Executive Functioning for Teens

REGISTRATION for Summer 2026 is now OPEN!

Click here to request enrollment.

 👂(click here for text to speech audio )

Executive functioning involves the cognitive skills that help us accomplish our daily tasks, work through life’s challenges, and reach our goals. And we’re not just talking about academic and professional goals. Executive functioning skills are the key to finding success in everything that matters to us whether it be personal relationships, gaming, or having a great night out with friends.

These skills include: 

Planning                            Organization

Time Management            Task Initiation

Working Memory                Meta Cognition    

Self Control                      Attention

Flexibility                        Perseverance

It seems reasonable to assume that we are born with these skills since they are crucial to our success in every stage of development.  But, alas, they cannot be developed intuitively. Without explicit instruction and guidance, the demands placed on students can cause feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt.

While we want to see our teens successfully stay organized, plan ahead, keep track of their papers, manage their time, be flexible, persevere, and remember all the important details, sometimes it feels like we’ve tried our best to impart these skills to no avail. But what if it’s not a failure on the part of teens or their parents? What if, for some teens, these skills need to be introduced by an outside source? What if teens could meet with peers to explore executive functioning strategies that they can practice throughout the week?

In this 13 week virtual course, students will be encouraged to self-assess their skills, select strategies that resonate with them, and identify simple, practical ways to incorporate these new practices into their daily lives.

Why start in summer?
Starting in July gives us time to develop new habits that will help us declutter and better organize our living spaces. By September our toolboxes will be full of new strategies to apply to our academic life as well.
We’ll create a safe space to discuss our challenges, reframe our negative self-talk, embrace our mistakes as learning opportunities, and celebrate our progress each week.

Transgender Biology: What Does Science Really Have to Say?

Open to high school students ages 14 - 18 

In February 2021, Congressperson Marjarie Taylor Greene responded to a neighboring Congress Woman’s transgender pride flag by posting a sign outside of her office that read, “There are two genders: male and female.  Believe the science.”  

But what does science actually have to say about the biology of transgender and non-binary people?  

In this short-course, we'll explore what leading endocrinologists, neurologists, and even forensic scientists have to say about the biology and welfare of transgender and non-binary people.  Then we'll dive into how all that information applies to the 19th Ammendment of our Constitution.  

Duration & Time

This class will meet virtually for three consecutive Tuesdays (January 12th through the 26th 2027) from 7-8pm.      

Prerequisites

Students should have a basic understanding of human biology.  They should also be familiar with the US Constitution and the three branches of government.  

Requirements

Each participant must have access to a computer or smart device with a microphone, speaker, and camera.  

Students must be able to access Zoom and Google Apps including Google Classroom, Google Slides, and Google Docs.  

Cost

The cost of this course is $75

$25 is due at the time of registration and can be sent via PayPal or Venmo.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, I am happy to work with you on a payment plan or reduced fee. 

Space is limited

Registration Opens Friday, April 24th, 2026 at 9am!

The French Revolution

Open to high school students ages 15 - 18

Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2:45 - 4:05pm

September - December 2026

Step into the dramatic world of the French Revolution in this dynamic history class designed for active learners.

Students will explore the causes, major events, and lasting impact of the Revolution, including the rise of Enlightenment ideas, the storming of the Bastille, the Reign of Terror, and the emergence of Napoleon.

Through engaging interactive activities, such as art, role-play, competitions, and collaborative games, students will bring historical figures and moments to life, deepening their understanding and making history memorable.

Join us for an immersive journey where collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking are at the heart of every lesson.

Duration 

This class will meet twice a week (Tuesday & Thursday) for 80 minutes.

Classes will run in 4 three-week blocks from September through December 2026. (See Calendar)

Materials & Activities

Learning materials will be provided. Students must be able to access Google Apps, including Google Classroom, Slides, and Docs.

Expectations

Students will be expected to complete very short (15 minutes or less) assignments between classes. These brief exercises are designed to move new information from students' working memories to their long-term memory banks.

Location

Classes will take place at Ms. Alice’s House in downtown Silver Spring, MD. Her home is a block away from Silver Spring Intermediate Park and just blocks away from the Montgomery College Takoma Campus. Ms. Alice’s House has a fully enclosed backyard with a further enclosed goat pen and apiary.  Classes will take place both inside and outside.

