Online classes for summer? Suggestions?

[waltworks]

Just asking for recommendations. We have 2 (well, 3, but the youngest isn't ready for any screen-related academics of any kind) kids who are uber-nerds and while we can fill their summer with fun stuff to do and the usual conversations at the dinner table involve the partition of India or Tokamak design or whatever, they are looking for some online classes to do over the summer. Ideally we'd like them each to do just one (ie an hour or two a day) but timing might be tricky so it could also be 2 shorter (3-4 weeks each) classes.

Our son (12) loves engineering and has a professional certification in OnShape, so an advanced (college?) level CAD/design class might appeal to him. But he's also a reluctant writer and knows he needs to improve there so if anything we'd push him that way.

Our daughter (10) basically likes everything but wants to make sure she's ready for Algebra 1 in the fall (IMO she's fine anyway). She also loves creative stuff so a writing class might be good.

Suggestions from the crew? We did OutSchool last summer and it was only ok (not bad, just ok). The math class my son did was focused too much on test-taking strategies and tricks, rather than deeper understanding. Daughter's class (a math review class) was better but didn't blow our doors off either.

Again, we want them out building forts in the woods and paddling on the lake most of the time, so this needs to be just one class that meets for an hour or at most 2 a day.

Thanks in advance!

-W

[lhamo]

Back 10 years ago when my DS was in the Early Entrance Program at the UW, he had to take an intensive math class in the summer in order to prep for the high level/fast paced math they would be doing in the Transition School (which is basically a 1-year boot camp type experience that crams enough college prep and study skills into 9 months that 15 year olds can manage as college students).  They used the Aleks platform, which apparently now also has a few other subjects (chemistry and accounting)

https://www.aleks.com/independent

The UW also has a pretty robust set of summer courses for kids, some available online.  They can be expensive, though.


https://www.youth-teen.uw.edu/programs/summer-2025-courses/middle-school-courses

https://www.youth-teen.uw.edu/programs/summer-2025-courses/high-school-courses

https://uwcontinuum.circuitstream.com/lp/teens

[jeninco]

Not sure where you are now, but we live in a town with a flagship state school that runs summer programs for kids that age. Some of the offerings were model rocket building (with a professional rocket builder) and agent-based programming ( again, with an amazing teacher). I recall they were half-day classes, but there were other kids there who were interested in the same stuff…

[TheFrenchCat]

Do they use Duolingo at all?  My daughter (9) started last summer, and she would do an hour or even two in a row.  She really enjoys it, and has kept her streak up since then, though she doesn't normally spend that long on it anymore.  I think it's a good way to keep up learning while not feeling as formal as a class.  They're mostly for languages, but they also have Math and Music, though the way they did the music class is pretty weird.

[Sibley]

For the reluctant writer, how's his reading skills? To be a good writer you first need to be a good reader as far as I can tell. Perhaps a "read all the books on this list" challenge with a good prize would be a good bet, and also low cost. You could find an existing book list or curate one yourself.

[waltworks]

For the reluctant writer, how's his reading skills? To be a good writer you first need to be a good reader as far as I can tell. Perhaps a "read all the books on this list" challenge with a good prize would be a good bet, and also low cost. You could find an existing book list or curate one yourself.

He tested out of the reading program in elementary school sometime around 4th grade, it topped out at 12th grade material. Reading is not a problem. He just doesn't like to write. Some kind of writing-for-engineers kind of thing might work - he HATES creative writing/artsy type assignments.

-W

[clarkfan1979]

Just asking for recommendations. We have 2 (well, 3, but the youngest isn't ready for any screen-related academics of any kind) kids who are uber-nerds and while we can fill their summer with fun stuff to do and the usual conversations at the dinner table involve the partition of India or Tokamak design or whatever, they are looking for some online classes to do over the summer. Ideally we'd like them each to do just one (ie an hour or two a day) but timing might be tricky so it could also be 2 shorter (3-4 weeks each) classes.

Our son (12) loves engineering and has a professional certification in OnShape, so an advanced (college?) level CAD/design class might appeal to him. But he's also a reluctant writer and knows he needs to improve there so if anything we'd push him that way.

Our daughter (10) basically likes everything but wants to make sure she's ready for Algebra 1 in the fall (IMO she's fine anyway). She also loves creative stuff so a writing class might be good.

Suggestions from the crew? We did OutSchool last summer and it was only ok (not bad, just ok). The math class my son did was focused too much on test-taking strategies and tricks, rather than deeper understanding. Daughter's class (a math review class) was better but didn't blow our doors off either.

Again, we want them out building forts in the woods and paddling on the lake most of the time, so this needs to be just one class that meets for an hour or at most 2 a day.

Thanks in advance!

-W

Seeking a deeper understanding for math seems valuable. However, when it's time for the ACT & SAT prep classes, the focus will be on "test-taking strategies and tricks". The tests are mostly Algebra 1 presented in a very confusing way on purpose.

[waltworks]

SAT/ACT tests/scores are not a concern here at all. And yes, I agree that the SAT math is a bad joke (and can be hard to do for some kids who are really good at math). Maybe I need to expect that tips/tricks are mostly what we'll get in any online math classes. If that's the case we'll just skip them, I suppose.

-W

[rothwem]

For the reluctant writer, how's his reading skills? To be a good writer you first need to be a good reader as far as I can tell. Perhaps a "read all the books on this list" challenge with a good prize would be a good bet, and also low cost. You could find an existing book list or curate one yourself.

He tested out of the reading program in elementary school sometime around 4th grade, it topped out at 12th grade material. Reading is not a problem. He just doesn't like to write. Some kind of writing-for-engineers kind of thing might work - he HATES creative writing/artsy type assignments.

-W

Hah, man.  This is me.  I got a 760 out of 800 on my SAT reading score but I always hated the creative writing section of English class.  I've always chalked it up to having a string of really crappy English teachers, but I think a significant lack of confidence in my creative imagination is a factor too.  Whenever I'd let my mind wander to come up with a plot, my mind would go, "hmm, I wonder how that printer works?" instead of coming up with any type of plot line. 

I'm not sure if this helps, but I am an engineer and I don't think its held me up too much. 

[EverythingisNew]

We’ve done Outschool for music lessons and foreign language. It’s great!! I’ve been really impressed! Especially the flute lessons work great in that format, and it’s cheaper.

For writing, what about giving the kids some assignments and giving them money to complete. You could also challenge them to a game of “who can describe it best” or writing poems about random topics.

I pay my kids to read certain books I pick every summer $5 per book, but it only counts if it’s my pick. My kids love this and always ask me what to read! During the school year it’s only $1. The reading my kids do is my proudest thing as a parent. They’ve read tons of substantial books!

[wonkette]

It is a little woo-woo so you might want to check it out first yourself but The Artist's Way is a classic for honing creative skills. It focuses a lot on getting past 'writer's block' and trusting your gut as an artist. There are exercises like morning pages that encourages you to get whatever you want out without judgement. Maybe your son will find it helpful to know lots of writers struggle to write.