At the Pearl, we help homeschool parents create a hybrid education structure for their teens. This spring, we are offering unique hybrid-homeschooling education for teens to attend worldwide! These classes can count towards a United States high school diploma.
Our Classes
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Beginning Japanese – Online Language Class
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-11:25 a.m. Central
In Beginning Japanese, you will start by mastering hiragana and katakana before delving into kanji (used for writing nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs). Through engaging lessons and practice, you’ll develop the abilities to speak, write, and read Japanese with confidence.
The Pearl High School’s Beginning Japanese Class will be taught by Nao Takeda.
Voices of Resistance: Exploring Identity Through Diverse Writers – Online English Language Art Class
Monday & Wednesday from 10:00 a.m.-11:25 a.m. Central
This is a class to read and discuss points of views from authors coming from different backgrounds. Students will understand the lifestyle, struggles and experiences these writers have shared through essays, poems or short stories, and we’ll discuss how our own experiences can relate to those that we read about and how much the world has changed since. Challenging the dominant discourse through the voices of BIPOC/feminist/LGBTQ+/ChicanX authors like Bob Kaufman, bell hooks, Amiri Baraka and Gloria Anzaldúa will make the students reflect on identity, culture and social issues that will strengthen their critical thinking, expand their perspectives and reinforce their empathy.
The Pearl High School’s Voices of Resistance class will be taught by published author Paulino Ordóñez .
Practical Spanish – Online Language Class
Tuesday, & Thursdays from 11:30 pm-12:55 pm US Central
In Practical Spanish, you will expand your listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills through interactive experiences, virtual trips, and self-directed learning projects.
The Pearl High School’s Practical Spanish Class will be taught by Lorena de la Vega Aguirre.
Advanced Spanish – Online Language Class
Monday and Wednesday from 11:30 am -12:55 US Central
In advanced Spanish classes, students will engage in language production through captivating activities such as crafting their own short stories, creating videos, and enhancing conversational skills. By immersing themselves in Spanish literary works, students will further solidify their language knowledge and grammar. This course mirrors the rigor of a high school level class offered in a Spanish-speaking country, designed to cater to native speakers. Join us as we embark on a language-learning journey that combines creativity, cultural exploration, and linguistic excellence.
The Pearl High School’s Practical Spanish Class will be taught by Lorena de la Vega Aguirre.
Deep psychology/Metapsychology – Online Social Studies Class (or Elective)
Monday and Wednesday from 11:30 am -12:55 US Central
This psychology course focuses on the elements of psychodynamic theory, how its techniques are applied in therapy and how we use its concepts in our daily lives. We’ll review a general theory of the mind that considers different levels of consciousness and specifically exploring the unconscious mind and its manifestations (dreams, slips of the tongue, etc). Through the mind’s instances of the ego, superego and the id, students will learn how our own psyche manages reality and helps us find balance. This will also open the conversation to other topics that teenagers engage with, such as dream interpretation and defense mechanisms that have an impact on our relationships as well as on art and culture.
The Pearl High School’s Practical psychology class will be taught by trained psychologist Paulino Ordóñez.
STEM: Science for the Service of Humanity – Online Natural Science Class
Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-12:55 p.m. Central
In a world shaped by rapid environmental and social changes, Science for the Service of Humanity (SSH) empowers students with the knowledge and skills to make a real impact. This dynamic STEM course blends biology, environmental science, and human geography, providing students with the tools to understand and address today’s most pressing global challenges. Through hands-on learning, they will explore ecology and climatology, analyze real-world data using basic statistics and satellite technology, and develop critical thinking skills essential for the future. By the end of the course, students won’t just grasp the science behind our changing world—they will be prepared to use technology and innovation to create meaningful solutions. This is more than a class; it’s an opportunity to shape the future.
The Pearl High School’s STEM Class is taught by Javier Ajú-Torres
Maths Explorers – Online Math Class
Monday and Wednesday from 1:30 pm-2:55 pm Central
Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of mathematics through an exciting and interactive learning journey? Maths Explorers is designed to ignite curiosity, sharpen problem-solving skills, and unlock the power of critical thinking—preparing you for both academic success and real-world challenges!
You will gain mathematical literacy, problem-solving mastery, logical reasoning & critical thinking skills, and a strong foundation for advanced math studies. We will use real-world applications and integrate technology during this course.
The Pearl High School’s Math Explorers class will be taught by Issac Azure, Ph.D.
