Course Descriptions
Tuesday Classes - Fall 2021
In Person & Live Online
1st-2nd Grade Classes - Jewish Community Center
Note:
1st-2nd Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Three Classes In A Row: Language Arts, Science, & Art or Chess
1st-2nd Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Three Classes In A Row: Language Arts, Science, & Art or Chess
NEW! Early Art Exploration
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:00
5 Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition: $175 - Live Online Class
Designed for the youngest little artists, this Art Exploration class will stimulate your child’s creative abilities to produce wonderful works of art. Our students learn to observe and explore the world around them by practicing a diverse range of mediums such as: drawing, acrylic painting, water color painting, pastels, clay sculpture, recycled sculpture, cartooning, mixed media. With such diversity, your child will learn a little bit of everything. Projects are new in every session.
Outside Classwork: There is no outside class work - projects go home after they are finished. Mostly every week. It’s up to the students if they want to work on it more at home.
Instructor: Sandy Reid
1st-2nd Grade
Tuesdays 11:00-12:00
5 Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition: $175 - Live Online Class
Designed for the youngest little artists, this Art Exploration class will stimulate your child’s creative abilities to produce wonderful works of art. Our students learn to observe and explore the world around them by practicing a diverse range of mediums such as: drawing, acrylic painting, water color painting, pastels, clay sculpture, recycled sculpture, cartooning, mixed media. With such diversity, your child will learn a little bit of everything. Projects are new in every session.
- To see a sample of the types of projects we create each week and for more Information about Sandy’s Art Studio visit www.sandysartstudio.com.
- To follow current projects in class visit Instagram and Facebook.
Outside Classwork: There is no outside class work - projects go home after they are finished. Mostly every week. It’s up to the students if they want to work on it more at home.
Instructor: Sandy Reid
3rd-5th Grade Classes - Jewish Community Center
Note:
3rd-5th Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Five Classes In A Row: Math, Language Arts, Science, History, and Computer Science
3rd-5th Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Five Classes In A Row: Math, Language Arts, Science, History, and Computer Science
9:00-9:55 In Person
Getting Started With Multiplication
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 9:00-9:55
7 Weeks: September 15, 22, 29 October 13, 20, 27 November 3 (No class October 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $175
Leap from learning subtraction and addition to the basic concept of multiplication. First, we will anchor the concept of multiplication in terms of its relation to addition – which your child should already be comfortable with. Students will visualize the idea of repeated addition using arrays. Important multiplication vocabulary and the properties of zeros, ones, twos, threes, fives, tens, and elevens are covered.
Instructor: Laurie Weir
Outside Classwork: Ten minutes of daily review
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 9:00-9:55
7 Weeks: September 15, 22, 29 October 13, 20, 27 November 3 (No class October 6)
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $175
Leap from learning subtraction and addition to the basic concept of multiplication. First, we will anchor the concept of multiplication in terms of its relation to addition – which your child should already be comfortable with. Students will visualize the idea of repeated addition using arrays. Important multiplication vocabulary and the properties of zeros, ones, twos, threes, fives, tens, and elevens are covered.
Instructor: Laurie Weir
Outside Classwork: Ten minutes of daily review
Multiplication Fluency
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 9:00-9:55
X Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $100 - Live Online Class
Do you want to improve your student's multiplication fluency? Join us as we embark on a multiplication journey through the use of skip-counting, pneumonic devices, hands-on activities, and games. Each week students are introduced to new facts while reviewing the previous ones. We continue to build fluency by covering multiplying by fours, sixes and sevens, and eights. Sign up and don't miss the fun!
Outside classwork: 10 minutes of daily review
Instructor: Laurie Weir
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 9:00-9:55
X Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $100 - Live Online Class
Do you want to improve your student's multiplication fluency? Join us as we embark on a multiplication journey through the use of skip-counting, pneumonic devices, hands-on activities, and games. Each week students are introduced to new facts while reviewing the previous ones. We continue to build fluency by covering multiplying by fours, sixes and sevens, and eights. Sign up and don't miss the fun!
