Laura Ingalls Wilder PTSA
School year 2006-2007

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.