Summer classes at the Well-Trained Mind Academy

[Susan Wise Bauer]

Dear Hive,

 

We've had several requests for summer session classes, and we're trying to gauge the amount of interest. Would you be kind enough to take the following poll, and make any additional comments by posting to this thread?

 

Thanks!

 

SWB

[maize]

I would love this, foreign language would be my top pick. I have kids studying Chinese, but also interested in French, Spanish, and Arabic. Maybe an intensive, at least three days per week? Without too much homework.

[JoJosMom]

I would puffy heart love it if you would offer the Study Skills class over the summer. :001_smile:

 

(ETA:  My DD will be starting high school next year.)

[Ethel Mertz]

Spanish and Latin...

[crazyforlatin]

Creative writing, intensive foreign languages, geography, AOPS discrete math

[Renai]

Dd says Italian for foreign language.

[EmilyGF]

I'd like a writing class. While I teach writing across the curriculum, it'd be great to focus more on writing without the pressure of all the other work.

 

Emily

[waa510]

I would love a writing or literature course, please!

[FairProspects]

For those of us on the west coast, our school year (if we more or less follow the PS and co-ops, activities, schedules, etc. generally do) doesn't even end until June 20-something. I'd like to see classes more in the late July-August intensive range since many of us take vacations right after school ends and then are ready to go with electives/intensives after we get back.

[Ethel Mertz]

For those of us on the west coast, our school year (if we more or less follow the PS and co-ops, activities, schedules, etc. generally do) doesn't even end until June 20-something. I'd like to see classes more in the late July-August intensive range since many of us take vacations right after school ends and then are ready to go with electives/intensives after we get back.

 

This is also true for those of us in New England. This year, because of snow days, the public school kids didn't get out until June 30th. That really didn't affect us, though, as we don't really follow that schedule, but I know lots of homeschoolers who do.

[FairProspects]

Maybe a summer intensive A schedule from June-July and a summer intensive B schedule from late July-August like some universities do? Then many different schedules could be accommodated.

[TarynB]

I'd love to see a summer option for Intro to Spoken Rhetoric (high school). Mid-June to mid-August works for us. I also like the schedule mentioned above by FairProspects - two shorter sessions, A and B.

 

Thank you, SWB and WTMA, for considering offering summer classes!

[amsunshine]

Would love a Spanish class for high school!

[AimeeM]

A writing/grammar intensive 

[Woodland Mist Academy]

We are hoping for one or more of the following:

Biology

US History

Rhetoric II

[LJPPKGFGSC]

I would be interested in a one-half credit writing class covering the literary analysis lessons that were skipped in Rhetoric Writing Prep.

[dauphin]

Another vote for breaking it into two sessions to accommodate different (student AND teacher I would imagine) schedules.

 

Would be most interested in foreign language (Spanish) and also literary analysis as the PP just before me mentioned.

[Julie Smith]

I wish you would offer a very short, and cheap class that would just let a student see if online classes work for him/her.

 

Perhaps something that is one hour a week for perhaps 2 to 3 weeks.

 

The only subject idea I have is, "Online Schooling". It would discuss things such as:

 

- Reading the syllabus. / What is a syllabus

- How to submit assignments. How to print/ read the teachers comments on the assignment

- How to contact the teacher. How to meet up with the teacher during office hours. 

- How to participate in the online discussions. (Audio? Typing? )

- Anything else I haven't thought of, that is something students/ parents should know.

- All about the program you use, blackboard. 

- What about tests? How do you do that?

 

It could have assignments such as:
- Print the syllabus. Take your picture with it and email that picture to the teacher with a paragraph about the importance of reading the syllabus

- Participate during an online discussion.

- Have a conversation with another fellow online student. Write a paragraph about that student and submit it to the teacher. 

 

 

I admit I'm just a little nervous about taking an online class. 

[madteaparty]

I would pay (and do, actually) big bucks for a secular arabic class that's not a complete beginner.

[Woodland Mist Academy]

If there's not enough interest to justify a live class, would it be possible to offer the courses in the delayed format,  perhaps using the recorded lectures from the year-long class? The instructor would still grade the work, but there wouldn't be a live component. Maybe there could be different pathways which would make it more flexible, thus allowing more families to participate. Pathway I would be intensive (1-2 months), Pathway 2 less intensive (3 months)... The same lectures would be used for both, but each Pathway would have different schedules and deadlines.

 

Hmmm...would it be possible to offer this option even if there were only a student or two interested? The lectures are already recorded, and the teacher would just need to grade the work and answer any questions.

 

Our goal with summer classes is to spread the work throughout the year to allow more time for other intense activities and interests throughout the year. I really hope classes will be available this summer! (Especially one or more of the following: Biology, US History, and Rhetoric II.)

 

Thanks for asking for our input!

 

[Woodland Mist Academy]

On second thought, we might be interested in The Historian's Craft more than US History. Since it's a one semester course, it would be even easier to cover in the summer. 

[YaelAldrich]

Intensive classes from July and August.

