"My two sons work with Janel Moses (search her name in the Palo Alto Menlo Park Parents [PAMP] forum and you will see all the outstanding reviews of her teaching abilities) and she is one of the best teachers in the universe. Even my temperamental child looks forward to class with her and she has a wonderful ability to teach to the child's interest, understand their quirks of personality, and fill the hour they spend with her full of love."
- Suzanne, Belmont
- Suzanne, Belmont
Academic Year 2022-2023 Class Schedule
Virtual and in-person group and private classes.
Enrollment in all classes is per calendar month
Registration is open now. Classes are small.
Spots are limited.
Please scroll for course descriptions and scheduling information.
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Mission Accomplished!
Thanks to the support of 99 donors, 11 motivated students (ages 7-13) from Palo Alto, Los Altos, Menlo Park, Hillsborough, and Atherton raised over $8,500, successfully purchased 2 acres of the planet's most threatened rainforest and planted 1,667 trees. Our partner organization, TMA (www.tma.earth) in Ecuador plans to install a plaque with the names of the 600 Trees youth leaders on the land they preserved. The campaign was so successful that TMA is already formulating plans to work with other local schools and organizations. If you, your school, company or organization would like to contribute or build your own campaign, please respond to this email or click here to visit their Just Giving page. |
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Gente Sorprendente
Surprising People
Spanish and astonishing human accomplishments.
Tuesdays, 3:30-4:00 p.m. on Zoom (7-12 years)
Thursdays, 5:00-5:45 p.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 7-12)
Enrollment is monthly and classes run through the end of May 2023.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
This class features serious and strange, inspiring and incredible, historic and contemporary, unusual and uncommon human accomplishments around the world. Each week we will study an individual who has transcended their limitations, attempted the impossible (or implausible), overcome setbacks and pursued greatness (or authenticity) at all odds. Working alone, planting one tree each day Jadav Payeng has planted a forest that spans 1, 390 acres; Harriet Tubman helped more than 300 slaves escape to freedom; Karl Wilhelm Otto Lilienthal was the world’s first flying man; Amy Purdy has become a world-class snowboarder and dancer (on prosthetic legs), Mariam Paré is an astounding painter (without the use of her arms), Justin Bishop is a skateboarder who cannot see and Johanna Quaas is an 89-year-old gymnast who is still actively training.
We will challenge our perceptions of human limitation as we study real-life role models for the power of determination and an indomitable growth mindset; the ability to persevere through adversity and setbacks. The class may inspire us to dream and execute, to believe that we can both dare to be ourselves and do something extraordinary and beautiful with our lives.
This class is designed to build a wide range of Spanish vocabulary (action verbs, nouns, adjectives and world geography) and will work on present tense verb conjugation of ar, er, and ir verbs.
IN-PERSON CLASS: ART AND GAMES IN SPANISH
We will occasionally 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.
Surprising People
Spanish and astonishing human accomplishments.
Tuesdays, 3:30-4:00 p.m. on Zoom (7-12 years)
Thursdays, 5:00-5:45 p.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 7-12)
Enrollment is monthly and classes run through the end of May 2023.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
This class features serious and strange, inspiring and incredible, historic and contemporary, unusual and uncommon human accomplishments around the world. Each week we will study an individual who has transcended their limitations, attempted the impossible (or implausible), overcome setbacks and pursued greatness (or authenticity) at all odds. Working alone, planting one tree each day Jadav Payeng has planted a forest that spans 1, 390 acres; Harriet Tubman helped more than 300 slaves escape to freedom; Karl Wilhelm Otto Lilienthal was the world’s first flying man; Amy Purdy has become a world-class snowboarder and dancer (on prosthetic legs), Mariam Paré is an astounding painter (without the use of her arms), Justin Bishop is a skateboarder who cannot see and Johanna Quaas is an 89-year-old gymnast who is still actively training.
We will challenge our perceptions of human limitation as we study real-life role models for the power of determination and an indomitable growth mindset; the ability to persevere through adversity and setbacks. The class may inspire us to dream and execute, to believe that we can both dare to be ourselves and do something extraordinary and beautiful with our lives.
