Upper School Curriculum

At Wolfeboro, we know that every student's academic pathway is different. We backward design each student's course load to target the specific skills and content they will face in the upcoming year. Nothing is left to chance in their individualized summer academic program. Contact our team today to talk about how a summer at Wolfeboro can help your student meet their goals in the classroom and beyond.

Courses can be taken for preview, review, skill building or for credit with permission from the student's other school. Credit courses cover the material traditionally presented in a full-year course. Frequently, a double period of course work is necessary thus leaving room for only one additional course.

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Written Expression

Placement in the proper level of writing benefits from input from those who know the student’s writing well.

Written Expression 2-2: Grammar & Composition

Designed For: Rising 9th and 10th grade students

Content: Written Expression 2-2 provides daily attention to writing as a step-by-step process, expository and creative writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Course content includes extensive work in proofreading, revising drafts, continued work on parts of speech, tense agreement, descriptive language, and punctuation. Each week, assessments feature vocabulary, grammar, and written work. Through assignments in the texts, emphasis is placed on reading, writing, analytical skills, and basic study skills. A continuously well-organized binder and Wolfeboro planbook are daily priorities.

Materials:

Wordly Wise, Book 9 (EPS)
Evergreen with Readings (Houghton Mifflin)
Characters in Conflict (Holt)

Written Expression 3: Tools for Writing

Designed For: Rising 9th and 10th grade students

Content: Students in Written Expression 3 practice crafting organized, engaging paragraphs and essays with a particular focus on diction, grammar, and support. The class practices common modes of expository writing, including compare/contrast, narrative, definition, and persuasion. Through examining professional essays and sharing drafts, students learn to craft their work by imitating patterns. The course also includes a study of grammatical structures that encourage varied syntax and regular practice with new vocabulary using the Wordly Wise program. Students compose many paragraphs both in and out of class on a daily basis, then expand some of their work into five and six-paragraph essays. Practice rewriting vague, confusing, or overly simplistic sentences in order to express ideas with concrete, concise language helped increase the sophistication of students' written expression. Building writing fluency through nightly practice is key to the course experience.

Materials:

Write Right (Ten Speed Press)
Wordly Wise, Book 7 (EPS)
Evergreen with Readings

Written Expression 4: The Process of Writing

Designed For: The rising 10th or 11th grade student

Content: Students in Written Expression 4 focus on crafting organized, engaging paragraphs and essays with a particular focus on diction, grammar, and support. The class practices common modes of expository writing including compare/contrast, narrative, and definition. Through examining professional essays and sharing drafts, students learn to craft their work by imitating patterns. The course also includes a study of grammatical structures that encourage varied syntax. Students compose many paragraphs both in and out of class on a daily basis, then expand some of their work into five and six-paragraph essays. After considering various model essays, students practice creating their own essay, going through a drafting process once a week. This process includes brainstorming, outlining, writing a first draft, and then writing a finished draft.

Materials: Models for Writers, 14th Edition.

Written Expression 5: The Polished Critical Essay

Designed For: Rising 11th grade and 12th grade students

Content: Written Expression 5 students refine their voice through three writing cycles, each focusing on a different kind of expression. Starting with Rhetorical Analysis, students learned the Toulmin Method and the rhetorical triangle - logos, pathos, ethos - as lenses for analyzing how a writer develops their idea. Textual analysis continues in the second cycle, this time working with literature. In this case, students analyze elements of Ray Bradbury’s “The Veldt,” Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark,” and Franz Kafka’s “The Hinger Artist.” The Personal Essay writing cycle gives students the opportunity to direct their focus inwards, writing a draft of a Common Application essay using the prompts. No matter the focus, students engage in the full process of writing: brainstorming, drafting, revising.

Materials:

An Introduction to Literature (Longman)
Writing a Successful College Application Essay (Barron’s)

Literature

Placement in the proper level of literature benefits from input from those who know the student’s reading and conversational skills well.

Literature 2

Designed For: Rising 8th, 9th and 10th grade students

Content: This course can provide credit in 8th, 9th or 10th grade English, especially when Written Expression 3 or Written Expression 4 is taken as a companion course.

