Math - My objective is to prepare the students well for high school math, so that the transition is as seamless as possible. I also hope to help them understand how math is applied real-world situations; if they realize how math is useful in their own lives, they are more likely to want to learn it. Not all students "love" math, but if they can end the year feeling like "I can do this!... it's not that bad!", I consider it a success! Inevitably when they have a positive feeling toward math, they always do better in it! So that is my goal for them. If a student excels in math, we offer the possibility of advancing a whole grade level such that they end up taking 9th grade algebra in their 8th grade year.
Science - Students enjoy an exciting balance of frequent laboratory experiments, and academic exploration via lecture, assignments, testing, groupwork, etc. Subjects alternate every other year between BIOLOGY and CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS.
Religion - I take a two-pronged approach to religion class: Reading the Bible/God's Word, and learning about all of its stories... and all of the ways God was there for His people... is such an important foundation. But just as important, is taking that and applying it to our own lives. The teenage years can be tumultuous and confusing; a season where they are finding themselves, figuring out where they fit in, and constantly comparing themselves with others, social media, and the world's messages. I hope to show them through God's word and Bible stories of His unconditional love and faithfulness, that they are a treasured child of God, He made them just exactly the way He wanted them to be, and He is always there for them.