SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL Classes Taught by Megan Whitmire...
Megan Whitmire
Megan is passionate about education and holds a bachelor's degree in Business Education from Utah State University. Over the years, she has taught students across various age groups, with her most recent experience at Alliance, where she has been for the past year. Additionally, she has dedicated the last decade to homeschooling her two sons. Megan loves reading, music, outdoors, learning new things, technology, and facilitating children's learning. She appreciates the opportunities provided by Alliance and values the community of students and staff. Eager to contribute, she looks forward to guiding students in their educational journeys.
Math workshop for grades 3-6
Class Details:
Tuesdays and Thursdays
10:00 – 11:30 am
Teacher: Megan Whitmire
Monthly Tuition: $135
One time class supply fee: $80
Enrollment limit 18
Class Description:
This class is not intended to substitute your standard homeschool math curriculum. Rather, it aims to enhance and complement your at-home learning, providing your student with additional opportunities to engage with mathematics. This course is focused exclusively on elementary math skills. Sixth graders are welcome to enroll if they seek extra assistance, a review, or support in mastering elementary math concepts; however, the curriculum will not extend to middle school mathematics. The focus will be on developing fluency in fundamental math skills, with particular emphasis on math fact fluency. Key areas of study will include place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, measurement, and basic geometry. As the year progresses, older students will also explore fractions, decimals, and equations. Instruction will involve direct teaching followed by group activities that include teacher-led discovery lessons, engaging math fact fluency exercises through physical games and online platforms, independent practice at math centers, and an online program aimed at identifying and addressing gaps in essential math skills. Classes will be held twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for one and a half hours.
Prerequisites:
Students must exhibit reading and writing proficiency, have some math knowledge, and sustain concentration during independent work sessions to enroll in this class.
Class Structure:
Students will participate in brief math lessons as a whole class before dividing into smaller groups to engage in various activities. They will receive guided instruction from the teacher, utilizing math manipulatives and whiteboards to tackle problems, allowing the teacher to support and assess their comprehension. Following this, students will transition to using Chromebooks to enhance their math skills and facts through an online program. Subsequently, they will focus on fact fluency by participating in games and interactive activities. Finally, students will work independently at math activity centers to further reinforce their skills.
Weekly Stations that students will rotate through during class time...
Class Instruction - Class instruction time will encompass the entire class learning mathematical concepts and vocabulary, with the teacher providing demonstrations.
Meet the Teacher - During meet the teacher rotation, small groups will engage with the teacher for additional instruction on math concepts. This will include personalized assistance utilizing whiteboards, manipulatives, visual aids, and hands-on modeling to enhance understanding of the material.
Math Facts - During the math facts rotation, students will engage with flashcards, participate in math games, access online practice tools, and complete timed fluency assessments to enhance their proficiency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Independent Centers - In the independent math center rotation, students will engage in self-directed activities that reinforce their mathematical skills. They will apply the concepts they have previously learned to solve various math tasks and story problems, serving as a spiral review of the material covered.
Online Math Practice - In the online math practice rotation, students will engage with an independent program known as Moby Math. This program identifies and addresses gaps in essential math skills necessary for understanding mathematical concepts. By focusing on specific areas of difficulty, Moby Math enables students to advance as soon as they demonstrate mastery of the material.
Ideas and Explorations for grades 3-8:
Class Details:
Tuesdays
11:50 am-12:50pm
Teacher: Megan Whitmire
Monthly Tuition: $45
One time Class supply fee: $30
Enrollment limit 18
Class Description:
If you love to learn and explore new things, then share your insights in creative ways, this course is for you! It emphasizes exploration of a wide range of concepts, enabling students to investigate various subjects while discovering inventive and creative ways to share their insights. Participants will utilize digital platforms like Google Slides, alongside practical applications such as creating books, games, and portfolios, to creatively present their findings. Research on new topics will occur every 6 to 8 weeks. Some of our research topics will be...
The 7 Effective Habits
Digital Escape Rooms
Government & Founders
Historic Timelines
Career Exploration
Money and Finance
Prerequisite skills:
Prerequisite skills for enrollment in this class require students to possess reading and writing abilities. Additionally, students must have a Google account and be able to log in to a Chromebook to access the internet for research purposes and utilize Google Workspace for creating documents and presentations. Furthermore, students should be prepared to engage with computers, participate in hands-on projects, and collaborate with peers in group or pair settings for project work.