This class is designed to build a wide range of Spanish vocabulary (action verbs, nouns, adjectives and world geography) and will work on present tense verb conjugation of ar, er, and ir verbs.
IN-PERSON CLASS: ART AND GAMES IN SPANISH
We will occasionally 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.
Situation Conversation
Talk your way out of problems.
Talk your way to success.
Please note: This class is an intermediate-to-advanced competency Spanish class and is only appropriate for children who can thrive in an immersion environment or have attained a high level of receptive proficiency (comprehension.)
Tuesdays, 5:15-6:00 p.m. on Zoom (Ages 9-13)
Enrollment is monthly and classes run through the end of May 2023.
Brief Description:
Situation Conversation is an experiential learning game of luck, decision-making problem-solving and oral proficiency. Through built-in repetition, the game builds both vocabulary and verbal fluency.
Each month the students face a proposed group mission or challenge while they simultaneously attempt to build personal wealth. For example, while navigating a ship carrying passengers and cargo, they must continuously weigh their appetite for personal gain and tolerance for personal risk and loss while working together as a team to solve problems and make democratic decisions for maximum group benefit and success.
Talk your way out of problems.
Talk your way to success.
Please note: This class is an intermediate-to-advanced competency Spanish class and is only appropriate for children who can thrive in an immersion environment or have attained a high level of receptive proficiency (comprehension.)
Tuesdays, 5:15-6:00 p.m. on Zoom (Ages 9-13)
Enrollment is monthly and classes run through the end of May 2023.
Brief Description:
Situation Conversation is an experiential learning game of luck, decision-making problem-solving and oral proficiency. Through built-in repetition, the game builds both vocabulary and verbal fluency.
Each month the students face a proposed group mission or challenge while they simultaneously attempt to build personal wealth. For example, while navigating a ship carrying passengers and cargo, they must continuously weigh their appetite for personal gain and tolerance for personal risk and loss while working together as a team to solve problems and make democratic decisions for maximum group benefit and success.
Mundo de Maravillas
World of Wonders
Spanish, beauty, and the natural world.
Day & Time: TBD
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
We will explore the world's most record-breaking, breathtaking wonders: the hottest volcanoes, the tallest and widest waterfalls, driest deserts, darkest caves, or densest forests. While working thematically and traveling the globe each week, students will acquire both practical vocabulary and a sense of wonder at the profound beauty of our planet. We will ask ourselves the questions, how can we enjoy these places? How can we protect them?
This class works to expand both functional and descriptive vocabulary using auditory, visual and kinesthetic (movement) methods. The class is conducted in Spanish and also includes weekly exposure to Spanish grammar and phonics.
ART AND GAMES IN SPANISH
During each 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.
World of Wonders
Spanish, beauty, and the natural world.
Day & Time: TBD
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
We will explore the world's most record-breaking, breathtaking wonders: the hottest volcanoes, the tallest and widest waterfalls, driest deserts, darkest caves, or densest forests. While working thematically and traveling the globe each week, students will acquire both practical vocabulary and a sense of wonder at the profound beauty of our planet. We will ask ourselves the questions, how can we enjoy these places? How can we protect them?
This class works to expand both functional and descriptive vocabulary using auditory, visual and kinesthetic (movement) methods. The class is conducted in Spanish and also includes weekly exposure to Spanish grammar and phonics.
ART AND GAMES IN SPANISH
During each 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.
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)
Enrollment is monthly and classes run through the end of May 2023.
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)
Enrollment is monthly and classes run through the end of May 2023.
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.
Literacy & Pajamas Class (ENGLISH)
Thursdays, 5:55-6:40 p.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 4-6)
Enrollment is monthly and classes run through the end of May 2023.
With funny puppets, engaging imagery for visual learners, rhyming, 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 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, 5:55-6:40 p.m., in person, Palo Alto, CA (Ages 4-6)
Enrollment is monthly and classes run through the end of May 2023.
With funny puppets, engaging imagery for visual learners, rhyming, 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 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.