Writing Mechanics and Beginning Literary Analysis and Criticism ( Advanced 8th - 12th grade): In the first semester, students will move through the step by step process of writing an essay to persuade and a book review. Students will learn to gather information and integrate samples from their reading to support their ideas.  Some basic Logic will  be included in this semester.  During the second semester, students will apply writing mechanics learned to the critique and analysis of poetry and literature.  Works to be studied include Poe, Browning, Shakespeare, Dickens and Wilde. This is an academic class and homework will be assigned four days per week.  Parents are required to attend the first class of the year.   A writing sample is required prior to acceptance into the class.  Students should demonstrate proficiency in paragraph structure (e.g. topic sentence,  supporting sentences and a closing sentence) basic grammar and sentence structure.  Writing samples may be mailed to:  Marylee Nambu, 1175 E. Garvey, Ste. 102, Covina, CA 91724.  Materials Fee:  $20 for the year,  Student packets/binders and a syllabus will be provided at the Parent class the first day.  Class size: 6.  Instructors:  Nambu/Spence
   
Great Literature for Clever Thinkers (Grades 4-5):  This class is designed to meet the Literature requirements for charter schools as well as integrate vocabulary development and critical thinking through class discussion and games.  Parents will be provided with a schedule of daily reading assignments, daily comprehension questions (not to exceed 3 questions per day), and a one paragraph writing assignment per week (3 to 6 sentences).  There is also a one sentence quote to be memorized each week and one large project per semester.  Students may read the reading assignments alone, families may read the reading assignments together, or parent and child may read the assignment and discuss the comprehension questions as part of their quiet time.  Students will discuss their reading the following week in class.  If parents are looking for a more rigorous course, students may complete the comprehension questions in writing and will be provided with a concise and thought provoking book report format (two to three pages of writing) and a final exam which are optional (graded by teacher, if desired).  Books to be read in this class are:  Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH (Robert C. O'Brien), A Wrinkle In Time (Madeline L'Engle), Where the Red Fern Grows (Wilson Rawls) and The Children's Homer (Padraic Colum).  Students are responsible for buying their own books or checking them out from the library.  Each book will take 5-6 weeks to study.  Parents are required to attend the first class.  Student packets and a course syllabus will be handed out at the Parent class the first day.  Class size is limited to 8.  Instructor: Nambu   

Great Literature for Clever Thinkers (Grades 6,7,8):  This class is designed to meet the Literature requirements for charter schools as well as integrate vocabulary development and critical thinking through class discussion and games.  Students will explore literary genres to include short story, realistic fiction and a children's novel.  Parents will be provided with a schedule of daily reading assignments, daily comprehension questions, and a one paragraph writing assignment per week (5 to 8 sentences).  There is also a one sentence quote to be memorized from the reading each week, one large project per semester, and two final exams.  Students will discuss their reading in class the following week.  Since class participation is dependent upon daily completion of reading assignments, homework must be prepared before attending class.  Works to be studied are:  The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Washington Irving), Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe),  A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens), The Devil and Daniel Webster (Stephen Vincent Benet) and Ginger Pye (Eleanor Estes) and The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Elizabeth George Speare).  We may also study various poems if time permits.  There is a $15 fee for materials.   Students will need to purchase their own books or borrow them from the library.  Short stories will be provided by the teacher.   Each book will take 5-6 weeks to complete.  Parents are required to attend the first class.  Student packets and a course syllabus will be provided at the Parent meeting on the first day of class.  Class size is limited to 8.  Instructor:  Nambu.

3-5 PE  This class is designed for 3rd to 5th graders to be introduced to fitness, sports and team work. Students will participate in a great variety of physical activities and games such as jogging, jumping, rolling, sit-ups, push-ups, basketball, volleyball, badminton, rope jumping, bowling, dodge ball, scale-the wall, etc. The class promotes physical, mental, social and emotional health and encourages a life-long habit of being active.

All Things Trading Card Games (TCG)(formally All Things Pokemon) All Ages
Share your unique knowledge of Trading Card Games such as Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Magic. Students can explore their passion through art and game play with your own deck of TCG cards. All TCG players should have their own Pokemon cards identified by carrying them in card sleeves to insure that they know which Pokemon are theirs. Open to TCG enthusiasts of all ages. By playing various trading card games students work on reading, math and critical thinking. Older students will help facilitate game play and help set up tournaments giving them the opportunity for leadership.

