Spring 2025 Class Schedule
Virtual and in-person group and private classes.
Interactive, innovative language classes.
To inquire or enroll in a class,
please contact me via the form at the bottom of this page.
Like the class but not the time?
Let me know what time or day you would have preferred.
Wishing you a healthy, happy spring!
Janel
Spanish, Music & Motor Skills
Caregiver & Me
Note: For the in-person class, a vaccinated adult must be present with your child.
Please provide proof of vaccination at time of enrollment.
Tuesdays, 9:30-10:15 a.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 0-6)
Rolling admissions.
Enrollment is monthly.
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, puppets, 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 18 months begin to sing along.
Caregiver & Me
Note: For the in-person class, a vaccinated adult must be present with your child.
Please provide proof of vaccination at time of enrollment.
Tuesdays, 9:30-10:15 a.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 0-6)
Rolling admissions.
Enrollment is monthly.
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, puppets, 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 18 months begin to sing along.
Masters of the Universe
World Building, Strategy & Spanish Conversation
Please note: This class is an intermediate-to-advanced competency Spanish class and is only appropriate for students who can thrive in an immersion environment or have attained a high level of receptive proficiency (comprehension.)
Tuesdays, 5:20-6:00 p.m., on Zoom, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 9-13)
Class is full through May 2025.
A full academic year commitment is expected.
Masters of the Universe is an exercise in world-building and game design. In Phase One of the class, the group will design a universe, imagining its creatures and landscapes, weather patterns, dangers and mercies, villains and protagonists, and configuring its laws and constraints.
During Phase Two the students will "enter" this newly-designed universe to experience the joys and challenges of inhabiting and surviving in this world of their design.
As the Masters of the Universe attempt to navigate the very universe they have created, the gamified learning fosters natural language and vocabulary repetition, along with high levels of motivation and focus while simultaneously building discernment, resilience, grit, collaboration, communication, decision-making, resource management, problem-solving and strategy-formulation skills.
World Building, Strategy & Spanish Conversation
Please note: This class is an intermediate-to-advanced competency Spanish class and is only appropriate for students who can thrive in an immersion environment or have attained a high level of receptive proficiency (comprehension.)
Tuesdays, 5:20-6:00 p.m., on Zoom, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 9-13)
Class is full through May 2025.
A full academic year commitment is expected.
Masters of the Universe is an exercise in world-building and game design. In Phase One of the class, the group will design a universe, imagining its creatures and landscapes, weather patterns, dangers and mercies, villains and protagonists, and configuring its laws and constraints.
During Phase Two the students will "enter" this newly-designed universe to experience the joys and challenges of inhabiting and surviving in this world of their design.
As the Masters of the Universe attempt to navigate the very universe they have created, the gamified learning fosters natural language and vocabulary repetition, along with high levels of motivation and focus while simultaneously building discernment, resilience, grit, collaboration, communication, decision-making, resource management, problem-solving and strategy-formulation skills.
Brain Child
Innovation, Creative Confidence and Spanish
Thursdays, 4:05-4:50 p.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 5-10)
Rolling admissions, please contact me to be placed on a waiting list.
Enrollment is per calendar month.
Braille, earmuffs, popsicles, and trampolines - all invented by children - this class looks at the real, important, and tangible contributions of child inventors, artists, composers and innovators throughout history. While we may also take a look at innovation made with children in mind, the class will heavily emphasize child-driven innovations in all areas of life.
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
Conducted primarily in Spanish with ample opportunities for review and repetition, children will acquire useful Spanish vocabulary. In addition to natural acquisition opportunities (learning by hearing and doing), we will use repetitive hand movement techniques, muscle memory (kinesthetic learning) and will also begin to consciously build sentences using topic-relevant vocabulary, learning word order, and gender concordance.
ART AND GAMES IN SPANISH
During each in-person class we engage in both a topic-relevant art project and a game, both of which are designed to foster language acquisition. Each game requires the repetition of the week's target vocabulary as part of the play. The relaxed and focused time provides us with an ideal opening for natural vocabulary acquisition.
Innovation, Creative Confidence and Spanish
Thursdays, 4:05-4:50 p.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 5-10)
Rolling admissions, please contact me to be placed on a waiting list.
Enrollment is per calendar month.
Braille, earmuffs, popsicles, and trampolines - all invented by children - this class looks at the real, important, and tangible contributions of child inventors, artists, composers and innovators throughout history. While we may also take a look at innovation made with children in mind, the class will heavily emphasize child-driven innovations in all areas of life.
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
Conducted primarily in Spanish with ample opportunities for review and repetition, children will acquire useful Spanish vocabulary. In addition to natural acquisition opportunities (learning by hearing and doing), we will use repetitive hand movement techniques, muscle memory (kinesthetic learning) and will also begin to consciously build sentences using topic-relevant vocabulary, learning word order, and gender concordance.
ART AND GAMES IN SPANISH
During each in-person class we engage in both a topic-relevant art project and a game, both of which are designed to foster language acquisition. Each game requires the repetition of the week's target vocabulary as part of the play. The relaxed and focused time provides us with an ideal opening for natural vocabulary acquisition.
Odyssey
A Spanish travel adventure game.
Be prepared, be resilient.
Thursdays, 5:00-5:45 p.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 9-13)
Class is full through May 2025.
A full school year commitment is expected.
Odyssey is an experiential learning game of luck, memory, and oral proficiency.
Each of nine travel levels involves new dangers, new emotions, and the need to ready one's self for the unknown.
Navigating sticky situations, throwing "el Dado del Destino" (the Dice of Destiny), the Viajeros (travelers) must collect items to complete a packing list, obtain a vehicle, pass an interview at customs, barter and negotiate with the Anciana Sabia (Elderly Wise Woman) and earn a protective amulet before they can open a new, concealed level of the game.
Resilience and Collaboration
Students will need to pool, loan, and share resources to circumvent the perils of the Odyssey. They will coach, critique, prepare and encourage each other for the final customs travel interview. Everyone must advance to the 7th level of the game or no one will win.
Art & Design
Most classes will end with an open-ended maker's station for game-relevant, self-directed, hands-on creating.
Reading Readiness (ENGLISH)
Thursdays, 2-2:45 p.m. or 6:00-6:45 p.m., drop-off, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 4-6)
Rolling admissions, please contact me to be placed on a waiting list.
Enrollment is per calendar month.
With funny puppets, engaging imagery for visual learners, rhyming, and word games, we will play with word groups and learn about their functions. This class also helps build hand strength, fine motor skills - each week we work on the hand-eye coordination needed for writing and effective pencil grasp.
The primary goal of the class is to inspire a love of reading and excitement about letters and literacy.
This class is appropriate for all 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, 2-2:45 p.m. or 6:00-6:45 p.m., drop-off, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 4-6)
Rolling admissions, please contact me to be placed on a waiting list.
Enrollment is per calendar month.
With funny puppets, engaging imagery for visual learners, rhyming, and word games, we will play with word groups and learn about their functions. This class also helps build hand strength, fine motor skills - each week we work on the hand-eye coordination needed for writing and effective pencil grasp.
The primary goal of the class is to inspire a love of reading and excitement about letters and literacy.
This class is appropriate for all 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.