Cost: $5.00 per class

Suitable for age 6-Adult

Cursive handwriting is becoming a lost art, yet studies have shown that those who use cursive to take notes remember the material much better than those who use printing or a keyboard.  Cursive is fast and easy when learned properly.  This class will teach the traditional American cursive beginning with development of muscle memory and hand-eye coordination just as our ancestors learned.  They could write beautifully all day without becoming tired or getting cramps in their fingers because of the method that was once universally taught but was dropped from our schools almost a century ago.  There will be no text/ copybook the first semester.  The second semester, families may choose from a variety of books to accommodate differing age and skill levels.  Parents are encouraged to observe (or take the class) so they will be able to guide their children in practice throughout the week.

TARGET: Grades 1-5

COURSE DURATION: 1 year (two, 15-week semesters) BEGINS 9/13/17

COST PER SEMESTER : $225.00 (all materials provided)

+ $25.00 more Tuition for iLead, Inspire, Sage Oak, Sky Mountain and Excel Academy students

+ $50.00 more Tuition using Homeschool Coaches for Gorman, Golden Valley, CA Enrichment Academy, and Academy of Arts & Sciences. Email us for details to use this option.

Students become “neighbors” in a crazy colonial town they help to create, where they will experience many events through the year including festivals, natural disasters, historic events, unbelievable mishaps, and some silly celebrations!  As each town event effects the residents, it will serve as the journal prompt for the creative writing page for the week.

*Swarms of bees overtook the town, and I…

*The highlight of the festival was one daring performer who…

*The wagon unhitched sending us barreling into the…

Town residents will start by deciding what to name their town and decorating their own home and property. Each student will choose a historic job that will produce weekly earnings. They can use their income to save and upgrade their home, or buy or barter for additions to the property from the marketplace.  Some drawing, crafts, prize games, and other creative expressions will also be incorporated throughout the year to fit our early American theme.

While the class will have some mini lessons on writing techniques, literary devices, figurative language, and poetry, our focus is not on the formal fundamentals of writing. The main goal of this class is to motivate kids to put pen to paper to write with enthusiasm and express their ideas in written form.  Journal writing is done during class time, and journal expectations can be varied to adapt to different learning levels and abilities.

TO REGISTER: Download and complete the registration form at WeSparkLearning.com and mail it in, along with payment (or P.O. request for charters).

Questions? Call (626)482-8963 or email WeSparkLearning@yahoo.com

We will be undertaking a college-preparatory course of study designed to introduce students to great literature from the British literary tradition, to teach students to read with discernment, to provide students with tools to strengthen their writing skills, and more. Students will benefit from the classroom setting, because they will be able to discuss the books and writing assignments. Plus….we will have a couple of amazing themed tea parties that will be the envy of all!

Books Required:

• Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodenhouse
• Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome
• A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
• Dubliners by James Joyce
• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• The Secret Sharer and Other Stories by Joseph Conrad
• Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Emma by Jane Austen

Fees: $200.00 per semester ($225 if a charter student) plus books.
Plus a one time non-refundable registration fee of $25 which is waived for students whose paid tuition and registration are postmarked before August 1.

Course duration: 1 year.
CONTACT: Lilli Witczak (626)355-5642 or email at: lilli.witczak@gmail.com

Now come on, don’t be shy….For some people, death is preferable to public speaking, because they are so afraid That need not be the case. When tackled in a fun friendly  environment, even the greatest scaredy-cat can overcome this fear.

Don’t worry, students won’t be giving a speech every week. Because students will learn to plan presentations, there will be a writing component to the class. So even if your student doesn’t have stage fright, he (or she) can benefit from learning how to plan what to say as well as how to say it; how to have “stage presence” and manners.

Types of speeches and presentations (and torture) may include but not be limited to:

• Introduce yourself
• Show one of your interests
• Recite a memorized speech or poem
• Interview a person
• Present a one act play with other students
• Teach us how to do something
• Persuasive speech
• Give a Sales Pitch (commercial)
• Review a movie or book
• ….and more!

As members of the audience, there will be plenty of photo ops for parents and grandparents.

The key is to relax. Breathe (or you’ll pass out)…..Now….Sign up!

COST: $200.00 per semester ($225 if a charter student) plus books, etc.  Plus a one time non-refundable registration fee of $25, which is waived for students whose paid tuition and registration are postmarked before August 1.