Junior Chefs 2-4
Take your love of food to the next level by making yummy, healthy recipes while using equipment and techniques to make delicious and nutritious food at home. Cooking safety, terminology and nutrition will be covered. Students will learn to identify their favorite tastes and flavors they may have not yet discovered. Jr. Chefs will also serve as Ambassadors for WISH with participation in after school Fundraising through food sales. Math and Reading are naturally explored while enjoying the creative art of cooking. Students may want to bring their own apron.  Cultural Studies Culinary Arts K-3
Take a nutritious journey around the world in 29 Tuesdays and discover tastes and traditions from your family tree and others' with healthy twists in this special global cuisine course that will teach you to prepare and enjoy fruits, legumes, proteins, veggies, and whole grains in a holistic way. After creating passports, you will collect, test, and taste holistic recipes and receive stickers documenting your travels, while learning traditions through global stories you'll hear and share. For example, you'll learn about and experiment eating with your fingers in India and chopsticks in other parts of Asia. We will avoid canned, deep-fried, processed, and white (flower/sugar) foods, as well as less emphasis on dairy, meats, and sweets. We'll also attempt to have gluten-free options whenever possible. This cultural studies cooking class also will cover aspects of ecology, math (measurements), nutrition, and science. Co-Pilots: Ginny Bendaoud & Annie Hovsepian.
Parents be advised:
Please send list of children's nationalities on or before first class (unless you object), as we hope to visit as many countries as possible from the students' own family trees (send to ginnyandreda@yahoo.com or with children on first day).

1. Please be prepared to do some assigned cooking at home with your children from time to time to cover items that take longer to prepare than time allows in class (e.g. make slow cooked whole grain rice, including pre-wash).
2. Students will be asked to do some research about their own cultures and traditions to share with the class, and this likely will include interviewing you and/or grandparents or other family

2-3 Drama
Students will play theater games, learn how to focus, work together, listen, and build characters. The children will perform commercials and short scenes and monologues. Children will be assigned small pieces to be performed in front of the class. They will need to work at home to memorize these pieces. We will work on a modest production in the first semester to be performed in the second semester. Expect to have a few extra rehearsals scheduled nearer performance time.

4-5 Drama
Students will play theater games, learn how to focus, work together, listen, and build characters. The children will perform commercials, scenes and monologues. Children will be assigned small pieces to be performed in front of the class. They will need to work at home to memorize these pieces. We will work on a modest production in the first semester to be performed in the second semester. Expect to have a few extra rehearsals scheduled nearer performance time.

6-7 Drama
Students will play theater games, learn how to focus, work together, listen, and build characters. The children will perform commercials and short scenes and monologues. Children will be assigned small pieces to be performed in front of the class. They will need to work at home to memorize these pieces. We will work on a modest production in the first semester to be performed in the second semester. Expect to have a few extra rehearsals scheduled nearer performance time.

Social Studies/World Geography 2nd-4th – This class, for 2nd and 3rd graders, will be a curriculum based on historical tales and local legends. There will be light homework. This class will be similar to last year’s class only a bit more advanced. The goal of the class is to have fun while learning about all the cool ways kids live in the world.

Glee Class-Grades 5-+
The Glee classes are voice classes designed after the hit TV show! Students will learn how to build their solo and ensemble skills by learning various songs and choreography using click tracks and karaoke.
The Glee classes will perform in the Holiday show and Spring show.

Life Skills/ Communication
This class is for Teens who want to explore the way they think, live, learn and relate to others. We'll explore multiple intelligences and focus on discovering each student's learning style while we learn ways to use our brains more effectively. We'll practice techniques to help us express ourselves and communicate more effectively with others. We'll talk about our emotions, including coping with anger and frustration; explore meditation, relaxation techniques, gratitude, optimism, laughter and listening skills. We'll look at the connections food and sleep have to our well being. We'll eat "Brain Food" and have a break in most classes.
Although this class will have only minor homework (filling out a survey, talking to family members about the class, doing brain exercises, making observations during the week etc.) I do ask that only students who are willing to do the small amount of homework will consider taking the class.

Life Skills/ Communication 2
For returning students. Please specify that you have taken the class before. We will continue to deepen our exploration regarding these subjects as well as exploring other Life Skills (Public Speaking, Peer influence etc.)

Countries
A social studies class for middle school/high school students. We will study (about) one country a month, with each student doing a homework project of their choice for each country, which they will present in class. We will end the study of that country with eating a traditional lunch from that country in class. There will be homework, and the class will be interactive. Those who do not wish to do homework, or participate in class should not sign up for this class. The home work can be flexible; a paper, or a diorama of a traditional building/scene, or let your imagination and talents go!  

