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. Frankly, 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 2025-26, 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 2025-26. Registration opens on April 1, 2025.
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)
Elementary Language Arts*
Especially suited for students in 2 – 5th grades*, E.L.A. is ideal for beginning or reluctant writers, as well as the more eager ones. We will learn note making and outlining, summarizing from paragraphs into students’ own words, story sequencing, letter writing, and a smattering of poetry just for kicks! Our philosophy focuses on the writing process over the product, promoting language fluency and building confidence.
*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: No purchase necessary; materials will be provided.
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 Chemistry and Physics. As foundational science subjects, physics and chemistry lend themselves to the very best laboratory activities! We’ll investigate properties of matter, heat, mixtures, chemical reactions, motion, thermal energy, electricity, and magnetism. Students can expect to read one chapter every two weeks and participate in all lab activities. They will also learn how to keep records of their laboratory investigations, write a simple lab report, and practice working with their teammates.
*Students in 2nd grade must be reading at grade level.
Meeting time: Tuesdays, 11 – 11:45 a.m.
Textbook: You purchase Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics. 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 (who will someday be high schoolers faced with more demanding English rules and regulations) middle school students will write basic essays, reports, narratives, and a bit of fiction. Because I have the same students for 2 – 3 years, I vary writing assignments while keeping the foundations of writing consistent. Students who have been in MSW previously will still be challenged to write better in April than they do in September. Because all writing is communication, we keep our audience in mind as we write, we follow grammatical and stylistic guidelines, and we hope to enjoy ourselves in the process!
Meeting time: Tuesdays, 9 – 9:50 a.m.
Textbook: You purchase Mrs. B’s Complete Exercise Book. (If your student has this book, no need to purchase a new one.)
Teacher: Mrs. B
Cost: $325
Class limit: 20 students
Middle School Science
Chemistry and physics are our topics this year. We will use Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics as our textbook, which is the same as the Elementary Science class. * Middle school students can expect to cover the textbook by reading one chapter every two weeks, answering questions on their reading, taking a weekly quiz, and taking a chapter exam. Lab activities for chemistry and physics include the properties of matter, heat, motion, reactions, electricity, and magnetism.
*If your student took Middle School Science from me last year (2024-25), beware that this course uses the same textbook. My aim this year is to make the course more academic than the last one; however, some of the labs will be the same. An eager, diligent 8th grader is welcome to jump to high school biology instead. Contact me for more information.
Meeting time: Tuesdays, 10 – 10:50 a.m.
Textbook: You purchase Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics. DO NOT purchase the accompanying “Note Booking Journal.”
Teacher: Mrs. B
Cost: $450
Class limit: 20 students
** Have multiple students taking elementary and middle school science? They may share this textbook.
High School English
Our two-pronged approach to English this year is perfect for 9th – 12th graders (or a competent 8th grader) *. We’ll use IEW’s Windows to the World for a foundational look at literary analysis, and we’ll write many essays. First up is the gold standard of academic writing: the 5-paragraph essay. Once a student has mastered that one, he/she is set for upper-lever high school courses, as well as those taught in college. In tandem, students will participate in an in-depth study of the short story. We’ll see that authors create “story world” to render their theme or controlling idea, and we’ll understand how to answer an essay prompt with pinpoint evidence and analysis.
Meeting time: Wednesdays, 1- 1:50 pm.
Textbook: You purchase Windows to the World by Leisha Myers.
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 6, 2026. 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 6 – April 21, 2026) 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.
*Students who are in 8th grade and ready to move on from Middle School Science are welcome to take this course.
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. Baumgaertel
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. 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.