COURSE DURATION: 1 year.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: TBA

CONTACT: Lilli Witczak (626)355-5642 or email at: lilli.witczak@gmail.com

Recommended for students with previous IEW experience.  This year’s theme will cover World History while using IEW’s stylistic techniques and the nine structural units. During these lessons, students will learn about world history from Gutenberg to twenty-first-century technology!  The student book includes assignments, blank outlines, source texts, checklists, and grammar helps.

COST: $200.00 per semester ($225 if a charter student) plus books, etc.  Plus a one time non-refundable registration fee of $25, which is waived for students whose paid tuition and registration are postmarked before August 1.

COURSE DURATION: 1 year.

TEXT BOOK REQUIRED: World History-Based Writing Lessons [Student Book only] by Lori Verstegen.  ISBN: 978-1-62341-271-5

CONTACT: Lilli Witczak (626)355-5642 or email at: lilli.witczak@gmail.com

COST:  $85.00 per month plus $40.00 material fee.  ($125.00 monthly total)

So…Whatever you’re thinking an acting class for kids and teens is, you will be happily surprised!  This acting class, taught by professional casting director and set coach of over 15,000 kids and teens, Chris Gilmore.  It is much more than just a class where students learn how to act professionally on camera for movies, television and commercials.

The added benefits of this incredible series of classes are:  It builds the student’s self esteem and self image.  It teaches discipline and focus as well as teaching students to use their creativity and imagination.  It empowers the students to be able to speak in front of a group with great confidence and improves memorization, improvisation and even helps develop a sense of humor.

From start to finish all students will learn the art of comedy, drama, two-party scene study, cold-reading, monologue technique, comedy improvisation as applied to on-camera film and television performances as well as commercial techniques.  Every month is a different acting theme.  This course is the Real Thing, and if acting professionally is the goal, students will receive all the skills necessary to pursue a professional acting career while having fun learning them.

THE ADDED BONUS:  At the end of every month, all parents will receive an on-line video of the students’ performances in class so you can watch their progress. (upon request)

CONTACT:  Chris Gilmore  (661) 600-7372

CLASS DAYS:  

• September 11, 18
• October 2, 16
• December 4, 11
• January 8,22
• February 5, 26
• March 5, 12
• April 2, 9
• May 7, 14

ARMCHAIR ADVENTURES

Literature Classes – Exploring the world through great authors!

Cost:  3 Payment Options to Fit Your Lifestyle

 1) By the Semester:  $154 – Class fees are due the 1st class of the semester.  *No refunds will be given for missed classes.

2) By the Month:  $50 – Class fees are due the first day of the month.  *No refunds will be given for missed classes.

3) By the Class:  $15 a class – Class fees are due at the beginning of the class being attended. *Cash only please.

Charters: Sky Mountain, Homeschool Coaches (vendor with Golden Valley, Sage Oak, Excel, iLead, Inspire, Gorman, Compass, CA Enrichment Academy, and Academy of Arts & Sciences).

*If you do not see your school listed, please contact me to get them signed up thru Homeschool Coaches.

Please add a $50 charter school fee per semester. 

 Class size:  12 -15 students.

 Schedule for the 2017-18 School Year:

 Wednesday classes – 1st Semester – September thru January – 14 classes

• September – 13, 20, 27, Oct. 4 (4 classes)
• October – 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8 – No Class 10/11 (4 classes)
• November – 15, 29 – No class 11/22 (2 classes)
• December – No classes
• January – 10, 17, 24, 31 (4 classes)

 Friday classes – 1st Semester – September thru January – 14 classes

• September 15, 22, 29, Oct. 6 (4 classes)
• October 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10 – No Class 10/13 (4 classes)
• November  – 17, Dec. 1 – No classes 11/24 (2 classes)
• January – 12, 19, 26, Feb. 2 (4 classes)

 Wednesday classes – 2nd Semester – February thru May – 14 classes

• February – 7, 14, 21, 28 (4 classes)
• March – 7, 14, 21, Apr. 11 – No classes 3/28 and 4/4 (4 classes)
• April – 18, 25 (2 classes)
• May – 2, 9, 16, 23 (4 classes)

 Friday classes – 2nd Semester – February thru May – 14 classes

• February – 9, 16, 23, March 2 (4 classes)
• March – 9, 16, 23, Apr. 13 – No classes 3/30 and 4/6 (4 classes)
• April – 20, 27 (2 classes)
• May – 4, 11, 18, 25 (4 classes)