Building STEAM

I had the best time this afternoon judging Lincoln Douglas debates at Regent University for NCFCA. I was so inspired by these well-spoken young people. I can’t wait to work with my Logic and Debate students next September.

Do you have a high school student who could benefit from understanding how to construct an effective argument, proper flow, communication skills, and how to spot and avoid logical fallacies? This class is for them. Check it out at: www.building-steam.com/classes

Last month, I released my Art of Botany Course for sale on Curriculum Square. This whole project has been a labor of love that started over two years ago while I was reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I knew there was a class here that would marry the wonder of science and the beauty of nature. After many months of research and planning, I decided to offer the course locally in Virginia Beach. A full high school-level botany class paired with a full high school-level drawing class focused on botanical illustration. It went better than I expected and I went back to work making edits and improvements. This year, another school picked up the course and started teaching it and next year, there will be more. The feedback from students, parents, and mentors has been amazing. I'm so excited to be offering this class live again in Virginia Beach next year, but also to be offering the course with training for schools and co-ops all over the country who want to inspire a love of science and art in their students all while encouraging them to become "cooperative, contributing, mutualistic members of our environment and communities". Everything you need for this class is provided in my 300+ page manual. Beautiful graphics, detailed illustrations, activities, projects, and more. The whole course is tied together with the G.R.O.W. Project that stands for Get out (in nature), Record, Observe, and Wonder. Keep a nature journal, go on hikes, create a plant scrapbook, collect and test water, and more!

Please check out The Art of Botany at Curriculum Square. https://curriculumsquare.com/?s=art+of+botany&asp_active=1&p_asid=2&p_asp_data=1&filters_initial=1&filters_changed=0&qtranslate_lang=0&woo_currency=USD¤t_page_id=4644

Sample pages here are copyrighted by Juliet Bellinger and may not be reproduced or distributed without written permission of the author.

VIRGINIA BEACH, AGES 12-17, SHAKESPEARE PARENT INFORMATION MEETING

When: Wednesday, April 10th, 7 pm (other dates available)

Where: Zoom

What: Parent Information Meeting

William Shakespeare is recognized as one of the most gifted and influential writers of all time. His plays and sonnets survive and thrive hundreds of years after their creation because of their timeless topics and Shakespeare’s mastery of illuminating the intricacies of human behavior. Why then, do so few people regularly watch, read or listen to Shakespeare’s works? Often, it is because the language can be difficult and foreign to what we are used to today. However, through immersion, context and discussion, one can unlock the mystery of the language of the bard and glean all of the wisdom, talent and rich culture his writings offer.

What is Shakespeare Conquest?

Shakespeare Conquest is a year-long course created by the Leadership Education Mentoring Institute (LEMI) which utilizes the classic writings of William Shakespeare, the historical context of the Elizabethan period, and the mechanics of acting to aid students in recognizing they can be part of something great and how to discover their place in the world. As with all LEMI courses, a strong emphasis is placed on high values and personal mission.

Through Shakespeare Conquest, students will learn:

• They can do hard things by immersing themselves in the language of the bard

• From the history of the Elizabethan Period, how to determine their place in the world and the course they will follow

• Through working with others, how to disagree while remaining civil, teamwork, trust, and much more

• Through the close reading of two Shakespeare plays and group discussions, important topics such as trust, forgiveness, loyalty and integrity.

• As they participate in the coursework and acting exercises, confidence, memorizing, writing, speaking up, working with people, presenting, reading difficult things, understanding heightened language and more

In part, this course covers:

• Who Shakespeare was and why he still is important

• Poetic Language devices and strategies

• The culture and history of Elizabethan England

• Beginning acting

• Reading difficult texts and being part of a book discussion

• Writing opinion papers

• Giving a presentation to peers

• Working with others

Students will be asked to:

• Attend class weekly, having read assignments

• Actively participate in class discussions and acting exercises

• Write opinion papers from reading prompts

• Create a 10-15 minute presentation for class based on selected Elizabethan Era topics

• Participate in a Shakespeare Festival for all of the families, held in January

• Participate in the production of one of Shakespeare’s plays in May (includes attending all practices and memorizing all lines)

• Students also will be challenged to watch, read or listen to 17 unabridged Shakespeare plays. This is OPTIONAL, but there are rewards for doing so! I personally have seen many students ages 12-17 complete this task and reap the amazing benefits.

