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Continue your journey with Riviera PlaySchool at our new L.A.B. - the place where social, emotional, intellectual, and creative growth thrives, designed for children grades K and Up.
Riviera PlaySchool, offers a humanistic, constructivist, and mindful Academic Enrichment program for the “whole child,” inspired by the best of Attachment Parenting, Bev Bos, Montessori, Waldorf, and Non-Violent Communication (NVC). From home schooling families to public school enrollees, Riviera PlaySchool LAB classes are a wonderful resource for families looking for academic alternatives for their elementary-aged children.
We instruct children in the California standards with a project-based, academic rich, “learn by doing” approach that addresses a multitude of learning styles simultaneously and nurtures independent, critical thinking skills.
2010/2011 Classes
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UPCOMING WINTER CLASSES
******************ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS the week prior to the class start. PHONE REGISTRATION is available up to the 2nd class meeting at (310)408-5616.******************
TUESDAYS
SCIENCE: Fun With Your Five Senses & FeelingsTime: Tuesday 1:00 to 2:00 Dates: 6 sessions, beginning January 11 Grades: K~3rd Facilitator: Brianne Allen, M.A.
Did you know that every day we use our five senses to explore the world…without even knowing it?! In this class we will talk about the way we use our senses to smell, touch, hear, see and taste. Interactive experiments like “what does that smell like,” “what does that taste like” and projects like “feelings in clay faces” will keep you curious, laughing and learning all at once.
Hands-on “green living” activities. Grow organic vegetables, create non-toxic eco-friendly cleaners, sew with organic and re-purposed materials, and much more!
Time: Tuesdays 3:30 ~ 4:30 Dates: 6 sessions, beginning January 11 Ages: Grades K – 3rd Facilitator: Jessica Schilling-Wigley, M.A.
Let’s learn math and science concepts the fun way! Learn to follow written and picture directions, use measurements, observe & analyze, and much more.
WORLD LANGUAGE & SOCIAL STUDIES: Spanish!¡Español!
Time: 4:45pm-5:35pm Dates: 6 sessions, beginning January 11 Ages: Grades K – 3rd Facilitator: Mercedes SeraphinCome and meet Señora Mercedes Seraphim, a native spanish speaker, in this fun, Spanish immersion course, taught by native speaker Mercedes! Guaranteed: You child will learn one song that day and drive you crazy with it! (A happy crazy though) This class is taught through total immersion method with songs, games, and play. You will love learning Spanish with Mercedes!!
THURSDAYS
SOCIAL STUDIES: Meet the Children of the World!
Time: Thursdays 1:00 to 2:00 Dates: 6 sessions, beginning Jan. 13 Grades K -3rd Facilitator: Elizabeth BloomLook through your binoculars: who do you see? Imagine you see children waving to you from Sweden, Guatemala, Iceland and many other far off lands. This class is an exploration of our global community through the eyes of a child. The children will explore and consider the native foods, customs, transportation, housing, climate, and much more.
Time: Thursdays 2:15-3:15 Date: 6 sessions, beginning January 13 Ages: Grades K – 3rd Facilitator: Dana Holman, M.A.
Our writing will be a trip into a magical world in which you can discover and create everything happening around you. Beginning with the platform of the California Education Standards for grades K-5, we will explore and develop narrative writing. Beginning and experienced writers will learn to assess and hone their writing skills through motivating and fun activities.
Time: Thursdays 3:30 ~ 4:45 Dates: 6 sessions, 75 minutes each, beginning January 13 Ages: Grades K – 3rd Facilitator: Dana Holman, M.A.
Many of the mysteries of the world can be explored through Science. Starting with the foundation of the California Education Standards for grades K-5, we will conduct experiments beginning to learn the vocabulary and steps of the scientific method. This class will involve lots of hands-on activities in addition to magic, songs and movement.
Design and build motorized machines, catapults, pyramids, demolition derby cards, buildings and other constructions out of LEGO® bricks. While exploring engineering, architecture and physics, students will develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.
