“What am I going to do with the kids this summer???!!”

Unschooling, Summer 2020 - Two new classes added!  See Below!

Unschooling is an answer to the need of creativity and fun during the unique summer of 2020 and is the antidote of structured, graded classes and Zoom burn-out.

Unschooling is rooted in: 

Ideas instead of facts

Visualization instead of memorization

Questions instead of answers

Creation instead of regurgitation

Organic learning instead of punitive grading 

Concept:  

-       A college-inspired structure: one or two hours of Zoom class a week (small classes between 4 – 6 students)

-       3 -5 hours of independent work in between meetings (ie: research, writing, creating, etc.)

-       Shore-up skills that might fallen through the cracks last year (ie: math skills, essay writing, critical thinking etc.)

-       Pursue subjects/interests that students are passionate about!

-       NO GRADES!

-       PRACTICE INDEPENDENCE and ACCOUNTABILITY!

-       In short: Keep our students busy without chaining them to the computer!  Engage them in a small group with an experienced teacher who is passionate about the subject! Have your kids accountable to someone other than you!

Teacher backgrounds and classes are listed below     

If you are interested: 

-       See if you can form a group for a class in the same age range: grades 4 -5; middle school; high school; rising seniors; rising freshman/sophomores in college

-       Try to find two or three days/times your group can meet on Zoom for one hour

-       Email Thai about the class you want to take and any requests for a greater focus within it (ex: we want to take creative writing with a focus on fantasy; we want to take financial literacy with an emphasis on the stock market and how it works) and I’ll get things going with your academic coach.

-       Obtain any materials necessary for the class/pay to register for class

Fine Print: 

-       Each session will last for 5 weeks and will start the week that works for your group and instructor

-       Classes that meet once a week are $250 per session.  Classes that meet twice a week are $500.  You can pick if you want your class to meet once a week or twice a week, depending on the consensus of your group and the availability of your instructor.

-       If your student misses a class, there is no make-up session, but you can request that the instructor record the session so that your student can watch later.

-       Additional classes may become available and continue into the fall as time unfolds

Ultimate Goal: Find joy in learning!  Find out what you like and learn about it!  Have fun – have a summer!

Two New Classes:

Meet these incredible instructors:

Michael Tedori holds a M.B.A. from the Wharton School and a B.A. in East Asian Studies & Japanese Language from the University of Pennsylvania. He has more than 15 years of private tutoring & classroom teaching experiences with students of all ages, primarily in the subjects of mathematics, economics, history, Japanese, and applied business coursework.  He has also worked at a number of private equity firms and start-ups in Los Angeles, New York, and Japan.  Michael brings a unique, diverse, and intellectually energetic component to all students and is extraordinarily passionate about education and helping students reach their goals. He is able to relate to students of all backgrounds and enjoys crafting a custom learning solution which instills not only confidence, but empowers students for more advanced coursework ahead. 

Sara Moncivais has a foot firmly planted in both the arts and sciences. She has worked as a writer and director in New York and London and has won awards for her ten-minute and full length plays and her work has been broadcast on international television. As a director, Sara has contributed to work shown on the West-End and in digital festivals across London. After seven years of working in theatre in the US and abroad, Sara has returned to school in order to pursue a career in medicine. She has worked in both emergency and surgical centers as well as in private integrative medical clinics while taking pre-med classes at UCLA and UC Berkeley. Additionally, she’s worked as a research coordinator on International FDA clinical trials.  Sara is pursuing her schooling to become a physician assistant and is interested in cellular longevity and functional medicine.

Native to Los Angeles, Michelle Crosbie has worked in the field of education for the past 10 years. She is an avid traveler, explorer and current nursing student. She hopes to bring fun and excitement into learning new topics. She encourages her students to think for themselves in order to develop their own conclusions. Michelle is currently in school pursuing a career as a registered nurse.

Nicole Wolf graduated from USC’s school of Dramatic Arts in 2015. Shortly after graduation, she began tutoring at Abacus to supplement her career in the arts. Since then, she has worked as an actor in Theatre, Film, and TV. Her roles include work on: La La Land, Shameless, and Marvel’s Runaways. She is entering into UCLA’s Directing MFA program this fall and looks forward to continuing her work at Abacus through graduate school.  

As a graduate from UCLA, Sabrina Lee has a great passion for social justice-oriented engaged pedagogy and culturally responsive teaching. Having a strong background in the life sciences including biology, physiology, and genetics, she is intentional in creating a caring classroom community that will empower students to become critical thinkers and create positive change in their communities. Sabrina has worked as a 3rd grade teacher at 93rd Street School and tutors secondary students in a variety of subjects, ranging from math to science to standardized tests. She enjoys working with students of all ages and helping them develop a love for learning.