Class Materials:
Students will use a Chromebook while in class to facilitate research and creative activities. Other supplementary materials for projects will be provided as needed.
Projects:
Throughout the year, various projects will be assigned on different topics, allowing students to work either individually or collaboratively to investigate and finalize their work. Upon completion, students will present their projects to the class for evaluation. Additionally, bonus projects will be offered for those who complete their initial assignments and seek further learning opportunities.
Project details:
The following projects are scheduled for this year:
o THE 7 EFFECTIVE HABITS (This is an individual project)
This project will involve an exploration of Steven Covey's seven habits of highly effective people, with the aim of establishing personal development goals. Subsequently, we will utilize the knowledge and insights gained to design a customized infographic that illustrates our understanding of these habits alongside our individual objectives connected to them.
o DIGITAL ESCAPE ROOMS (This is a group project)
In this project, students will engage in learning and practicing grade-level math concepts by designing a digital escape room utilizing Google Forms. They will create the escape room using math equations embedded in various clues. Students will develop their own graphics and formulate unique problems to create an interactive game. Subsequently, students will present their escape rooms to the class, allowing their peers to participate in the game and attempt to escape by successfully completing the math challenges to advance.
o GOVERNMENT AND FOUNDERS (This is an individual project)
This project consists of two main components. Initially, students will explore the Bill of Rights and develop an engaging flipbook that presents information about the amendments in a creative format, allowing them to personalize and enhance their learning experience. Next, students will select one of America's founding fathers to research, compiling a presentation that includes biographical details, notable quotes, and their contributions to the establishment of the nation. Finally, students will share their projects with the class.
o HISTORIC TIMELINES (This is a group project)
Students will collaborate with a classmate to investigate historical events from a designated period. Each pair will focus on a unique era and will creatively construct a physical timeline representing those events. The project will conclude with all groups merging their timelines with those created by their peers, resulting in an expansive, foldable timeline of world history that spans the room.
o CAREER EXPLORATION (This is an individual project)
In this initiative, students will complete a career aptitude assessment designed to evaluate their strengths, interests, and personality characteristics, helping them pinpoint potential career paths for the future. Following this assessment, students will conduct research on their chosen career to determine the necessary education and experience, potential salary, and required qualifications. Subsequently, they will establish goals, develop a strategic plan, and assemble a portfolio to assist them in navigating their future career journey.
o MONEY AND FINANCE (This is a group project)
In this project, students will investigate various facets of money and finance, subsequently developing an assignment or game designed to effectively teach a specific financial concept to their peers in an enjoyable and interactive manner. Through this process, they will gain insights into financial responsibility and money management while engaging in a fun learning experience.
Keyboarding & Journalism:
Class Details:
Thursdays
11:50 am-12:50pm
Teacher: Megan Whitmire
Monthly Tuition: $45
One time Class supply fee: $25
Enrollment limit 18
Class Description:
This course, conducted for one hour each Thursday, emphasizes keyboarding and journalism. Students will participate in keyboarding exercises designed to improve their speed, skill, and accuracy, which will then be utilized in journalistic endeavors. They will apply their typing abilities to produce both print and digital media, starting with flyers and brochures, progressing to a collaborative classroom newsletter and magazine, and finally a student-authored blog. The curriculum also encompasses an examination of journalism's history, various journalism types, and the principles of effective reporting, all while enhancing typing proficiency. The online typing platform used for this course will be Typesy.com.
Prerequisite skills:
Students must possess reading and basic writing skills as prerequisites for this class. Each student will be provided with an account for a typing program and is required to have a Google account to access Google Workspace and other online tools for their journalism projects. It is essential for students to log into the typing program and practice proper posture, finger placement, and effective typing techniques both in class and at home.
Class Outline:
The daily class schedule includes a 20-minute session dedicated to typing practice utilizing typesy.com, followed by 10 minutes of instructional time. Students will then engage in a 30-minute project work period, focusing throughout the year on the creation of fliers and brochures, a classroom magazine, a classroom newsletter, and a classroom blog