A+ Summer High School challenges rising 9th and 10th-grade students with high-level academic activities that develop the skills needed for high school success and achievement. Over the course of one week, students will attend classes in advanced argumentative writing, critical reading, and critical thinking as they learn how to write a high school-level argumentative paper. Students will learn how to read, think, and write in ways that will help them to excel in the classroom and beyond.
The program is designed to give students who are already doing well in school an experience that is both challenging and fun. Participants will gain new academic tools that will help them excel even further academically. Our unique classes give students the one-on-one attention that is often missing in school, allowing them to explore their potential as writers, thinkers, and doers.
When students leave the program, they will have:
- Read and analyzed thematic texts in a variety of genres in a college-like seminar
- Written and developed a well-argued essay addressing a thematic topic
- Attended courses in Advanced Writing, Critical Reading, and Media Studies
Skill Development
Advanced Writing
- At A+ Summer High School, we recognize the importance of guiding and supporting students through the writing process. Our highly qualified instructors provide personalized assistance throughout a comprehensive draft and revision process, helping students refine their writing skills. Our writing classes are designed to focus on advanced writing techniques required in high school and beyond, such as revising for content, crafting effective syntax and style, and skillfully supporting claims using facts and text evidence from credible sources. Through our program, students gain the tools and confidence necessary to excel in academic writing and beyond.
Critical Reading
- Critical reading skills are crucial for academic success in high school, college, and beyond. At A+ Summer High School, our Critical Reading classes take a unique approach to help students move beyond surface-level comprehension and literal interpretation of texts. Through a college-level Socratic seminar format, students will explore and analyze multiple texts related to a literary theme, engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge their thinking and inspire critical analysis. Our program encourages students to form their claims on the author's intent and use evidence from the text to support their claims. In each class, students will participate in multiple college-level "hands down" discussions, encouraging them to push each other's thinking and culminating in a full Socratic Seminar. Our program aims to develop students' critical thinking and analytical skills, preparing them for future academic and career success.
Media Studies
- At A+ Summer, our Media Studies classes enable students to apply the skills they acquired in their Critical Reading classes to analyze various forms of media, including art, advertisements, music, and more. Through our program, students will develop a critical lens to uncover points of view in media. Our instructors guide students in analyzing the underlying messages and cultural influences present in various forms of media, helping them to become informed and discerning consumers. By honing their analytical skills, students are more prepared to critically analyze research materials.
Deliverables
At the end of A+ Summer, your student will leave challenged and inspired by a week of critical thinking with like-minded peers. Students will have challenged themselves to analyze themes in media, critically read a variety of thematic texts in a college-like seminar, and have written a well-argued and supported advanced high school essay.From online camps to day and residential programs there is an A+ Summer High School program to meet every need!
| Program | Grades | Location | Start Date | End Date | Price Options | Register |
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From online camps to residential programs there is an A+ Summer High School program to meet every need.
Use the links below to via your preferred schedule:| Click Here to View Sample ON-CAMPUS Schedule | Click Here to View Sample ONLINE Schedule |
Education Unlimited believes in small-group, immersive learning with subject matter experts and experienced teachers. We strive to provide industry-leading instruction to all of our students and hold all staff to the highest possible standards. Staff assignments vary by program and location. Some of our recent staff members for this program include:
Harrison Foster - Instructor
Harrison Foster holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley. His love of language and the power of words has inspired his teaching career. He has taught in both class and individual formats developed curriculum and materials and worked to build confidence in high school students as they prepare for the college application process. A master in both the teaching of writing and standardized test preparation, Harrison has been a strong addition to our A+ High School program.
Prior to his time teaching, Harrison spent 10 years working in community radio. He produced and hosted a weekly music program in addition to a weekly movie talk show. His work in radio honed skills in writing, promotion, content creation, and production. He has spent time in social media marketing as a content strategist and manager of editorial and promotions for a film trivia game app. Harrison joined Education Unlimited in 2016.
Andrea Rivard - Writing Instructor
Andrea Rivard is a teacher currently teaching AP Literature and Composition and AP Language and Composition at Summit Public Schools: Tahoma in South San Jose. Andrea has a Bachelor’s Degree in English, with a minor in Earth Science, from the University of Northern Colorado. A high school teacher, Andrea has taught Intro to Journalism, Creative Writing, and multiple levels of composition and literature classes. Her own stories have been published in Youth Imagination Magazine and Teach. Write.
Andrea teaches because she believes in the next generation, and through her teaching, she hopes to inspire young people to think critically and to develop problem-solving skills that apply to any situation or group. She loves the energy and passion that students possess, which makes her job that much more fun. In addition to her love of writing, Andrea enjoys being outdoors, hiking, and reading.
Daniel Williams, MFA - Writing Instructor
Daniel Williams is an instructor and copywriter with a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction from the University of Massachusetts. Daniel brings a combination of creative writing expertise and seven years as a copywriter, focused on the creation of stylistic content that is clear and concise, to his role as an instructor for our A+ Summer Programs. Prior to teaching College Writing at the University of Massachusetts, Daniel worked abroad in Mexico, Malta, and Spain as an editor, copywriter, and translator for emerging brands and novelists, including Edie Meidav and Alberto Chimal. In addition to his Master’s Degree, Daniel has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
Daniel is fluent in Spanish and has begun to learn Arabic. He has received travel grants to the Atacama Desert in Chile, and Tayrona National Park in Columbia. In addition to his teaching and copywriting roles, Daniel continues to work as a translator and interpreter between Spanish and English. He has presented on the topic of ambient music in the classroom as a way to relax students, improve focus, and stimulate creativity.
Iris Malone - Instructor
Iris is a Ph.D. student in the Political Science Department at Stanford University where she studies international security and political methodology. Prior to Stanford, she had a Fulbright Scholarship in Indonesia where she taught English to high schoolers during the day and ran a speech and debate club outside of class. She graduated summa cum laude from Cornell in 2011 with degrees in Government and Chemistry.