Threads of Ames

Threads College Prep


Homeschooling in high school can seem intimidating, but Threads is committed to helping parents and students homeschool successfully throughout the high school years. Threads offers a flexible menu of classes, curriculum, and competent partner teachers. Our College Prep classes focus on student independence as high schoolers begin to take responsibility for their own educations. Threads College Prep students will meet for 30 weeks (15 in the fall, 15 in the spring). Students will register and pay per subject.

per student – registration: $180, supply fee* varies by subject *Early registration discount cannot be applied to supply fee.

Biology (90 minutes) tuition: $400, supply fee: $50*

Taught by: Stephen Young.

Recommended for: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades The subject of biology aims to describe and understand the living organisms in our surroundings. This course will cover topics such as biochemistry, microbiology, cellular structure and function, genetics, taxonomy, the kingdoms of living things, and ecology. In-class labs will include experimentation, microscopy, and dissection.

Chemistry (90 minutes) tuition: $400, supply fee: $50*

Taught by: Amy Larwick.

Recommended for: 10th, 11th, 12th grades This college prep class covers fundamental aspects of chemistry such as the classification of matter, atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, physical change, chemical change, stoichiometry, solutions, ideal gases, and acid/base chemistry. In class, students will participate in both lecture and lab time.

  • Prerequisite: Algebra I; recommended: Biology
  • Required: scientific calculator

Forensic Science (90 minutes) tuition: $400, supply fee: $50*

Taught by: Jennifer Swanson.

Recommended for: 11th, 12th grades This college prep class coveres fundamental aspects of forensic science such as crime scenes, physical evidence, biological evidence, transitory evidence, forensic tools, forensic specialties, and the judicial system. This class will consist of both lecture and lab time.

Physics (90 minutes) tuition: $400, supply fee: $50*

Taught by: Kathryn Schulteis

Recommended for: 11th, 12th grades This college prep course covers general physics, focuses on vector analysis, and provides a student with a strong background in one-dimensional and two-dimensional motion, Newton's laws and their application, gravity, work and energy, and momentum. Also covered is rotational motion, harmonic motion, fluids, heat, sound, and electrical circuits. In class, students will participate in both lecture and lab time.

  • Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry, basic Trigonometry functions
  • Required: TI 84 graphing calculator

Statistics (60 minutes) tuition: $275, supply fee: $25*

Taught by: Dr. Mark Maggio.

Recommended for: 11th, 12th grades Statistics is the mathematics of collecting, organizing, and interpreting data in order to make decisions. Statistics and probability problems occur around us every day, and this course is recommended for students who will go on to study fields like business, nursing, psychology, and technology or who will need to take a non-calculus college mathematics course. The course covers both descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics will include probability, normal distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and data correlation.

  • Prerequisite: Algebra I
  • Required: access to Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel, personal laptop for in-class use recommended

American Literature & Composition (90 minutes) tuition: $400, supply fee: $20*

Taught by: Mary Hope McGehee.
In this course students will develop strong composition and literary analysis skills as they read classic American novels, essays, and poetry. Class time will be spent learning and practicing a variety of writing techniques and discussing literary themes in order to connect their relevance in history to today’s society. Composition will include writing, grammar, and vocabulary activities of both academic and practical use.

Recommended for: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades


U.S. History (60 minutes) tuition: $275, supply fee: $20*

Taught by: Stacia Steward.

Recommended for: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades With the goal of knowing God better and living to His glory, students will begin from a Christian worldview to survey American history. Strong emphasis is given to critical thinking and analytical skills. More than simply memorizing facts, students will make evaluations and connections between significant events in U.S. history.

Life Skills (60 minutes) tuition: $275, supply fee: $50*:

Taught by: TBD.

This college prep course covers basic life skills, such as vehicles, culinary, sewing, emergencies, self-defense, weapon safety, personal hygiene, etiquette, household management, first aid, internet safety, traveling, job skills, survival skills, and healthy habits. The teacher will invite experts into the classroom for some of the lessons while teaching others personally.


Computer Programming (60 minutes) tuition: $275, supply fee: $20*

Taught by: TBD.

Recommended for: 11th, 12th grades This course will take students through the fundamentals of coding. They will learn how to code to create a game, completing the first semester by creating a game. The second semester will consist of learning how to create a website, the semester will conclude with students each creating their own websites.


Psychology & Sociology (60 minutes) tuition: $275, supply fee: $20*

Taught by: Holly Anderson.

Recommended for : 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades This course will be split into two semesters:

  • Psychology: Semester 1 will focus on Psychology from a Christian perspective. This portion of the course will prepare students to study psychology in a university setting by introducing them to psychological concepts and where those underlying worldview assumptions will lead them if they lose sight of a Christian perspective.
  • Sociology: Semester 2 will focus on Sociology from a Christian perspective. Students will be given an approachable and faith-based introduction to Sociology. They will be taught the sociological tools needed to conduct their own sociological experiment, which they will perform and present the results of at the end of the semester.

Speech (60 minutes) tuition: $275, supply fee: $25*

Taught by: TBD.

Recommended for: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades The purpose of this class is to give students confidence in various forms of public speaking and presentation. Over the course of the year, students will deliver multiple speeches while refining their presentation skills. The variety of speech types will include informative, memorized, spontaneous, etc. In addition, students will create a resume and learn relevant job interview skills.

Tentative Schedule