Literature 2 students read from the three genres of literature - prose, poetry, and drama - and refined their analytic voice in response to the text. For each story when studying prose, the class works from an essential question, prompting students to think beyond the literal to an analytic understanding of character and theme.

The class then reads Sophocles’s tragedy Oedipus Rex, learning the conventions of classical drama and the central tensions of the play. Finally, the class looks at a range of poems from the free verse of Walt Whitman to the sonnet form of writers like William Wordsworth. The course’s writing assignments function as an extension of the class discussions as students write paragraphs and essays asserting analytic topic sentences supported by quotations from the text.

Materials:

Perrine’s Literature Structure, Sound and Sense, 8th Edition (Arp & Johnson)
Sophocles/The Oedipus Cycle (Harcourt Brace)
Other materials selected to meet individual student’s needs

Literature 3

Designed For: Rising 10th and 11th grade students

Content: Students in Literature 3 study three genres of literature: short fiction, poetry, and drama. Nightly reading focuses on gathering both a work’s central literary features and exploring the deeper layers that often carry larger significance.

With fiction, students examine elements including point-of-view, characterization, conflict, theme, symbolism, and irony. With poetry, students work to unpack dense language and begin to employ the language of verse: figurative language, rhyme, rhythm, and features of sound. Literature 3 requires both reading and writing on a variety of pieces including Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour,” Garcia Marquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” Flannary O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” and the American classic, "Death of a Salesman."

Students draft nightly responses, from short analyses to a full essay, examining central themes and considering how the crucial elements of literature help to communicate the author’s ideas. Throughout our studies, students select words from the nightly readings to explore and expand their vocabulary.

This course can meet the needs of students requiring a credit in 10th or 11th grade English, especially when Written Expression 3 or Written Expression 4 is taken as a companion course.

Materials:

An Introduction to Literature, 12th Edition (Longman)
Other materials selected to meet individual student’s needs

Literature 4

Designed For: Rising 11th and 12th grade students

Content: Literature 4 presents the three genres of literature (drama, poetry and short fiction) and develops sophisticated strategies of vocabulary building, comprehension and retention, paraphrasing, summarizing and annotating, and critical analysis.

Students better learn a variety of literature terms, how to select appropriate evidence within the structures presented, and how to write critically about both the classical and modern selections.

Reading includes a Greek play, a Shakespearean play, modern drama (e.g., Ibsen, Williams), short fiction (e.g., Poe, Hawthorne, Faulkner), and poetry (e.g., Dickinson, Owens, Eliot, Marvel). Attention to detail, organization, planning, neatness, study skills and study habits permeate the course, setting the stage for progress on all fronts.

This course can meet the needs of students requiring a credit in 11th or 12th grade English, especially when accompanied by Written Expression 4 or Written Expression 5.

Materials:

An Introduction to Literature, 12th Edition (Longman)
Other materials selected to meet individual student’s needs

Reading

In addition to in-class activities and out-of-class exercises for each student in the reading program, all students are expected to read a minimum of thirty minutes per day. The purpose of this additional reading is to help students develop the habit of reading and to learn to read for pleasure. Books include fiction, adventure, mystery and sports stories. Informal comment is encouraged as a student progresses through the book, but no written review is demanded.

Reading (Developmental)

Designed For: Students reading on grade level or perhaps one year below grade level; intended to strengthen weak areas of reading so that the student reads with greater competence and confidence and establishes a habit of reading.

Content: Reading Development is designed to enhance students' abilities in reading fluency, reading comprehension, and vocabulary development. Through a combination of structured practice, engaging literature, and writing in response to reading activities, students will deepen their understanding of reading strategies and become more confident, thoughtful readers. The course will focus on improving decoding skills, strengthening fluency, building vocabulary, and developing critical thinking through analysis of literary texts. Students will explore a variety of short stories, poetry, and informational texts.

Students will develop technical reading skills, but also develop their ability to analyze and synthesize information from texts, all while expanding their vocabulary through a detailed exploration of word parts, meanings, and origins. Above all, this class is intended to build reading confidence for students as they develop their overall literacy skills.

Materials: Individually selected to meet the student’s needs.

