Locations: Putney, VT & Ashland, OR
Dates: June 27 - July 17, 2010
2010 Tuition, Room & Board: $4,800
Application Form [PDF] | Financial Aid Information
 About the High School Program
Not everyone learns the same way. Our experience working with students who learn differently shows that understanding how you learn can make a big difference in your grades, and ultimately, in your success in school.
This program encourages students to develop a lifelong appreciation of learning through experiential and practical activities.
Our instructors will help you to:
- Develop a writing process that uses proven techniques to write more clearly, faster and with fewer struggles.
- Discover your 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. Every student takes three courses. Students should take a balance of courses suited to their needs, desires and abilities. Some are more academic, some more experiential. Students will be assigned to three of your selections, based on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Students in this program are at least 16 years of age and have completed their sophomore year of high school.
 Courses
Students in this program will take three classes each day — two in the morning and one in the afternoon. These classes include:
A. Learning to Maximize Learning (Required)
All students are required to enroll in the Learning to Maximize Learning course. This class orients students to vital elements of learning such as: organization of time and materials, note-taking, active reading, goal-setting, self-advocacy, and meta-cognition through an interactive curriculum. Students will explore their learning styles and diagnosis as they study aspects of brain research and its impact on learning. Students will conclude the course by creating a letter to future teachers describing their learning strengths and needs.
Writing Electives
Students are strongly encouraged to elect one writing class during the program. These all cover the basics of good writing: coherent thinking, expressive presentation, individual style, and use of appropriate language. Landmark offers three choices so students can pursue their personal needs and interests:
B1. Research and Writing
Using information from outside sources is the cornerstone of academic writing. This course, designed to introduce students to the requirements of college-level research and writing, places an emphasis on actively engaging with information and on the processes of research and writing. Students will practice writing with clarity and honesty and citing outside sources appropriately.
B2. Structures, Process and Productivity
For many people, producing writing on a deadline is a challenge. This course is designed for students who find it difficult to generate effective writing in an academic setting in spite of their honest efforts to do so. By focusing on structure, process, and self-understanding students can develop strategies and approaches to increase their success. High interest topics and assignments are designed to engage students and encourage them to find meaningful connections to their writing.
B3. Writing the Persuasive Essay
Writing that is clear, honest, concise, and persuasive is a general requirement for academic success at the college level, and it is what colleges look for in application essays. Students will be introduced to the goals and structures of personal and persuasive writing and will work to develop a personalized and strategic approach to their own writing process. Using prompts typically found on college applications, students will write an essay that can be used as a model for their own college application essay.
 Other Electives
C. Bill of Rights and You
The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to the basic principals in the Bill of Rights. Students will be introduced to a brief history of the Bill of Rights. The course will then exam the first ten amendments to the constitution by studying some of the most significant Supreme Court cases in modern times including, Tinker v Des Moines (1969), Miranda v Arizona (1966), Morse v Frederick (2007). The course will allow students the opportunity to debate and discuss issues that impact the world they live in.
D. Communication, Culture, and Gender
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.
E. Community Art
Students will come together in this hands-on course to create a permanent. installation on the Landmark campus. We’ll look at examples of public art from Gaudi’s colorful mosaic creations to the murals of Keith Haring. As a class we’ll design and produce a work that the entire college community will enjoy. Students will practice tile making, glass cutting and painting in the process of completing this collaborative project.
F. 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.
G. Poetry Workshop: Reading and Writing Poetry
The poetry workshop encourages students to express their creative flair, as they read and explore the poems of Walt Whitman, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, Langston Hughes, and Mary Oliver and write their own original poetry. Students will explore the many forms, subjects, and themes of poetry, and will write their own poems with attention to personal and artistic expression. At the end of the course, students will revise their written work and produce a Portfolio/Booklet.
H. Technology for Learning
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.
I. Theater and Acting
This course introduces students to some of the fundamentals of acting and to the basics of theater production. Students will learn practical acting techniques such as diction, projection, blocking and movement. They will also gain experience with character analysis, scene development and ensemble work through the production of a short play. The play will be presented to the campus community at the end of the session.
J. 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.
Financial Aid Information
Financial Aid is available for the three-week High School Summer program. Scholarships are available and are based primarily on financial need. Awards can range from $500 to the full cost of the program. In addition, a private educational loan can be an option. To apply, complete the Financial Aid application [PDF]. Remember, your child must be accepted to the program before receiving an award. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
2010 Application Form
To register, please fill out and send in our 2010 High School Summer Program Application Form [PDF] |
