time: Tuesdays (January 5 – April 28, 2027) 1:00 – 1:50 p.m.
Textbook: You purchase Washington’s History by Harry Ritter
Teachers: Mr. and Mrs. B
Cost: $350
Class limit: 30 students
High School Biology
Biology is a foundational high school science course, usually taken in 9th grade; ours is open to any home schooler in 9th – 12* grades*. We use Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Biology, 3rd edition, which covers the five kingdoms of living organisms in a logical, sensible sequence. Biology credit requires lab work, which includes microscopes, dissection, and observation. Students will earn 1 lab credit for their high school transcript after successfully completing this course.
*Eighth graders capable of moving on from Middle School Science are welcome to take this course, but please check with me before registering.
Meeting time: Wednesdays, 9 – 10:50 a.m.
Textbook: You purchase Exploring Creation with Biology, 3rd edition
Teacher: Mrs. B
Cost: $450
Class limit: 20 students
High School Chemistry
Chemistry is a difficult subject, but also a fascinating one. Students looking toward a major in any science or technical field will need a chemistry foundation, which is what this beginning course provides. Topics include the nature of matter, atoms and molecules, stoichiometry, acid/base reactions, and much more. Students will earn 1 lab credit for their high school transcripts after successfully completing chemistry.*
Meeting time: Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. – 12:50 p.m.
Teacher: Mrs. B
Text: You purchase Discovering Design with Chemistry, by Dr. Jay Wile. Students must also have a calculator capable of scientific notation.
Class limit: 15 students
*Prerequisite: Algebra 1 is a crucial component of chemistry. Your student is welcome to join this class if he/she has passed an Algebra 1 course.
Cost: $450
High School Physics
“You will learn the basics about the universe around you and how it works”, says Dr. Wile, the author of the textbook. Topics include motion, vectors, Newton’s laws, circular motion and gravity, work and energy, momentum, waves, optics, Coulomb’s law and the electric field, and magnetism. The student will be required to explain concepts, work problems, participate in labs and write lab reports. Most of the tests will be administered at home by a parent.
Teacher: Mr. Baumgaertel
Text: You purchase Exploring Creation with Physics – second edition, by Dr. Jay Wile. Students must also have a scientific calculator.
Schedule: Tuesdays, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Prerequisite: Algebra 1: The student should know how to solve an equation for a variable. Beginning familiarity with trigonometry is helpful. We recommend that your student take biology and chemistry before physics, but it is not required.
Cost: $450
Algebra 1 (two days per week)
Mr. Baumgaertel will help students develop a firm algebra foundation in this beginning course. Algebra is a key course in high school education. Students must understand algebra to succeed in many other courses and to attend Running Start. Because it takes time and effort to learn algebra, this course will meet two days per week: Tuesdays from 11 – 12:50 p.m. for a test and tutoring session, and Wednesdays from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. for presentation of new concepts. Students will progress through four algebra lessons per week; therefore, it is very important that they keep up with their homework.
Teacher: Mr. Baumgaertel
Text: You purchase Saxon’s Algebra 1, An Incremental Development, 3rd edition. Please make sure you purchase the 3rd edition.
Schedule: Tuesday, 11 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. and Wednesday, 11-1:00 p.m. (Students are required to attend both days.)
Cost: $350. This does NOT include the textbook.
Pre-requisite: Mr B. will administer a placement test on the first day of class to determine if the student is ready for algebra 1 or whether they should be in prealgebra.
Algebra 2 (one day per week)
Mr. Baumgaertel will teach this course for students who have successfully completed Algebra 1. This course will proceed at half-speed, in that two weeks will be devoted to every four lessons instead of one week. A test will be given every other week. This course will meet one day per week: Tuesdays from 11 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. for either a test or a lecture. It is very important that students keep up with their homework.
Teacher: Mr. Baumgaertel
Required text: You purchase Saxon’s Algebra 2, An Incremental Development, 3rd edition.
Schedule: Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – 12:50 p.m.
Fee: $300, does NOT include the textbook.
Pre-requisite: Mr. B. will administer a placement test on the first day of class to determine if the student is ready for algebra 2 or whether they should be in algebra 1.
Pre-Algebra (two days per week)
“Algebra is not difficult. Algebra is just different. Time is required in order for things that are different to become things that are familiar,” says John Saxon in the preface to Algebra ½, An Incremental Development, 3rd edition. Mr. Baumgaertel will help pre-algebra students to make the transition from arithmetic to algebra.
Because algebra is different and takes both time and effort to master, we require students to meet on two days each week. On Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – 12:50 p.m., students meet for a test and tutoring session. Mr. B will answer questions and help students as they work. On Wednesdays, 9-11:00 a.m., Mr. B will teach new concepts over the next four lessons. Students are required to attend both days.
Teacher: Mr. Baumgaertel
Text: You purchase Saxon’s Algebra ½, An Incremental Development, 3rd edition. Please make sure you purchase the 3rd edition.
Schedule: Tuesday, 11 a.m. – 12:50 p.m. and Wednesday, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (Students are required to attend both days.)
Cost: $350
Pre-requisite: Parents should ensure that their students have mastered basic arithmetic prior to enrolling in pre-algebra. Mr. B will administer a placement test on the first day of class to determine if the student is indeed ready for pre-algebra. They need to be able to: add a column of numbers; subtract one large number from another; multiply two large numbers; and divide one large number by a smaller number. The student must know their multiplication tables through 12 times 12.