Spring 2022 Class Schedule
Virtual and in-person classes.
Enrollment in all classes is per calendar month
Registration is open now. Spots are very limited.
To inquire or enroll in an online or in-person class,
please email or contact me via the form on the website.
Like the class but not the time?
Let me know what time or day you would have preferred.
Wishing you a healthy, vibrant spring!
Janel
Global Thinkers
Cultural Innovation in Spain and Latin America
Tuesdays 3:30-4:00 p.m. (7-13 years), on Zoom
Thursdays, 4:35-5:25 (7-13 years), in-person class, Palo Alto
Class begins on September 7, 2021.
Join us for Spanish language acquisition and a weekly celebration of creativity and innovation in the Spanish-speaking world. We will foster cultural and geographic awareness via an exploration of the ingenuity of human thought and culture as the children acquire relevant Spanish vocabulary and grammar by studying the innovative and creative thinking found in Spain and Latin America.
Social Action Campaign
Both online and in-person students will take part in a shared campaign to raise awareness and funds for an organization in a Spanish-speaking country or community. Students will democratically select both an area of focus (education, food security, climate change, public health, animal welfare, etc.) and a relevant, reputable organization to support. They will set a realistic financial goal, spread the word about their campaign, and help communicate with the organization.
Cultural Innovation in Spain and Latin America
Tuesdays 3:30-4:00 p.m. (7-13 years), on Zoom
Thursdays, 4:35-5:25 (7-13 years), in-person class, Palo Alto
Class begins on September 7, 2021.
Join us for Spanish language acquisition and a weekly celebration of creativity and innovation in the Spanish-speaking world. We will foster cultural and geographic awareness via an exploration of the ingenuity of human thought and culture as the children acquire relevant Spanish vocabulary and grammar by studying the innovative and creative thinking found in Spain and Latin America.
Social Action Campaign
Both online and in-person students will take part in a shared campaign to raise awareness and funds for an organization in a Spanish-speaking country or community. Students will democratically select both an area of focus (education, food security, climate change, public health, animal welfare, etc.) and a relevant, reputable organization to support. They will set a realistic financial goal, spread the word about their campaign, and help communicate with the organization.
During the in-person class, we will:
Design palafitos in Southern Chile (houses on stilts) and test them in water;
Build mini Cuban truck rafts and set them afloat;
Recreate the junk orchestra of Paraguay;
Design sand paintings for el Dia de los Muertos in Mexico;
Attempt to replicate Pablo Picasso's single-stroke drawings;
Build a colorful, gaudy building in honor of Antoni Gaudi;
Play with shapes, mimicking the geometric sculptures of Alejandro Otero from Caracas, Venezuela;
Take a look at the mysterious Nazca lines in Peru and attempt to replicate them on paper;
Take a virtual ride on the Swing at the End of the World from Ecuador
Design palafitos in Southern Chile (houses on stilts) and test them in water;
Build mini Cuban truck rafts and set them afloat;
Recreate the junk orchestra of Paraguay;
Design sand paintings for el Dia de los Muertos in Mexico;
Attempt to replicate Pablo Picasso's single-stroke drawings;
Build a colorful, gaudy building in honor of Antoni Gaudi;
Play with shapes, mimicking the geometric sculptures of Alejandro Otero from Caracas, Venezuela;
Take a look at the mysterious Nazca lines in Peru and attempt to replicate them on paper;
Take a virtual ride on the Swing at the End of the World from Ecuador
Cronológico
Advanced Conversation, Problem-Solving, History and Geography
Tuesdays, 4:50-5:40 p.m. (11-16 years) online class - advanced conversation
Classes begin on September 7, 2021 on Zoom.
Dubbed La Cronoloco, a time-traveling, serial art thief is at large somewhere - anywhere - in time and space. Prized items from museums, antique dealers, collectors, and private individuals vanish as La Cronoloco slips into time, stashing the stolen goods in the past and future, effectively evading police investigations carried out in the present.
In this mystery-solving Spanish simulation, el Colectivo de Coleccionistas, the Collective of Collectors, are assigned the task of deciphering clues to locate the stolen artwork. As they chase La Cronoloco, they must simultaneously buy and sell art, build - and protect - a cohesive collection of their own.
Why is La Cronoloco stealing art and scrambling time? Is there a lógica (logic) to this locura (craziness)?
Conducted entirely in Spanish, this advanced Spanish simulation game builds past and future tense grammar familiarity, practical, everyday vocabulary, speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills.
Advanced Conversation, Problem-Solving, History and Geography
Tuesdays, 4:50-5:40 p.m. (11-16 years) online class - advanced conversation
Classes begin on September 7, 2021 on Zoom.
Dubbed La Cronoloco, a time-traveling, serial art thief is at large somewhere - anywhere - in time and space. Prized items from museums, antique dealers, collectors, and private individuals vanish as La Cronoloco slips into time, stashing the stolen goods in the past and future, effectively evading police investigations carried out in the present.
In this mystery-solving Spanish simulation, el Colectivo de Coleccionistas, the Collective of Collectors, are assigned the task of deciphering clues to locate the stolen artwork. As they chase La Cronoloco, they must simultaneously buy and sell art, build - and protect - a cohesive collection of their own.