Cost

The cost of this course is $375.

A deposit of $75 is due at the time of
registration and can be sent via PayPal or Venmo.

(If you are experiencing financial hardship, I am happy to work with you on a payment plan or reduced fee.)

Space is limited

Registration Opens Friday, April 24, 2026 at 9am!

The Bible As Literature: Holy Writ for the Insubordinate

Open to high school students ages 14 - 18

September 2026 through May 2027

Mondays 7-8:10pm

Tired of biblical references going over your head at the movies, in novels, or that one English class? This course is your golden ticket. Here, the Bible is not a sacred script, but rather, a sprawling anthology of stories, poetry, and larger-than-life characters that have left fingerprints all over Western culture. If you're looking for information without indoctrination you're in the right place. We’ll break down the epic tales, cryptic parables, and infamous plot twists—no incense, no sermons, just critical analysis and lively classroom banter.

FAIR WARNING: If you’re deeply devout, or your adrenaline starts pumping at the first sign of skepticism, this probably isn’t your scene. This course is for curious minds that want to navigate the sea of biblical allusions in books, films, and beyond with plenty of humor and curiosity— and without an altar call at the end of the meeting.

Duration 

This class will meet virtually once a week for 70 minutes. Classes will run in 9 three-week blocks from September through May. (See Calendar)

Expectations

In addition to attending the virtual class, students should be prepared to complete a weekly homework assignment. Reading assignments will include an audio option of the text.

Requirements

• Each participant must have access to a computer or smart device with a microphone, speaker, and camera.  
• Students must be able to access Zoom and Google Apps including Google Classroom, Google Slides, and Google Docs.  

Cost

The cost of this course is $325/semester ($650/full school year). $75 is due at the time of registration and can be sent via PayPal or Venmo.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, I am happy to work with you on a payment plan or reduced fee.

Space is limited

Registration Opens Friday, April 17, 2026 at 9am!

Botany In Our Modern Era

 Open to Students Ages 14 - 17

The word botany often conjures up tired images of tree leaves and photosynthesis, but plant biology also involves forensics, biohazards, toxicology, and genetic cloning.

In this two semester course, we’ll use the foundations of botany to explore everything from marine life to botanical warfare to plant life on Mars.

Our learning adventure will include propagating plant life while developing our own hypotheses and experiments.

We'll work together to:

• Propagate various plants to observe their life-cycles
• Use tissue cultures to clone plants
• Develop our own composts and soils

• Cultivate our own terrariums and gardens
• Apply forensic botany to solve crimes

When

Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:45pm - 4:30pm

From September 2, 2025 through May 14, 2026

*2 inclement weather days per semester are included. Classes will not meet on November 27, December 23 - January 1, and April 2 & 7th.

Duration 

This class will meet in person twice a week for 105 minutes for a total of 30 weeks, broken into two 15-week semesters.

Students may also participate in weekly, optional, independent activities in Google Classroom.

Location

Classes will take place at Ms. Alice’s House on Boston Avenue in downtown Silver Spring, MD.  Her home is a block away from Silver Spring Intermediate Park and just blocks away from the Montgomery College Takoma Campus.  Ms. Alice’s House has a fully enclosed backyard with a further enclosed goat pen, duck pen, and apiary.  Classes will take place both inside and outside.

Materials & Activities

Learning materials will be provided.  We'll use hands-on exploration including labs, games, texts, and media resources.

Each student will maintain a botany binder.

    

Cost

Early Bird Special:  $300 per semester  

After June 1st: $375 per semester

(If you are experiencing financial hardship, I am happy to work with you on a payment plan or reduced fee.)

Accommodations

There are restrooms available and a snack will be provided each week.  Students are encouraged to bring water bottles to stay hydrated.

Health & Safety: 

Hand sanitizer will be provided.  Hand washing with soap and water will be encouraged after interacting with our *ducks or their eggs or our goats.  **Masks are optional.

Emergency Medical Forms as well as food allergies will be kept on hand. 

Registration Is Now CLOSED!

This class is now at capacity with a full waiting list. Check out other options under Current Offerings.

*Out of an abundance of caution, our ducks have been moved to a safer location in Northern Montgomery County until birdflu is under control. Families will be notified before our ducks are reintroduced to our property.

* The optional facemask policy may change if students with compromised immune systems register.