Young train hobbyists, or rail fans, can sometimes have a hard time finding like-minded kids their own ages.  Once kids move out of the Thomas and Chuggington phase and on to real-life trains, usually their fellow hobbyists they see out in the world are adults.  This class provides tweens and teens an opportunity to talk to their peers about trains and other railroad topics.  They can chat about their favorite engines, great places to watch trains, what cameras they like to use, how to decode what they hear on their scanners, and anything else they can think of.  

I will help guide learners' conversation, encouraging active listening and clear communication.  If conversation stalls, I have all manner of fun questions and jokes to get kids talking.  If students would like to show off photos or videos they have of trains, they can send them to me the day before class to preview and I will screen share during class.

In addition to getting to talk about trains, this is a great opportunity to practice social skills, communication, and active listening.  We will practice giving supportive feedback and making sure everyone has an equal opportunity to talk.  For those learners who find talking in class intimidating, while I will frequently give them the opportunity to share, they are welcome to pass and just observe until they feel comfortable talking.

This class is great for:
- students who love to watch, learn about, and photograph real trains
- students who love to ride trains
- students who love learning about the history of the railroad
- students who enjoy model railroads or other toy trains
- students who want to share their love of all things train and rail

If students would like to communicate outside of class time, parents should message each other to help their children connect.