Tag Archives: Elizabeth

Art and Journaling (elizabeth) (BLOCK)

This is a block class.

This class will be focused on writing, documenting and creating in a journal or journal-like book AND mixing art and different creations into your journal.

Journaling is one of the most effective ways to get yourself writing, expressing yourself and understanding yourself better. We will do just that in this class and will find ourselves at local coffee houses/tea houses occasionally.

This class is perfect for you if need to slow down, reflect, write and engage in your personal creativity.

I will have prompts and provide some fun supplies.

If you are not one to “normally” take a class like this, please consider how alil slow down and write/create for yourself could support your mental and emotional well being.

  • Outside work: No outside work

Sociology of Gender (elizabeth)

Note: This class is open to high school students only.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is open to HS and 8th graders who come chat with me. The reading and content is upper level and I want to make sure we both feel confident in your ability to keep up.

Gender is arguably the most salient characteristic determining one’s place in any society. Gender is the first thing you notice about another person and your assessment of a person’s gender often shapes your expectations of that person. These expectations (which are often requirements) can greatly impact individuals in their moment to moment experiences.

The sociology of gender focuses on the historical and social construction of gender. We will look at how gender is constructed at the level of society as well as how we engage in the re-creation and construction of gender in our everyday lives. Gender will be explored as an institution and a system as well as how it influences individuals. Because gender does not exist in a vacuum, gender will be discussed in relation to its intersection with other social locations such as race, class, sexuality, age, and ethnicity..

In this class we will be reading excerpts from one of the MOST influential and well-known books in gender studies and sociology “Paradoxes of Gender,” by Judith Lorber and reading the book “Dude, You’re a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School” by CJ Pascoe.

This class will involve discussion, reading and completing a personal project on gender.

Would love to get a variety of students who’ve never taken a Queer History class or feminism and students who have!

Required texts/materials: The instructor will procure the texts/materials.

  • Outside work: A small amount (e.g., <30 min) for each session
  • Estimated cost per student: $15
  • Mature themes: mature language and themes around gender and sex

Diverse Voices & Yummy Things (Liana & Elizabeth) (BLOCK)

This is a block class.

In this block class, we’ll gather daily to consume and discuss media by and about diverse humans. We’ll hear from various voices on topics like identity, cultural appropriation, queerness, institutional racism and human rights, and we’ll pull from assorted forms of media including podcasts, documentaries and tv/sitcoms. Each class one of you will provide either a yummy treat or a yummy beverage for everyone to share!

Whiteness/straightness/cis-ness/male-ness etc. in media is the norm; this is an opportunity to approach important topics from a different viewpoint and perspective. 

No homework, just come ready to contribute to discussions each day.

This class is very similar to other iterations of POC Podcasts and Diverse Voices, except we are expanding to include media beyond podcasts!

  • Outside work: No outside work
  • Mature themes: In most cases, we’ll be digesting real stories of people who may experience the world differently than you do; depending on your background/experience, some topics may feel like mature themes to you. We will likely also encounter some spicy language along the way.
  • Minimum students: 5
  • Sessions per week: block

Workout and Climb (elizabeth)

This is a mega class.

This will be a structured class for students who want to work out, sweat, be pushed and climb. We’ll start with a run to the climbing gym, have a group workout in the weight room with timed partner workouts, then we’ll move to some climb time. We will rotate between quiet climb time by yourself that will allow you to focus on your own needs and goals without the distraction of your pals and social climb time, hanging and working together on problems.

The focus of this class will be both working out/strength building and improving your climbing skills. You don’t need to be a certain physical fitness level but you do need to be willing to work hard, sweat and improve your endurance and abilities from where you began.

It will feel hard at times and I’d like you to be excited about growing thorough your physical strength and endurance ability.

This class can accommodate a max of 10 people.

We will be climbing 6 times over the term (due to no school days)

Here are your options:

  • SBP punch card at 10 punches for $125
  • $14 cash each Friday
  • or a monthly climbing pass at $62 a month.

Please talk to Admin staff if this creates financial hardship for your family — we can help

  • Outside work: No outside work
  • Estimated cost per student: $80

Sex Ed. and Relationships (elizabeth)

Note: This class is open to high school students only.

IMPORTANT: This class is open to 8th graders who come talk to me and I agree and have parent permission. 

Sexual health, sex and healthy relationships is something all young people should have access to. One that is inclusive of various genders, cultural backgrounds and one that is focused on the real world and real life experiences.

Learning about sex and relationships is life long journey.

One that might include thoughts like this…

Woah! I feel embarrassed.

Really!? I didn’t know that!

I can’t believe we’re talking about this!

ahhhh, this is uncomfortable!

Hm, I’m curious, tell me more.