Flash Mob:
all ages welcome
parents welcome
we will learn dance routines to teach to friends & family and then perform publicly as a group.
We will try to perform with larger Flash Mob groups such as flashmobamerica.com and thrilltheworld.com.
Flash Mob= A large group of people who gather at public locations to perform pre-defined action, typically a brief dance (Tammy)

Pre-WISH -- Fun with Movement and Rhyme -- This class will incorporate movement activities built around themes such as shapes, colors and seasons using large and fine motor skills based on "Dance, Turn, Hop, Learn!" by Connie Bergstein Dow, as well as sing and act out classic rhyming songs such as "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Wheels on the Bus" and "Hokey Pokey." (Brita)

Math Games (1-3 grade) sem 1
Play lots of games with numbers/math concepts and think about strategies, changing rules, creating new games, learning rules. Some games we'll play (Uno, chess, checkers, connect four, tic tac toe). Make games out of felt/fabric/cardboard to take home. We'll also play with pretend money and use menus and catalogs to purchase, make change, calculate totals. Maybe we'll weigh, measure, compare things. Building things can also be included.

Yoga k-2 Looking for crew members for the Intergalactic Yoga Space Station. We'll learn focus, strength, flexibility, and have fun. No experience necessary. Minimum four students, maximum ten depending on what room we get assigned.

“Story of the World, Book Two, 1st-3rd: The Middle Ages from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance". Based on Susan Wise Bauer's book, this class will study the Middle Ages through stories, crafts and activities.

Yoga 3+ - Looking for crew members for the Intergalactic Yoga Space Station. We'll learn focus, strength, flexibility, and have fun. No experience necessary. Minimum four students, maximum ten depending on what room we get assigned.

Art 2-4 will provide students with a hands on experience in , "I can make that myself!" Most projects are completed in multiple steps encouraging our students to really invest in a piece that is uniquely , their own. We will aim towards seasonal themes.

Sewing:
4th and up
re-vamp your wardrobe, change your old t-shirt into something new, peg your jeans, deconstruct and re-constrict garments to make fun new items.
previous sewing helpful but not required.

Mythology:  3rd-6th grades   This class will cover Classical and World, Mythology- Classical era of Greek and Roman Mythology, Egyptian and African, 
  Americas, Middle Eastern and Asian, European, and Mythology of Oceania.  The class is design for students to focus on their individual work, as
  well as in their assigned groups. Older students will be asked to assist younger students.  Although, homework will not be assigned weekly, there will be a  slight amount of research and students will be asked to search for stories, from above topics, to bring in to share with the class.  In addition, and if  necessary,  student might be asked to complete unfinished work at home and bring  back the following week.  Students will be expected to participate in group  discussions, answer comprehensive questions, and complete projects.  The  objective of the class is for the student to learn and appreciate Mythology   Literature.  I am comitted to making this class exciting and FUN for all those  involved. 
Instructor: Ms Carol

Science-Basic Chemistry:  4th-7th Grade  11:00AM-12:15PM
The foundation of all scientific study starts with the chemical elements and basic principles of Chemistry.  We will begin with basic concepts of
chemistry and the history and development of the periodic table.  Students will learn the history of the elements’ discovery; its properties and its
practical uses.  We will study the elements thru games, puzzles and other interesting activities.  The activities are design to cover all aspects of the periodic table and range from worksheets to demonstration and group projects.We will examine how elements are organized in the table periodicity, atomic structure, element groups and more.  Information on newly discover elements plus information explaining the creation of artificial elements will be
covered.  In addition, students will be introduced to Chemical Building Blocks: Matter, Solids, liquids, and Gases, and Chemical Interactions: Atoms,
Atoms and bonding, Chemical reaction and acids, bases and solutions.

Experiments: Yes
Homework: Some reading and if students requires more time to complete their assignments they will be allowed to take them home and bring back the
following week.
The class will run an hour fifteen minutes.  Instructor: Ms Carol 
(Escalante)




  Singapore Math 5-7th - Singapore Math 6A & 6B U.S. Edition
Grades 5 - 7
Prerequisite: Students must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
Topics to be covered:  Pre-Algebra, Solid Figures, Ratio, Percentage, Speed, Fractions, Circles, Graphs, Volume, Triangles & Four-sided Figures.
There will be homework each week.
  Singapore Math
Singapore Math burst onto the scene after the impressive first-place finish of Singapore students in the 1995, 1999, and 2003 TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study). Singapore strengthens mental math and problem solving skills through word problems and step-by-step explanations, giving students an increased understanding of mathematical applications and standard problem-solving. Challenging students to independently apply their knowledge of math, Singapore Math's proven international method gets students to understand the reasoning behind math. 

