Voyagers Study Group List

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We may talk about Japanese culture, food, traditions & music as it applies to the story lines, depending upon the desires of the club members.

IMPORTANT: Most manga involves swearing (PG), violence (battles, death), & sexual innuendo. If you are not familiar with this form of storytelling, please talk to Kimi Biegler, Brianna Leuders or their moms, Christine Yablonski & Kim Leuders> We can show you some examples to judge for yourself the appropriateness.

We will learn about different artists and their styles and then make projects in those styles.

Come join me in a study group that will be spent watching classic movies and sharing interesting facts about the movies themselves and the people who made them. I will decide the course content based upon consensus of my group attendees. I consider the ages and interests of participants in deciding what gets shown. I will not show slasher-type horror films because they disturb me.

New participants welcome.

Ayurveda is a system of knowledge originating in India 5,000+ years ago. Its knowledge about health and healing pre-dates most modern approaches whether they be using food and acupressure/acupuncture or yoga or herbs, drugs, and surgery, to name a few.

Everyone loves wearing a costume. It's even better when you've made it yourself. But how do you do it? Do you know where your sewing machine is? Let's learn how.

We'll learn how to use a sewing machine, from threading it, sewing straight lines, and curves, to making button holes; when to use a hot glue gun, velcro or even hand sewing; even making props. Learn how to adapt patterns to your ideas.

We'll start off with a tunic, and work up from there. If the desire is there, we can move from beginning to more advanced as the skills develop.

The idea is that this session will cover much the same material as the other one on the same day.

For those who have played before -- the game I'll be running will be set in a standard-ish D&D setting, so standard races are allowed (only la +0). I'm allowing core and Complete series classes, so go ahead and think about what you want to play, and a bit of backstory. The mount of roleplay is subject to change, depending on the people who participate campaign.

There will be an alternate campaign run by Connor if there re too many people signed up.

A broad introduction to Earth Sciences geared towards Middle School age children. Topics I plan to cover include but are not limited to: Air, Water, Weather, Climate, and the Earth's Atmosphere, Geology, Plate Tectonics, Earth Forces and the Earth's Structure. The study group will contain lecture, video, and some hands-on experiments and activities.

While this course will not be as rigorous as my honors chemistry class, I will expect that students keep up with the assigned reading and be prepared to participate in discussions. There may be some student led discussion.

Optional, but fun: There is a competition called Envirothon, with workshops and a state competition. If there are enough interested people we will form a team and make sure to include the relevant topics in the course of study. There is also a service component to the Envirothon, giving you a chance to "think globally, act locally". If we have a team, those members may have occasional activities which take place outside the usual time and place.

THIS IS A PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL AND MAY BE EDITED IN THE FUTURE

This yoga study group is for all levels of experience. Those who practice other forms of yoga will find the Svaroopa style to be a relaxing and deepening addition to their practice. Those who are not familiar with yoga will discover that the poses are easy to learn and to do. And everyone will benefit from the core opening and release of tension we all hold without realizing it.

Each time we meet, we will begin and end with Shavasana, a relaxation pose with guided awareness that sets the stage for allowing ourselves to tune in to our bodies. The participants will learn how to prop and align themselves so that they can practice at home.

To read more about Svaroopa, go to http://www.masteryoga.org/contemplations/rama_contemplation.asp

This study group is for adults.

Every living being has a life force, or energy, the Chinese call qi or chi ("chee"). For people this energy runs along paths called meridians. When our energy and meridians are in balance, we feel our best. Places on the body where we can balance this energy are called acupressure points.

Blocked or suppressed energy can result in feeling less than our best. Stress and injury account for a lot of interruptions to our energy flow.

Acupressure is an easy, low-tech, always available way to balance our energy and help with a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms, including feeling tired or low energy handling an emotional upset needing to focus for a test or other activity calming mind and body easing symptoms for all kinds of physical conditions handling medications and antibiotics better helping digestion helping the skin helping glands function better, such as the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenals improving immunity pain relief for colds, breathing headaches, backaches, toothaches, stomachaches, eyestrain, and much more stress relief first-aid techniques much more than can be listed, because acupressure can affect any part of the body or mind in a positive way

Come prepared to practice using acupressure both in the class and for a brief time daily at home, and to take notes on that practice.

