2017-2018 Class Descriptions

2017-2018 CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Fall Classes 9/6/2017- 1/19/2018

Thursday classes will start 9/14/2018

Spring Classes 1/29/2018 - 6/1/2018

Class Fees

Please note that all elementary/middle school classes have a $50 class and a $25 material semester fee unless noted differently under the Materials/Notes portion of the class description.

All high school classes have a $120 class and $50 material fee per year, unless noted differently under the Materials/Notes portion of the class description.

Some classes may require a text fee as well.

All high school advising classes have a $50 class fee per year, unless noted differently under the Materials/Notes portion of the class description.

Other Information

For a look at our class grid, regional calendar, access the add/drop form and other information, please visit our website at

CLASSES

K-8 Thursday Classes

KINDER ENRICHMENT

Alicia Sardoch

Time: 10:45-12:00

Description:An old-fashioned style class for kindergarten students focusing on socialization, basic language

arts and mathematics skills. Each week we will explore a topic presented through literature. After listening to a story, students work alongside each other with play dough, paints, construction paper and other media to further discover our topic (such as colors, seasons, cause and effect). Students have the opportunity to make friends, work in a team, and take turns as they complete a variety of projects in a relaxed setting.

Materials/Notes:All materials provided by instructor

SCIENCE CLUB FOR 1st-2nd

Alicia Sardoch

Time: 9:30-10:45

Description: We will use our sense to explore and investigate various themes from NGSS (Next Generation

Science Standards) for Grades 1 and 2. Hands-on activities are a springboard to learn scientific methods and vocabulary.

Materials/Notes: All materials provided by instructor.

MATH FOR 1st-2nd

AnnMarie Ginella

Time:10:45-12:00

Description:Students build math skills through their discovery of numbers through story and in their bodies. We

seek Math that is found in nature and learn number rhymes and counting rhythms as well as memorizing skip counting. We learn Math vocabulary, including: place value, money, measurement, and shapes. We use a variety of manipulatives so students can learn concepts with hands-on experiences. We create a Math main lesson book from our class lessons.

Materials/Notes:All materials provided by instructor.

FOLKLORE AND FABLES FOR 1st-2nd

AnnMarie Ginella

Time: 12:30-2:00

Description:This class will focus on storytelling in the oral tradition. Each week. We will hear and learn stories

from India,Africa, the Island Cultures, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. We will learn about indigenous cultures and traditions. Embedded in the stories will be geography lessons about the location and geographical features of the story’s origins. As they listen to the story, students will use their hands to model characters out of beeswax. After the story is told, students will draw and write about the story in their own storybooks with crayon and colored pencils.

Materials/Notes: All materials provided by instructor.

ASTRONOMY 3rd-4th

Jennie Rose

Time: 9:30-10:45

Description:Through a variety of in-class activities and experiments, students will be learning about various

topics in Astronomy: the earth, the moon, the sun, planets, stars, nebulas, galaxies, black holes, and the probability of life on other planets. They will be recording and compiling the information they are learning in their Astronomy journals, which will remain in class. They will also be engaged in Astronomy-related math activities such as making calculations and graphs. We will also be taking field trips to the Robert Ferguson Observatory and Santa Rosa Jr. College Planetarium.

Materials/Notes: All materials provided by instructor. *Student must be able to copy information from the board.

ART 3rd-4th

Lauren Frost

Time: 12:30-2:00

Description:Students will explore a variety of media and techniques (e.g. paint, pastels, markers, collage, mixed

Media, printmaking, fibers, clay, sculpture) to create works of art. Inspiration will be sought from nature, historical and cultural art styles, and personal experience. Emphasis will be placed on developing students’ observational skills and calling forth each child’s innate creative nature.

Materials/Notes:All materials provided by instructor. Material fees $30

THE WORLD OF STORIES 3rd-4th

Jennie Rose

Time: 9:30-10:45

Description:Everyone loves a good story. In this class, students will be exploring the world of stories

through novels, short stories, and plays, which they will be reading in class and at home. As they read, they will be focusing on and writing about literary elements such as plot, character development, setting, story sequencing, cause and effect, and themes, as well as their own reactions, questions, and thoughts about what they have been reading. Each week, they will also be sharing and learning new vocabulary words. Reading stories we love can inspire us to write good stories, so in this class, students will also be writing their own pieces- personal narratives and creative stories. Students will be keeping their literary responses, vocabulary words, and other in-class writings in their in-class journals and will be sharing their journal entries, as well as their longer pieces, with their classmates.

Materials/Notes: All materials provided by instructor. *Student must be able to copy information from the board.

ART 5th-6th

Lauren Frost

Time: 10:45-12:00

Description:Students will explore a variety of media and techniques (e.g. paint, pastels, markers, collage, mixed

Media, printmaking, fibers, clay, sculpture) to create works of art. Inspiration will be sought from nature, historical and cultural art styles, and personal experience. Emphasis will be placed on developing students’ observational skills and calling forth each child’s innate creative nature.