Cooking 1 plus 1, 4th-8th Learn how to prepare meals and snacks for yourself or your family. Everyday math will be used in the class as we calculate quantity changes to a recipe. Field trips scheduled to the local grocery store to cost compare products. Weekly homework to cook what was taught in class.

History Untangled 4th-6th – A modern kids’ class to ancient civilizations. Learn history the fun way. Learn about ancient Greece, Vikings, The middle Ages, and the Renessance through stories, music, cooking, and more. Hands on!

Great Historical Speeches/PublicSpeaking sem 2 6th+ Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln. We will take 3 weeks to study the context of a great speech, study it in terms of what it is saying, memorize different portions towards which the student is drawn, memorize these segments and present them utilizing good speaking/speech practices. The speeches are: Chief Joseph: Speech of a Young Man/ I Will Fight No More Forever  Sojourner Truth - 1851 / W.E.B. DuBois Niagara Movement Speech, Dr. King’s – I Have Been to the Mountain Top; April 3, 1968 Robert F. Kennedy - Of the Mindless Menace of Violence. Students need to be willing to commit a segment of speeches to memory. Aside from this, most all of our historical study will be in-class; no outside research.

The Fix It Class – Teens, 12 and up (mid Oct-mid Dec 8:30 -10:00) would be an opportunity to explore how things work, why they break and how to fix them. We would study basic principles of mechanical systems, simple electronics and how things are assembled, and then have a hands-on exploration. I would ask students to bring in broken stuff (we all have lots of it), and we'll take a crack at fixing it. In the first several classes we would work as a group, and as our skills improve, students could work on things individually or in smaller groups. There's no guarantee that we'll fix everything that's brought in, nor that we'll get to everything the kids bring in, but we'll have fun trying.

Aesthetics  (6th grade and up first semester) will focus on the history of painting, sculpture and architecture (prehistoric through 20th century and beyond), and may use guest speakers for a brief study of poetry, music, illustration, film and photography. We will be viewing slides each week, learning to read and discuss art and culture. I will follow a timeline and also briefly discuss world history side by side with what is happening in the arts.

History Through Story 6+: This class will examine what cultures through history have told themselves, and us, about them through the stories they told. We will look at myths and fairy tales. There will be outside of class reading necessary for the in class discussion, and a paper or project from each student. Students will need to keep up with the readings as we will build on what we have already learned in our discussions. This should be rich grounds for really interesting discussions!

Game On!!!  - Strategy Board Games
What Are Strategy Board Games -
As the name suggests, strategy games require players to plan ahead and strategize to win. Players must be thinking several moves ahead and trying to predict their opponents' moves as well. These are not games of chance. Unlike abstract strategy games, strategy games follow a story line and take place in a particular time, place, and setting. There is an element of role playing attached to the game.
Types of Strategy Games -
War games, such as Risk, and adventure games, such as Carcassonne, allow players to step outside their normal, everyday roles and into an exciting adventure! In your new role as a pirate, soldier, or other adventurer, you must use your wit and intelligence to outsmart your opponents. In Risk, for example, you are fighting to control the universe! Civilization allows you to step back in time and build a mighty empire. Make the right choices along the way, and you just might conquer the world.
If war games are your preference, there are numerous board war games for you to check out. Why not try games like Axis and Allies Europe, World of Warcraft, and War of the Ring Game.
Family Strategy Games -
Even classic games like Monopoly require you to create and use various strategies to win. Do you know how to vanquish your opponent from the Monopoly board and become a property-owning mogul? If not, we've got some tips for you to check out. If you're a Lord of the Rings fanatic, you'll love the Lord of the Rings Game. Take on the role of one of the four Hobbits in the Fellowship: Merry, Pippen, Fatty or Frodo. Each Hobbit has a special ability: traveling, hiding, friendship or fighting, and you'll use your Hobbit's ability to try and win the game. We can spend hours together devising plans and carrying out strategies on any of these strategy board games!
Games can go on from week to week.  Are you ready?!!!!!

Structured Play Class for K-2
 Students will learn some fun card games, strategy and board games.  We will make some games to play and take home.  We will be doing some
active group games for students who are interested. Students can also play individually with puzzles and toys.  

Learning Through Literature K-2
Utilizing children's literature, we will explore subjects such as social studies, art, science and language arts.  We will spend a few weeks with
each book to give us time to delve into each area.  Students will visit places such as Russia, Japan, Maine, Canada, Germany, Ohio and Scotland. 
Occasionally, we will enjoy ethnic and local food related to our storybook's location.   Class is limited to 10 students.