Reading (Advanced)

Summer Reading

Schools that require summer reading expect that reading will be a daily activity commencing at the conclusion of the school year and continuing until the project has been completed. Wolfeboro does not assume responsibility for every student’s summer reading assignment but will support the project in one of two ways:

Summer Reading

Designed For: Required for all students. The program is provided as a supplementary service and is not a graded course. In addition to this option, a student must take a three-core course program.

Program Details:

Each student is assigned a summer reading monitor. The monitor does the following:

Meets with the student two times per week during one of the student’s morning study periods.
Tracks and records the student’s progress, encourages continued reading, addresses unusual difficulties as needed and provides a quiet time for reading or study.

Most students make good progress with their assigned summer reading through this system. Since progress is at the student’s discretion, the extent of progress while at Wolfeboro can clearly vary and is dependent upon motivation and reading ability.

Mathematics

Courses can be taken for preview, review, skill building or for credit with permission from the student's other school. Credit courses cover the material traditionally presented in a full-year course. Frequently, a double period of course work is necessary thus leaving room for only one additional course.

We work in partnership with families and schools to select the math course that will effectively prepare students for the upcoming school year.

Pre-Algebra

Designed For: Rising 7th, 8th and 9th grade students

Content: Mathematical content includes the following: finding the area and perimeter of polygons, operations with positive and negative whole numbers and rational numbers, order of operations, simplifying and evaluating algebraic expressions, and finding side lengths of a right triangle using the Pythagorean theorem. Nightly homework, periodic daily quizzes, and a full period weekly test are standard. The development of study skills and study habits are central to course objectives.

Text: Mathematics: Course II (Dolciani, Houghton Mifflin)

Algebra 1

Designed For: Rising 8th, 9th and 10th grade students

Offered for preview, review or credit

Content: Algebra 1 examines the main concepts of Algebra which include the following topics: order of operations for evaluating numerical expressions; algebraic expressions; translating sentences into equations; transformations for solving equations; exponents; operations with polynomials; ratios and proportions; operations with monomials; multiplying binomials; factoring trinomials; operations with fractions and algebraic fractions; polynomial division; introduction to functions; using two variables; linear equations; solving systems of linear equations; inequalities in one and two variables; solving combined inequalities; rational numbers; irrational numbers; radical expressions; and various methods of solving quadratic equations. In this course, an emphasis is placed on certain study and organizational skills including: notebook organization and maintenance; note-taking in class and from reading the textbook; homework techniques; quiz and test strategies; efficiency of effort and effective use of time; use of daily notes and examples in preparing for homework, quizzes and tests.

Text: Algebra, Structure and Method, Book 1 (Brown, Dolciani, Sorgenfrey and Cole)

Geometry

Designed For: Rising 9th and 10th grade students

Offered for preview, review or credit

Content: Traditional secondary school course in Plane Geometry including the axiomatic system, line and angle relationships, polygons, congruency, similarity, geometry of the circle, area and volume. Study skills, study habits, organization, attention to detail, neatness and accountability are top priorities each and every day.

Text: Geometry Jurgenson/Brown/Jurgenson (McDougal,Littell)

Advanced Foundations

Designed For: Rising 9th and 10th grade students.

Note: Especially designed to strengthen underdeveloped calculation skills and weak foundations with decimals, fractions, percents, ratios, and proportions. Typically appropriate for a select few students who must rebuild a foundation before proceeding with algebra or geometry.

Content:

Advanced Foundations provides coverage of a variety of mathematical concepts and skills including: finding the area and perimeter of polygons, operations with positive and negative whole numbers and rational numbers, order of operations, simplifying and evaluating algebraic expressions, and finding side lengths of a right triangle using the Pythagorean Theorem. Nightly homework, periodic daily quizzes, and a full period weekly test are standard. The development of study skills and study habits are central to course objectives.

Text: Mathematics, Structure and Method - Course 2: Dolciani, Sorgenrey, and Graham

Algebra 2

Designed For: Rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students

Offered for preview, review or credit

Content: This course covers order of operations; solving equations and inequalities; absolute value; turning words into symbols; linear functions and graphs; the Distributive Property; the Cartesian Coordinate System; systems of equations; parallel and perpendicular lines; open sentences in two variables; graphing linear equations in two variables; the slope of a line; finding an equation of a line; solving systems of equations; linear inequalities in two variables; laws of exponents; multiplying polynomials; factoring polynomials; factoring quadratic polynomials; solving polynomial equations; negative exponents; radicals; and imaginary and complex numbers.

