Urban Homeschoolers

In this class we’ll read short stories and some novels together, partly to appreciate the richness of literature for children, and partly with the goal of improving reading and vocabulary skills. Students joining this class should already be able to read.

Abby Polakow
1 hour, Wednesdays, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
$340

This class provides an introduction to fractions and will progress to converting them, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions. There is a possibility that the class may also progress to decimals! Students joining this class should have experience with all the aforementioned mathematical operations.

Abby Polakow
1 hour Mondays 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
$340

This class meets with the goal to answer the questions students have about how America got started and what shaped our history. We will follow the adventures of rulers, explorers and common people who just wanted to live in freedom- at any cost! From the era of discovery up through the American Revolution and eventually the Civil War, students will learn not only what happened and to whom, but why.

Abby Polakow
1 hour Mondays, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
$340

Part art history, part super awesome art class, students are sure to capture the spirit of some of the most well known artists of our time.

We will begin each week with a short history discussion of our artist, their place in time and location, style and technique, famous works and individual details which make each artist unique and special. Following our discussion, the class will create their own unique art piece mimicking either  style, technique or other qualities of inspiration. From Michelangelo, to Dali, to Kahlo, students will get an opportunity to let their creativity shine through the use of multiple mediums and techniques.

Julie Leary
1 hour Fridays 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
$340 + $25 materials fee = $365

Curious about coding? An introductory course to coding using Scratch and Blockly. A laptop is required for in-class use to facilitate coding, project sharing, and collaborative computer science thinking.

Digital Dragon
1 hour Wednesdays, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
$425

In this class, students will learn about the many various ecospheres that make up the earth. They will learn about the phenomena that create the weather we experience, how life sustains itself in each unique environment, from the Arctic to the tropics! They will explore the living habits of the various species of animals that inhabit each environment as well. There will be hands-on activities on a weekly basis and students will also conduct independent projects occasionally throughout the year.

Abby Polakow
1 hour, Mondays 10:00 am – 11:00 am
$340

Take your writing to a whole new level to preserve this dying and precious art. Students will learn to connect their letters according to the cursive alphabet, with the goal of creating beautiful, flowing script. We do some art projects with this, combining cursive writing with illustrations, as well as creating works where the writing itself is the artistic expression, both in letters and in content. Although seldom used in modern life, cursive handwriting enlivens many important parts and functions of the brain, and we explore ways to incorporate it into our daily lives.

Abby Polakow
1 hour Fridays, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
$340

History of Rock includes a more immersive understanding of music, its construction, its execution, and how that has impacted world events including politics, style and fashion, cultural evolution, and the rethinking of art itself. This will include examining music of last 100 years.

In addition to reviewing various artists, discussing their contributions and what effect they had on our culture, a basic understanding of music theory will also be taught, as well as a familiarization of the tools used throughout the history of music. This includes various instruments AND recording devices and techniques. We plan on giving the students a hands-on experience.

The goal is to impart a more comprehensive understanding of music, its creators and listeners, and how it has changed and been changed by important historical, technological, and cultural events.

Joe Giddings
1 hour Tuesdays, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
$340

This class introduces students to the genre of (age appropriate) mystery/detective fiction and the themes, tropes and traditions that define it. We’ll read a selection of several different mystery novels for kids over the course of the semester. The goal is to give the students a taste of this fun genre and to develop an abiding appreciation for it, but we will of course also be strengthening reading skills, reasoning and memory, detail observations and other thinking experiments. Students should already be comfortable reading chapter books, as there will be assigned reading every week.

Abby Polakow
1hour, Fridays, 9 am – 10am
$340

We start our class with a weekly warm-up. This is a time when students have some straightforward math problems, and can get help with the functions that may be troubling them. Then, we focus on brain teasers, estimations, and deductions. We use place value base-ten blocks for all sorts of activities. They help illustrate expanded form, patterns, numbers in words, and a hands-on way of expressing ourselves using math. Money, making change, understanding decimals, and organizing data are on the horizon. Area and perimeter are covered as well. We love our games, and we now have a full shelf devoted to the ones we’ve learned and the ones to come. Get your game on!

Kirsten Karlsrud   
1 hour Wednesdays, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
$340

This class is for students who are ready to learn these operations, having already become proficient in adding and subtracting. Multiplication and division skills will be taught to those who are brand new to them, and taken to new levels for those who are already familiar with these operations. The goal is for students to know all the multiplication tables by the end of the year, if multiplication is new, and for students with more experience to be comfortable with long division and multiplication with larger numbers. The class work will be a blend of visuals, tactile work, and some work on paper.

Abby Polakow
1 hour, Monday, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
$340

We have fun as we get exercise working as individuals, with partners, or on teams during our classes. We emphasize fairness and the advantages of working with your teammates. Accepting a loss in stride is a main goal because in the end “if you had fun, you won”.

Kirsten Karlsrud
1 hour Wednesdays, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
$340

Robotics

Digital Dragon

1 hour Wednesdays, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
$425
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This class is designed for musicians of all instruments who have mastered the fundamentals of playing, and now want to explore the very different skill of playing in a band.

Christian Nesmith
Joe Giddings

1.5 hours Tuesdays, 1:00 pm -2:30 pm
$476

Learning an instrument?  Want to be in a band? Grab your friends and come join Christian Nesmith (of our popular History Of Rock classes.)  This class is created for younger kids to have fun together while learning the art of band-hood.  Do you play guitar?  Learn the difference between your role as rhythm and lead.  Play bass?  Find out why you need to become very close friends with the drummers! Play piano?  Keyboard is incredibly versatile in a band.  Are you a singer?  Christian and Joe help you find you inner Rock God (or Goddess)!

Christian Nesmith
Joe Giddings

1.5 hours  Tuesdays, 10 am – 11:30 pm
$476

Let’s explore social problems and issues, their root causes and society’s response. Students work together to make a difference locally and globally through a series of philanthropic and community service projects.  But this class isn’t stuck in the philosophical–it’s hands on action!

Julie Leary
1 hour Wednesdays, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
$340

Spanish (Elementary)

Liz Travieso

1 hour, 2 times a week
Fridays, 10:00 am – 11:00 am

$442

We finish our trilogy of books from Who Was, to Where Was to now, What Was! These are historical books presented in a friendly manner. Children can learn the background of social movements, natural disasters, or other events that led to turning points in history. Climate change, the world cup, the San Francisco Earthquake, the Twin Towers, Rock n’ Roll, and the wild west are all options. I choose the first book, What is the Statue of Liberty and then we will vote on suitable topics that will be appropriate for the composition and maturity of the class. I combine weekly readings with follow-up activities and projects.

Kirstin Karlsrud
1 hour Fridays, 12:30 – 1:30 pm
​$340

In this class students will learn basic writing and grammar rules, such as when to capitalize letters, how to use punctuation, and some work with parts of speech. The class will learn what constitutes a sentence, as well as different kinds of sentences, and will practice their handwriting along with their spelling. Don’t worry, many games will be involved!

Abby Polakow
1 hour Fridays, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
$340