Parents will be asked to:

• Support their child in obtaining all required reading materials

• Take an active role in the Shakespeare Fair in January (one evening-simple Elizabethan-themed dinner and activities provided by the students, recognition for accomplishments of students through 1st semester)

• Fulfill one or more of the jobs to help with the spring performance in May

• Ensure child attends all practices and memorizes lines

Students will need the following materials:

• Shakespeare Conquest manual (available through LEMI)

• Cliffs Complete versions of Hamlet and Twelfth Night



To register for the meeting and receive the Zoom link, visit www.building-steam.com/classes

Exciting news for Building STEAM! We now will be offering a full day of high school-level classes for the 2024-25 school year.

Building STEAM offers unique classes that inspire students to not only master their subjects, but to apply their knowledge to everyday life.

A FULL DAY OF HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES
Tuesdays are now a full day of high school-level classes for students ages 12 and up. We will be offering a range of drop-off classes at Game On Gaming Center (Kemps River Rd, VB) from 9 am-3:15 pm. Take one or all of our classes at an affordable price. Discounts available for families who pay in advance, but payment plans available. If you choose not to take one of the classes, feel free to stay and use the time as a study hall period (fully supervised). Bring your lunch and socialize with friends from 12-12:30 pm.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT
As part of your child's enrollment, parents/guardians agree to come and supervise the building during either a morning or afternoon session on a rotational basis. No teaching is necessary. Frequency of these sessions will be determined by the number of students enrolled, but should be a few times a semester.

CLASSES OFFERED 2024-25
For the 2024-2025 school year, Building STEAM will be offering Art of Botany (a full botany and full drawing course), For the Love of Numbers: A Geometric Journey (geometry), Shakespeare Conquest (literature and drama with a full spring production), and Logic and Debate.

For detailed descriptions and to register, please visit:

Building S.T.E.A.M. NOW WITH A FULL DAY OF HIGH SCHOOL-LEVEL CLASSES!

Tonight is the last Parent Info Meeting for the 2022-23 school year.

Go to the link in my bio for how to register, or email [email protected]

🎭Shakespeare Class Parent Info Meeting TONIGHT!🎭

Monday, June 27th, 8 pm

Class is for ages 12+
Held live on Tuesdays 9:30 am-11:00 am EST
at GameOn Gaming Center, Virginia Beach

Come to this 20 minute meeting to learn about this transformational class.

Comment below, DM me, or email [email protected] for the Zoom link.

In-person homeschool class in Virginia Beach!

Times are EST.

Language Arts and Fine Arts.

Participate in a Shakespeare play at the end of the class.

History comes ALIVE in this class that covers the US Founding up to WWII.

Living books
Simulations and exciting activities
Games
Classics
FREE engaging digital download of workbook
Document Studies

DM for more information

⭐️New classes up!⭐️

Spanish 2 is full.
❗️Register for Spanish 1 now!❗️

8-11 year olds meet Mondays and Wednesdays 10:30-11 am EST

12 and up students meet Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-1:00 pm EST

I’m always surprised and touched when my students give me gifts at the end of our school year. This book will be such a fun beach read for me this summer. This student and his mom know how to speak my love language. 😂

Happy Easter, STEAMsters!

Sometimes we have to switch things up, especially this time of year when the weather is nice outside, and we want to get out! Reading paragraphs on a plain page was getting a little tedious for the little one, so I printed the passage out, cut it in strips and hid them around the house. I then created clues to find the numbered strips of paper for our . She loved it, and I heard her say later, “We had fun school today!” Win!