Text: Brown and Dolciani’s Algebra and Trigonometry, Book 2

Pre-Calculus

Designed For: Rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students

Offered for preview, review or credit

Content: The major emphasis is on the study of elementary functions. Topics covered include coordinate geometry, circular functions and their inverses, polynomial functions, logarithmic and exponential functions and advanced algebra. Graphing calculator required. Study skills, study habits, organization, attention to detail, neatness and accountability are top priorities each and every day.

Text: Advanced Mathematics Brown (McDougal, Littell)

Calculus

Language

Foreign language at Wolfeboro focuses on the four skill areas of writing, reading, listening and speaking. Emphasis is placed on college-prep grammar and writing as well as proper pronunciation.

Foreign language courses can be taken for credit or skill-building purposes. Course content is modified accordingly.

French

French 1

Designed For: Students in rising grades 8, 9, 10; preview, review or credit

Content: Traditional college-prep French 1 program. Included is the study of regular and irregular verbs in all three verb conjugations. Students begin reading, writing and speaking from the start and throughout the course. Particular attention is paid to grammar and vocabulary.

Text: Teacher selected text and materials

French 2

Designed For: Students entering grades 9, 10,11; preview, review or credit

Content: French 2 continues the study of topics covered in a traditional French 1 program. Vocabulary is expanded, writing skills refined and grammar developed in greater depth. Special attention is paid to personal pronouns and to the comparison of the imparfait and passé composé.

Text: Selected by instructor as needed

French 3

Designed For: Students seeking a full-year course in third-year French or those students in need of further work at this level; preview, review or credit

Content: French 3 continues the study of topics covered in a traditional French 2 program and refines complex linguistic concepts and structures. Course content can be developed to mirror the skills, content and rigor of the other school’s curriculum.

Text: Selected by instructor as needed

Latin

Latin 1

Designed For: Students in rising grades 8, 9, 10; preview, review or credit

Content: Grammar up to and including the four uses of the subjunctive.

Text: Oxford Latin Course, Part I - Balme (Oxford University Press).

Latin 2

Designed For: Students in rising grades 9, 10; preview, review or credit

Content: Sections of Caesar’s Gallic Wars or equivalent material specified by student’s school.

Text: Oxford Latin Course, Part II - Balme (Oxford University Press).

Latin 3

Designed For: Students in rising grades 10, 11, 12; preview, review or credit

Content: Latin 3 provides a sustained reading experience to students who have a background in Latin 1 and 2. As with all courses at Wolfeboro, course content can be developed to mirror the skills and rigor in the student’s other school’s curriculum, as appropriate.

Text: Oxford Latin Course, Part III - Balme (Oxford University Press) and selected Roman authors.

Spanish

Spanish 1

Designed For: Students in rising grades 8, 9, 10; preview, review or credit

Content: Traditional Spanish 1 content recognizes that students may have been previously exposed to different vocabulary inventories. Included is the study of regular and irregular verbs in all three verb conjugations. Particular attention is paid to agreement of subject with verb and noun with adjective.

Text: Selected by instructor.

Spanish 2

Designed For: Students in rising grades 9, 10, 11, 12; preview, review or credit

Content: The study of Spanish 2 continues the study of topics usually covered in a traditional Spanish 1 program. Vocabulary is expanded, writing skills refined and grammar drilled in greater depth. Special attention is paid to the relationship between the preterit and imperfect tenses and in uses of ser and estar.

Text: Selected by instructor.

Spanish 3

Designed For: Students in rising grades 10, 11, 12; preview, review or credit

Content: Builds upon Spanish 2 curriculum and further develops the understanding and use of major grammatical points such as the preterit, the imperfect, and the subjunctive moods through exercise completion and the writing of compositions. The reading of short stories provides opportunities for writing and vocabulary building as well as a review of tenses.

Text: Selected by instructor.

Mandarin

Mandarin 1

Designed For: Students in rising grades 8, 9, 10; preview, review or credit

Content: This is an introduction course to Mandarin Chinese language, focusing on the phonetic system Pinyin, and simple pictographic characters. Topics of greetings, numbers, self-introduction, likes and dislikes, and zodiac animals are introduced, emphasizing stroke order and radicals and integrating important cultural elements.

