Summer Academic Camps
Summer is a good time to take a break from the rigors of the regular school year, but it is also a time when learning can be lost or come to a standstill. That makes it the perfect time to enroll in a SUMMER ACADEMIC CAMP offered by SIMPLY TUTORING designed to meet your child’s age, schedule and interests. Grab a friend or 2, or a sibling and decide what skills you’d like to strengthen this summer together in an enjoyable, low-stress atmosphere in your home, the tutor’s home, or some other neutral gathering space. Meet weekly, or just once, or anything in between. Hone reading skills by sharing a good book together, improve writing skills by creating original stories, master those math skills by playing fun games/activities. Below is a list of tutors who have either designed their own camps, or who have ideas, but are waiting for your input to develop the entire plan for the summer. SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION ON ALL CAMPS!!
CAMPS LISTED BY INSTRUCTOR
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DR. KERRY McARTHUR has over 25 years of experience working in the field of education with a focus on literacy development and student success. She has taught public school grades PreK-12, as well as trained teachers at the university level. While Dr. McArthur has also worked as a Literacy Coach and Curriculum Writer, her work as a Reading Specialist guiding striving readers to success is her passion and area of expertise! She is also trained in dyslexia through Neuhaus Education.
PRETTY IN PINK
WHAT: Join us for reading and writing fun! Students will read and discuss early readers exploring the adventures of Pinkalicious and Fancy Nancy. Books will be provided for campers who will participate in a guided reading lesson with a focus on comprehension, fluency, and word work. Campers will also discuss and write a response in a take-home journal. Along with a morning of fun with other early readers, campers will leave with a book, word work manipulative, and a journal to continue their adventure.
WHERE: Kerry’s home on Sentry Maple Place (Alden Bridge The Woodlands)
WHO: Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders (minimum 3 students; maximum 6 students)
WHEN: Each Tuesday in June and July from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
WHY: To improve reading/writing skills in a fun environment
HOW MUCH: $60 per student for each Tuesday you want to come
WHAT ELSE: All materials provided. Bring yourself and at least one friend!
June Camp Dates and Focus:
Tuesday June 4 *** Book: Pinkalicious *** Word Work: double letters
Tuesday June 11 *** Book: Purplicious *** Word Work: bossy r
Tuesday June 18 *** Book: Pinkalicious: Tickled Pink *** Word Work: suffix ed and ing
Tuesday June 25 *** Book: Pinkalicious and the Pink Drink *** Word Work: nk silent letters
July Camp Dates and Focus:
Tuesday July 9 *** Book: Meet Fancy Nancy *** Word Work: short vowel review
Tuesday July 16 *** Book: Fancy Nancy: Budding Ballerina *** Word Work: double + ing/ed rule
Tuesday July 23 *** Book: Fancy Nancy: Tea for Two *** Word Work: long vowel patterns
Tuesday July 30 *** Book: Fancy Nancy: Quest for the Unicorn *** Word Work: sight word review
NOTE: If specific books become unavailable, a similar Pinkalicious and Fancy Nancy book will be substituted.
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LAUREL STEVENS is a long-term educator specializing in literacy education. After teaching in the classroom and homeschooling, she has provided tutoring since 2020 and Reading Therapy (Neuhaus Basic Language Skills) since 2022. She is now pursuing a Masters degree in Education and certification as an Academic Language Therapist.
PAPERBACK PALS
WHAT: A Summer Book Club for 4th – 6th graders. We will start the book together, and students will be assigned chapters to read at home. Our meetings will be spent reviewing what was read, examining literary elements, developing vocabulary and background knowledge, and responding to the text with activities and informal writing projects. The book and all supplies will be provided. Listening to an audio book while following along with the book is an acceptable alternative to reading the book alone.
Shiloh by Phillis Reynolds Naylor is a Newberry Award Winner about Marty and his love for a dog abused by a cruel owner. In the hills of West Virginia, Marty will do whatever it takes to keep Shiloh safe, but how will that affect his family?
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan takes place in Mexico and California during the Great Depression and tells a challenging story of a girl whose family is struck by tragedy and must find a new life. In the context of a camp for Mexican farm workers, dust storms, and hard labor, Esperanza, who is based on the author’s grandmother, must decide how she will truly live.
WHERE: Meetings take place at Mrs. Stevens’ home in The Woodlands
WHO: 4th – 6th graders looking to make new friends with books (minimum 2 students; maximum 5 students)
WHEN: Dates of 90-minute meetings to be arranged with Mrs. Stevens and group members.
WHY: It’s hot outside, so spend some time with your nose in a book, and then come discuss and share it with friends. Participants can sign up for one or both books.
HOW MUCH:
June book: Shiloh (3 meetings) = $140. per student
July book: Esperanza Rising (4 meetings) = $175. per student
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KIMBERLY FALK has 30 years of teaching experience in high school English classrooms and her students were extremely successful on Texas state tests and AP/DC exams as well as applications and acceptance to various colleges and universities across the country. Kimberly has successfully taught all the lessons in the sessions listed below. As with all history and literature of merit, there are difficult and very real themes in the films/media and activities used which may include: politics, religion, trauma, violence, nudity, flawed characters, or harsh language. All media will be shown in its entirety and original form; nothing will be edited or censored. All discussions and materials used are created to be factual, fair, and balanced where all views can be heard.
90 MINUTES TO BETTER COLLEGE ESSAY PLANNING AND TSI WRITING
WHAT: Participants will begin by collecting data on themselves and identifying personal writing territories. We will set up and learn to navigate your own College Board account, sift through different types of application essay questions, and discover a metaphor, unique to each participant, to use as a path for writing. Finally, we will write a draft essay (either TSI or Apply-Texas essay topic; student choice).