The focus of the group is on discussing the books. In addition to topics suggested by the subject matter, we also analyze the works for literary devices, do character studies, place the books in historical context and do background research on the authors. Discussion will also be informed by the use of literature guides. We often read background material aloud together during class time. There is sometimes other class preparation involved, for example when we do role playing or simulations. Expect to read approximately 200 pages per week. Note that although the reading level might be within the capacity of younger members, the subject matter is best suited for those who are teens and older. When in doubt, please consult with me.

If any group members wish to write essays based on any of the books during the course of this study group, I am happy to review and critique these and work on revisions with you. Also, I am taking suggestions for books you would like to study. The list of books will be sent out a couple of weeks before the start of the semester so we can get started right away at our first session. If you want to get a better idea of the type of books we cover, please contact me and I will send you our lists from the last couple of years. --Betsy

To keep the group from being unremittingly tedious, I also plan to discuss some of the odd and interesting bits of math that you probably won't find on standardized tests: dimensions (1, 2, 3, and more), infinities (yes, there are different infinities), fractals, and who knows what else?

Because being able to do math is often as much a matter of practice as of understanding, you should expect to do several hours of work at home for each hour spent in class. If you really do the work, you should find that understanding actually grows out of the practice.

This study group will need to be a cooperative effort if it’s going to run. If you plan to enroll your child in it, please plan to spend some time helping out. We’ll coordinate our efforts to make sure each parent, science geek or not, is prepared to contribute in a way that’s comfortable for him or her: leading or assisting some days, getting books or videos from the library, preparing materials for hands-on projects, etc.

This study group will require an extra 2-3 hour weeknight meeting which will be held on Thursday evenings, homework, and many Saturday meetings. Lego League is a major time commitment that promises much learning and fun.

A team of coaches have volunteered to lead this including Alice Anacheka-Nasemann, Ken Ishii, Marc Sinclair, Manoj Padki and Manisha Kher.

Some of the topics we'll try to cover: Current biological thinking about gender differences and their origins, Stonewall, homophile movement, Hirschfeld, the Holocaust, The Well of Loneliness, Oscar Wilde, health, queer theory and politics, coming out, gender as a cultural construct, race/class/ethnicity, the closet, law and policy, transgender issues, transsexual issues, bisexuality, celebrities in the media.

While this study group is open to all ages, please understand that it will most definitely have sensitive and mature themes. For the discussions to be meaningful, we must be able to speak freely on the topics. If you think this will make your child uncomfortable, please consider a different study group during this hour.

This study group may include optional and off coop time field trip(s).

We begin on September 16th - There will be a general kickoff meeting for all the team members. During the first few weeks, new members will learn the basics of the court system and trial procedure, while returning members will have a quick refresher and be given more opportunity to hone their presentation skills. The case materials for this year's competition will be available in early November. More details will be provided as they become available.

Who may participate - This is a high-school level study group open to students who wish to participate and are able to handle the material. All team members will contribute during study group meetings and rehearsals. While not all members may be assigned roles on the competitive team (as attorneys, witnesses, or understudies), everyone will participate on the developmental team helping to prepare the case. (Please note that MA Bar Association Mock Trial rules only permit high school students, or homeschoolers enrolled at a high school level, to compete.)

We are building a serious competitive team - This requires a strong commitment from all the members, and the better we do in competition, the longer and more rewarding that commitment will be! Please do not sign up for this program unless you can commit to all the homework, the team meetings, and competition dates.

Homework - This course will often require several hours of homework per week, including reading, some writing, and some small group work, in preparation for the competitions.

Schedule:

We will do our best to coordinate with the needs of our team members and coaches, but attendance at all scheduled sessions and competitions is mandatory!

Study group meetings - Beginning September 16, we will meet at Voyagers on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Then during Voyagers' winter break (12/19/08 to 1/20/09) we will generally meet twice a week (Tuesday evenings plus another day TBD), with time off around the holidays.