Mandarin 2

Designed For: Students in rising grades 8, 9, 10, 11; preview, review or credit

Content: This course continues on the basis of Mandarin 1. Topics include visiting friends, making plans, food, and daily routine, with a focus on recognizing characters and having interactive conversations, expanding students’ vocabulary repertoire and deepening their understanding of Chinese culture.

Mandarin 3

Designed For: Students in rising grades 9, 10, 11, 12; preview, review or credit

Content: This course expands on completion of Mandarin 1 and Mandarin 2. Topics include school life, transportation, shopping, and asking for directions, focusing on flexible use of vocabulary and a variety of sentence structures and integrating cultural topics about contemporary China.

History

Many specific study skills are best attained using history content as a basis for practice. Study skills emphasized include outlining, note taking, interpretation of maps, charts, graphs, tables, and primary sources. The goal is to teach how to read and study a textbook, identify important information, synthesize, and respond intelligently in writing.

American History

Designed For: Rising 7th, 8th and 9th grade students.

Content: In addition to a survey of American History, the content is used for teaching study skills and habits needed for successful performance in any history related course. The course is often used to supplement a course in Reading and/or Written Expression. Skills covered include note taking in class as well as from reading, active reading skills, confidence using a history text, interpretation of charts and graphs, identification of relevant information and test preparation.

Text: Creating America (McDougal Littell)

Ancient World History

Designed For: Rising 9th, 10th and 11th grade students.

Content: Ancient Civilizations provides a survey of the major issues, movements, and personalities that shaped the world from Ancient Greece, through the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, while considering the contributions of the Greco-Roman World to Western Civilization. Connections to the early stages of the birth of America are also considered. Students take daily quizzes and weekly tests. Study skills including note-taking, outlining, interpretation of maps, charts, graphs, and tables are practiced through daily assignments in the text and with class handouts. Primary sources are analyzed for their meaning and connection to the surrounding historical context. The course binder, vocabulary flashcards, class notes, and Wolfeboro planbook are checked daily and graded weekly for organization and neatness.

Note: Most students preparing to take Ancient History in the fall will be placed in a preview section designed to emphasize study skills related to the successful study of history while concurrently providing a survey of commonly covered topics. Course content can be modified to meet requirements as requested by a student’s individual school.

Text: World History by Elisabeth Gaynor Ellis and Anthony Esler

Modern World History

Designed For: Rising 9th, 10th and 11th grade students.

Content: Modern World History covers the period between the Enlightenment and the Age of Imperialism. The course focuses on the development of Western Civilization but may include other cultures. Political, economic and social developments are central to the curriculum.

Note: Most students preparing to take Modern World History or a similar course in the fall will be placed in a preview section designed to emphasize study skills related to the successful study of history while concurrently providing a survey of commonly covered topics.

Text: World History: Perspectives On the Past (D.C. Heath)

United States History

Designed For: Rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade students.

Content: United States History provides an in-depth study of the American Revolution and the Civil War. Students take daily quizzes and weekly tests. Study skills including note-taking, outlining, interpretation of maps, charts, graphs, and tables are practiced through daily assignments in the text and with class handouts. Primary sources such as Thomas Jefferson’s “Declaration of Independence” and Abraham Lincoln’s “Emancipation Proclamation” are analyzed for their meaning and connection to the surrounding historical context. The course binder, vocabulary flashcards, class notes, and Wolfeboro planbook are checked daily and graded weekly for organization and neatness.

Note: Most students preparing to take US History in the fall will be placed in a preview section designed to emphasize study skills related to the successful study of history while concurrently providing a survey of commonly covered topics.

Text:

A Little History of the United States (James West Davidson)

A History of US (Joy Hakim)

Science

Preview sections survey the fundamental principles with an emphasis on key vocabulary, concepts and pertinent study skills inherent in a full year course.

Credit course sections often necessitate a double period, emphasize the basic concepts of a full-year course and are modified to accommodate requirements as directed by the student’s school.

Please note: Biology, Chemistry and Physics are presented without laboratory

Biology

Designed For: Students preparing to take or complete high school biology.