We all come to know about sex through SO many different roads.  Maybe what you know about sex has come from friends, religion/spirituality, your families, the big world wide web, your cultural background, the media, memes, gifs, an awkward older sibling, your super down aunt, discovering a book at the library and secretly trying to read it, the possibilities are endless.

Here in this class, I want to create a space where you can learn relevant information about sexual and relational health.  Talking about sex and our bodies openly and honestly can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be.  It can also be enlightening, informative and exciting!!

Each one of you has the right to resources and information about making safe, healthy and enjoyable decisions.  If you are looking at this class and saying “you know, I haven’t really had much sex ed.” or “YEAH, I have a ton of questions but I’m nervous!” or “nah, I know plenty on my own…”  This is the class for YOU.

Each student in this class will get a copy of “S.E.X., second edition: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties” by Heather Corinna. She is a local youth sex educator who is local, lives on Vashon and offers a real life, queer inclusive and honest approach to sex and relationships. 

Required texts/materials: I suggest ordering on Amazon used for the cheapest copies or you could by new in most book stores.

S.E.X., second edition: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties

Students will be responsible for obtaining their own texts/materials. Materials should be procured by: before first class-(1st very important hw assignment)

  • Outside work: Occasional throughout the term
  • Estimated cost per student: $10
  • Mature themes:

Discussion, Debate and Tea (elizabeth)

Note: This class is open to high school students only.

This class will involve drinking hot beverages and discussing pressing social/cultural/political topics. Some topics discussed in this class are related to mental health, relationships, climate change, racial/cultural issues, queerness, gender, identity, plant life, earth health and sexual health.

We will listen to each other, listen to ourselves and hopefully gain some more clarity and insight into tricky or confusing subjects.

The format of this class will be fishbowl discussion and structured debates.

In a Fishbowl discussion, students seated inside the “fishbowl” actively participate in a discussion by asking questions and sharing their opinions, debating, while students standing outside listen carefully to the ideas presented. Students take turns in these roles, so that they practice being both contributors and listeners in a group discussion.

Required texts/materials: subscription to YES magazine

  • Outside work: Occasional throughout the term
  • Estimated cost per student: $12
  • Minimum students: 6

Habla Español Conmigo (elizabeth)

I grew up around Spanish and my Mexican family so Spanish is in though I am still learning when it comes to speaking Spanish. I grew up listening to it spoken often with my family/friends and have taken classes and traveled to Spanish speaking countries many times. This class will be focused on speaking conversation Spanish.

This class is for you if you’d like to try your hand at speaking Spanish. If you know some, great! You can support others and therefore learn it better yourself. If you’ve never been around it and are intimated but are game to try, then great! It is the second most spoken language in this country and worth your spongy brain space.

We will have a lot of fun! NOS VAMOS A DIVERTIR MUCHO!

We will be studying from the book/workbook “Beginning Spanish for the Utterly Confused” the 2nd Edition

This book will guide class in Spanish grammar, verbs and vocabulary, pronunciation, and verbal confidence to try speaking and failing and try speaking and failing. It’s the ONLY way you learn!!

Come practice and learn Spanish 101 basics and conversation.

  • Outside work: Occasional throughout the term

Black Panther: American Lit/History (elizabeth)

Note: This class is open to high school students only.

This is a high school lit class and history class.

This book is a crucial piece of American literature that captures the heart and soul of America (in it’s darkness and light) through the eyes of black folks in this country. The class will also include the history of the past and current impacts of the colonization of Africa as a continent and traces that history through the slavery of black folks in this country, to current events.

As a mini history lesson: Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965. The Black Panther Party (BPP) started in 1966. Malcolm X served as a deep source of inspiration to the foundation of the BPP among so much more. The Marvel movie, Black Panther came out last year, in 2018.

The American stories and histories through Malcolm X and the Black Panther Party are intertwined and complex. We will dive into the themes, literary devices, historical content and perspective writing.

 

Required texts/materials:

The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley 

Students will be responsible for obtaining their own texts/materials. Materials should be procured by: before first class-(1st very important hw assignment)

  • Outside work: A moderate amount (e.g., 30-60 min) for each session
  • Estimated cost per student: $6
  • Minimum students: 4
  • Sessions per week: 2

Plant Wisdom (elizabeth)

The earth is full of healing. Plants can teach us a lot about how to be healthy and happy. There are thousands of herbs and plants that support our well being if we can learn to work with them. One of my passions is natural health and understanding how different plants, roots and flowers can help us as humans live a more grounded and connected life.

This will be a research based and hands on intro class to understanding natural remedies and plant wisdom. The students in this class will help guide the direction we go, depending on who joins.

So, are you interested in learning more about natural remedies?!

We will be sprucing up the apothecary chest and making essential oil and plant based sprays, balms and salves.

We will visit a couple plant healing spaces in Seattle.

  • Outside work: Occasional throughout the term
  • Estimated cost per student: $15