Join Quarantutors for the summer!

Starting mid-June, Quarantutors is offering free online summer classes: academic subject preview classes and extracurricular activity classes to help students continue learning and remain engaged throughout the summer.

All academic and extracurricular classes are free of charge and conducted over Zoom in groups of no more than thirty students.

Classes are offered in four-week sessions. Session One runs from June 15 to July 10 and Session Two runs from July 13 to August 7. Please also note that some courses are only offered for one session.

We will continue to offer traditional one-on-one tutoring throughout the summer — just sign up by clicking on the "Register Now" link on our home page. Please note that we require parents and/or students to provide the learning material for tutors to help them with one-on-one. Our tutors are not responsible for preparing their own curriculum to teach students.

Academic preview classes introduce students to subjects they will be learning in school and provide basic foundations that will help students succeed in class. Hand-picked instructors will give lectures, lead discussions and interactive activities, and provide optional weekly assignments.

Extracurricular classes provide engagement to students over the summer and an opportunity to explore various activities they may want to participate in at school. Extracurricular classes generally rely on more interactive activities than academic classes.

Open to middle school students

Session One (June 15-July 10)

In this course, students will learn about the components and characteristics of high quality argumentative essays through a series of lectures and discussions and apply their knowledge by producing a five-paragraph essay responding to a question prompt. The instructor will closely guide the writing process and give feedback on student work each week. The student essay is optional but highly recommended, as it will allow students to put their learning into practice and prepare more thoroughly for their English classes at school.

1 p.m. PST on Mondays and Thursdays, one hour classes

Open to high school students

Session Two (July 13–August 7) 

In this course, students will learn about the components and characteristics of high quality argumentative essays through a series of lectures and discussions and apply their knowledge by producing a five-paragraph essay analyzing a passage of English prose. Course content will extend beyond that of the middle school academic writing class by focusing more on developing analysis and promoting complexity in all aspects of the essay. The instructor will closely guide the writing process and give feedback on student work each week. The student essay is optional but highly recommended, as it will allow students to put their learning into practice and prepare more thoroughly for their English classes at school.

1 p.m. PST on Mondays and Thursdays, one hour classes

Open to middle school and high school students

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

This class will serve as a primer for Algebra 1, covering fundamental algebraic topics including inequalities, systems of linear equations, quadratics, and polynomials in addition to some of their applications in the real world. We will also discuss additional topics such as properties of exponents and arithmetic and geometric sequences if time permits. In order to solidify these concepts, we will provide comprehensive practice problems after every class lesson. Instructors will assume that students are equipped with knowledge from Pre-Algebra or an equivalent course. 

4 p.m. PST on Tuesdays and Thursdays, one hour classes

Open to middle school and high school students

Session One (June 15–July 10)

This course serves as an introduction to biology suitable to prepare students for high school biology level coursework. The course will cover the topics of basic biochemistry, cell biology, respiration and photosynthesis, evolution and heredity, plant biology, human physiology, and ecology. The class has no prerequisites, the instructor simply asks that students remain focused and work hard to keep up with the content. The course format consists primarily of lectures, a few discussions, optional readings and a fun activity to wrap it all up. Every class will have anonymous poll questions that will be used to gauge understanding of a topic. Additionally, review content will be sent out after every class targeting areas that students had trouble with.

1 p.m. PST on Tuesdays and Fridays, one hour classes

Open to high school students

Session One (June 15–July 10) 

This course is intended to serve as an overview of general calculus topics, including basic derivatives, limits, and integrals. Each week, classes will consist of introductions to various new topics and practice with those topics. The Quarantutors calculus course will prepare students to take calculus at school and provide fundamental exposure to many difficult topics. We will also cover the differences between AP Calculus AB and BC, along with examples of real-life applications of calculus, some of which relate to the current global health crisis. Optimal students to take this course will have completed a pre-calculus class in school and want to prepare for AP Calculus AB or BC.

4 p.m. PST on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 45 minute classes

Open to middle school and high school students

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

In this course, students will be exposed to the foundations and depths of Euclidean Geometry, which is the system of geometry traditionally taught in middle and high school. Starting with basic axioms and theorem, students will progress towards more advanced complexities within the course. Hidden, within all of this however, is the fundamental aspect of problem-solving, which students will learn, develop, and execute with confidence throughout this course. Furthermore, students will have a great educational experience and enjoy the brilliant mathematics that exists in geometry. Visualizing various perspectives and methods will play a crucial role with developing a string geometric intuition and understanding. Students will be exposed to various electronic tools, such as Google Classroom, enabling them to have the appropriate tools for a successful geometry session. Often times, Challenge problems will also be presented in order to expand the students' range of thinking and expose them to a more advanced level of thinking. 