Content: This course provides an introduction to key concepts in life science, with a focus on the structure and function of living organisms, heredity, evolution, and the relationship between organisms and their environments. Students will explore how plants and animals use their external features to survive, how traits are inherited and influenced by the environment, and how energy flows through ecosystems. The course also covers topics such as natural selection, fossil evidence, and the impact of modern technology on genetics.

Throughout the course, students will develop essential scientific skills, including asking scientific questions, developing and using models, analyzing and interpreting data, and applying mathematical reasoning. Emphasis will be placed on building strong academic habits and scientific thinking through daily quizzes, weekly unit tests, and regular homework assignments. This course aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards and is designed to prepare students for continued study in the life sciences.

Text: The Core, 3rd Edition (Pearson)

Chemistry

Designed For: Students preparing to take or complete high school chemistry.

Content: Chemistry Preview is a hands-on exploration of matter and its interactions in everyday life. Throughout the summer, students use the scientific method to investigate how the atomic model evolved, how to make the best bouncy ball, and how to launch the highest rockets.

Alongside developing inquiry skills, students build conceptual understanding through model-based learning in topics such as osmosis, physical and chemical changes, and periodic table trends. A major focus of the course is building problem-solving confidence by tackling challenging concepts like stoichiometry, balancing equations, average atomic mass, and electron configurations.

Students complete daily assignments - including homework, quizzes, “chemistry checks,” binder checks, and labs - all designed to reinforce learning and stretch their thinking. The course also emphasizes strong study habits, such as self-quizzing and Cornell-style note-taking with daily summaries. Students are supported with a variety of resources, including Glencoe Chemistry: Matter and Change, worksheets, and handouts.

Texts: Glencoe Chemistry: Matter and Change

Physics

Designed For: Students preparing to take or complete high school physics.

Content: This course includes the essential topics included in a traditional secondary school Physics curriculum. Physics is a hands-on study of how things move and interact with their surroundings. Over the course of the summer students use the scientific method to analyze a variety of experiments including the friction between your shoes and the ground, how far a marble will launch, and the maximum launch height of film canister rockets. The material covered during the summer includes kinematics, dynamics, energy and momentum.

Through daily practice problems students develop a strong foundation for problem solving and building solid physics routines that will serve them well during a typical physics class. Physics students have daily assignments including homework, quizzes, “physics checks,” binder checks or labs, all designed to challenge students and build understanding. Students develop strong study habits by taking detailed notes and preparing more effectively for the quiz through self testing.

Texts: Glencoe Physics: Principles and Problems

Test Prep

SAT Preparation (Reading and Writing)

Designed For: Rising 11th and 12th grade students

Content: SAT Verbal helps students prepare for the Reading and Writing sections of the SAT test. Special attention is paid to sharpening reading comprehension through a discussion of test-taking strategies and example test questions. Students also review the various principles of grammar needed to correctly answer questions in the Writing section of the SAT. Students will also strengthen their vocabularies through an intensive study of vocabulary words that are representative of the vocabulary found in questions on the SAT test. Test preparation includes diagnostic tests, frequent vocabulary quizzes, and exercises that target various aspects of the SAT Reading and Writing sections.

Materials:

The Official SAT Study Guide, College Board
The New SAT, Princeton Review
6 Practice Tests for the New SAT, Barrons
Wise Level 10

View other Reading courses:

Reading (Development)
Reading (Advanced)
SAT Prep (Reading, Writing & Language)
Summer Reading

SAT Preparation (Mathematics)

Designed For: Rising 11th and 12th grade students

Prerequisites: Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2.

Content: Students complete a review of geometry, including the Pythagorean Theorem and special right triangles; exponents and the laws governing them; trigonometry; multiplying polynomials; factoring; functions; scatter plots; radicals; an investigation of the number line, especially -1 < x < 1; graphing linear equations in two variables; the slope of a line; inequalities; logic questions; complex numbers; imaginary numbers; fractions and per cents; circles; and defined operations. The class also focuses on the SAT test itself, discussing what skills the SAT designers are testing, examining individual SAT questions, eliminating anxiety related to the SAT, and finally, taking SAT practice examinations.

