Join our courses

06100 Pre-Algebra 小学6月数学分班 考试准备

Instructor: Lynn Wang

10 sessions on Thursday to go through Pre-Algebra contents that will be covered in Math Placement tests.

on-line: 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 4/28, 5/2 (7:00-8:00PM PDT at 425-313-717)

In-person:  4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 5/5 (4:00-5:00PM PDT at Fig House or online at 425-313-717)

05070 Literary Analysis and Reflective Writing 文学阅读与分析写作 Grade 5 (New Books)

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

In 10 lessons, Katharine will lead students to read several books, analyze, and write reflective essays. 

Dr. Sprecher weaves in lessons on literary elements (plot, characters, setting, etc.) and literary devices such as figurative language, atmosphere, symbolism, and theme, while engaging students in developmentally appropriate, critical analyses that connect stories to real world events

She selected the following books, and will lead students to read, analyze, and write analytical essays

(1) The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat (368 pages)

(2) When You Trap a Tiger by Tai Keller (320 pages)

Reflective Writing builds on analysis by considering the learning you’ve gained from practical experience. The purpose of the reflection is to help you to make improvements for the future and, as such, it is a more ‘personal’ form of academic writing often using the first person. Evidence still has a key role in reflective writing; it’s not just about retelling your story and how you felt. And evidence in the case of reflection will include your own personal experience which adds to the discussion. Reflective writing focuses on future improvements and answers questions like ‘what next?’

05011 Vocabulary from Classical Roots 词根词汇 (Book 4, 5, 6)

Instructor: Breana Ritz

10 sessions in Winter term to help students work on increasing Vocabulary by studying classic roots from level 5, 6 books.

05602 Python Programming for Beginner 小学初级编程 (Grade 4+ Continue)

Instructor: Jing Liu

Kids can learn to code with the power of Python! Python Programming for Beginners is the perfect way to introduce aspiring coders to this simple and powerful coding language. This book teaches kids all about Python and programming fundamentals—and is packed full of fun and creative activities that make learning a blast!

In Python Programming for Beginners, kids will start off with the basics, learning all about fundamental coding concepts and how they can put these concepts together in Python to build their own games and programs. Each chapter focuses on a different coding concept—like variables, data types, and loops—and features three awesome coding activities to try. These activities get more difficult as they go, so young coders can see just how much their skills are growing. By the end of Python Programming for Beginners, they'll create their own fully functional sci-fi game and crack the code to a secret message!

Python Programming for Beginners features:

• No coding experience needed!—Designed just for kids, this Python programming book is filled with step-by-step directions, simple explanations, and detailed code breakdowns.
• Build a coding toolbox—Kids will build their programming skills, learn how to troubleshoot bugs with a handy bug-hunting guide, and practice their Python programming knowledge with cool activities.
• Why Python programming?—Python is an awesome starting language for kids! It's a powerful programming language that can be used for lots of projects but features simple syntax so beginners can focus on learning programming logic.

05150 Elementary School 1-on-1 tutoring 小学科目一对一辅导 

Instructors: TBD

10 sessions for the Spring Term

Tutoring Subjects

English Vocabulary and Reading
English Grammar and Writing
Singapore Dimensions Math Grade 2A to 5A
Numbers to Algebra
Pre-Algebra (for Placement test)
ITBS Test Prep
CogAT Test Prep
SSAT/ISEE Test Prep (for Private Middle School Application)

08050-A John Locke Essay Competition Junior Division 约翰·洛克征文比赛 (Age 11-15) Group A

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

In 10 sessions from 3/31 to 6/9, No Lessons on 4/28 (VEX VRC Robotics World)

Dr. Sprecher will help students select topics, teach essay structures, review students' essays, and correct mistakes. 

This course has a limit of 4 students.

