The English curriculum at Hamilton Heights is designed to help students sharpen their communication skills and effectively prepare them for their post-high school choices. Each year, the English curricula is divided into two sections: Writing & Grammar and Literature. Each respective year’s curricula is as follows:
English 9: The Writing and Grammar module reviews the eight parts of speech, five basic sentence patterns, usage, and mechanics. Introduce relative pronouns, pronoun reference problems, indicative/imperative mood. Dictionary skills, library skills, study skills, and the writing process are part of the year’s work. Literature selections provide students the opportunity to analyze real texts. Writing projects include paragraphs of comparison/contrast and personal experience, a research essay, poetry, and devotional writing, a personal response to literature. The Literature module teaches the process of literary analysis that enables the student to interpret and evaluate what they read in light of biblical truth. Readings offer instruction in six literary elements: conflict, character, theme, structure, point of view, and moral tone. Included is an English translation of Rostand’s drama Cyrano de Bergerac.
English 10: The Writing and Grammar module teaches the eight parts of speech, verbal phrases, clauses (including noun clauses), usage, and mechanics. Review the five basic sentence patterns. Reference chapters include library skills such as test-taking strategies. Students are lead through the writing process and teach writing strategies such as sentence expansion and reduction, coordination and subordination, and parallelism. Writing projects include persuasive speech, editorial, eyewitness report, research essay, cause-and-effect essay, short story, poetry and metaphor, and webpage design. The Literature module strengthens he student’s understanding of literature by focusing on advanced literary concepts. Students will analyze literary selections from several genres and interpret them in light of biblical principles. The Shakespearean drama Romeo and Juliet is included.
English 11: The Writing and Grammar module teaches the eight parts of speech, verbal phrases clauses, usage, and mechanics. Review the seven sentence patterns. Introduce advanced concepts such as tense sequence, perfect verbals, and adverbial nouns. Reference chapters include library skills and study skills. Students are lead through the Writing Process and teach writing strategies such as variety, emphasis, and sentence logic. Writing projects include research paper, literary analysis, folktale, narrative poem, hymn, analytical essay, interview, memoir, analogy, in-class essay, and letter to the editor. The Literature module Introduces the student to more than seventy authors in a study that connects the authors’ lives and beliefs as revealed in their writings with the corresponding literary periods. Lessons examine Colonial-Revolutionary, Romantic, Realistic/Naturalistic, and Modern literature and issues such as Darwinism and religious liberalism. Included is the Thornton Wilder play The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden.
English 12: Teaches the eight parts of speech, verbal phrases, clauses, usage, and mechanics. Reviews the seven sentence patterns. Introduces advanced concepts such as tense sequence, perfect verbals, and adverbial nouns. Reference chapters include library skills and study skills. Leads your student through the writing process and teaches writing strategies such as variety, emphasis, and sentence logic. Writing projects include a research paper, a literary analysis, a folktale, a narrative poem, a hymn, an analytical essay, an interview, a memoir, an analogy, and an in-class essay. Discusses cultural issues from eight literary periods in light of Scripture: Old English, Middle English, Tudor, Stuart, Neoclassical, Romantic, Victorian, and Modern. Traces English Christianity from its beginning to the present and studies the Shakespearean drama Macbeth.
Our Mathematics Courses are designed to strengthen the student’s problem-solving and reasoning skills and to help them develop their understanding of math as a tool of commerce, the language of science, and a means for solving everyday problems. They are also designed to help our students see the relevance of math and it Biblical basis from beginning to end.
Foundations: Students are introduced to the basic concepts of algebra in preparation of Algebra 1. Students are introduced to expressions of equations, decimals, integers, number theories, rational numbers, equations and inequalities, ratios, proportions, percentages, and very basic geometric functions.
Algebra 1: Students are introduced to graphing, solving systems of equations, operations with polynomials and radicals, factoring polynomials, solving rational equations, and graphing quadratic equations.
Geometry: Students study geometric figures using the principles of inductive and deductive reasoning. Students will 1) develop an understanding of the basic elements of geometry, including essential vocabulary and symbols; 2)use inductive and deductive reasoning in a variety of situations, including the proofs of formal theorems; 3) develop an understanding of properties of parallel lines and various angles formed; 4) identify the corresponding parts of congruent and similar triangles and polygons using appropriate theorems to solve application problems related to them; 5) develop an understanding of various convex polygons and the theorems associated with them; 6) develop an understanding of the basic properties of right triangles; 7) calculate and apply the area, perimeter, circumference, and volume of two and three-dimensional figures, including circles; and, 8) develop the spatial ability to analyze two and three-dimensional figures, including transformations in the coordinate planes.
Algebra 2: This course reviews the basic algebraic functions and extend each student’s skills in graphing and in solving equations. Students are introduced to exponential functions, logarithms, and trigonometry. More advanced topics such as complex numbers, rational expressions and equations, conic section, probability, and statistics are also introduced. A component of matrix algebra is also included.
Pre-Calculus: This college prep course emphasizes functions, graphing, trigonometry, and differential calculus.
Introduction to Statistics: In this course students will be able to define basic terms used in statistics; compute simple measures of central tendency; compute measures of dispersion, and construct tables and graphs that display measures of central tendency.
Physical Science: Provides an introduction to the world of physics and chemistry. This course provides an essential foundation for subsequent science courses, including Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. It builds a foundation of basic information regarding matter and measurements early in the text; then furnishes the student with the key principles and scientific laws of classical physics, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, sound, light, and optics. After mastering these concepts, students are equipped to study more advanced concepts such as the structure of the atom, compounds and chemical reactions, and mixtures and solutions.
