Enrichment
Enrichment Class
Descriptions
2006-07
Chess
Novice Chess (Fridays)
For brand new players and novice
players – If your child has only played for one year, he/she
will enjoy this class. They will learn tactics and
strategies as well as proper chess etiquette and decorum.
The morning begins with group instruction and then students
play each other. Taught by Norm Alston – min 30, max 50.
Intermediate/Advanced Chess (Mondays)
Learn strategy, tactics and advanced
theory. Sharpen your skills, create and exploit weaknesses
and imbalances, understand the main idea in preferred
openings and much more. Students may keep a journal of
their games and be given puzzles to solve at home.
Tournament play will be emphasized. The class will also be
taught fun alternative chess games such as Bughouse and
Speed Chess. Taught by Norm Alston – min 30, max 50.
Math/Debate/Stocks
All classes are taught by Norman Alston
and are held from 8:00 – 8:55 am in Portable 4. Min18, max
24 students per class.
Grades 1 & 2 : Math – Winter and Spring
Mr. Alston spends the summer coming up
with new and fun ideas for these classes as well as refining
some of the favorite topics of the past. Your child will be
challenged and engaged in these hands-on math sessions as
he/she explores the exciting world of mathematics. These
classes help math make sense. Both sessions will cover
the same material so choose the time of year that’s best
for you as your first choice.
Grades 3 & 4 : Fall/Winter and Winter/Spring
We are offering a new, 15-week format
to cover a wider range of information for the 3rd
and 4th graders. The students will develop an
understanding of how to solve problems involving variables,
terms, and expression and be able to solve linear equations
in one variable. The first part of the course will be
informal algebraic reasoning and patterning. Workbooks will
be used in this course. Both sessions will cover the same
material so choose the time of year that’s best for you
as your first choice.
Debate – Fall Grades 3/4
(Tuesday) and Grades 5/6 (Wednesday)
Debate teaches a number of life
skills; listening, problem solving, arguing tactics, public
speaking, research, responding effectively, teamwork and
many more. Throughout this class the students will have an
opportunity to try all these skills as well as learning from
examples of some of the best orators in history.
Attendance in this class is critical as each student will be
part of a team that will participate in an evening debate in
November. There will also be some homework assigned and
parents may be asked to help prepare for the big night.
Maximum 24 for 3/4, 24 students for 5/6.
Grades 5/6 Stocks – Winter
Students will pick a number of stocks
to track over the course of the session. They will learn
what the numbers on the financial page mean and how to work
with the fractions of change. There is a lot of Math to
explore on Wall Street. We will try to include a fieldtrip
to a local exchange. The class will use the additional $10
included in the cost of the class to invest in a class
portfolio. They will be evaluating their stock picks
throughout the class. They will divest their class
portfolio in April and at that time decide what to do with
the net proceeds. Maximum 24 students.
Grades 5/6 Current Events - Spring
Students will bring news each week from
a variety of sources and present topics to be discussed in
an informal and fun setting. Mr. Alston will choose age
appropriate topics and moderate the discussion. Goals for
our students will be to learn how to become informed
citizens through various media sources, develop
communication and debate skills, and gain an understanding
of how current issues relate to other events in our nation’s
history. Some home research may be assigned. Maximum 24
students.
Grades 5/6 Math Olympiad
If your child is interested in
advancing their math skills please pick up materials on the
Math Olympiad class that is offered at Wilder. Classes will
be held on Fridays and registration will begin in late
September. |