The Essay Competition link: https://www.johnlockeinstitute.com/essay-competition

Stanford University has a dedicated page introducing John Locke https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/

All essay entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024

For Junior Division (Under age of 15), The Essay Topics are:

Q1. Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Q2. Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Q3. Is there life after death?

Q4. How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools, while leaving food production to private enterprise? 

Q5. When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Q6. Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies? 

Students need to have free Grammarly account https://www.grammarly.com/a/students to do Plagiarism Check

08050-B John Locke Essay Competition Junior Division 约翰·洛克征文比赛 (Age 11-15) Group B

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

In 10 sessions from 3/31 to 6/9, No Lessons on 4/28 (VEX VRC Robotics World)

Dr. Sprecher will help students select topics, teach essay structures, review students' essays, and correct mistakes. 

This course has a limit of 4 students.

The Essay Competition link: https://www.johnlockeinstitute.com/essay-competition

Stanford University has a dedicated page introducing John Locke https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/

All essay entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024

For Junior Division (Under age of 15), The Essay Topics are:

Q1. Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Q2. Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Q3. Is there life after death?

Q4. How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools, while leaving food production to private enterprise? 

Q5. When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Q6. Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies? 

Students need to have free Grammarly account https://www.grammarly.com/a/students to do Plagiarism Check

08070 Literary Analysis and Reflective Writing 文学阅读与分析写作 Grade 7-8 (New books)

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

In 10 lessons, Katharine will lead students to read several books, analyze, and write reflective essays. 

Dr. Sprecher weaves in lessons on literary elements (plot, characters, setting, etc.) and literary devices such as figurative language, atmosphere, symbolism, and theme, while engaging students in developmentally appropriate, critical analyses that connect stories to real world events.

Dr. Sprecher selected the following books for this term. 

(1)  Freewater by Amina Luqman Dawson (416 pages)

(2)  The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera (336 pages)

Reflective Writing builds on analysis by considering the learning you’ve gained from practical experience. The purpose of the reflection is to help you to make improvements for the future and, as such, it is a more ‘personal’ form of academic writing often using the first person. Evidence still has a key role in reflective writing; it’s not just about retelling your story and how you felt. And evidence in the case of reflection will include your own personal experience which adds to the discussion. Reflective writing focuses on future improvements and answers questions like ‘what next?’

08022 English Grammar for Writing 语法与写作 Grade 8 (Continue on Writing)

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

Tuition: 2 students session $350, 3-4 students $260

10 sessions, Dr. Sprecher will help students write several types of essays to review 8th Grade Grammar and Writing.

09102 Algebra 2 (Continue)

Instructor: Dr. Colby Brown

10 lessons to learn or review Algebra 2 and prepare for Pre-Calculus in Summer or Fall 2024.

Textbook:

08150 Middle School Subjects 1-on-1 tutoring  中学科目一对一辅导

Instructor: TBD

11 sessions Tutoring Subjects:

English Vocabulary, Reading, Grammar, Writing
Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, AGS 1, 2, 3 
AOPS Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, AMC8
SSAT/ISEE Test Prep (for Private High School Application)

10012 High School Vocabulary and Reading 词汇与阅读 For Grade 10 (Continue)

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

Textbook: Sadlier Vocabulary Workshop Enriched Edition

https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/44a55be3#/44a55be3/1

10051 John Locke Essay Competition 约翰·洛克作文比赛  (Age 15+)：Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Law Topics

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

In 10 sessions from 4/6 to 6/8, Dr. Sprecher will help students select topics, teach essay structures, review students' essays, and correct mistakes. 

This course has a limit of 4 students.

The Essay Competition link: https://www.johnlockeinstitute.com/essay-competition

Stanford University has a dedicated page introducing John Locke https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/

All essay entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024

This session will focus on: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law related topics.

Students select one question from these topics and write an opinion or argumentative essay to submit to the competition.

