Academic Reading Skills
Course Objectives (Grade 5 to 11)
Close reading, vocabulary building, note-taking, critical thinking
Course Structure
Each lesson focuses on an engaging theme from a wide range of academic subjects such as art
history, sociology, political science, history, and business. The reading selections in each lesson (two readings in the elementary level and three in the high level) are chosen to provide different
perspectives on a single theme,
Understanding what is said on a page is not enough. Close reading involves many skills:
drawing conclusions, assessing accuracy, recognizing tone and voice, relating information
to what is already known or to another area of knowledge, relating what has been read to one’s
own life, and applying what has been learned.
Academic Writing
Course Objectives (Grade 6-12)
Expressing oneself in formal edited English is an essential academic skill, and for many people, a significant challenge. Good writing requires accurate grammar, a broad range of lexical resources, logical structures, and effective use of rhetorical devices.
Academic Writing course includes multiple courses suiting the needs of students at different levels. Through the process, students will learn the essentials of academic writing and be familiar with all processes and techniques needed for successful academic writing at the various academic levels, and gain a step ahead of peers.
A comprehensive sentence and paragraph structure course designed for intermediate and advanced level English language learners. It presents academic writing in a straight-forward manner, using a step by step approach. Clear relevant models illustrate each step, and varied practices reinforce each lesson.
Writing, Reading, Grammar & Vocabulary
Course Structure (Grade 3 to 12)
Teacher David offers writing courses tailored to different grade levels, each progressively building on foundational skills.
- The Grade 3 & 4 course focuses on essential writing elements such as words, grammar, and paragraph building, emphasizing creativity and story development.
- The Grade 5 & 6 course is designed for students with basic skills, incorporating advanced grammar, complex sentence structures, and essay writing, with an emphasis on vocabulary expansion.
- Grades 7, 8, & 9 involve an advanced curriculum, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, research skills, and organizational abilities, along with creative essay writing.
- The Grade 10, 11, and 12 course aligns with AP and IB curriculums, demanding motivated students well-versed in reading and writing, employing university-level writing, vocabulary, and assertive writing skills.
Throughout all levels, the courses prioritize reading for essential writing elements and stress students' ability to generate ideas through thinking, using developed tools. Homework is a requirement for each level, and the overarching goal is for students to attain skills for success at the respective English levels.
Creative Writing and Poetry
Course Design (Grade 2 to 9)
Have fun writing short essays and short stories, while learning different tools to brainstorm, write clearly, use details, add facts, and structure writing. This class combines the principals of creative writing (expression, entertainment, and voice) with the skills needed for essay writing (topic sentence, strong introductions, facts and details, clear structure, etc). We will follow the common core writing standards for each grade level to give students the tools to improve their grades in school. Each class will be tailored to the students interests. For example, young students might enjoy writing an “Instruction Guide for Caring for Unicorns” and older students who like science fiction would write “A How-To Guide for Time Travel.” This class is perfect for reluctant writers and for those who enjoy writing.
WRITING TO INFORM, Writing HOW-TO essays, Writing INSTRUCTION essays, Writing EXPLANATORY fictional essays, Writing EXPLANATORY research essay, Writing INFORMATIONAL essays, WRITING STORIES & NARRATIVES, Writing CHARACTERS Writing DIALOGUE, Writing POINT OF VIEW Writing GENRES REVISING AND EDITING.
AP Psychology
Course Objectives (Grade 9 to 12)
The AP Psychology Course will introduce students to the systematic study of human
and animal behavior and mental processes. Students are introduced to the
psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with the major fields of
psychology. Students will also learn about psychologists' methods in their science and
practice. The major aim of this course is to provide each student with a learning
experience equivalent to that of an introductory college psychology course. In addition,
this course has been designed to help students successfully pass the AP Exam.
Course Structure
This course will be structured around 16 units that progress from Research Methods
and Biology to Learning and Behavior, Developmental, and Social Psychology.
AP / IB Calculus
Course Objective (Grade 9 and above)
This course prepares the following material, common to the AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and IB DP Math AA SL curricula.
0. Functions 1. Introduction to Differential Calculus 2. Methods of Differentiation 3. Critical Points
4. Optimization 5. Tangents and Normals 6. Introduction to Integral Calculus 7. Methods of Integration; Kinematics
AP / IB Physics
Course Objective (Grade 9 and above)
This course is designed to prepare students for IB DP Physics and the AP Physics 1 and 2 exams. The objective of this course is to provide students with a strong, fundamental understanding of primary areas of physics. This is an algebra-based course, and although concepts related to calculus will be introduced, knowledge of calculus is not a prerequisite. In addition, this course has been designed to help students successfully pass the AP Exam.
AP World History/US History/European History
Course objective (Grade 8-12)
The study of AP history allows students:
· To identify and explain historical developments and processes.
· To analyze sourcing and situation of primary and secondary sources.
· To analyze arguments in primary and secondary sources.
· To analyze the contexts of historical events, developments, or processes.
· To use historical reasoning processes (comparison, causation, continuity and change)
· To develop an argument.
· This course has been designed to help students successfully pass the AP Exams.
Philosophy
Philosophy: Epistemology, Ethics, and Existentialism (Grade 8 and above)
What is the meaning of life? What makes something “good” and other things “bad”? How can I be sure of the things I know? How do I know that existence isn’t just a dream?