Additional time commitments - As the competitions approach, additional practice times will be scheduled, as needed. Depending on how we do in competition, this may include dates during the February break (2/16/09 to 2/20/09), and even the April break (4/20/08 to 4/24/08).

Competitions - Voyagers will compete with at least three other Mock Trial teams on various weekday afternoons between mid-January and mid-February, and depending on our team's success, continue competing through March or May. Dates and locations will be set by the MA Bar Association and announced when the time approaches.

For more info:
Voyagers Mock Trial Program - please contact MargiePertchik

Massachusetts Bar Association Mock Trial Program: - Click here

• Intervals
• Major and Minor scales
• Triads
• Inversions
• The Cirlce of Fifths

New material will include:

• Chord Progression
• The Function Triangle
• Dorian Modal System
• Pentatonic Modes
• Musical Forms

This semester, we will work on longer compositions. New students are welcome, as long as they have some basic knowledge of music theory (see material being reviewed for approximate skill level).

Please contact Greg Westland if you have any questions.

Greek, Roman, Nordic, Egyptian, Chinese, Indian, African, and Native American myths are all introduced and analyzed, giving the participant a broader look at mythology, and how it reflects the culture of the civilization that developed the mythology, as well as how mythology gave birth to some of our words, products, and ideas of today.

This session will provide support for all aspiring novel writers wanting to participate in NaNoWriMo 2008. We will begin September with skill building (first lines, character development, dialogs, etc.); October will be for developing plot ideas; November will focus on support (efficient word production/keeping the flow going) during the actual NaNoWriMo month; December will be for acknowledging accomplishments and helping with follow-up to complete or expand your work.

This session will provide support for all aspiring novel writers wanting to participate in NaNoWriMo 2008. We will begin September with skill building (first lines, character development, dialogs, etc.); October will be for developing plot ideas; November will focus on support (efficient word production/keeping the flow going) during the actual NaNoWriMo month; December will be for acknowledging accomplishments and helping with follow-up to complete or expand your work.

Course Taught by: David Cudmore, Still River Outfitters, Inc.

The book we will be using:
"How to Think Like a (Python) Programmer" by Allen Downey is available as a free download at: http://thinkpython.com/

More books of interest:
http://wiki.python.org/moin/IntroductoryBooks

First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children."

For more information , check out the Project Linus website: http://www.projectlinus.org/

For this study group, we will gather to knit and crochet squares to join together into a Voyagers donated afghan. If you are a beginner this is a good way to practice. It is also a great way to try out a new stitch. There will be lots of stitch patterns available.

If it exists, we will probably take a look at it. Possible authors include Alan Nourse, Philip Dick, Julian May, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Sylvia Louise Engdahl, David Brin, Kate Wilhelm, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Julie Czerneda, and your personal favorites!

There will be a fair amount of reading, a movie or two, and some writing assignments. Feel free to ask questions and make suggestions.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not believe age is relevant here, only ability and interest. Parents, please honestly assess your child's capabilities; if you have any reason to believe that there might be difficulties with any of the skills listed, expect to either be physically and mentally present to help your child, or choose a different activity.

Copying & materials costs will depend on study group content; study group leader will make arrangements with participants. Please contact group leader if you have questions.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not believe age is relevant here, only ability and interest. Parents, please honestly assess your child's capabilities; if you have any reason to believe that there might be difficulties with any of the skills listed, expect to either be physically and mentally present to help your child, or choose a different activity.

Copying & materials costs will depend on study group content; study group leader will make arrangements with participants.

From Cindy Hughes, the instructor: “We would run class time and physical practice for the first 6-7 classes and then have simulation where the girls practice what they learned in a realistic situation with a trained simulator. Class talk is basically about avoiding dangerous situations, what to do if you find yourself in a situation and safely get out of it, being aware of surroundings, etc. Our goal is that avoidance can be successful in at least 90% of the time to stay safe. The other 10% is the physical skills learned which are easy to remember, easy to administer and we give them enough to learn so that if one thing doesn't work, they have another tool they can draw upon. We do spend more than half the time with the physical skills and simulation seems to be everyone's favorite part of the program. We do request that students were comfortable clothes and sneakers to practice the physical drills.