Materials/Notes:All materials provided by instructor. Material fees $30

LITERATURE CIRCLE WITH WRITING COMPONENT 5th-6th

AnnMarie Ginella

Time: 9:30-10:45

Description:Students will be assigned books from the genres of Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction and Science

Fiction. Students will lead discussions and write responses to their reading. Students will be guided through the writing process with prewriting exercises and editing support. Student responses will come in a variety of written forms: 5 paragraph essays, poems, oral presentations and reports. Students will learn a variety of Literary Elements in their analysis of the various texts. Through this class, students improve their abilities to ask and discuss open-ended questions, discover cause and effect within a story, make connections between a story and real life, appreciate well-written passages in literature, use a dictionary and illustrate memorable scenes from a book.

Materials/Notes: All materials provided by instructor. *Students may attend out of grade range with IST and

Instructor approval.

SCIENCE EXPLORATION 5th-6th

Christine Bendik

Time: 9:30-10:45

Description:Science Exploration is designed for students to explore science through reading, writing,

investigation and experiments. We will be using science weekly curriculum.

Materials/Notes: All materials provided by instructor.

ART 7th-8th

Lauren Frost

Time: 9:30-10:45

Description:Students will explore a variety of media and techniques (e.g. paint, pastels, markers, collage, mixed

Media, printmaking, fibers, clay, sculpture) to create works of art. Inspiration will be sought from nature, historical and cultural art styles, and personal experience. Emphasis will be placed on developing students’ observational skills and calling forth each child’s innate creative nature.

Materials/Notes:All materials provided by instructor. Material fees $30

PASSAGES THROUGH TIME 7th-8th

Denice Hall

Time: 10:45-12:00

Description:This is a supplemental class for ELA with a focus on history from the 10th to 20th centuries.

Students will be assigned readings from various genres including historical fiction, biographies, and informational text. In class, students will lead directed discussions on literary elements, devices, vocabulary, and historical context. Students will have both written and oral assignments to prepare at home and present in class. Through reflection, discussion and analysis students will develop connections across genres, time and place.

Materials/Notes: Books will NOT be provided by instructor. Students must obtain their own copies of reading

materials (purchased, borrowed, print, e-book, etc.).

GARDENING AM 5th-8th (ONLY)

Tonya McCollum

Time: 9:30-10:45

Description:This course is designed to engage students in meaningful, hands-on activities in the garden,

growing food and learning about plants. Students are expected to be workers in the garden.

Students will:

· Observe nature in its seasonal patterns;

· Plan, plant and care for seasonal garden beds;

· Learn about annual and perennial plants and trees;

· Grow, harvest, share and dry food;

· Study medicinal qualities of plants while making tinctures and salves;

· Save seeds, build compost, and work with plant dyes;

· Identify and draw plants; and create small building projects.

Topics: Planting, Harvesting, Seed Saving, Small Building Projects, Weeding, Composting, Herbs and Salves.

Materials/Notes: Material fees $30. Come to the class, dressed to work with soil and for the weather.

Students are required to bring an extra pair of shoes or boots, a sun hat or woolen hat and a layer of warm and wet gear.

GARDENING PM 1st-8th

Tonya McCollum

Time: 10:45-12:00

Description:This course is designed to engage students in meaningful, hands-on activities in the garden,

growing food and learning about plants. Students are expected to be workers in the garden.

Students will:

· Observe nature in its seasonal patterns;

· Plan, plant and care for seasonal garden beds;

· Learn about annual and perennial plants and trees;

· Grow, harvest, share and dry food;

· Study medicinal qualities of plants while making tinctures and salves;

· Save seeds, build compost, and work with plant dyes;

· Identify and draw plants; and create small building projects.

Topics: Planting, Harvesting, Seed Saving, Small Building Projects, Weeding, Composting, Herbs

and Salves.

Materials/Notes:Come to the class, dressed to work with soil and for the weather.

Students are required to bring an extra pair of shoes or boots, a sun hat or woolen hat and a layer of warm and wet gear.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSES

MATH 7th-8th

Christine Bendik

Time: Thursday: 10:45-12:00

Monday: 12:30-1:45

Description:This middle school math class will be using Go Math, 7th grade, and performance tasks to build

algebra skills. Students will receive homework after each class to complete at home. This class is open to all middle school students.

Materials/Notes:Students need to bring their planner and math book to each class. 6th grade students may test into

this class.

STUDENTS MUST ATTEND BOTH MONDAY AND THURSDAY CLASSES.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE WET LAB 7th-9th

Tracey Orlandi

Time: Monday 1:45-3:00

Description:This is a year long lab to be taken in conjunction with a Physical Science (independent study)

class. Students will be working in groups conducting various experiments to enrich their understanding of the concepts they have been learning at home. It is expected that each student will come to lab with the required reading done. There is no lecture component for this lab. This lab will build confidence and skills in measurement, data organization, using observations to make claims, designing and conducting experiments to test hypothesis as outlined in California’s Next Generation Science Standards for grades 7-9. Lab topics will include atomic structure, an introduction to chemistry, energy and waves, as well as real world problem solving. Lab activities are geared to build confidence and proficiency in observations, data organization and analysis including creating and interpreting graphs, critical thinking and reasoning, and communication skills.