Outside classwork: 10 minutes of daily review
Instructor: Laurie Weir
10:00-11:00 In Person
Writing Essentials: Building First-Rate Sentences
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays: 10:00-11:00
weeks: September
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JJC)
Tuition: $65 -
The foundation of strong writing is crafting powerful sentences. “Wow” sentences are the focal point of this three week mini-class. Using literature, students will examine how authors write different types of sentences and how they use colorful words to add details and expand their ideas. After young writers analyze these model sentences, they will put these new tools into practice and have fun writing their own stylish prose.
Outside Classwork: under 30 minutes per week
Instructor: Laurie Weir
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays: 10:00-11:00
weeks: September
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JJC)
Tuition: $65 -
The foundation of strong writing is crafting powerful sentences. “Wow” sentences are the focal point of this three week mini-class. Using literature, students will examine how authors write different types of sentences and how they use colorful words to add details and expand their ideas. After young writers analyze these model sentences, they will put these new tools into practice and have fun writing their own stylish prose.
Outside Classwork: under 30 minutes per week
Instructor: Laurie Weir
Literature - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-11:00
5 Weeks: October November December
(No class November 2 and )
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JJC)
Tuition: $135
Charlie dreams about finding the golden ticket that would allow him to take a tour of the amazing chocolate factory run by inventor and owner, Willy Wonka. This class is designed to encourage student discussion and engagement in literature. Core skills covered include vocabulary words, identifying and summarizing main ideas, making inferences and predictions, and understanding figurative language and character traits. The course covers core material without being overwhelming.
Outside Classwork: reading and short chapter summaries
Instructor: Laurie Weir
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-11:00
5 Weeks: October November December
(No class November 2 and )
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JJC)
Tuition: $135
Charlie dreams about finding the golden ticket that would allow him to take a tour of the amazing chocolate factory run by inventor and owner, Willy Wonka. This class is designed to encourage student discussion and engagement in literature. Core skills covered include vocabulary words, identifying and summarizing main ideas, making inferences and predictions, and understanding figurative language and character traits. The course covers core material without being overwhelming.
Outside Classwork: reading and short chapter summaries
Instructor: Laurie Weir
11:00-12:15
3rd-6th Grade Classes - Jewish Community Center
Note:
3rd-6th Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Five Classes In A Row: Math, Language Arts, Science, History, Computer Science, Stop Motion / Claymation, and Robotics
3rd-6th Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Five Classes In A Row: Math, Language Arts, Science, History, Computer Science, Stop Motion / Claymation, and Robotics
1:00-2:15 In Person
Beginning Geography
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 9:00-9:55
7 Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of MV
Tuition: $175
This class serves to build a solid foundation in the study of geography and geographic awareness. Students gain a basic understanding of maps, types of maps, geographic terminology, and become comfortable using a map and globe. During this class students practice geographic skills including: measuring distance on a map, cardinal directions, using latitude and longitude. They will identify the seven continents, major oceans, rivers, and Prime Meridian, equator, hemispheres, and International Date Line. This class includes hands-on activities, games, and building a geographic notebook.
Outside Classwork: Complete work not finished in class.
Instructor: Laurie Weir
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 9:00-9:55
7 Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of MV
Tuition: $175
This class serves to build a solid foundation in the study of geography and geographic awareness. Students gain a basic understanding of maps, types of maps, geographic terminology, and become comfortable using a map and globe. During this class students practice geographic skills including: measuring distance on a map, cardinal directions, using latitude and longitude. They will identify the seven continents, major oceans, rivers, and Prime Meridian, equator, hemispheres, and International Date Line. This class includes hands-on activities, games, and building a geographic notebook.
Outside Classwork: Complete work not finished in class.
Instructor: Laurie Weir
American's First Nations
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-10:50
8 Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of MV
Tuition:$190
American history would not be complete without taking time to study the Native Americans who called this land home long before Europeans arrived. This course covers the five Native American Regions (Eastern Woodlands, Great Plains, Southwest, Northwest coast, and southeast region, and if time, the Arctic Region) Students are engaged through high interest readings, short captivating lectures, hands-on activities, and much more.