Maths Explorers – Online Math Class
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 1:30 pm-2:55 pm Central
The Intermediate Japanese class is designed for students with a basic understanding of Japanese. In this class, you will focus on advanced grammar while practicing your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. You will engage in everyday conversations using natural Japanese pronunciation. The course aims to enhance your overall communication abilities, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You will learn more complex grammar structures and expand your vocabulary. The goal is to help you speak fluently in everyday situations and comprehend moderate-level Japanese texts.
The Pearl High School’s Intermediate Japanese class will be taught by Nao Takeda.
Banned Book Club & Writing Workshop – Online English Language Arts Class
Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 pm-2:55 pm Central
“Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.” (Isaac Asimov). Students will choose books to read that people are currently trying to ban. We will engage with critical dialogue to understand the meaning of the texts and why people fear people reading them. Students will also work on writing projects of their choice (e.g., blogs, short stories, poetry, novellas). Students are expected to commit to reading approximately 25 pages a day, with the option to use audiobooks.
The Pearl High School’s Sound & Ink class will be taught by our director, Robin Harwick, Ph.D.
Essentials of Career Development – Online Elective Class
Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 pm-2:55 pm Central
Are you ready to take control of your career path? The Essentials of Career Development course will equip you with the skills, knowledge, and strategies needed to build a successful and fulfilling career with cutting-edge twenty-first century skills. Whether you are exploring career options, aiming to enhance your professional identity, or looking to master time management, this course has everything you need to set yourself up for success!
In this class, you will learn personal branding, time management, career selection, project management basics, teamwork and collaboration, ethical career development, and career roadmap basics.
The Pearl High School’s Essentials of Career Development will be taught by Issac Azure, Ph.D.
Economics for Everyone: Interconnectedness of Personal Finance and the Broader Economy – Online Social Studies Class
Monday and Wednesday from 3:00 pm-4:25 pm Central
This course examines the relationship between personal finance and broader economic principles. We will delve into key economic concepts such as consumption, production, and distribution while addressing financial management techniques that support these processes. Students explore the definition of “the economy.” including unpaid labor, and discuss personal finance topics like budgeting, savings, investments, and taxes. Practical exercises, research projects, and in-class discussions foster a deeper understand of financial literacy and its connection to solidarity economies.
The Pearl High School’s Social Science class will be taught by Hande Togrul, Ph.D.
Talking Movies: Economy, Society, Race and Gender Issues in Cinema – Online Social Studies Class
Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00 pm-4:25 pm Central
This class is for our young cinema lovers interested in discussing and reflecting on social issues’ evolution and current events. Join us and enjoy entertaining and thought-provoking movies while finding ways to share your thoughts and reflections, from essays and reviews to podcasts and videos.
Note: We are coming up with a wide catalog of movies that can be watched by students who are interested in the same topics. Some movies being considered are: Soylent Green, Mad Max, Blade Runner, Do the Right Thing, The Florida Project, Parasyte, Matrix (original), Avatar (original), Roma, Capitalism: A Love Story, The Corporation, A Bug’s Life, El Pepe: A Supreme Life (about José “Pepe” Mujica, the President of Uruguay 2010-2015).
The Pearl High School’s Talking Move course is taught by Hande Togrul, Ph.D. and Lorena de la Vega Aguirre.
Contemporary Visual Arts – Online Art Class
Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 pm-6 pm Central
Join us as we explore visual arts for the 21st century! From digital illustration to graphic design to painting, photography, and sketching; we help you learn the art skills that you want to know. Whether you have dreams of animation or are just looking to explore their creative side we help you pursue art without judgment. We respect new styles of art brought to us by youth culture and the internet. You will have the opportunity to work on your own art projects in addition to art exercises, assignments, and research activities!
The Pearl High School’s Visual Arts class is facilitated by Brittaney Drake, MA
About The Pearl Remote Democratic High School
All of our teachers are experts in their fields and welcome students with all learning styles and abilities! Teens can take all of our classes, a few, or just one. Because The Pearl is a Democratic High School, our classes follow a self-directed work style where students get control of their education. Additionally, we cap our classes at 10 students, so everyone gets the support they need.
Our curriculum is made up of hybrid-homeschooling classes for teens. This means that families who are already homeschoolers can supplement the education they provide with classes from experts to ensure that their child gets the best education they can receive.
We teach our classes online, using Zoom, and they are open worldwide! Students that work directly with The Pearl are eligible to work towards a WASC-Accredited US high school diploma through our partnership program with Angeles Workshop. This makes the Pearl an excellent option for students who are marginalized within the mainstream educational system. Additionally, students who attend The Pearl from outside the US are still eligible to receive a US diploma.