Materials/Notes:Your Independent Study Teacher will have to order the textbook for this lab. The primary textbook

for this lab is broken into modules; Science Fusion Matter and Energy, Holt McDougal, 2012 and Science Fusion Motion, Forces and Energy, Holt McDougal, 2012.

*If any 7th or 8th grade student parents wish to use an alternate curriculum, please contact the instructor.

The co-requisite for this lab is an independent study Physical Science course. There are no math or science pre-requisites for this lab.

Enrollment in this lab satisfies the G component for Physical Science credit for High School students.

HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES

ENGLISH

ENGLISH 9 P

Dannielle Smith

Time: Monday and Wednesday 10:45-12:00

Description:English 9 is the foundational academic English class to prepare students for the rigor of 10th-12th

grade courses and college prep level reading, writing and critical thinking. The course begins with basic diagnostic assessment through Renaissance English Language Arts online testing and a school-wide writing assessment assigned to all high school students enrolled in Pathways. The course will cover a variety contemporary literary genres including nonfiction articles and methods of research. Final grades will be based on the quality of five essays over the course of the semester, class attendance and participation, and academic growth in writing and critical thinking. Students will also be introduced to Google Classroom as preparation for grades 10-12 English courses.

Materials/Notes:All materials provided by instruction

ENGLISH A (P) 10th-12th

Tammy Dier

Time: Monday and Wednesday 10:45-12:00

Description:English A is designed to advance students understanding of college prep level reading, writing and

critical thinking to prepare them to succeed at the JC or university level English course. The course covers a range of literary styles that are incorporated into real world social concerns to encourage student to think about the world around them. All assignments are created in Google Classroom using Google docs to facilitate feedback and communication with the teacher. Additional classroom resources are provided on a private Pathways English site, and each student has their own web page to document their portfolio progress throughout the semester. Monthly grades include class participation, group work, research, reading, and an essay. Semester grades will include an assessment on the quality of their web page portfolio which consists of 5 and a formal presentation in Google Slides and submitted to the class to practice public speaking.

Materials/Notes: All materials provided by instructor

ENGLISH B (P) 10th-12th

Tammy Dier

Time: Wednesday 1:45-3:00 and Friday 10:45-12:00

Description:English B is designed to advance students understanding of college prep level reading, writing and

critical thinking to prepare them to succeed at the JC or university level English course. The course covers a range of literary styles that are incorporated into real world social concerns to encourage student to think about the world around them. All assignments are created in Google Classroom using Google docs to facilitate feedback and communication with the teacher. Additional classroom resources are provided on a private Pathways English site, and each student has their own web page to document their portfolio progress throughout the semester. Monthly grades include class participation, group work, research, reading, and an essay. Semester grades will include an assessment on the quality of their web page portfolio which consists of 5 and a formal presentation in Google Slides and submitted to the class to practice public speaking.

Materials/Notes:All materials provided by instructor

LITERATURE SEMINAR 11th-12th (only)

Nathan Feileacan

Time: Friday 9:30-10:45

Description:At the beginning of high school students learn to read and write; in 11th and 12th Grade Literature

Seminar you will learn how to think! The Literature Seminar will focus on how to delve deeper into and elicit meaning from, complex texts, art, music, poetry and literature. Students will be instructed on how to participate in a Socratic Seminar and how to use the process of questioning a text and each other to better understand it, the author, and the world around them. Readings will include a variety of short essays, short works of fiction and excerpts from novels, a few longer works of fiction, some music, art and poetry. Written responses will be less structured than formal essays and focus on critical analysis and connectin the text to the individual and the world at large through current events, history, psychology, religion and sociology. Weekly assignments can be adjusted to fit Independent Study English 11/12 guidelines for college prep credit in cooperation with online English Advising and ISTs or the course can serve as a Language Arts elective separate from graduation requirements.

Materials/Notes:All materials provided by instructor

MATH

BASIC MATH 9-12th

Kit Mayberry

Time: Monday and Wednesday 1:45-3:00

Description:After taking the Mathematics Diagnostic test and placing into this class, high school students will

practice and build confidence in mathematical skills, develop and apply mathematical reasoning in problem solving that will prepare students for success in algebra and integrated math I courses. Along with learning to efficiently use their textbooks and online resources, such as Khan Academy and theCarnegie Learning math suite, including Courses 1- 3, students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on investigations aligned with theCalifornia Common Core State Learning standards in mathematics, grades 6-8, exercise skills in reading and following written instructions, time and workload management, practice test taking strategies and build solid foundations.

Students will explore a variety of texts, which are provided.

Materials/Notes: A binder or folder with either section dividers or pockets for keeping homework and class

assignments organized; a calculator for class and homework; access to Internet to work on Carnegie Cognitive Tutor software for a minimum of two hours weekly outside of class may be required.

Units Possible: 5 credits