Enrichment Classes for Gifted and Talented Middle School Students

Schedules by grade and date are below,

Reading Comprehension

Engage in discussion and activities that strengthen your critical thinking and reading comprehension skills. Through short stories, articles, writing exercises and discussion, we'll explore how authors convey deeper meaning for greater understanding. Preparatory work and homework provided. All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

Reading Comprehension: Non-Fiction

• June 23 - June 27

• 1pm PST

• $250

• July 28 - August 1

• 1pm PST

• $250

Reading Comprehension: Fiction

• July 21 - July 25

• 3pm PST

• $250

• August 18 - August 22

• 2pm 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

• June 25 - August 27

• 7pm PST

• $500 (10 Sessions)

Plots & Characters

• August 11 - August 15

• 1pm PST

• $250

Descriptive Writing

• August 25 - August 29

• 5pm PST

• $250

Passionate Readers

Join our Passionate Readers Book Club, where students come together once a week to dive into the exciting world of literature! This club is a vibrant community for young book lovers to explore a wide range of genres, share their favorite reads, and discover new authors. Each week, we engage in lively discussions, participate in fun activities, and deepen our understanding of various themes and writing styles. Whether you're a devoted reader or just beginning your literary journey, this club welcomes all who share a love for books. Come and connect with fellow students, expand your reading horizons, and ignite your passion for storytelling! All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Stacia Bell

• Tuesdays

• July 8 - August 5

• 11am PST

• $250

• Saturdays

• July 12 - August 9

• 3pm 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

Project

Presentations

Examine successful presentations and develop one on a topic of your passion! You will learn how to structure your work, create engaging slides, present in a compelling way and field questions from the audience. All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

• Tuesdays

• July 29 - August 26

• 7pm PST

• $250

• July 14- July 18

• 3pm PST

• $250

Essay Writing

Read sample essays and identify effective/ineffective elements. Explore editorials, personal narratives and persuasive rhetorical devices. Formulate a claim and write essays using details and textual evidence to substantiate your ideas. Receive feedback and revise your essays. All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

Informative

• June 30 - July 4

• 3pm PST

• $250

Argumentative

• July 7 - July 11

• 3pm PST

• $250

Personal Narratives

• August 4 - August 8

• 2pm PST

• $250

Vocabulary Institute

Aristophanes said, "By words, the mind is excited and the spirit elated." Join this deep-dive into the world of words for the purpose of expanding your written and verbal vernacular. Preparatory work provided. All sessions are online, via Zoom. To register, complete the form below. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

• Fridays

• June 27 - July 25

• 11am PST

• $250

Playwriting & Performing

Unleash your creativity in this engaging course designed for middle and high school students! This hands-on course 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)

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

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: Persuasive

• July 21 - July 25

• 5pm PST

• $250

Public Speaking: Informative

• Wednesdays

• July 30 - August 27

• 11am PST

• $250

• August 18 - 22

• 5pm 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. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

Grammar Fundamentals

• June 23 - June 27

• 5pm PST

• $250

Advanced Grammar

This is a multi-age course for middle and high school students.

• August 25 - August 29

• 2pm PST

• $250

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 course for middle and high school students. All sessions are online, via Zoom. Limit 8. Instructor: Robin Russell

• August 11 - August 15

• 2pm PST

• $250

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

Summer 2025 Registration

Note: If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your Junk Mail.