Outside classwork: Students finish work not completed in class and work on a Native American Project to share with the class on the last day.
Instructor: Laurie Weir
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-10:50
8 Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of MV
Tuition:$190
American history would not be complete without taking time to study the Native Americans who called this land home long before Europeans arrived. This course covers the five Native American Regions (Eastern Woodlands, Great Plains, Southwest, Northwest coast, and southeast region, and if time, the Arctic Region) Students are engaged through high interest readings, short captivating lectures, hands-on activities, and much more.
Outside classwork: Students finish work not completed in class and work on a Native American Project to share with the class on the last day.
Instructor: Laurie Weir
2:15-3:15
NEW! Engineering with LEGO: Race Cars
3rd-6th Grade
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
6 Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $225 - Live Online Class
In our RACE CARS class, students will learn about race cars and what makes them go fast! Concepts taught include chassis construction, energy, gears, and basic electronics. Students engineer projects such as wind and rubber band powered cars and motorized dragsters! Students will also have a chance to earn a medal and receive prizes and awards on the final day!
Outside Classwork: none
Instructor: TBD
3rd-6th Grade
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30
6 Weeks:
Location: Jewish Community Center of Mission Viejo (JCC)
Tuition $225 - Live Online Class
In our RACE CARS class, students will learn about race cars and what makes them go fast! Concepts taught include chassis construction, energy, gears, and basic electronics. Students engineer projects such as wind and rubber band powered cars and motorized dragsters! Students will also have a chance to earn a medal and receive prizes and awards on the final day!
Outside Classwork: none
Instructor: TBD
4th-9th Grade Classes - Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Note:
5th-8th Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Two Classes In A Row: Civics & PE
6th-9th Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Three Classes In A Row: Writing, Civics, PE, Speech & Debate
5th-8th Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Two Classes In A Row: Civics & PE
6th-9th Grade Students May Enroll In Up To Three Classes In A Row: Writing, Civics, PE, Speech & Debate
9:00-9:55 In Person
Writing Skills Seminar: The Writer’s Notebook
6th-9th Grade
Tuesdays 9:00-9:55
12 weeks: (No Class November 2)
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $299
It takes time and practice to learn proper writing techniques. This semester-long course keeps students engaged in consistent writing practice and provides regular personalized feedback. Each week focuses on one type of writing and uses clever and creative ways to keep writing fresh. Students practice and refine their writing skills through lively instruction which focuses on the six traits of writing: purpose, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and mechanical correctness. Through the use of games and collaborative activities, literary devices and techniques are also practiced. This class is designed to be fun and inspiring and provide a supportive atmosphere to foster creativity and self-expression.
Many kinds of non-fiction writing opportunities are taught including quick-writes, summarizing, persuasive and opinion pieces, a news story, a character sketch, and informational and procedural writing. Students also explore dialogue, descriptions, and transitional words, phrases, and clauses that help move their essays through a sequence of events.
Note: If you are looking for a year-long writing program, this class with The Writer’s Toolbox & Creative Writing class is a perfect combination.
Outside Classwork: Students write and revise each week. Depending on ability level, students should expect to spend approximately 1-1.5 hours a week
Instructor: Adrienne Collins
6th-9th Grade
Tuesdays 9:00-9:55
12 weeks: (No Class November 2)
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $299
It takes time and practice to learn proper writing techniques. This semester-long course keeps students engaged in consistent writing practice and provides regular personalized feedback. Each week focuses on one type of writing and uses clever and creative ways to keep writing fresh. Students practice and refine their writing skills through lively instruction which focuses on the six traits of writing: purpose, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and mechanical correctness. Through the use of games and collaborative activities, literary devices and techniques are also practiced. This class is designed to be fun and inspiring and provide a supportive atmosphere to foster creativity and self-expression.
