High School Courses

I offer a complete four-year Integrated Humanities Great Books program for high school students. Each year we read through primary works of history and literature, sitting at the feet of the greatest authors of history and learning from them to love the True, Good, and Beautiful. Through class discussion, we engage with the great ideas of the past; through training in writing essays, progymnasmata exercises, and other writing projects, students take their first steps in learning to respond to those ideas and engage in the Great Conversation of the ages.

For the 2025 – 2026 school year, we will be covering The History and Literature of Ancient Greece. Writing assignments range from short answer weekly responses to longer persuasive essays. This is a rigorous class, and so I advise awarding students TWO credits for the course, one in History and another in Literature / Composition. Students are required to provide their own texts; please be aware of any particular translations requested on the book list.

Students will be asked to read 80-120 pages per week (rarely more than 100 pages). The workload for classes will take an average student 1 1/2 - 2 hours per day. Classes meet weekly for 1 1/2 hours.

Semesters are 16 weeks in length.

See below for my Great Christian Authors Series.

What is a tutorial?

A tutorial is a system in which a tutor leads the student to a greater understanding of the text, rather than one in which a teacher lectures and students passively listen and take notes. Class sizes are small to maximize interaction between students and the tutor. However, this will only lead to true learning, understanding, and eventually wisdom if the student puts in the effort to read and understand, to the best of his or her ability, the assigned material and comes prepared for discussion. Without true effort from the student, no learning will happen. It is the job of the parent to make sure readings are completed.

Ancient Greece

This class combines the study of primary sources of Greek History with some of the greatest literature of the same period, giving students a multi-faceted look at the achievements of Ancient Greece. Because of the depth and quantity of reading, students should be awarded two high school credits for the course, one in History and one in English/Literature.

Writing will consist of short answer questions on each week’s readings and longer persuasive essays responding to the literature (approximately one paper every 2-3 weeks). We will also do some literary analysis and use the ancient rhetorical exercises known as the progymnasmata. Students will receive a reading guide with questions on the readings and supplementary material.

Ancient Rome

In this class we will meet some of the famous ancient Romans by reading some of the greatest literature of that period, giving students a deeper understanding of Ancient Rome. Because of the depth and quantity of reading, students should be awarded two high school credits for the course, one in History and one in English/Literature.

Writing will consist of short answer questions on each week’s readings and longer persuasive essays responding to the literature (approximately one paper every 2-3 weeks). We will also do some writing from the progymnasmata, ancient rhetorical exercises which help students practice invention and write within a prescribed form while developing their own voice and style. Students will also receive a reading guide with questions to guide them through the Great Books.

Medieval Times

This class combines the study of primary sources of Medieval History with some of the greatest literature of the same period, giving students a multi-faceted look at the achievements of Medieval World. Because of the depth and quantity of reading, students should be awarded two high school credits for the course, one in History and one in English/Literature.

Writing will consist of short answer questions on each week’s readings and longer persuasive essays responding to the literature (approximately one paper every 2-3 weeks). We will also do some writing from imitation, which expands the student’s writing horizon and introduces him or her to new styles which help the student refine his own unique personal style.

Rise of the Modern World

In this year students explore the Rise of the Modern World. Just how did we get where we are today as a society? How have prevailing ideas changed over the past several centuries? Together we will follow the historical and philosophical reasons for the Modern worldview. Because of the depth and quantity of reading, students should be awarded two high school credits for the course, one in History and one in English/Literature.
Writing will consist of short answer questions on each week’s readings and longer persuasive essays responding to the literature (approximately one paper every 2-3 weeks).

Book lists for high school Great Books courses

Great Christian Authors series

C. S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and J.R.R. Tolkien are three of the foremost Christian authors and thinkers of the 20th century. I offer a full year exploring each of these in a three-year cycle. These classes involve discussion of their lives and thought as we read many of their most prominent works.

The reading pace for these classes is slower than that of the Great Books courses (50-60 pages each week), allowing us to move more slowly through these works and discuss them in more depth. Classes meet weekly for 60 - 75 minutes.

Each of the classes below can be awarded one high school credit in either literature or theology.

The Works of C. S. Lewis

Known to many as the creator of The Chronicles of Narnia, Lewis wrote many books, fiction and non-fiction, exploring and illustrating Christian theology. In this class we will read eight of his books as we discuss his journey from atheism to Christianity. Students will be assigned one writing project to accompany each book read.

The Works of J.R.R. Tolkien

Beloved by many as the creator of the world of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Tolkien was also a poet, essayist, and philologist. He created not only the trilogy, but also its entire world, with multiple languages. In this class we will read his most famous works along with some lesser known short stories.

The Works of G.K. Chesterton

An amazingly prolific author, Chesterton was the master of the paradox, a statement seemingly contradictory but deeply true. In this class we will read some of his most notable fiction and non-fiction, several essays, and epic poems.

Book Lists for Great Christian Authors series