Locations: Putney, VT & Ashland, OR
Dates: June 27 - July 17, 2010
2010 Tuition, Room & Board: $4,800
Financial Aid IS Available!

Students in this program should be at least 16 years of age and have completed their sophomore year of high school.

About the High School Program

Not everyone learns the same way. Our experience in working with students who learn differently has shown that understanding how students learn can make a big difference in their grades, and ultimately, in their success in school.

This program encourages students to develop a lifelong appreciation of learning through experiential and practical activities.

Our instructors will help your teen to:

• Develop a writing process that uses proven techniques to write more clearly, faster and with fewer struggles.
• Discover his or her academic strengths and personal learning style and learn to leverage them in all coursework.
• Integrate strategies and practice into engaging activities.

The summer program for high school students features a variety of courses to choose from.  Every student will take three courses.  Students should take a balance of courses suited to their needs, desires and abilities.  We recommend that students who want a heavier load of reading and writing select courses that are described as having a strong reading and writing component. These courses will be noted with a special bullet (r/w).  Students who prefer less academics should choose the more experiential courses with less reading and writing. Use the form and course descriptions below to select four choices.  Students will be assigned to three of their choices based on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Courses

Students in this program will take three classes each day — two in the morning and one in the afternoon. These classes include:

01 Learning to Maximize Learning:

We highly recommend that all students take Learning to Maximize Learning. This class orients students to elements of goal setting, organization of time, materials, project planning, strategic learning, self-advocacy, and meta-cognition through a highly interactive hands-on curriculum. Students will be encouraged to consider their own learning styles and diagnosis, as they study brain based research about learning. The use of technology will be discussed, and the skills of active reading, note-taking, test taking, and summary writing will be introduced. Students will practice these skills and make an oral presentation focusing on his or her individual learning profile.

Writing Electives:

Many students will want to select one writing class which covers the basics of good writing: coherent thinking, expressive presentation, individual style, and use of appropriate language. Landmark offers four choices so students can pursue their personal needs and interests:

02 Writer’s Workshop: Writing the Research Paper (Advanced Placement): (r/w)

This track is designed for students who need and desire an extra challenge. Material covered in this course will be the same as what is offered in the regular track, but teachers will require more sophisticated writing and will focus on strategies for unlocking “writer’s block.” The amount and level of reading will be more demanding. Students electing this course must have successfully completed Honors, AP, or IB-higher level writing in high school.

03 Writer’s Workshop: Writing the Research Paper (Regular Placement):

This class introduces students to the requirements for and expectations of college-level writing. Students will learn how to structure and develop papers for college work, including an introduction on how to write research papers with in-text citations and bibliographies.

04 Writer’s Workshop: Achieving Success and Increasing Productivity:

This class is designed for students who have had trouble generating written work. Based on 20 years of experience with college students, the class provides students with creative solutions to breaking writer’s block and increasing writing output.

05 Writer’s Workshop: Essays for Classes and College Applications:

Good, concise and intelligent writing is fundamental to academic success – and it’s what colleges look for in prospective applicants when reviewing college essays. In this class, students will apply their newly developed writing skills to the creation of a draft of their college application essay.

06 Poetry Workshop: Reading and Writing Poetry: 

This class will allow students who have a creative flair to explore the works of other poetry writers and to write their own poems. Students will present their own work in class, and they will keep a portfolio of the work that they produce.

Other Electives

07 Assistive Technology:

A comprehensive overview of what assistive technology is and how it can be successfully used as an academic support tool for students with dyslexia, reading disorders, LD and/or AD/HD. Students will have an opportunity to work hands-on with text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and concept-mapping computer programs, and to discover how assistive technology can help to facilitate academic skill development for their particular learning style.  Students who select this course are required to take Learning to Maximize Learning.

08 Interpersonal Conversations:

This course is recommended for students with autism spectrum disorders and non-verbal learning disabilities.  Students will learn and practice techniques and strategies to include other peers in both academic and social settings. The course content may include but is not limited to exploration of nonverbal interpretation, prosody, topic management, conversational flow and rhythm, creating personal and procedural narratives, verbally mediated problem-solving, self advocacy and listening. Students will practice the above skills in the context of a small group setting. Course pedagogy will focus on small group interactions in a highly structured environment. 

09 Digital Photography:

Students who choose this elective should bring a digital camera with a minimum resolution of five mega pixels.  Preferably, but not essential the camera should also have the ability to control shutter speed and aperture. This introductory course in digital photography is designed for students with limited or no experience in the art of photography. Through instructor demonstration and field experiences, students will learn to master the skills of basic camera operation, digital processing and print development. In addition, by completing structured photography assignments and participating in critique sessions, students will learn techniques that will help them select and compose their subjects, and control their shooting, processing and printing to enhance the aesthetic qualities of their prints. In a final photographic essay project, students will investigate how visual interpretation can guide them to deeper language comprehension and expression.

10 Introduction to Fashion Design:

Learn about the business of fashion design and clothing manufacturing. Includes history of the industry, schools and careers in fashion, designing the garment, influences on design, and organization of a clothing line.

11 Film, Music, and Culture:

Through the viewing of high interest films, listening to music and group discussions, students will develop a set of key communication skills useful for the college transition. By actively participating in classroom discussions, collaborating in team situations, and presenting information to others, students will develop their ability to effectively communicate with others in a variety of academic and personal settings.

12 Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Issues Between the US and the Middle East:

The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to the issues of the Middle East.  First, students will trace the history, cultural and human geography, and economy of the Middle East. The course will then examine the types of government and the peoples of the region.   The final section will provide specific attention to the region’s ongoing relations with the United States and the West. 

13 Sports and US Culture: (r/w)

Students will study professional sports, media and business in America.  Controversial issues, such as steroids, violence and multi-million dollar salaries will be explored. 

14 Theatre and Acting:

This course introduces students to some of the fundamentals of acting and to the basics of theatre production. Through an exploration of acting techniques such as improvisation, character analysis and sense memory, students gain knowledge and practical experience with the actor's craft. Technique is supplemented by study of the history and development of drama as a genre and an art form.

15 1960’s America: (r/w)

This course is an introduction to aspects of the significant political, social, and cultural changes in the United States in the 1960s—one of the most turbulent times in our history. While exploring this fascinating period in history, students independently will need to be able to read approximately five pages of material each night and write a paragraph or two for each class. Also test preparation and test taking skills will be woven into the curriculum. The course will serve as a transition into college-level courses in the humanities.

16 Vermont Environments and Biology:

Learn about local wildlife, plants, and ecosystems along with other basic concepts of ecology. Take field trips to local areas, such as streams, rivers, wetlands, mountains and meadows to study ecosystems and to practice scientific observation. Students will keep a field notebook, do a simple a field project and will be expected to hike over varying terrain.

College Advising

Virtually all students in this program intend to go on to college after graduating from high school. To help them get started with the college admission process, Landmark’s College Advising staff will sponsor three seminars for participants:

• Choosing the Right College
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Applying to College
• How to Present Yourself When Applying to College

Each student will have the chance to meet with a college placement advisor in a one-on-one session during the program.

Extracurricular Activities

In addition to weekend field trips, a structured program of afternoon activity will be offered from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. daily. Activities include:

• Photography
• Dance Sports
• Art
• Computer Gaming

During the evening hours students will have a quiet and supervised study period with individual support available. Following the study period, students will have free time to engage in other activities on campus, including use of the gym, library and Student Center.