Preparatory Classes for High School Students
Schedules by grade and date are below,
College Essay Seminar
Take this course to develop and workshop your college essay. You will spend time developing, editing, and listening to feedback for your college essay. I approach this by working individually with students where they are at, as well as sharing feedback in the larger group in order to learn. No matter where you are in the process, this class is for you. If you have questions about this, please feel free to reach out in advance. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Ben Morgan
July 28 - August 1
12pm PST
$250
Enjoying Poetry
This course is all about different ways to enjoy poetry! Its focus is more visceral than scholarly. We will explore different forms that poetry has taken in different cultures and spend some time learning for the sake of enjoyment. Students will have some autonomy to explore different avenues for experiencing poetry. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Ben Morgan
Thursdays
July 3 - July 31
11am PST
$250
AP Language & Literature Preparation
Are you taking Advanced Placement (AP) Language or Literature in the upcoming year? In this two-week course, we will focus on developing the literary and rhetorical analysis skills necessary to be successful on both of these exams. This course should help you to develop your close reading and analytical writing skills regardless. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. This is a two-week course. Instructor: Ben Morgan
June 30 - July 11
2pm PST
$500 (10 Sessions)
July 14 - 25
12pm PST
$250 (10 Sessions)
Writing Clinic
Individualized Support
Participate in guided writing exercises with a focus on syntax, vocabulary and grammar. Both creative and essay prompts are presented. Individualized feedback is provided in real time. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell
Thursdays
June 26 - July 24
7pm PST
$250
Project Presentations
Learn how to design and deliver interesting and engaging presentations for school! You will spend time practicing stepping into confidence with your delivery of material in order to train your skills for school or beyond. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Ben Morgan
July 28 - August 1
2pm PST
$250
Academic Reading and Writing
In this two-week course, you will learn the skills and viewpoint of literary and rhetorical analysis by close reading of fiction and nonfiction texts. Modeled after the essays on the AP Literature exam, you will learn how to write an effective essay. Through creative writing, you will focus on descriptive language and literary devices. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. This is a two-week course. Instructor: Ben Morgan
June 30 - July 11
12pm PST
$500 (10 Sessions)
July 14 - 25
2pm PST
$500 (10 Sessions)
Public Speaking Salons
Being comfortable in front of an audience and able to express your ideas concisely are valuable skills to possess. Being able to capture the undivided attention of your audience and keep them in the palm of your hand as you rally them to action are skills that can transform both the audience and the speaker. Learn how to project your voice, gesticulate effectively, end your sentences definitively and engage your audience. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell
Public Speaking: Informative
Wednesdays
July 30 - August 27
11am PST
$250
August 18 - August 22
5pm PST
$250
Public Speaking: Persuasive
July 21 - July 25
5pm PST
$250
Passionate Writers
Engage in activities that hone your skills and foster your love of writing as storytelling. Areas of focus are Sentence Fluency and Word Choice with the goal of cultivating descriptive language, specifically in employing similes, metaphors and other literary devices. Optional homework activities are provided. All sessions are online, via Zoom. These are multi-age courses for middle and high school students. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell
Wednesday Writers
Wednesdays
7pm PST
June 25 - August 27
$500 (10 Sessions)
Plots & Characters
August 11 - August 15
1pm PST
$250
Descriptive Writing
August 25 - August 29
5pm PST
$250
The Art of Memory
Do you have a desire to know something deeply? This class is for you. Bring whatever you want to truly know--poems, the periodic table of elements, the US presidents, Taylor Swift's discography etc.-- and you will commit it to memory. You will learn the most tried and true memory technique (the method of loci) that contemporary mnemonists, ancient Greek rhetoricians, and aboriginal Australians all have used to know something profoundly. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Ben Morgan
Thursdays
July 3 - July 31
10am PST
$250
Playwriting & Performing
Unleash your creativity in this engaging course that will guide you through the fundamentals of crafting compelling characters, dynamic dialogue, and captivating plots. You'll explore various genres and styles, participate in fun writing exercises, and collaborate with peers to develop your unique voice as a playwright. By the end of the course, you'll have completed a one-act play that showcases your talent and imagination. The course will culminate in a virtual production. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell
Saturdays
June 28 - August 30
11am PST
$500 (10 Sessions)
Diagramming Sentences
Unlock the secrets of syntax and enhance your writing skills through our engaging course on sentence diagramming. This course will introduce participants to the fundamentals of diagramming sentences, providing a visual framework to understand the relationships between words and phrases. Through interactive exercises and real-world examples, learners will develop the ability to dissect complex sentences, identify parts of speech, and improve their grammar proficiency. This course will make sentence structure more clear and accessible. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell
August 11 - August 15
2pm PST
$250
Grammar Instruction
Join us for an engaging and interactive course designed for language enthusiasts and reluctant scholars. Participants will explore complex sentence structures (phrases and clauses), the intricacies of punctuation, and the subtleties of style and tone. All sessions are online, via Zoom. This is a multi-age class for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell
August 25 - August 29
2pm PST
$250
Summer 2025 Registration
Note: If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your junk box.
all times are pacific standard time (PST). All classes are online via zoom. Limit 8.
Guest Teacher: Benjamin Morgan
Benjamin Morgan is a dynamic and innovative Language Arts teacher at Open Window School. Previous, he was assistant academic dean and English teacher at Suffield Academy. Mr. Morgan has experience and training in teaching AP Language and Composition, and he is passionate about the interplay between creativity and analysis.
Mr. Morgan is known for using theater techniques to unlock literacy skills and inspire writers. Past families note that their children advanced their reading and writing, and also experienced joy and belonging along the way. In his spare time, Mr. Morgan spends time with family, performs improv comedy, and cheers irrationally for the New York Knicks!
Individual Sessions
Mr. Morgan is available to work individually with students (elementary through high school) in reading, writing and executive functioning.