Summer 2025 Class Schedule
Virtual and in-person, group and private classes.
Enrollment in all summer classes is per calendar month
(June, July, and August).
Registration is open now. Spots are very limited.
Classes begin the week of June 12, 2025.
To inquire or enroll in a class,
please contact me via the form at the bottom of this page.
Private classes may also be an option - please reach out to join the waiting list.
Like the class but not the time?
Let me know what time or day you would have preferred.
Wishing you a healthy, happy summer!
Janel
Dwelling on the Past
Spanish, Past Grammar Tenses and Conversation
Tuesdays, 5:20-5:50 p.m. Middle and High School, ONLINE class
Class begins on June 10, 2025 and runs in June, July and August
Classes are held on Zoom.
This class is designed to help students build and strengthen their comfort with two important and often challenging past tenses: preterite and imperfect. We will work on grammar conjugations of common regular and irregular verbs in both tenses and learn when to use each tense respectively.
While this class has a grammatical, structural focus, we will also work on speaking in the past, using compelling imagery and creative prompts to elicit responses.
Students should have completed Spanish 1 or the equivalent and should have a high level of comfort conjugating verbs in the present or future tenses.
Biomimetismo - Biomimicry
Spanish, Art, and the Natural World
Thursdays, 4:05-4:50 p.m. (5-11 years)
Class begins on June 12, 2025 and runs in June, July and August
Classes are held in Palo Alto, near Gamble Gardens
Pigeons inspired the Wright Brothers to attempt flight. Burs, spiders, silk worms and beetles spark textile innovation, termite hills and bees hives prompt architects to consider new patterns and structures. The study of whale flippers has helped improve the construction of wind turbines, and the shape of the King Fisher's beak solved a noise problem in high-speed trains. This class looks at examples of art, architecture and engineering that have been directly influenced by observation of the natural world. Students will learn practical vocabulary (nouns, adjectives and verbs), while studying the ways in which nature informs and inspires innovation.
2D and 3D Building/Art in Spanish
Drawing inspiration from nature and our studies of biomimicry, in each class we will make art or engage in design thinking of our own. I place a heavy emphasis on open-ended creative experimentation and ask students to fully embrace the ever-present reality of mistake-making in the creative process.
¿Brillante o bobo?
Brilliant or Bonkers?
Spanish Conversation and Design Thinking
Thursdays, 5:00-5:45 p.m. (9-13 years)
Class begins on June 12, 2025 and runs in June, July and August
Classes are held in Palo Alto, near Gamble Gardens
Shoes with mini umbrellas, two-story bikes, slippers with LED lights, pizza scissors, toilet-paper-dispenser hats, and chopsticks with built-in fans to cool down noodles - this class looks at phenomenally creative innovations and genius designs that failed to become common household items.
Spanish Conversation
As we look at these brilliant and crazy creations we will collectively critique the design asking the questions: What is right? What is wrong? Does it solve a common problem? Does it create any new problems? Is it beautiful or clunky? Comfortable or clumsy? Practical or impractical? Safe or dangerous? To further facilitate speaking, students will be asked to work alone or in partnership to present, pitch, sell and defend the merits of an item, attempting to garner support and enthusiasm from the group.
Spanish Caregiver & Me
Music, Movement and Gross Motor Skills
Tuesdays, 9:30-10:15 a.m. (Ages 0-6)
Class begins on June 10, 2025 and runs in June, July and August
Classes are held in Palo Alto, near Gamble Gardens
Contextualizing new vocabulary with a wide range of highly engaging, age-appropriate songs, finger plays, and movement, we work thematically through word groups (i.e. the body, African animals, farm animals, pets, weather), simultaneously emphasizing colors, counting, etc., with the intention of building a broad Spanish vocabulary base.
This class uses humor, visual aids, movement and a theatrical approach to language transmission. Music is a constant presence in the class and as we intentionally repeat lyrics and melodies, children as young as 6 months begin to sing along.
Reading Readiness (ENGLISH)
Thursdays, 2:00-2:45 p.m. (4-7 years) in-person class
Thursdays, 6:00-6:45 p.m. (4-7 years) in-person class
Class begins on June 12, 2025 and runs in June, July and August
Classes are held in Palo Alto, near Gamble Gardens
With funny puppets, engaging imagery for visual learners, rhyming, gross motor engagement, and word games, we will play with word groups and learn about their functions.
The primary goal of the class is to inspire a love of reading and an openness to and excitement about letters and literacy.
Each class includes fine motor practice.
This class is appropriate for children who have shown an interest in letters and their sounds. It is also designed for children in non-English language immersion programs, and children for whom English is not a first language.
Thursdays, 2:00-2:45 p.m. (4-7 years) in-person class
Thursdays, 6:00-6:45 p.m. (4-7 years) in-person class
Class begins on June 12, 2025 and runs in June, July and August
Classes are held in Palo Alto, near Gamble Gardens
With funny puppets, engaging imagery for visual learners, rhyming, gross motor engagement, and word games, we will play with word groups and learn about their functions.
The primary goal of the class is to inspire a love of reading and an openness to and excitement about letters and literacy.
Each class includes fine motor practice.
This class is appropriate for children who have shown an interest in letters and their sounds. It is also designed for children in non-English language immersion programs, and children for whom English is not a first language.