 

Latin

Study Skills

Lab science courses

 

Thank you!!!

[Deb in NJ]

Would love to see French.  Since it is an online class would it be possible to obtain a native speaker from France?  Would LOVE to see French offered during the school year as well (French 1, French 2 etc).  

[Sahamamama]

French for 5th-8th, but beyond the beginning level of "Je m'appelle Suzanne. Je mange une pomme rouge" (or colors, numbers, shapes, body parts, and so on). A four or five week intensive on regular and irregular verbs would be fantastic. I would actually pay for that. French nouns and adjectives we can do at home. ;)

[Sahamamama]

For those of us on the west coast, our school year (if we more or less follow the PS and co-ops, activities, schedules, etc. generally do) doesn't even end until June 20-something. I'd like to see classes more in the late July-August intensive range since many of us take vacations right after school ends and then are ready to go with electives/intensives after we get back.

 

 

This is also true for those of us in New England. This year, because of snow days, the public school kids didn't get out until June 30th. That really didn't affect us, though, as we don't really follow that schedule, but I know lots of homeschoolers who do.

 

:iagree: July & August would work better here than June & July. We're still finishing up our regularly scheduled work in June. HTH.

[Soror]

I wish you would offer a very short, and cheap class that would just let a student see if online classes work for him/her.

 

Perhaps something that is one hour a week for perhaps 2 to 3 weeks.

 

The only subject idea I have is, "Online Schooling". It would discuss things such as:

 

- Reading the syllabus. / What is a syllabus

- How to submit assignments. How to print/ read the teachers comments on the assignment

- How to contact the teacher. How to meet up with the teacher during office hours. 

- How to participate in the online discussions. (Audio? Typing? )

- Anything else I haven't thought of, that is something students/ parents should know.

- All about the program you use, blackboard. 

- What about tests? How do you do that?

 

It could have assignments such as:

- Print the syllabus. Take your picture with it and email that picture to the teacher with a paragraph about the importance of reading the syllabus

- Participate during an online discussion.

- Have a conversation with another fellow online student. Write a paragraph about that student and submit it to the teacher. 

 

 

I admit I'm just a little nervous about taking an online class. 

ITA, I'm about ready for ds to do an online class and I'm wanting an easy start. Personally, I'd rather have something content driven rather than just about doing a class about a class as I think we could learn by doing with a class that is low pressure but interesting- history(stick a particular people or short time period), mythology, lit/book club perhaps could offer some good options.

[teachermom2834]

I would love to get geometry knocked out without suffering all year through it. Lab sciences take up so much time for us that checking that off in the summer would be a huge relief.

 

I am always up for writing as I never feel that mine get enough practice.

 

As a summer course, being a bit flexible on attendance (student could watch on delay) would be helpful. We have no vacation plans but fun stuff just seems to pop up in the summer.

 

Our specific needs for summer 2016 would be geometry or biology.

[yvonne]

Rhetoric I !!

[Woodland Mist Academy]

We would be interested in Spoken Rhetoric. It's a one semester class, so it might be a good summer school choice.

 

 

[...................]

Dear SWB,

 

I'm excited! I was just researching summer options today. For us, lab science or foreign languages would be great so that one of the harder subjects could be begun before the new school year.

 

For foreign langue, as boring as it seems, Spanish would be best because our colleges here often do not offer Latin. Meaning, if we wanted our son to dual enroll later, my son could not find a class in Latin, and could not get into Spanish 1 because they are full before DE kids can get in.

 

I can't see how a whole year of lab science could be done in two months even as an intensive, but I love the idea. biology, specifically

Edited December 10, 2015 by Calming Tea

[Grantmom]

I would love to see some summer skills-type classes that could help kids brush up on various skills without the pressure of a grade.  Now that we have hit high school and are on the bandwagon with grades and transcripts and things like that, I would love to have the opportunity to just continue to hone those skills that are important across all disciplines, like writing, logic, and critical thinking, without having to worry about turning something in on time or worrying about a grade.  I think it would be nice to have something like that which was spread out across the summer, so you didn't have to worry about fitting it in around vacations, etc.  Something that was set up like what you put into it is what you get out of it.  I think that the WTM Academy is so great for those kinds of skills, that I think it would be good to have an opportunity to sharpen some of those skills in preparation for the year.  I would definitely pay for that.

[Matryoshka]

:iagree: July & August would work better here than June & July. We're still finishing up our regularly scheduled work in June. HTH.

 

:iagree:  Yes, here in the Northeast, June is still full-on school-time, and summer lasts till Labor Day (although a few rebel schools have recently had creep into the last week of August - sacrilege!).  I had no idea it was different elsewhere till I came to these boards.

 

[rdj2027]

Am I the only one who is interested in a logic class for high school?  How about Intro to Philosophy?  In all honesty, I do not like to condense full year classes into summer school as I believe there is value in having time to ponder material.  One semester classes, in my personal opinion are a better choice because there is less material.  My kids can only take about an hour of lecture online before they zone out so I am looking for anything that could provide a half credit and be used as an elective.