Many kinds of non-fiction writing opportunities are taught including quick-writes, summarizing, persuasive and opinion pieces, a news story, a character sketch, and informational and procedural writing. Students also explore dialogue, descriptions, and transitional words, phrases, and clauses that help move their essays through a sequence of events.
Note: If you are looking for a year-long writing program, this class with The Writer’s Toolbox & Creative Writing class is a perfect combination.
Outside Classwork: Students write and revise each week. Depending on ability level, students should expect to spend approximately 1-1.5 hours a week
Instructor: Adrienne Collins
10:00-11:10 In Person
The Well-Informed Student: Current Events & Writing
6th-9th Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-11:10
13 weeks: September October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3, 10 (No Class November 2)
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $295
What’s in the news? Students will begin their day in thoughtful conversation about the events of the week. In this introduction to news literacy, students read a variety of age-appropriate articles from “TIME for Kids” magazine. By writing brief expository and opinion pieces, summaries, an journalistic reviews, we explore the important and exciting stories that explain the world around us. With an emphasis on recognizing authentic and trustworthy journalism, this class teaches careful note-taking, the skills necessary to closely read and understand a non-fiction text, introduces new vocabulary words in context, and provides writing practice which connects student to the important issues of the day.
Expository: These are the facts . . . The expository essay is an informative piece of writing that presents a balanced analysis of a topic. In an expository essay, the writer explains or defines a topic, using facts, statistics, and examples.
Opinion: This is a formal piece of writing which requires the students opinion on a topic. The opinion should be stated clearly. Throughout the essay they will give various arguments/reasons/viewpoints on the topic, and these will be supported by evidence and/or examples. They may also include an opposing viewpoint in a paragraph.
Summary: Summarizing is an important tool for school success. Students will practice the two important skills for being proficient in summarizing: identifying the important material in the text and restating the text in your own words.
Journalist Review: A descriptive analytic summary of an article from a book, scholarly article, and other source relevant to a particular issue. Students will take an in-depth look at how an author from “Time for Kids Magazine” crafted their article. In assessing each piece, consideration should be given to: each piece, consideration should be given to:
Outside Classwork: Students write and revise each week. Depending on ability level, students should expect to spend approximately 1-1.5 hours a week
Instructor: Adrienne Collins
6th-9th Grade
Tuesdays 10:00-11:10
13 weeks: September October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3, 10 (No Class November 2)
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $295
What’s in the news? Students will begin their day in thoughtful conversation about the events of the week. In this introduction to news literacy, students read a variety of age-appropriate articles from “TIME for Kids” magazine. By writing brief expository and opinion pieces, summaries, an journalistic reviews, we explore the important and exciting stories that explain the world around us. With an emphasis on recognizing authentic and trustworthy journalism, this class teaches careful note-taking, the skills necessary to closely read and understand a non-fiction text, introduces new vocabulary words in context, and provides writing practice which connects student to the important issues of the day.
Expository: These are the facts . . . The expository essay is an informative piece of writing that presents a balanced analysis of a topic. In an expository essay, the writer explains or defines a topic, using facts, statistics, and examples.
Opinion: This is a formal piece of writing which requires the students opinion on a topic. The opinion should be stated clearly. Throughout the essay they will give various arguments/reasons/viewpoints on the topic, and these will be supported by evidence and/or examples. They may also include an opposing viewpoint in a paragraph.
Summary: Summarizing is an important tool for school success. Students will practice the two important skills for being proficient in summarizing: identifying the important material in the text and restating the text in your own words.
Journalist Review: A descriptive analytic summary of an article from a book, scholarly article, and other source relevant to a particular issue. Students will take an in-depth look at how an author from “Time for Kids Magazine” crafted their article. In assessing each piece, consideration should be given to: each piece, consideration should be given to:
- Provenance—What are the author's credentials?
- Objectivity—Is the author's perspective even-handed or prejudicial?
- Persuasiveness—Which of the author's theses are most/least convincing?
- Value—Does the work ultimately contribute in a significant way to understanding the subject?