3 p.m. PST on Mondays and Thursdays, one hour classes

Open to elementary school students

Session One (June 15–July 10) for grades 1-3

Session Two (July 13–August 7) for grades 4-6

In Grammar and Basic Writing, we will explore the different parts of speech and work to put them together with different sentence structures in our writing. Each class session will focus on a different part of speech so students may learn the tools they need to build sentences. Once students have a full mental "toolbox" of the different parts of speech, they will learn how to put these nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech together to form simple, compound, and complex sentences. Class sessions will consist of entertaining and engaging presentations with pictures and videos, guided notes worksheets, and optional homework to stimulate students’ minds throughout the week. By returning to the basics, breaking down sentences, and focusing specifically on each part of speech, Grammar and Basic Writing is a great foundational class for students' future success in the language arts.

3 p.m. PST on Tuesdays and Fridays, one hour classes

Open to high school students

Session One (June 15–July 10)

This introduction to psychology class is intended to inspire passion for the subject of psychology and help prepare students for high school psychology classes. In this class we will go into detail on the effects of psychology in the media, the history of psychology, cognitive psychology, and developmental psychology and learning. This class is an interactive approach to learning about psychology, meaning that it will be filled with interesting mini projects, fun activities, and group learning. If you are interested in the human mind, are preparing to take AP psychology, or simply just want to learn something new, this is the class for you.

11 a.m. PST on Mondays and Wednesdays, 45 minute classes

Open to elementary school students

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

In this course, elementary school students will explore different fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) through guided instruction and interactive experiments. The format of the course will consist of lectures along with corresponding home experiments to guide students through introductory lessons. Students will use household materials to conduct experiments to help strengthen their knowledge of STEM foundations. Lesson topics include computer science, chemistry, biology, physics, and more.

3 p.m. PST on Wednesdays and Fridays, one hour classes

Open to middle and high school students

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

In this course, students will prepare for the American Math Competition (AMC) 10 and AMC 12 by building on their pre-existing knowledge of geometry and algebra to cover new topics such as number theory, geometry, advanced algebra, and more. The two instructors will lecture and pose questions for the class to answer. The homework practice problems are optional but highly recommended, and the teachers will encourage the class to ask questions from the workload given. Doing the homework will allow the students to best prepare for the AMC and help them in school mathematics.

11 a.m. PST on Mondays and Wednesdays, one hour classes

Open to all ages

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

In this course, students will focus on classical and contemporary artistic form, pairing a wide range of fundamental concepts with observational skills. By beginning with black and white mediums and directly observing still life models, students will develop technical abilities such as contouring, shading and measuring. Students will also learn concepts like tonal value, spatial perspective, and proportion. The  instructor will closely guide students through optional art assignments and practices, tracking their progress and giving feedback on student work. Once students move into different mediums involving color, they will have the opportunity to demonstrate their developed artistic skills with a final, full-scale art project.

1 p.m. PST on Tuesdays and Fridays, one hour classes

Open to high school students

Session One (June 15–July 10)

In these four weeks, we will cover the basics of computer science, such as operators, methods, standard classes, and inheritance. This class is meant to serve as an introductory course to AP Computer Science and will be taught in Java. Students will use these concepts to build their own game such as a digital version of ‘Hot and Cold,’ Connect Four, or Hangman. Students are not expected to have any prior coding experience as this class will discuss the fundamentals.

4 p.m. PST on Wednesdays and Fridays, one hour classes

Open to middle school students

Session One (June 15–July 10)

In this course, students will learn to write short fiction and creative nonfiction, a new and fast-growing genre in creative writing, through lectures, discussions of excerpts, and workshops. On Tuesdays, Instructor Lillian Fu will teach students creative nonfiction and guide them in exploring various forms within the genre, such as the personal essay, memoir, and lyric essay. On Fridays, Instructor Katie Kudriavtsev will teach students elements of short fiction writing that include writing techniques, setting and background, plot, short stories, character design, metaphors and figurative language, utilization of writing prompts, sensory details, and more. All students are encouraged to keep an online Google Drive document “journal” where they will keep all their writing work from the course. Both instructors will give feedback on student work. This is a great opportunity for any future writers!
 

