LANGUAGE ARTS 2018-19

Open to all ages including parents who want to improve their penmanship.

Description:

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 –no additional charge) so they will be able to guide their children in practice throughout the week.

COST:

• $100 per semester
• Includes materials used in class and practice hand-outs.
• Ask about family discounts.

Semester 1:  September 14 – February 8

Semester 2:  February 15 – May 31

Shipwrecked on a remote island, 1st-5th graders explore their exotic surroundings, scavenge for supplies, tame the wilderness, form a rescue plan, and band together for survival through perilous adventures — all the while journaling their epic story.

Your weekly explorations will serve as the journal prompt or inspiration for your creative writing assignments.
“The eerie howling sound seemed to be coming from…”
“After tirelessly digging in the sand, it was a miracle that I found a…”
“Seeing that spectacular splash, I started to believe the mythical stories about…”

Each student will be assigned special skills to contribute to the group’s success, and keep an inventory of valuable items they have salvaged or scrounged for in the search for more island resources.

Some drawing, crafts, prize games, and other creative expressions will also be incorporated throughout the year to fit our Island theme. Mini lessons on writing techniques, literary devices, and poetry will be explored, while maintaining the goal of this class: to motivate students to put pen to paper with enthusiasm!  Journal writing is done during class time, and writing expectations can be varied to adapt to different learning levels and abilities.

Tuition includes all materials necessary for class, including a folder/binder, writing implements, school supplies, craft projects, art materials, incentive prizes and goodies for classroom rewards or celebrations.

How will you survive this harrowing story? Will your party ever be rescued? Join the adventure!

TO REGISTER: Opening May 1, 2018, simply download and complete the registration form that will be available on WeSparkLearning.com.  Send it in with payment to reserve your spot. In addition to sending us your registration form, Charter School students must arrange for payment by P.O./Enrichment Certificate request, to be issued before classes begin.

TRAVEL THE WORLD with ARMCHAIR ADVENTURES

ARMCHAIR ADVENTURES Literature Classes 

Exploring the world through great authors!

This year we are going to be combining GREAT STORIES with GEOGRAPHY!! 

We will be leaning about the different countries where the stories we read take place. So your child will be studying literature and geography in one class!!

ARMCHAIR ADVENTURES is predominantly a literature discussion class, but your child/teen will also be doing worksheets on literary devices, character development, vocabulary and literature analysis.

WHY HAVE YOUR CHILD PARTICIPATE IN A DISCUSSION LITERATURE CLASS?

TALKING ADVENTURES

The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself . . . . . and Public Speaking!!!

IEW BASED CLASSES

Class begins September 10, 2018

Humorous characters, fascinating creatures, and important men of history will gain the attention of students as they learn to write with structure and style.  During the course, students will take notes, summarize narrative stories, write from pictures, put together a mini research report, and compose creative essays. Additionally, with the activities, games, and parties, there will be enough silliness and fun to keep the atmosphere light while students learn.  The goal of the course is NOT to receive a good grade or compare one student to another. The goal is to develop a love for and interest in writing. We are looking for progress. With realistic expectations, progress is determined by comparing a child’s writing in September to his/her own writing in January and in May.

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 All Things Fun & Fascinating [Student Book only]

• By Lori Verstegen
• ISBN: 978-0-9801005-2-5
• Edition/Printing: Second Edition, January 2012.

CONTACT: Lilli Witczak (626)232-7932 or email at: lilli.witczak@gmail.com

Recommended grade levels – 5 through 8; however, ability dictates

Class begins September 10, 2018

Recommended for students with previous IEW experience.  This year’s theme will cover U.S. History while using IEW’s stylistic techniques and the nine structural units. During these lessons, students will learn about our country’s history from colonial times 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: U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons [Student Book only] by Lori Verstegen.  ISBN: 978-1-62341-266-1

CONTACT: Lilli Witczak (626)232-7932 or email at: lilli.witczak@gmail.com

THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE PREP WRITING CLASS

COST: $300 per semester. $250 for non charter school students.

This class is offered online as well as in a classroom setting.Current and ongoing class recordings of College Prep English are available on Youtube for auditors and for review. Visitors are invited to join our College Prep EnglishClass community on Google Plus.

This course covers advanced English communications for students of any age who can handle college preparatory material and is designed to prepare students for university studies and for SAT, ACT and TOEFL exams. Emphasis is placed upon innate language acquisition through immersion and emulation as well as an understanding of grammatical principles.

Writing and speaking skills and techniques are covered and works of the masters of spoken and written English arestudied. The list is flexible depending upon class enthusiasm but has in the past included Shakespeare, Swift, Dickens, Austen, J.S. Mill, Wilde, Shaw, Grahame, Wodehouse, Franklin, Jefferson, Paine, Lincoln, Twain, Fitzgerald, Churchill, King, Buckley, Baldwin and many other surpassingly brilliant but less well known writers and orators. (It is worth noting that one finds among these greats a disproportionately large percentage of homeschoolers.) All works are provided or linked to in the online classroom. College prep skills practiced will include note-taking, research and report writing, advanced vocabulary, language usage, comprehension and grammar. Students will write college admission essays, persuasive essays, SAT essays and reports and will prepare and deliver lectures and persuasive speeches. The class uses the one-room schoolhouse paradigm (See Advantages of the one-room schoolhouse approach to teaching). Please see our Writing Skills Playsheets for a taste of class content and style. Course includes personal instructor attention, traditional classroom/online video sessions, online text, extensive resources, graded compositions, moderated discussion forums and chatrooms.

Online text: SAT, ACT, TOEFL, College Prep English Practice by K. Titchenell.
Many text, audio, and video recording resources will be used and provided free of charge.

CONTACT: K. Titchenell (323) 432-7128
or email: eieclass@abacus-es.com