Sunday, March 28, 2010

Summer Enrichment Offerings


The Town of Glastonbury offers several enriching camps and workshops each summer. I'm happy to announce that I will be involved in two of them with my good colleague Patrick Zabroski. We will co-teach both the Reading Enrichment Camp and the Glastonbury Games Club. Specific details regarding dates, times, and price will follow very soon on the Glastonbury Schools website. A brief description of each of our workshops follows:

Reading Enrichment Camp: I know all too well how summer can slip away with children having not even started the required summer reading. (I have three boys and it's happened in each case at least once. I, of course, blame this on my wife. usually from a great distance -like a state, or two :) Thus was born the idea behind this workshop. Patrick and I want to help the procrastinator in us all get a head start on our summer reading. Using a modified Reader's Workshop model, we will present how we read books, take notes, and focus on the pleasurable aspects to reading. We'll also help participants find non-fiction materials to go along with their fiction selection. The workshop meets for one week, four hours each day, allowing us to model strategies, conference with students, discuss and write, and read for a sustained period of time. So, why not take a little of the pressure off the end of summer by joining us at Smith School at the beginning of summer.


Glastonbury Games Club: Let me get this one straight. I love video games, but I recognize that too often this idle pursuit doesn't bring people together as much as it brings player and machine together. Patrick and I decided that, as great as computers are, it wouldn't hurt to nurture the social component that comes from face-to-face meetings. We also thought it might be a good idea to side-step the ole standbys, like organized sports, and go for something new -boardgames. We've got a nice list of games that allow 2-4, or even 4-8, individuals to play together in one room. Imagine that? These are the kinds of games that have a nice blend of easy to learn rules and compelling strategy. They're not your typical games either. There's Quirkle, Rummikub, Formula De, and more, much more.  Some of these may well end up in your home after your child plays them. Game night anyone?

Or, check out some of the other fine offerings within Glastonbury this summer.

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