2 p.m. PST on Fridays, one hour classes

Open to high school students

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

This course will introduce students to creative writing in the genres of short fiction and creative nonfiction, a new and fast-growing genre in creative writing. On Tuesdays, students will learn to write short fiction with Instructor Julieth Lara through online lectures, class discussions, and lessons. On Fridays, students will learn creative nonfiction writing from Instructor Lillian Fu, exploring various forms of creative nonfiction such as the personal essay, the memoir, and the lyric essay. With both instructors, students will read and discuss a series of passages and stories together in class to study the basics of writing, and then they will have the choice outside of class to create their own fictional short stories, novels, essays, and more with feedback from instructors and peers. This is a great opportunity for any future writers!

2 p.m. PST on Fridays, one hour classes

Open to all ages

Session One (June 15–July 10)

In this course, students will learn the basic fundamental skills that dancers need for ballet, Horton technique, modern, and jazz. Dancers will learn exercises such as contractions, laterals, balancing, flexibility, and hinges that they will apply to their dance choreography. Dancers do not need to know anything about modern dance, ballet, or Horton technique to take this class. All that we recommend is for students to find an open area in their homes to dance and come to class with positive attitudes and growth mindsets! Dancers will also learn stretching exercises, short dance combinations, and possibly across-the-floors activities. 

3 p.m. PST on Mondays and Thursdays, one hour classes

Open to high school students

Session One (June 15–July 10)

Students will learn the style of Public Forum debate, a 2 vs. 2 debate format centered around controversial topics related to current events. Students will engage in a series of lectures and drills to master the rudimentary skills and each of the individual speeches that make up Public Forum. Optional homework will include research regarding a mock resolution and case writing. The goal of this class is to encourage students to try out debate and to provide a head start to those who are already considering joining their debate team in high school.

3 p.m. PST on Mondays and Fridays, one hour classes

Open to middle school students

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

Interested in debate? Develop the public speaking and researching skills needed to be a confident debater! In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of classic debate – a popular style of high school debate in America – through engaging lectures, team research, and fun practice sessions. At the end of the session, participants are encouraged to participate in a real, full-length classic debate to use and show what they’ve learned. The instructor will provide feedback on arguments and presentation skills and teach students everything they need to know about the basics of classic debate. This class is the perfect opportunity for students curious about joining their high school debate team.

10 a.m. PST on Tuesdays and Fridays, one hour classes

Open to elementary school students

Session One (June 15–July 10)

In this guided reading club, students will learn active reading, which is a very valuable skill to have throughout their lives. For the younger group that contains students in grades 1 through 3, the instructor will read aloud multiple short books during the sessions. While reading, the instructor will actively discuss the books with the students and plan fun activities. For the older group of students in grades 4 and 5, students will engage with a longer, more thought-provoking book, as well as more active discussion. For both classes, the instructor will read aloud to students, so each child can have the same experience and opportunity to enjoy the book. The instructor is very excited to share her love of reading with brilliant young star students and is confident it will be an amazing experience.

2 p.m. PST, one hour classes

Grades 1-3 on Mondays, Grades 4-6 on Thursdays

Open to middle school students

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

In this guided reading club for middle school, the instructor will assign approximately 1 to 2 hours of reading in between sessions so that students can actively engage in interesting discussions about the books during class time. Students will read novels such as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, an absolute classic, as well as other popular books for young adults. For optional homework assignments, students will have the chance to create their own questions to bring to each class’s discussion.

2 p.m. PST on Mondays and Thursdays, one hour classes

Open to middle and high school students

Session One (June 15–July 10)

Whether it's school, family problems, financial situations, or even the COVID-19 health pandemic that we are all going through right now, there will always be times when you experience stress! This course will help equip students with scientifically-validated strategies for becoming healthier and happier, removing bad habits and making new ones, breaking illusions of the mind, and picking a meaningful career. We will also use breakout rooms to discuss protecting the environment, improving education, promoting charitable giving, and inspiring healthier lifestyles. Students will practice strategies to promote positive behavior change in "rewirements" that will reshape their perspectives on stressors in their lives.

3 p.m. PST on Wednesdays, one hour classes

Open to all ages

Session Two (July 13–August 7)

A yoga class for all ages and skill levels! Yoga combines breathing with movements to help relax and clear the mind, while also strengthening the body. This is a great way for anyone to relieve stress. Students will learn basic yoga poses and movements and how to execute them with proper technique. Emphasis is placed on balance, concentration, and breath control. This class focuses on physical postures (asanas), breathing, and mindfulness.

1 p.m. PST on Wednesdays, thirty minute classes