FAQS

Is a 2-hour course too long?

The 2-hour course is broken down into 2 - 55 min lessons with a 10 min stretch/bathroom break in between. This allows students to get a break from their screens and engage in a short brain break.  We think the two mini-lessons each day will give students a strong foundation in the topic, allowing us to nurture their curiosity as we explore the concept deeper throughout the week. 

What grade level should my child enroll in?

Summer courses indicate grade levels based on what a child should be enrolled in for the upcoming or current school year. For example, for Summer 2023 courses, a child enrolling in 6th grade for the 2023-2024 school year should enroll in the upper-level Grades 6-8 courses.  Please note, the content difference between a Grades 3-5 and a Grades 6-8 course may lie in the type of products students are asked to produce in an online setting with or without an appropriate level of scaffolding support.  Age restrictions are also provided for students transitioning, and although the registration system will provide a warning if you're signing up outside of the age categories, we'll trust parent judgment to make the call on which level course to enroll in. 

What will my student be doing in the online course?

Courses are filled with interactive discussions and follow the 5E model of teaching while incorporating project-based learning (PBL).  They will be exploring concepts, interacting with mini-lessons, and engaging in enriching discussions with peers.

What is the 5E model?

The 5 E's stand for: 

1.  Engage: Provides the Hook for the lesson and sets up the problem or question students will try to solve.

2. Explore: Consists of either a hands-on exploration activity or a KWL exploration. 

3. Explain: Traditional teacher-led, mini-lessons and student-centered discussions

4. Elaborate: Consists of an application activity where students can interact with the concept further and apply their learning.

5. Evaluate:  Students can check their own understanding of the concepts with interactive games, and quizzes or provide peer reviews and feedback. 

The 5E model ensures a continuous flow of the course while creating a vibrant learning atmosphere. Students transition to the next stage of the lesson every 10-15 minutes to match the attention spans of students in this age group

What is PBL? 

PBL stands for "Project-Based Learning" and allows students to directly apply concepts to real-world scenarios to help them understand the context and application of their learning. The focus in PBL is to provide feedback on real-world 21st-century skills including collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking while also demonstrating mastery of standards and concepts.