Outside Classwork: Students write and revise each week. Depending on ability level, students should expect to spend approximately 1-1.5 hours a week
Instructor: Adrienne Collins
11:15-12:40 In Person
Speech and Debate - Fall Semester
6th+ Grade and 12+ years old
Tuesdays 11:15-12:40
12 Weeks:
(No Class November)
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $350
This is the first half of a year-long course where students are taught the fundamentals of effective oral communication skills. While collaborating with other students, your student can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the power and responsibility of a well trained voice, increase their confidence, and consistently use critical thinking skills. Through games and meaningful application, students learn proper speech techniques and polish delivery.
Students engage in structured argumentation, learn how to research and support their developing perspectives, and apply their learning through debates. Using our unique teaching approach, we incorporate several team and partner assignments, along with key concepts from the renowned National Speech and Debate Association.
Note: If your child has taken speech and debate with us before, each year follows a new curriculum, so the class may be taken multiple times.
Outside Classwork: Students are expected to research topics, write speeches, and rehearse presentations outside of class.
Instructors: Adrienne Collins and Laurie Weir
6th+ Grade and 12+ years old
Tuesdays 11:15-12:40
12 Weeks:
(No Class November)
Location: Mission Viejo Family YMCA
Tuition: $350
This is the first half of a year-long course where students are taught the fundamentals of effective oral communication skills. While collaborating with other students, your student can expect to gain a deeper understanding of the power and responsibility of a well trained voice, increase their confidence, and consistently use critical thinking skills. Through games and meaningful application, students learn proper speech techniques and polish delivery.
Students engage in structured argumentation, learn how to research and support their developing perspectives, and apply their learning through debates. Using our unique teaching approach, we incorporate several team and partner assignments, along with key concepts from the renowned National Speech and Debate Association.
Note: If your child has taken speech and debate with us before, each year follows a new curriculum, so the class may be taken multiple times.
Outside Classwork: Students are expected to research topics, write speeches, and rehearse presentations outside of class.
Instructors: Adrienne Collins and Laurie Weir
1:15-2:15 ?? Live Online
High School Prep Writing Class: From Summarizing to Analyzing
6th-9th Grade
Tuesdays
12 Weeks: September October 6, 13, 20, 27 November 3, 10, 17 December 1, 8 (No Class November 2)
Location: Live Online
Tuition: $299
This 12-week writing class is suitable for both middle school students and high school students looking to sharpen their writing skills. Students learn how to move beyond summarizing main ideas to analyzing texts. Students are taught how to carefully read texts and how to use MLA format to cite direct and indirect quotations to ensure they support their analysis. Students write multi-paragraph and multi-draft papers on a variety of topics and receive personalized feedback for revisions. Literary elements such as characterization, theme, and point of view are taught. By the end of the course, students complete a 5-paragraph literary response paper.
Students should be able to independently write an 8-12 sentence paragraph. All assignments are required to be typed in order to make the revision process easier.
Outside Classwork: Students write and revise each week. Depending on ability level, students should expect to spend approximately 1-1.5 hours a week
Instructor: Adrienne Collins
6th-9th Grade
Tuesdays
12 Weeks: September October 6, 13, 20, 27 November 3, 10, 17 December 1, 8 (No Class November 2)
Location: Live Online
Tuition: $299
This 12-week writing class is suitable for both middle school students and high school students looking to sharpen their writing skills. Students learn how to move beyond summarizing main ideas to analyzing texts. Students are taught how to carefully read texts and how to use MLA format to cite direct and indirect quotations to ensure they support their analysis. Students write multi-paragraph and multi-draft papers on a variety of topics and receive personalized feedback for revisions. Literary elements such as characterization, theme, and point of view are taught. By the end of the course, students complete a 5-paragraph literary response paper.
Students should be able to independently write an 8-12 sentence paragraph. All assignments are required to be typed in order to make the revision process easier.
Outside Classwork: Students write and revise each week. Depending on ability level, students should expect to spend approximately 1-1.5 hours a week
Instructor: Adrienne Collins