Academics (Ages 9-16)

8:30 – 11:30 am and/or 12 – 3 pm

Session 1: July 28 – August 1
Session 2: August 4 – 8
Session 3: August 11 – 15

Jump Start Programs
The Jump Start programs are designed to help students fine-tune skills in French, Spanish, math or English. These Jump Start classes are academic classes focusing on skill reinforcement and enrichment. They are structured with specific aims of helping students review what they have covered before. The groupings are age specific to meet the needs of the corresponding grade. Teachers in math, French and Spanish contact students prior to the beginning of the course in order to define their strengths and weaknesses and to determine what each student needs. Each week follows the same format though content may vary according to the level, age, and ability of the group. Classroom groups are kept to a small number to provide individualized attention.

French or Spanish

Review the different parts of speech
Work on pronunciation and vocabulary developments
Review and practice the written and verbal mechanics of the language
Work on expressing written thought in a clear and coherent manner
Practice fluency of the oral language using general vocabulary

Mathematics

Basic arithmetic operations with whole numbers, fraction, decimals, integers, and rational numbers.
Algebraic equations and graphing
Ratios and percents
Geometry
Pre-calculus, statistics, and probability

Academic Essay
This session introduces students to various forms of essay writing. Topics may include but are not limited to:

Purpose of the essay questions
Parts of an essay
How to write a strong thesis statement
Outlining techniques
Structuring your answer
Supporting your ideas
Incorporating quotes
Writing conclusions
Revising for clarity and coherence

Writing Mechanics
This is a grammar and mechanics course that covers the following but is not limited to:

Parts of Speech: verbs, adverbs, adjectives
Parts of a sentence
Fragments, compound, complex sentences
Phrases
Clauses
Mechanics including subject/verb agreement, using pronouns modifiers, verbs correctly
Punctuation
Constructing a well written paragraph
Verb tenses; subject/verb agreement
Active versus passive voice

Research Skills
The art of researching topics continues to change as technology becomes the common tool to meet research goals. Understanding the how, why and what of researching enables students to be more effective and efficient. This course covers the following skills/techniques:

Dissecting the research process
How to search for information
Gathering and organizing your research materials
Evaluating information
How to cite sources

Students work on a small research project during the week to practice the skills and techniques covered in class.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE INTRODUCTION COURSES

Pre IB Academic Courses
Ages 15 – 16
(rising 10th and 11th grades)

Registration deadline is May 1, 2008

The IB Diploma program is a challenging university preparatory course for the final two years of high school. As one of the first schools in the world to offer an IB Diploma, WIS takes considerable pride in the depth of experience of its faculty and the levels of success our students achieve in their IB examinations. The quality of our students’ preparation for the IB is greatly enhanced by the long and continuing relationship that exists between the school and the IB.

Increasing numbers of schools around the world are attracted to the IB Diploma program as one of the most comprehensive, challenging, and intellectually stimulating courses of study in the world. The program provides a balanced educational experience with a global perspective and is designed for committed, academically capable students.

This summer WIS is offering an introduction to the IB program. The classes highlight the work that will be encountered as students make their way through the program. Becoming familiar with the expectations of the program allows a student to enter the first year as IB students with confidence and focus.

Language B (French or Spanish)
IB recommends that IB students should have at least two years of the foreign language before taking the course. The main focus of the course is on language acquisition and the development of four primary skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students read texts to decipher meaning and message as well as write texts for various purposes. The class also reviews the forms of assessment used in the Language B program of the IB.

English
IB students need to clearly express their thoughts accurately in writing. This course will:

Introduce students to the syllabi of the English Standard and Higher classes
Work on planning and writing commentaries
Discuss genres of literature covered in the IB Syllabus
Review writing process and grammar to enrich and strengthen writing
Discuss the Assessment Criteria used by IB

Mathematics
While the IB program offers three levels for math (Math Studies, Math Higher Level, Math Standard Level), this pre-IB prep class centers a review of the basic mathematical concepts. Students review the syllabus of the courses previously listed highlighting differences and similarities as well as work load. The course will:

Review terminology
Review and discusses problems in algebra, geometry and trigonometry
Students work on problems in logic, probability and statistics
This course is essentially a review of the skills students need as well as an introduction to what they will encounter as they progress through their particular math program.

Research Skills
The art of researching topics continues to change as technology becomes the common tool to meet research goals. Understanding the how, why and what of researching enables students to research effectively and efficiently. This course
covers the following skills/techniques:

Dissecting the research process
How to search for information
Gathering and organizing your research materials
Evaluating information
How to cite sources

Students work on a small research project during the week in order to practice the skills and techniques covered in class.