Why is La Cronoloco stealing art and scrambling time? Is there a lógica (logic) to this locura (craziness)?
Conducted entirely in Spanish, this advanced Spanish simulation game builds past and future tense grammar familiarity, practical, everyday vocabulary, speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills.
Spanish, Music & Motor Skills
Tuesdays, 4:10 p.m., Online (Ages 0-8)
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., Caregiver & Me, in-person in Palo Alto, CA (Ages 0-6)
Note: For the in-person class, a vaccinated adult must be present with your child.
Please provide proof of vaccination at time of enrollment.
Class begins on September 7, 2021
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.
Lenguaje Corporal
Body Language
Spanish, Movement and Theater
Thursdays, 3:35-4:20 p.m. (ages 3 to 9) in person
Class begins on September 9, 2021 in Palo Alto, CA.
In this Spanish class, we move thematically through vocabulary groups, using theater techniques, songs, and visual aids to transmit Spanish language. Humor is a constant presence as we laugh, joke, and embody new vocabulary.
MOVEMENT IN SPANISH
Drawing upon this age group's natural affinity for kinesthetic learning while simultaneously working on gross motor skills, we will dance, jump, clap, play and balance our way through Spanish vocabulary.
Body Language
Spanish, Movement and Theater
Thursdays, 3:35-4:20 p.m. (ages 3 to 9) in person
Class begins on September 9, 2021 in Palo Alto, CA.
In this Spanish class, we move thematically through vocabulary groups, using theater techniques, songs, and visual aids to transmit Spanish language. Humor is a constant presence as we laugh, joke, and embody new vocabulary.
MOVEMENT IN SPANISH
Drawing upon this age group's natural affinity for kinesthetic learning while simultaneously working on gross motor skills, we will dance, jump, clap, play and balance our way through Spanish vocabulary.
Art of Conversation
Intermediate Spanish, Art Literacy and Creativity
Thursdays, 11-11:50 a.m. online (ages 7 to 12)
Class begins on September 9, 2021 in Palo Alto, CA.
Note for online participants: To help your child get the most out of the class,
please have an adult present or nearby to monitor tech issues and enhance participation.
Using the work of well-known, widely-acclaimed artists as a point of departure, the children will practice using descriptive vocabulary to identify and talk about elements of the works we are studying. The class is designed to both foster conversation about aesthetic and personal notions of beauty and deepen students' ability to express opinions and describe visual material in Spanish.
Art Literacy
In addition to the heavy focus on Spanish language production, the class is also designed to give students basic art literacy. Each class will focus on a different artist (or several) from around the world and highlights themes and genres that are appropriate for and appealing to young students. The eclectic mix of modern and contemporary art whose work we will study include: Yayoi Kusama, Deborah Butterfield, Andrew Goldsworthy, Kara Walker, OSGEMEOS, David Hockney's newest iPad art, Cyrus Kabiru's artistic glasses, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keefe, Alexander Calder and Gustav Klimt.
2D and 3D Art in Spanish
Each class we will make art of our own as an homage to the artist of the day. Each child will have an opportunity to engage - at home - in his/her own hands-on study of combined color, abstract and concrete representations, and play with figures and lines. I place a heavy emphasis on open-ended creative experimentation and embracing the ever-present reality of mistake-making in the evolution of creative process and expression. A materials list will be provided at the beginning of each month.
Intermediate Spanish, Art Literacy and Creativity
Thursdays, 11-11:50 a.m. online (ages 7 to 12)
Class begins on September 9, 2021 in Palo Alto, CA.
Note for online participants: To help your child get the most out of the class,
please have an adult present or nearby to monitor tech issues and enhance participation.
Using the work of well-known, widely-acclaimed artists as a point of departure, the children will practice using descriptive vocabulary to identify and talk about elements of the works we are studying. The class is designed to both foster conversation about aesthetic and personal notions of beauty and deepen students' ability to express opinions and describe visual material in Spanish.
Art Literacy
In addition to the heavy focus on Spanish language production, the class is also designed to give students basic art literacy. Each class will focus on a different artist (or several) from around the world and highlights themes and genres that are appropriate for and appealing to young students. The eclectic mix of modern and contemporary art whose work we will study include: Yayoi Kusama, Deborah Butterfield, Andrew Goldsworthy, Kara Walker, OSGEMEOS, David Hockney's newest iPad art, Cyrus Kabiru's artistic glasses, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Georgia O'Keefe, Alexander Calder and Gustav Klimt.
2D and 3D Art in Spanish
Each class we will make art of our own as an homage to the artist of the day. Each child will have an opportunity to engage - at home - in his/her own hands-on study of combined color, abstract and concrete representations, and play with figures and lines. I place a heavy emphasis on open-ended creative experimentation and embracing the ever-present reality of mistake-making in the evolution of creative process and expression. A materials list will be provided at the beginning of each month.
Reading Readiness (ENGLISH)
Thursdays, 5:45-6:30 p.m. (4-7 years) in-person
Class begins on September 9, 2021 in Palo Alto, CA.
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 an openness to 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, 5:45-6:30 p.m. (4-7 years) in-person
Class begins on September 9, 2021 in Palo Alto, CA.
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 an openness to 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.