There are two workshops focus mainly on creative writing skills for grades 1-2 as well as on academic writing skills for grades 3-5. In these workshops, students are given the opportunity to express themselves freely through a wide range of vocabulary games and writing exercises. Older students will also practice writing expository, narrative, and argument essays as part of their curriculum through an innovative, engaging pedagogy that encourages creativity and originality in self expression. By the end of a six-week session, students will be able to recognize and produce beginnings, endings, and climactic middles of stories. In grades 3-5, this will be paralleled with introductions, conclusions, and supporting paragraphs of academic essays.

Instructor : Yeganeh Modir holds a master's degree in Comparative Literature from San Francisco State University. Since 1997, she has taught English composition and literature at several bay area colleges and universities including: San Jose State University, University of Phoenix, Evergreen Valley College, and De Anza College where she currently teaches as a part-time English instructor. Among her publications are: "First Feedings", a short memoir, "The Bedside Bookshelf.", a short story, and A Cross-Cultural Approach to Simin Daneshvar's Aesthetics in A Persian Requiem, master's thesis. Modir lives in San Jose with her husband and their three sons.

The Creative Choreography dance class will focus on the art of storytelling and emotion through dance. Also included will be stretching, cardio, and improvisation. All levels welcome. This class promises to be fun as well as a growing experience for anyone interested in dance.

Instructor : Lauren Meyer has been in over twenty-five professional and community theatrical productions throughout the Bay Area. She has been trained in voice, acting, and many dance styles from the age of four. She has choreographed theatrical productions and concerts for youth, as well as taught acting and musical theater classes and workshops. Using a curriculum she developed, she directed a musical theater camp geared towards middle and high school students. She also has a personal business providing private dance lessons and audition coaching. She has a huge passion for theater and will continue my theater education in college. She has also written a 40 page book entitled, "Learn to audition!" His book can be used by people of any age. She also teaches Musical Theatre, Creative dance, Creative Choreograph, Tap/ Jazz

Cookie Decoration is a one session class in which students will learn the art of cookie design and decoration and will bring home 3 pieces of artfully decorated cookies.

Instructor : Laurie Clarke is the owner of The Sweet Celebrations. She has numerous years of experience making both traditional and specialty cakes. She has a passion for cookie and cake decorating and enjoys sharing that with kids and seeing them smile.

Students will focus on Digital camera equipment, camera basics, taking photos, concept of light & flash. Students will take photos for assignments during class and outside of class. The instructor will take 5 of their best images and print them to have a final critique on the last day of class. Detailed agenda will be provided at the first day of the class.

Instructor Bio: Erica has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from San Jose State with an emphasis in Photography. Teaching children about photography has always been a dream of hers. Her profession of photography actually started before she had a degree. She worked as an in-house photographer for a modeling agency in Los Altos, and photographed numerous models - both adult and children. She enjoyed the process so much she decided to go to college to earn her degree and learn more about photography. More than 25 years later, she still enjoys photography in every aspect.

www.imagesbyerica.com

Zumba for kids program has been in the works since the inception of Zumba. Young dancers are given the opportunity to get into fabulous, kidtastic shape through repetition, great music, cool lyrics and fun! This is a 45 minutes class which starts with a warm up and then moves from song to song.

This is a fun exercise class which will provide the parents and children the opportunity to learn the basics of Latin dancing and music through exercise and fun. The purpose of this class is to address the lack of exercise due to the time and schedule issue that most of the parents have. Children of participating parents who are not participating will be supervised by After School Life staff while the class is in process.

Instructor : Valeria Soto is a certified Zumba Instructor. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to an American-Argentinean family, Valeria Soto liked dancing, singing, and moving her body to music from an early age. At eight, she was a student and performer at Maria Amuchastegui's Tap Dance Studio. Later, she studied Contemporary Dance for six years with ballerina Vanina Bagli. Upon her recent arrival in San Jose, Valeria immediately pursued further dance and music studies and activities. She is presently studying Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, Dance Tech and Lyrical dancing at Studio 10 in Cupertino, Bellydancing at Halanda Studio, where she has performed with Karavansaray Dance Company, and Voice with Maestro Carl Franzen

This is a great fun/exercise class. It will have students jumping, turning, spinning and moving forwards and backwards. This is the best class for students to get their exercise and dance techniques while having fun.

Instructor : Nicole Parsels is the Group Fitness and Kinesis Director for Club One at Silver Creek Sportsplex. She has been involved in the fitness industry for over 8 years and is a nationally certified group fitness, spinning and zumba instructor. Nicole has appeared in over 5 fitness video's and 2 infomercials including videos with Olympic Gold Medalist Mitch Gaylord! Not only is Nicole a fitness enthusiast but she holds a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Davis. She is excited to share her passion for dance and fitness with the children of Marshall Lane Elementary

Self Defense classes help students with balance, coordination, focus, discipline and respect. In this 6 week class each student will be taught basic stances, blocks, kicks, punches and self-defense techniques that will help them stay safe. In this fun and safe environment we will also help the students with awareness of your surroundings, reacting in a dangerous situation instead of freezing. This class is offered for children and adult

Instructor : Sifu Ostrowski started her kenpo karate training at the age of ten. In 2003 she received her Black Belt in Shaolin Kenpo under her instructor Sibok Leo Lopez. She has been teaching Shaolin Kenpo since 2004. In 2007 she received the rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt from Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro. Sifu Ostrowski is continuing her Shaolin Kenpo education by taking classes at the main school in Daly City. For more information about the instructor or Shaolin Kenpo system, you may visit http://www.eagleflieslow.com.