******************ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS the week prior to the class start. PHONE REGISTRATION is available up to the 2nd class meeting at (310)408-5616.******************
UPCOMING SPRING CLASSES
ARTISTIC DISCOVERY: Exploring Clay
Time: Thursdays 3:45 to 4:45 Dates: 6 sessions, beginning March 3 Grades: K – 3rd Facilitator: Chelsey JohnsonClay is a material that is fun and easy to shape. It feels good in your hands and between your fingers. In this class we’ll explore different ways to shape clay to look like things around us and in our minds, make bowls and containers, and bisque fire the things we make for lasting and useful artwork.
Registration will open soon, please check back.
OUR FACILITATORS
Dana Holman, M.A.
Dana’s love of children and teaching began at a nationally recognized animal adoption, education and therapy center as the Educational Director. Dana’s talents expanded with humor as an integral part of teaching after graduating from clown school and performing professionally for several years. During Dana’s eight years of elementary teaching she became a teacher mentor and curriculum trainer in the Torrance Unified School District. Dana increased her skills by attaining a school counseling degree and credential. As a school counselor, Dana created a unique fun-filled and student centered social skills curriculum, using the Character Counts national framework, and developed a way to bring this character education program to a population of over 600 students. Dana’s greatest love is her two boys, 2 and 6 years old, who have inspired her to read and attend numerous workshops and conferences on non-violent and authentic communication and relationships.
Jessica Schilling-Wigley, M.A.
Jessica has a MA in Special Education and has been an educator for 13 years. She has worked in a variety of teaching positions in both the public and private sector including: special education preschool teacher, home-hospital teacher, in-home autism behavior therapist, and part-time child development instructor at El Camino College. She currently works part-time as an autism behavioral consultant and tutor while she devotes herself full-time to raising and homeschooling her two sons Gavin (age 3 years) and Cole (age 3 months).
Chelsey Johnson, M.A. candidate 2012
Chelsey Johnson is a lover of exploration, creation, thinking, and playing. She graduated with her BA in Chilld & Adolescent Development from San Francisco State University, holds a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit and has been teaching children of all ages for the last 8 years. Her areas of interest and study include NVC, emergent/constructivist curriculum, intrinsic motivation, teacher action research, and reflective practice. She likes making music, being in nature, making plans, and solving problems.
Brianne Allen, M.A.
Brianne has an M.A. in Counseling Psychology. She has worked therapeutically with children in preschool and elementary school settings. Additionally, she spent two years providing therapy to children, families and adults as an MFT Intern. Over the past ten years she has supported numerous families as a nanny, tutor and parent educator. Most recently, Brianne has been working as a Life Skills Coach for children with ADHD and hosting seminars for South Bay families on choosing the right preschool for their child.
Elizabeth Bloom
Elizabeth has enjoyed a life long passion enriching the lives of children. Beginning two decades ago, as a preschool intern and children’s aquatic director, Elizabeth started her journey. Years later, she opened the S.H.A.R.P. whole child learning center to share her vision with community families. She is a certified learning specialist, education consultant, specialized tutor, P.A.C.E.™ instructor for children with autism and aspergers, Nuparent™ facilitator, yoga teacher for children, jewelry design teacher, and a Red Cross water safety instructor. She holds a BA in Education and Humanities. She has been called the teachers’ teacher, having trained more than 100 educators and counselors in the area of enrichment for children. She is a lifelong learner and is always exploring the world for enrichment opportunities for children and families. She is a dedicated mom to her 1- year-old son, Bodhi, while she works part-time tutoring students, and consulting with parents and educators.
Mercedes Seraphim
Mercedes has been a Spanish Teacher for the last 15 years, teaching all the way from Preschool to Adults, through schools, private and group classes. She is currently the Spanish Teacher at a private school here in Redondo Beach, as well as tutoring Advanced Spanish for High School students.