Materials:

The Official SAT Study Guide, College Board
The New SAT, Princeton Review
6 Practice Tests for the New SAT, Barrons

SSAT Prep

Designed For: Students entering grades 8 and 9

Content: Prepares students for the Upper Level SSAT. From a math perspective, students review order of operations; solving equations; turning words into symbols; the Distributive Property; laws of exponents; elementary geometry; and factoring. Students also work on reading comprehension, analogies, and keep a vocabulary log. The class focuses on the SSAT test itself, discussing what skills the SSAT designers are testing, examining individual SSAT questions, eliminating anxiety related to the SSAT, and finally, taking SSAT practice examinations.

Materials:

The Official Guide to the Upper Level SSAT (SSATB)
Princeton Review’s SSAT Prep
Kaplan SSAT & ISEE 2015 (Kaplan Test Prep)

Electives

Open to high school students looking for enrichment courses. As is the case with other courses, all Wolfeboro skills, habits, and routines are built into electives.

Astronomy

Content: Students in Astronomy embark on an exploration of the cosmos - from the planets of our solar system to distant stars, exoplanets, galaxies, black holes, and the origins of the universe itself. Along the way, they build a foundation in the physics and chemistry that make the universe work, developing an appreciation for both the beauty and complexity of the night sky. The course blends scientific inquiry with hands-on experiences: students may observe constellations, track celestial events, and even participate in telescope-building projects. Set against Wolfeboro’s stunning night skies, stargazing sessions provide opportunities for reflection, study, and wonder. Through this engaging and rigorous study, students strengthen their analytical thinking, deepen their understanding of physical science, and cultivate habits of curiosity and disciplined observation - skills that extend far beyond the stars.

Creative Writing

Content: Students in Creative Writing focus on unlocking their storytelling abilities and developing a confident, expressive voice on the page. The course emphasizes personal narrative and expressive language, helping students refine their writing for important projects such as the college essay. Through a series of guided exercises, students explore a range of genres including poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction. Those with previous experience in creative writing have the opportunity to pursue longer works and deepen their craft through individualized feedback and peer workshops. Class time is dedicated to reading and analyzing exemplary works, practicing techniques that build vivid description and authentic voice, and engaging in a drafting process that includes brainstorming, writing, revising, and sharing. By the end of the course, students gain greater command over their creative expression and confidence in their ability to tell stories that resonate.

Current Events

Content: In this course, students focus on understanding the world around them through careful reading, discussion, and critical thinking. The course emphasizes slowing down the news cycle, helping students move beyond headlines to evaluate sources, recognize bias, and compare perspectives. Through guided conversations and collaborative analysis, students explore major global issues while building confidence expressing their ideas in a thoughtful, respectful way. Class time is dedicated to reading articles from a range of publications, discussing current topics, and practicing the skills needed to ask strong questions and support opinions with evidence. Students learn how to navigate complex information, listen to differing viewpoints, and engage in meaningful dialogue. By the end of the course, students leave better equipped to think critically about the world and participate confidently in informed discussions.

Psychology

Content: Students in Psychology explore the science of how and why people think, feel, and behave as they do. Through discussion, reflection, and hands-on experiments, students examine how the mind influences behavior and how individuals relate to the world around them. Class activities may include analyzing case studies, conducting simple observations, and connecting psychological ideas to everyday life and current events. Emphasis is placed on developing curiosity, critical thinking, and empathy as students consider both scientific and personal perspectives on human behavior. By the end of the course, students will have a foundational understanding of psychology as both an academic discipline and a tool for understanding themselves and others.

Public Speaking

Content: Students enrolled in Public Speaking focus on developing a clear, confident voice and learning how to communicate ideas with purpose and presence. The course emphasizes preparation, practice, and reflection as students explore different forms of speaking, including speeches, storytelling, and presentations. Through a series of supportive exercises, students consider what they want to say and how they want to show up within the Wolfeboro community. Class time is dedicated to building comfort speaking in front of others, practicing organization and delivery techniques, and receiving constructive feedback from peers and instructors. As students gain confidence, they learn to manage nerves, connect with an audience, and speak with authenticity. By the end of the course, students leave more comfortable sharing their ideas and equipped with skills that extend far beyond the classroom.