10052 John Locke Essay Competition 约翰·洛克作文比赛  (Age 15+)：History, Psychology, and Theology  Topics

Instructor: Sarah Bobson

In 10 sessions from 4/6 to 6/8, Ms. Bobson will help students select topics, teach essay structures, review students' essays, and correct mistakes. 

This course has a limit of 4 students.

The Essay Competition link: https://www.johnlockeinstitute.com/essay-competition

Stanford University has a dedicated page introducing John Locke https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/

All essay entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024

This session will focus on: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law related topics.

Students select one question from these topics and write an opinion or argumentative essay to submit to the competition.

09941 Reading & Writing for Digital SAT (Grade 8-10)

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

Textbook:  https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Writing-Test-Book-Digital/dp/B0CHL9551S

11 lessons from 3/31  to 6/9. This course will likely extend to Summer for students prepare for August SAT.

09951 Math Review for ACT and SAT/PSAT (Grade 8-10)

Instructor: Tyler Dille

10 lessons from 4/5 to 6/7 to start review high school Math required for ACT and SAT. This course will extend to Summer to prepare July ACT and August SAT.

Textbook: TBD (Most likely this course has to start reviewing Algebra 2)

09203 High School Physics 物理力学 For Advanced Middle School Students (Continue)

Instructor: Tyler Dille

10 lessons to complete High School Physics to get students ready for AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 courses when they enter High school

Reference Textbook: https://openstax.org/details/books/physics 

12150 High School Subjects 1-on-1 tutoring 高中或AP科目一对一辅导  

Instructors: TBD

10 sessions in Spring Term

Tutoring Subjects:

High School English Vocabulary, Reading, Grammar, Writing

AP or IB Level English, Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Standardized Test Prep: PSAT11, SAT, ACT

College Application Essay

12152  High School Subjects In-Person 1-on-1 tutoring 中学数学一对一面授辅导

Instructors: Daniel Yu

10 sessions in Spring term, in-house, in-person

Tutoring Subjects:

Grade level Math from Algebra to Calculus, SAT, ACT Math

12151 Middle school or High School Subjects 2-on-1 Tutoring 初中或高中科目二对一辅导

Instructors: TBD

10 sessions in Spring term

Tutoring Subjects:

High School English Vocabulary, Reading, Grammar, Writing

AP or IB Level English, Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Standardized Test Prep: PSAT11, SAT, ACT

College Application Essay

09621 Intro to Competitive Programming for USACO using C++ (New)

Instructor: Dr. Colby Brown

Students are required to register https://usaco.training/ to get to the USACO training site.

10 60-minutes sessions work on Competitive Programming CP4 Book 1 using C++. This course is likely to continue in Summer and Fall terms to prepare students for December USACO, first round.

CP4 Book 1 suitable for High School Students who are competing in the annual USACO, International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) (including the National or Provincial Olympiads) as the it covers most of the current IOI Syllabus.

USA Computing Olympiad website: USACO http://www.usaco.org/index.php  Preparing Resources http://www.usaco.org/index.php?page=resources

Colby has extensive experiences on Competitive Programming. He competed in a variety of academic competitions, including Texas UIL computer science and physics and ACM collegiate programming competitions, where he regularly placed.

08050-C John Locke Essay Competition Junior Division 约翰·洛克征文比赛  (Age 11-15) Group C

Instructor: Dr. Katharine Sprecher

In 10 sessions from 4/1 to 6/3

Dr. Sprecher will help students select topics, teach essay structures, review students' essays, and correct mistakes. 

This course has a limit of 4 students.

The Essay Competition link: https://www.johnlockeinstitute.com/essay-competition

Stanford University has a dedicated page introducing John Locke https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke/

All essay entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024

For Junior Division (Under age of 15), The Essay Topics are:

Q1. Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Q2. Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Q3. Is there life after death?

Q4. How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools, while leaving food production to private enterprise? 

Q5. When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Q6. Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies? 

Students need to have free Grammarly account https://www.grammarly.com/a/students to do Plagiarism Check