This course offers an introduction to philosophy and specifically epistemology and early modern metaphysics.
Who am I? What makes a good life? What is my role in society? Philosophy and the content of this course teaches you to think about things, critical reasoning, and to find the courage to think differently and take action.
After a brief introduction, this curriculum follows three branches of philosophy relevant to self-development and growth:
0. Introduction to Philosophy 1. Epistemology 2. Ethics 3. Existentialism
The course structure and predicted timeline are meant as a guide but are fully flexible depending on how discussions and debates evolve over the course of the lessons. Because philosophy is a subject with important application in everyday life, good questions that nurture strong discussion will sometimes be prioritized over planned lesson material. The timeline allows for plenty of buffer so that discussions and questions can be indulged.
AP Art History
Course Objectives (Grade 10 to 12)
The study of art history allows students:
· To discover a new perspective on the world in which they live.
· To learn about how people have responded to and communicated their experiences through art, as well as the historical and cultural contexts in which it was created.
To be active participants as they research, discuss, read, and write about art, artists, art making, and respond to and interpret art. This course will be structured around the 250-art works, big ideas and essential questions of the AP Art History Course and Exam.
Shakespeare
The "Intro to the Life and Works of Sir William Shakespeare" is a year-long program where students master selected Shakespearean texts, exceeding curriculum requirements. The course focuses on advanced reading, critical thinking, and analytical skills, providing an immersive experience with foundational works. Students gain a thorough understanding of plot, setting, characters, themes, and symbols, considering both Shakespeare's time and universal perspectives. The program also explores biographical information to enhance contextual interpretation. Play options include Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Hamlet, Othello, etc.
World History
Course Objectives (Grade 4 and above)
World History is a year-long program spanning Ancient Times to the Modern Age. It explores key periods, from nomads to the Roman Empire, the fall of Rome to the Renaissance, Elizabethan era to the first Forty-Niners, and Victoria's Empire to the USSR's end. Students delve into cultural, economic, political, and social developments shaping our world. The course fosters connections across countries and cultures, offering a global perspective. Aligned with a broader plan for AP History Exams preparation, including AP World History, AP European History, and AP United States History, it serves as a foundation for understanding specific historical periods. Completing this course, students are encouraged to take European and United States History for comprehensive AP exam readiness, providing a competitive edge in high school and university.
IHBB Competition Preparation
Prerequisite: World History
Recommended: European, American, Canadian
The goal of this course is to train students for the International History Bee and Bowl (IHBB). The IHBB are two history quiz competitions in English which are held around the world. The Bee is for individual students; the Bowl is for teams. Both the Bee and the Bowl feature a buzzer system (as on certain quiz shows) and comprehensive, paragraph-length questions that emphasize critical thinking and long-term knowledge of important topics on all fields and eras of history.
Students will practice quick recall of historical facts: names, places, events, and dates. We will work on activities to help recall information and participate in practice competitions. The goal is to simulate the competition experience.
National Geographic
National Geographic, a renowned and prestigious magazine, serves as the inspiration for a curriculum that integrates STEM principles with English/Language Arts (E/LA), Science, Social studies, and Health. Aligned with the 21st Century Skills model, the course emphasizes critical and creative thinking, collaboration, communication, information and tech literacy, flexibility, initiative, social skills, productivity, and leadership. The curriculum covers a diverse range of subjects, including history, geography, biology, chemistry, environmental science, and technology. Students participate in discussions based on articles, applying critical and creative analysis. Assessments measure vocabulary, research, and concept exploration, with progress evaluated through formative, summative, and performance assessments.
Science 6-12 to AP Exams
Fresh Minds Science offers a comprehensive curriculum from Grade 6 to AP, aligning with BC, Ontario, and American science standards. The courses cover Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth/Space Science, progressively advancing in complexity. Focused on scientific theory, reasoning, and experimentation, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Assignments, readings, and presentations enhance comprehension, with assessments covering various competencies. The curriculum spans levels 6 to 10, preparing students for university or AP courses. Grade 11-12 courses delve into biology, anatomy, physiology, environmental science, physics, and chemistry. AP courses provide university-level content in physics and biology, emphasizing lectures, discussions, readings, and labs to foster critical thinking and independence.
BC Math/Singapore Math
The Singapore Math curriculum has earned global acclaim for its success in cultivating highly proficient mathematics students. Designed to provide essential mathematical concepts and process skills with real-life applications, the curriculum focuses on fostering problem-solving abilities. Employing a three-stage learning process—concrete, pictorial, and abstract—Singapore Math introduces and reinforces key mathematical concepts, aiming for a comprehensive understanding. Emphasizing three foundational areas—Mental math, Problem-solving, and Computation—taught with a focus on number sense and place value, the course contributes significantly to the overall success of the Singapore Math approach.
AP / DELF French (K-Grade 12)
The course outlined is for the Diplôme d’études en langue française (DELF), a globally recognized French Language Proficiency Certificate granted by the French Ministry of Education. Aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), the DELF is available in versions customized for children, teenagers, and adults, spanning six proficiency levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. The curriculum delineates learning objectives and grammar topics for each level, covering vocabulary, grammar rules, and communication skills. DELF assessments, including DELF Junior and DELF Scolaire for teenagers, comprehensively evaluate language proficiency. Beyond proficiency certification, the course is designed to prepare students for the AP French exam, providing a structured pathway to navigate various language proficiency levels and enhance overall French language skills.