WHERE: At Kimberly’s house on Colton Ct. in Woodforest (Montgomery)
WHO: 8th through 12th graders (minimum 2 students; maximum 5 students)
WHEN: Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – possible dates: June 11, 18, 25, July 9, 16, 23 (each date listed is a 90-minute self-contained session)
WHY: To learn about writing a draft essay
HOW MUCH: $50 per student per 90-minute session
WHAT ELSE: Bring a laptop. PARENTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
WHAT IS CULTURAL LITERACY, AND HOW DOES IT WORK IN COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS?
WHAT: Excellent reading comprehension and writing skills are based on one’s ability to recognize and apply historical references, allusions, imagery, and tone when reading challenging texts or writing college essays. Beginning with the basic history of this country, the average man-on-the-street cannot explain the reason we celebrate the 4th of July. Many people do not know the difference between the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. How much of Hamilton do people really get? What is the American Dream? Could a native-born American pass a standard citizenship test? Participants will listen to “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel to explore the idea of cultural literacy and do a quick self-assessment. We will understand the importance of recognizing the accuracies and inaccuracies of historical references in a variety of literature and media. What are the benefits of a culturally literate and patriotic citizenry? What happens to society when that literacy is not present? Finally, we will explore how to apply these ideas to our college essay planning.
WHERE: At Kimberly’s house on Colton Ct. in Woodforest (Montgomery)
WHO: 6th through 12 graders (minimum 2 students; maximum 5 students)
WHEN: Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – possible dates: June 11, 18, 25, July 9, 16, 23 (each date listed is a 90-minute self-contained session)
WHY: To learn how to write better essays
HOW MUCH: $50 per student per 90-minute session
WHAT ELSE: All materials provided. PARENTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
RESPONDING TO LITERATURE WITHOUT SPARK NOTES
WHAT: Using A Year in the Jungle by Suzanne Collins, participants will practice authentic analysis and response to various literary selections for the purpose of taking part in literature circle discussions/Socratic seminar, book clubs, writing great literary analysis for school-assigned writing tasks, and honing higher-level cognitive skills.
WHERE: At Kimberly’s house on Colton Ct. in Woodforest (Montgomery)
WHO: 8th through 12th graders (minimum 2 students; maximum 5 students)
WHEN: Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – possible dates: June 11, 18, 25, July 9, 16, 23 (each date listed is a 90-minute self-contained session)
WHY: To hone higher-level cognitive skills in reading, writing and discussion of literature
HOW MUCH: $50 per student per 90-minute session
WHAT ELSE: Bring a copy of a favorite book/novel (printed, not electronic). PARENTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
LITERATURE AND HISTORY THROUGH FILM: A MOVIE/MUSICAL STUDY
WHAT: Excellent reading comprehension and writing skills are based on one’s ability to recognize and apply historical references, allusions, imagery, and tone when reading challenging texts or writing college essays. Books are not the enemy, but with instant access to a world of information at our fingertips, students today are more often visual and auditory learners with shorter attention spans; therefore, when combined with good instructional strategies and historical context, movies like those on the list below can help students think critically and build a toolbox of examples with literary merit for use on college essays. Participants will complete pre and post-viewing writing activities and discussion.
WHERE: At Kimberly’s house on Colton Ct. in Woodforest (Montgomery)
WHO: 8th through 12th graders (minimum 2 students; maximum 5 students)
WHEN: Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – possible dates: June 12 and July 24
WHY: To use movies/musicals to think critically and to build a toolbox of examples for writing
HOW MUCH: $70 per student per 3-hour session
WHAT ELSE: All materials provided. Movie selections will be determined by participant interest. Options include:
Based on books:
Dead Poet’s Society
Steel Magnolias
The Green Mile
Joy Luck Club
The Secret Life of Bees
Fried Green Tomatoes
Where the Heart Is
Not in This Town
Star Wars/The Odyssey (study of the epic and archetypes)
Historical Events:
Amistad
Twelve Years a Slave
Far and Away
Dances with Wolves
The Great Debaters
Rosewood
The Help
Apollo 13
Miracle (1980 US Olympic hockey team)
Not Without my Daughter (lesson connects to Dances with Wolves)
Musicals:
Fiddler on the Roof
West Side Story
Rent
Hamilton (lesson refers back to the cultural literacy mini session)
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MADELEINE LEE - I am an honors student at the University of Texas at Austin. I graduated from The Woodlands High School Summa Cum Laude. I have four years of tutoring experience in subjects including math, science, history, English, and writing and a rich academic background in math, writing, and English. I hope to provide a fun, engaging, and educational summer tutoring experience!
SUMMER SPARK: CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP
WHAT: A writing workshop that would help students improve their writing skills and their intuition for writing. Sessions focused on specific elements of writing such as planning, thesis statements, grammar, style, tone, and organization. Feedback will be provided to students on their fun writing assignments.
WHERE: A location in The Woodlands to be decided upon
WHO: 5th through 7th graders (minimum 2 students; maximum 5 students)
WHEN: Once a week - dates and times to be determined
WHY: To improve foundational writing skills
HOW MUCH:
4 hours in June = $140
4 hours in July = $140
WHAT ELSE: Students can bring their own water bottle and snack.
MATH FUNdamentals
WHAT: A math skills workshop that includes short lessons on critical math topics and fun math games.
WHERE: A location in The Woodlands to be decided upon
WHO: 5th through 7th graders (minimum 2 students; maximum 5 students)
WHEN: Once a week - dates and times to be determined
WHY: To encourage success in future math classes
HOW MUCH:
4 hours in June = $140
4 hours in July = $140
WHAT ELSE: Students can bring their own water bottle and snack.