Summer Camp 2024 (Grades 3-12)
Join us this summer for fun and educational summer camp classes via Zoom!
Classes start June 24. All classes are a la carte: sign up for as many classes as you would like, with bulk discounts available.
High School Language Arts
The High School Language Arts curriculum deepens students' engagement with English literature and composition. Covering a range of topics from literary analysis to advanced composition techniques, the courses prepare students for college-level English, with a focus on developing analytical skills, persuasive writing, and critical thinking. Classes include detailed studies of classic and contemporary texts, fostering an appreciation for literature and honing students' abilities to articulate complex ideas effectively.
June 30: Literature close reading, day 1: read and discuss
July 7: Literature close reading, day 2: read and discuss
July 14: Symbolism in literature and media
July 21: How to write high school essays: practice outlining and writing compare/contrast essays
July 28 - August 4: You choose! We can work on writing essays, grammar, reading, or your choice.
SAT and ACT Prep
Test preparation is our bread and butter here at Mind the Test, and the summer is the perfect time to prep. In addition to intensive full-test boot camps in the weeks before the July ACT and August SAT, we will offer two levels of daily test preparation classes: foundational skill-building classes for grades 7-12 and advanced exam boot camps for the highest scorers. The classes are separated into Math and English sections; I recommend registering for both sections, but as with the rest of the summer camp, it is a la carte, so students are able to select whichever classes they would like.
Advanced SAT English: A new test each week, followed by a detailed question-and-answer session with expert tutor and CEO of Mind the Test Tutoring, Mrs. Moss.
Advanced SAT Math: A new test each week, followed by a detailed question-and-answer session with expert tutor and CEO of Mind the Test Tutoring, Mrs. Moss.
Grammar: Building SAT/ACT English Skills Weekly Topic:
June 25-27: Noun and Verb Challenge: Tricky Singular and Plurals
July 2-4: Punctuation: Semicolons and Colons.
July 9-11: Comma Challenge
July 16-18: Combining Sentences in Interesting Ways: Relative Clauses and Appositives
July 23-25: Transition Words: Connecting Ideas
Critical Math Skills for SAT and ACT Weekly Topic:
June 25-27: Pre-Algebra
July 2-4: Geometry: Area, Perimeter, and Volume
July 9-11: Statistics: Mean, Median, and Mode
July 16-18: Exponents
July 23-25: Proportions
College Application Essay
Get ready to craft your standout college application essay with our focused series, designed to elevate your writing to the next level. Join us for two pivotal sessions:
Day 1: Avoiding the Top 10 College Application Essay Mistakes – Learn what not to do when writing your essay. This session will guide you through common pitfalls and how to steer clear, ensuring your essay showcases your strengths and uniqueness without falling into clichés or common errors.
Day 2: College Essay Brainstorming – Unlock the power of your personal stories and ideas. This workshop focuses on brainstorming techniques that help you find compelling topics and authentic angles for your essay, setting the foundation for a narrative that truly resonates.
Each session runs for one hour on Sunday, providing you with the insights and strategies to confidently approach your college application essays. Join us and turn your application into a memorable narrative that captures the attention of admissions committees!
The Art of Rhetoric: Get Ready for AP English Language & Composition
Explore the art of persuasion with our "Get Ready for AP Lang" course, perfect not only for students preparing for AP Language but also for anyone interested in mastering the art of rhetoric. This discussion-based class dives into short nonfiction texts, where students will identify key rhetorical strategies such as ethos, pathos, and logos. We'll also explore how language subtly influences opinions and decisions through persuasive techniques and logical fallacies. Whether you're aiming to excel in AP Lang or simply wish to enhance your understanding of rhetorical arts, this course offers valuable insights into the power of effective communication. Join us to sharpen your analytical and persuasive skills in a vibrant learning environment.
Analyzing Historical Texts: Get Ready for AP US History
Our AP US History discussion class is ideal not only for students preparing for the APUSH exam but also for any high schooler interested in a deep dive into US history. This class focuses on enhancing students' abilities to quickly read and synthesize historical readings. Together, we'll explore short primary source passages, discussing their historical context and analyzing elements such as rhetorical devices, persuasive elements, bias, and point of view. This engaging approach helps students develop critical thinking skills applicable to both academic exams and a broader understanding of historical narratives. Join us to engage with history in a dynamic and analytical setting.
Fun with Numbers: Collaborative Competition Math for Grades 3-12
Transform your child's approach to math with our innovative collaborative math courses! With classes divided up by grade level, this program shifts focus from traditional math learning to collaborative problem-solving using competition-level challenge problems. Each session presents students with intriguing math puzzles that require class collaboration, making learning both fun and intellectually stimulating. This unique setup helps reinforce and build grade-appropriate math skills while fostering a love for math as a deeply engaging and creative discipline. It's an ideal way for kids to develop critical thinking skills and see math problems as exciting challenges to overcome together. Join us and watch your child's math abilities and enthusiasm grow!
Weekly Topics:
June 24-28: Geometry Puzzles
July 1-5: Arithmetic and Calculations
July 8-12: Logic Puzzles
July 15-19: Number Theory
July 22-26: Fractions and Decimals
July 29 - August 2: Probability
August 5-9: Algebraic Thinking
(August 12-30: To be determined.)
Creative Writing Enrichment for Grades 3-8
Our fun English Enrichment classes for grades 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 focus on developing the writing and grammatical skills needed for later high school and college success through games. Through creative writing games and exercises, students enhance their ability to express their ideas effectively and avoid the dreaded writer’s block, instead learning to love writing.
Every Monday through Thursday, students will play writing games around the week’s topic, designed to build their skills and love of writing. On Fridays, students will get to have more flexible creative time; they will play a brainstorming game, followed by quiet writing time. There will also be a chance to share what they wrote (with a dramatic reading by the teacher, of course!).
Weekly topics:
June 24-28: My favorite book
July 1-5: Vacation
July 8-12: History
July 15-19: Environment
July 22-26: Hobbies and Sports
July 29 - August 2: Magic
August 5-9: The Future
August 12-16: Students’ choice! Students can help pick the topic.
August 19-23: Students’ choice!
August 26-30: Students’ choice!
Middle School Close Reading Discussion Club
Join our Middle School Close Reading Discussion Club, a fun and enriching 30-minute session held every Sunday that has become a favorite among students. Each week, we delve into short works, both fiction and nonfiction, to explore and analyze the nuances of language. Students are encouraged to share their favorite parts of each sentence, leading to lively discussions about the impact of word choice, imagery, and sentence structure. This approach not only makes the sessions enjoyable but also enhances critical thinking and analytical skills, preparing students for the complexities of high school ELA. It’s a great way to open young minds to a mature understanding of reading and writing through engaging and insightful conversations.
Introduction to Coding for Grades 5-9
Have fun learning to code while creating your own games, art, and more in this engaging class. The course will be taught by some of the top students at the prestigious University of Chicago. This course is modular, and we will have a different activity each day.
Schedule:
Tuesday, June 25 - Scratch: Code Your Own Pong Game
Thursday, June 27 - Computer Art
Tuesday, July 2 - More Computer Art
Tuesday, July 9 - Creating Digital Music
Thursday, July 11 - Scratch: Code a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Game
Tuesday, July 16 - Scratch: Code a Fortune Teller/Quiz Game
Thursday, July 18 - Intro to Python: Code a Fun Dice-Roll Game
Tuesday, July 23 - Intro to HTML: Customize Your Own Website
And more!
Register now!
Get a 10% discount if you check out with 5+ separate items in your cart! (Already discounted full course tickets unfortunately do not trigger this.)
How to register for summer camp.