Biology: The Biology curriculum is designed to teach students about cellular biology, genetics, taxonomy, microbiology, botany, zoology, and human anatomy. When studying topics such as Creation and evolution, human cloning, abortion, and stem cell research, students are pointed to Scripture as the ultimate authority and are encouraged to develop a biblical perspective about these topics.
Chemistry: Chemistry provides the history, role, and potential of chemistry; as well an introduction and explanation of matter, atomic structure, elements, chemical bonds, bonding theories and molecular chemistry, chemical compositions and reactions, chemical calculations, gasses, solids and liquids, chemical solutions, chemical thermodynamic, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium, acids, bases, and salts, oxidation-reduction, organic chemistry and bio-chemistry, modern chemical materials, and nuclear chemistry.
Physics: Physics assists student in discovering how to interact with raw data from actual physical phenomena and historical experiments as they create and evaluate scientific models. This course presents the traditional physics topics of classical mechanics, as well as energy, matter, thermodynamics, electromagnetics, optics, and modern physics, all within a vibrant Christian worldview.
Geology: This course covers Earth’s structures and movements, fossils, relative and absolute time, oceanography, biological and chemical properties, atmospheric structure, pollution, and climates around the world.
Astronomy: This course will provide the student with an introduction to the concepts of modern astronomy, the origin and history of the universe and the formation of the Earth and the solar system. Students will compare the Earth’s properties with those of the other planets and explore how the heavens have influenced human thought and action. The course gives a description of astronomical phenomena using the laws of physics. The course treats many standard topics including planets, stars, the Milky Way and other galaxies, black holes to more esoteric questions concerning the origin of the universe and its evolution and fate.
From the Creation and the ancient world to modern-day studies, the Social Studies curriculum build a thorough understanding of world geography, culture, politics, and the founding and growth of the United States. The curriculum clearly present God’s sovereign hand, and godly men and women are held high.
World Geography: A survey of both geographic principles and every country of the world through a regional approach. Following the theme of a Grand Tour, students “travel” from continent to continent around the world studying the cultures, landforms, climates, resources, economy, religions, and government of each country.
World History: Students will see historical events from Creation to modern times in the light of God’s Word. The ministry of the church is emphasized in discussions of politics, economics, science, and fine arts.
U.S. History: The U.S. History curriculum covers our nation’s history from colonial times up to the present. Special attention is given to God’s providence and the nation’s Christian heritage.
U.S. Government: This course helps prepare students to become responsible citizens with a discussion of the principles and mechanics of a constitutional republic. Material discussed includes the Constitution, in depth insights into the three branches of government, political parties, elections, and foreign policy, all from a biblical perspective.
Economics: examines the concepts and theories of economics from a Christian perspective and profiles individual countries and economic perspectives.
Contemporary Issues: The Contemporary Issues course focuses on life in our world day by day. Although many issues studied will be played out while we watch, some topics will be ongoing. Peace in the Middle East, cloning, AIDS, and space travel is examples of topics that have been around but are still current in the news. World leaders will be part of the focus as we study different countries and cultures and how they intertwine.
Financial Peace: The issue of finances is addressed more than 800 times in the Bible. This course is designed to focus on four key issues from a Biblical perspective: 1) income; 2) money management; 3) spending and credit; and, 4) saving and investing.
Foreign Language courses offered at Hamilton Heights are as follow:
Spanish 1: Students will learn how to ask and answer basic questions, give and follow directions, purchase items, make small talk, and present the gospel.
Spanish 2: Students will learn to communicate at an intermediate level in a store, a bank, an airport, a hotel, a doctor’s office, and an auto shop. They will have an overview of grammatical structure.
The Bible Curriculum at Hamilton Heights is designed to give our students an understanding of Biblical truths. Taught from a non-denominational perspective, each course is designed to give an intelligent and accurate over-view of a Biblical Worldview. Classes are ideal for non-believers, new believers, and students who practice non-Christian faiths. The Bible Studies and Theology Department curriculum consists of the following courses:
The Life of Christ: A study of the life of Christ as described in the Gospel of John, designed to help students develop not only a deeper knowledge of Christ but also a deeper relationship with Him. The Life of Christ examines the ministry and work of God’s Son within Israel’s historical and geographical context
Behold Your God: By presenting the Bible as God’s self-revelation, this course explores the character and work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Students will explore what it means to know and love God, as well as discover reasons to follow and serve Him.
Proverbs: Understanding that Biblical wisdom is the source of true wisdom, this course will help students explore how they can, with God’s help, apply His wisdom in each decision through high school and beyond.
Religions of the World: This course consists of two key components: 1) An exploration and comparison of four major world religions with Christianity; and, 2) Key issues in effective debate using contemporary issues.
The Physical Education course offered at Hamilton Heights is as follow:
Physical Education: The State of Tennessee Department of Education mandates that all students are required to take at least 1.5 credits of physical education. The administration reserves the right to substitute another year of physical education in lieu of the Total Wellness course. Waivers and exceptions may be made for students competing on athletic teams and those with physical disabilities.
The Fine Arts course offered at Hamilton Heights is as follow:
Music Appreciation: Students will explore the sounds, forms, and history of music.
Academic English proficiency is for many international students a very difficult challenge. Our teachers and faculty in all department are very experienced in working with students that are in the process of developing and improving their English skills. Due to the large number of international students at the school, HHCA offers a Level 1 and Level 2 ESL course. Non-native English speaking international students may also take advantage of small group and one-on-one English tutoring provided by staff and interns. A six-week summer ESL intensive may be required for new students prior to the beginning of the new semester.