[VANURSEPRAC]

_{SAT prep for the new SAT/PSAT}

 

_{Specifically Critical Reading} 

[Grantmom]

Am I the only one who is interested in a logic class for high school?  How about Intro to Philosophy?  In all honesty, I do not like to condense full year classes into summer school as I believe there is value in having time to ponder material.  One semester classes, in my personal opinion are a better choice because there is less material.  My kids can only take about an hour of lecture online before they zone out so I am looking for anything that could provide a half credit and be used as an elective.

 

I would love a logic class for high school!

[tdemauro]

I would love:

 

Expository Writing III

 

Literature Analysis-- Early high school level to prepare students for studying the Great Books. We, the student and the parent, would gain an understanding into how we should approach/do literature at home if we are unable to take an online lit class during the year.

 

Intro to Analyzing Primary Sources-- 7th-9th grade range; study and analyze 1-2 primary sources per time period as outlined in TWTM, helping us gain some insight into how we should be doing it in high school.

 

Are the classes recorded, and if so, do parents have access? I would greatly appreciate being able to view the sessions to learn from the teachers and to take notes.

 

Can you tell that I am panicking about having a 9th grader next year?!

[Alicia64]

I have seventh grade 12 year olds and would love to see a Spanish class that goes from May to August.

 

Thanks!

 

Alley

[Mommy22alyns]

Foreign language would be awesome - Spanish or French, either one.  I vote for less intensive.  My oldest has 22+ hours of daytime practices in June-July, and something she could do afterward would be best.

[Laurel-in-CA]

I'd love to see Study Skills or Geography over the summer. These are things we often don't have time for but could be done without too much intensity over the summer.

 

Another need for us would be a logic class with a facilitated discussion. Studying the books is nice, but discussion is lacking in a 2:1 situation, KWIM?

 

Intensive math/science would not work for my wordy-artsy kid.

[yvonne]

Writing the Research Paper

 

Logic

[crazyforlatin]

Condensed version of Writing with Skill, any level. I think some students can use WWS at a faster pace.

 

Logic

 

 

[yvonne]

Condensed version of Writing with Skill, any level. I think some students can use WWS at a faster pace.

 

 

Like the Preparation for Rhetoric Writing class that they have during the school year?  Looks like it covers WWS1-3 in a year.  I'd have had my daughter do a class like that last summer, if it had been available. Good idea!

 

 

[madteaparty]

Condensed version of Writing with Skill, any level. I think some students can use WWS at a faster pace.

 

I have mixed feelings about formulaic writing classes for kids that are already strong writers, but I think I'd jump on that bandwagon. How much "harm" can be done in a summer, and it would help the parent check one more box, if they lean that way (like I do)!

[MeghansMom]

Literature, Writing, Rhetoric/Logic

 

School ends in late May for us.

[TKDmom]

I would puffy heart love it if you would offer the Study Skills class over the summer. :001_smile:

 

(ETA:  My DD will be starting high school next year.)

 

Me too on the study skills! My current 9th grader is in dire need of study skills

 

We'd also be interested in: 

high school research paper

Summer book club/literature analysis

Intro to Japanese? (I know this is a long shot)

[TKDmom]

:iagree:  Yes, here in the Northeast, June is still full-on school-time, and summer lasts till Labor Day (although a few rebel schools have recently had creep into the last week of August - sacrilege!).  I had no idea it was different elsewhere till I came to these boards.

 

 

Here in the South, we are out in May, with start dates creeping earlier and earlier into August. I think this year was Aug 10.  :glare:

 

June and July would be my preference, but with classes that are lighter, so we can still take off to go to the beach or pool during the week. Or July and August. I'm a homeschooler after all... Just not a full-time class that would suck the life out of our summer.

Edited February 2, 2016 by TKDmom

[yvonne]

 

Summer book club/literature analysis

 

Ooo! That's a good idea! 

[ForeverFamily]

ITA, I'm about ready for ds to do an online class and I'm wanting an easy start. Personally, I'd rather have something content driven rather than just about doing a class about a class as I think we could learn by doing with a class that is low pressure but interesting- history(stick a particular people or short time period), mythology, lit/book club perhaps could offer some good options.

I would love if WTMA offered a class like this, or even better more than one. As soror said they could be a class based around a book, or perhaps even a unit study. Maybe even an ongoing book club that spends 1-3 months on a single book, enrollment length could be for one book. Hope that makes sense. It would be really nice to have some type of class like this for my 5th, 6th, or even 7th grader that is slightly lower pressure to test how he/she would handle an online class. If it was available I would love to do 2-3 of these, it would be great practice before relying on an online class to teach a core subject.

[nansk]

We would like any of these for logic stage:

Study Skills

History

Literary Analysis

Logic

 

The delayed lecture sounds good, because we are on the other side of the world.

Is it possible to provide a delayed lecture format in November and December? Our school year is Jan-Oct and we have a big end-of-year break in Nov-Dec.

 

[Penelope]

Another vote for logic!

 

Are more classes still being considered for this year's summer schedule?