All state colleges in Massachusetts offer RAD classes on their campuses which I think is wonderful. I also bring all kinds of information that students are welcome to keep for their reference.”

This study group is open to mothers also, on a space available basis.

It is requested that students wear comfortable clothes and sneakers to practice the physical drills.

This study group will encourage personal efforts towards positive change. Students will participate in a variety of community service activities on/off-site and reflect on the experiences in class through discussion, journaling, or activist videos created by the students (i.e. YouTube). We may view short documentaries as a preface to some service efforts. As we will occasionally be traveling outside of Voyagers, it is crucial that all partcipants are mature enough to be respectful of others. Volunteer efforts could include assisting in: The Food Project (food produce), Loaves and Fishes (food pantry), Rosie's Place (sanctuary for poor and homeless women and children), the Children's Hospital, book collections and literacy efforts, winter clothing collections, and others depending on the interests of the group. Students should be able to handle mature and sensitive discussions/dynamics.

Hannah 18 Apr 2008

The students will identify individuals they would like to interview and subjects they would like to photograph. Then, in a supportive seminar format, we will work together to develop interview questions. The study group leader will work with the students to arrange interview time with subjects. We will also photograph subjects (people, places and things) and put all of our materials together into an audio visual presentation. The final product of the semester will (hopefully) be a podcast designed using Apple software.

Students do not need to have their own laptop computers but it will be very helpful if each student has his or her own digital camera. The study group leader has one camera that she can lend to a student on specific days if s/he doesn't have access to a digital camera. The instructor will provide each student with a notebook for the study group as well as photocopied templates for interviews.

Students will be required to read The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn over the summer in preparation for the first day of study group. The students do not need to own the book - a library copy is just fine.

Participants must be able to participate in a short, focused classroom discussion, to concentrate on their own work, and not be a distraction to other members of the group. Those who can't meet these requirements will be asked to leave for that day. BUT - you can sit or lie on the floor to draw if you'd rather not use the table.

Participants must be willing to let ideas flow, and not to negatively judge the ideas of other participants. The wildest analogies are sometimes the most insightful. Ideas that are edited too soon become stale.

Participants should be able to write words and short phrases without help in class. Spelling doesn't matter a bit - what matters is that the student can read her own writing later. The instructor will not be scribing for participants, although she can occasionally lend a helping hand. We won't do any extended, individual writing in class, and most written assignments for home will be optional.

Participants must be respectful of the instructor and the other members of the study group.

(Note to parents: I'd like another adult in the room if the group is full. I'm working on it.)

http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Hands-On+Geography+Grades+6-8/014898/1208017816-1999156

The workbook is divided into three sections. The first focuses on improving map skills and understanding the five themes of geography (location, place, human/environment interaction, movement, and regions). Basic matching, fill in the blank, short answer, and labeling worksheets are provided with maps to improve skills and enhance basic knowledge. In the next section, a variety of fun, hands-on activities are provided to reinforce different geographic concepts. The projects are usually easy to complete and not very time consuming. Examples include making an edible map, constructing a paper plate fact quiz about countries, and decorating a cereal box with information about a chosen country. The third section of each book is full of charts, graphs, and diagrams that children will encounter on standardized testing. Reading and using charts is explained, and several multiple choice sections are included so children learn how to read charts and gather information from them.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not believe age is relevant here, only ability and interest. Parents, please honestly assess your child's capabilities; if you have any reason to believe that there might be difficulties with any of the skills listed, expect to either be physically and mentally present to help your child, or choose a different activity.

PLEASE NOTE: I do not believe age is relevant here, only ability and interest. Parents, please honestly assess your child's capabilities; if you have any reason to believe that there might be difficulties with any of the skills listed, expect to either be physically and mentally present to help your child, or choose a different activity.

Copying & materials costs will depend on study group content; study group leader will make arrangements with participants. Please contact group leader if you have questions.

Join us for an hour a week... condition your body, relax, laugh, and learn to center yourself: a skill that will last a lifetime.