For new or continuing students. This class will be individualized to match the place and pace of each student. We will learn and/or review, then practice the formation of individual cursive letters - both lower-case and capitals (upper-case). I’m hoping that connecting letter to letter will begin on the first day to include short words using letters that are formed similarly. We’ll be learning the updated Zaner-Bloser style of cursive handwriting. The letters slant to the right with the tail of each letter connecting to the tail of the next letter. It also has capital letters that are simplified. Students will also practice reading cursive. Parents: This is the updated style of the one that many of you grew up on in grade school. Did you know that practicing cursive tends to improve print and overall fine motor skills as well as coordination? **Daily practice/homework of about 5 minutes will be requested to help ensure adequate progress.**

Please Note: Lunch is required for all who have 2nd & 3rd period classes. Please add the correct lunch to your cart before checking out.  If we notice that it is not added, we will add it as a separate invoice to you.

Instructor Bios

Students are entering this class mid-year. 

ELA 2 will focus on 3 areas: grammar, spelling/vocabulary, and creating a well composed sentence/paragraph. The grammar area will have lessons on all parts of a sentence as well as verb types, agreement, and conjugation. Spelling/vocabulary will be differentiated according to each individual's prior knowledge. By the end of the year, the writing practice will hopefully payoff with a superb paragraph. The true priority for the year is a superb sentence. If the paragraph happens, we will call it gravy. There will be weekly homework, quizzes, and tests in this class; however, these tasks are for practice and evaluation; no grades will be calculated. Before enrolling in this class, students should be at a 3rd grade or greater reading level and have mastered all of the grammar topics presented in ELA level 1. Students who come to class without this knowledge will be asked to transfer into ELA 1. The students will need access to a computer with internet access at home. Our classroom time will be divided into three parts of lecture, comprehension checks, and fun activities. Students are happier and more engaged with the material when they are learning it with games, arts, or puzzles, so I try to incorporate at least one each week.

Instructor Bios

The focus of this class is on learning how to write good, powerful sentences. Students will practice crafting clear, engaging, and well-structured sentences through hands-on activities and frequent practice. Every great story starts with strong sentences, and mastering sentence craft leads to better paragraphs and more effective writing overall. Students will study and emulate strong, effective sentences from the Harry Potter universe, to internalize patterns and structures. They will explore how sentence structure, rhythm, word choice, and grammar rules create meaning and impact. Through sentence-composing exercises, students will manipulate words, clauses, and structures to see how small changes affect style, tone, and clarity. As they progress, students will apply more advanced grammar concepts to strengthen their sentences, gradually moving from simple constructions to complex, stylistically rich writing. By the end of the class, students will have a robust toolbox of strategies to write sentences with precision, flair, and impact, giving them the confidence and skill to craft compelling writing in any style or genre.

Please Note: Lunch is required for all who have 2nd & 3rd period classes. Please add the correct lunch to your cart before checking out.  If we notice that it is not added, we will add it as a separate invoice to you.

Instructor Bios

Come during your lunch break on Thursdays to help create the THE newsletter and yearbook. 

In this creative class, we will work on selecting and perfecting student written poetry, the elements of good poetry performance, and finalize by practicing competition form. Look for our demonstration at the Spring showcase! Can be chosen to receive 1/2 transcript credit in Performing Arts or general elective with a letter grade.

Instructor Bios

What’s a zine? It’s more than just a mini magazine… it’s an amazing tool for self-expression, storytelling, and connection. In this class, we’ll explore the radical history of zines, study all the different forms they can take, and, best of all, create our own zines every week. Our focus is on creativity, activism, and collaboration. At the end of the course, we’ll celebrate with our own little zine fest! Whether you’re into art, poetry, politics, comics, or just want to tell your own story, this is your space.

Instructor Bios