Hello, Everyone, I'm Cindy Frank!

*Proud ACE Educator and INDEPENDENT TEACHER
*Classes limited to 6 students--all have a voice in the classroom
* All classes taught, written, and created by me for my learners
*Each session a full 55 minutes of teaching time
*Extensive and detailed comments on all homework assignments
*All classes are ESL friendly, CEFR levels noted.
*Always available for questions from learners and/or parents over Outschool email

IMPORTANT NOTES: 
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If you are new to Outschool,  Use code CINDYFR2020 to save $20 on your first class!

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SPECIAL OFFER TO ALL FAMILIES:
To get a sense of my teaching style I welcome you to sign up for my self-paced class,  The Many Ways of Seeing in Three Quick Mind-Bending Lessons at a cost of only $10.  This is the self-paced version of one of my anchor classes, The Many Ways of Seeing, one of my most popular all time classes and a class that was presented to the entire Outschool community via Outschool Live.  As always, please feel free to be in touch with me with any questions at any time.

https://outschool.com/classes/the-many-ways-of-seeing-in-three-quick-mind-bending-lessons-idOyJxBH?usid=LUFXk3BI&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

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To better address the needs and schedules of my families world-wide, I am currently recording and shifting many of my key classes to self-paced so learners can take these classes at their leisure on their own schedules. If there are any of my classes you’d like to see as self-paced, please let me know!

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I try very hard to accommodate the schedules of learners everywhere. If current times for my classes don't suit, please feel free to email me to ask if I can schedule a class for you. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays). I will do my best for you.

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THE HONOR OF WORKING WITH YOUR LEARNERS THROUGH OUTSCHOOL
I am at my core a word person. But when I think about the opportunity reach and reach out to students in every corner of the globe through Outschool for once words fail me. I cannot put words or a true value on the honor of working with your learners, to help voice to their ideas, insights, and thoughts. 

ALL CLASSES INVOLVE COMMUNICATION—BOTH SPEAKING AND LISTENING
I love my learners and I love giving them the opportunity to truly express themselves, to think deeply, to truly communicate,  speaking their minds with clarity and listening with compassion. 

ALWAYS LIMITED TO SIX STUDENTS
Every single one of my meticulously researched classes is consciously limited to a maximum of six students because I know through experience that with that number everyone has the opportunity be involved, to be drawn out, to make their individual voices and opinions heard. All of my courses, from Speech and Debate (Declaim, Recite, Hold Forth!) to Art History (What Makes a Masterpiece) to Literature (Spar Lit Sr and Jr) are truly about communication — both speaking and listening.  I want to connect with my students.  When you work with a teacher in a small group setting such as mine it allows, as Sanjay Sarma and Luke Yoquinto argue in their Atlantic essay from June 15, 2023, a “context-rich, curiosity-fueled learning that leads to lasting knowledge and potent skills.”


ALL CLASSES TAUGHT, WRITTEN, AND CREATED, AND TAUGHT BY ME
I love my classes and I love and respect my learners. The connection between writing a class and presenting it to learners is essential to my way of teaching and thinking.  

I COME EARLY AND STAY LATE
I open my classrooms early for students who want to talk to me one on one— I’ll always stay late if I can.  Parents can count on me to reach to to students and parents via email with additional ideas and responses.  

REACHING OUT STUDENTS ALL OVER THE GLOBE
I care very much about reaching learners wherever they live in various time zones and will  (and have) created classes around the clock to adjust to learners difficult schedules.  (I live in New York in the Eastern Time zone. I begin classes at 6 am Eastern and end as late as 9pm to accommodate learner needs.)

 For every student I’ve ever had the honor of teaching I am there for them for questions and support for always via Outschool email.

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PATHWAYS TO LEARNING WITH ME

There are a lot of possibilities! I teach single session classes, multi-session classes, semester classes, and ongoing classes. 

None of these classes has a prerequisite and the classes can be taken in any order. Feel free to request one of these classes if they are not currently in the schedule.

Many parents will choose to enroll learners directly in my multi-session classes or ongoing classes. But if you’d like to see if I’m a good fit for your learner, perhaps consider one of my single session classes first. 

I am always available via Outschool email and happy to give specific recommendations of the next classes for your learners. Feel free  to contact me.

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The Speech and Debate Class

Declaim, Recite, Hold Forth!: Speech and Debate for Beginners is taught at both the Junior (ages 8-12) and Senior (13-18) levels.  

This class introduces learners to all forms of Speech competition as well as Public Forum Debate, in preparation for competitive debate. But it’s also aimed at giving each learner the confidence to communicate well everywhere—in school, with friends, in interviews.

Following this class many (8-12)  learners will choose one of the Spar Lit Jr. classes or the Spar Mystery Classes. Older learners (12-18) will move to Spar Lit Sr.: Essay , Spar Lit Short Story Class, or The Elegant Essay or any of the Spar Mystery classes to continue working on both their oral and writing skills.

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My single session classes include:

For both Junior and Senior Learners

The Many Ways of Seeing (Jr. and Sr. version)
What Makes a Masterpiece(Jr and Sr. version)

For younger learners (8-12)

Judging a Book By Its Cover
Old-Fashioned Letter Writing for Very Modern People: The How and the Why
Stamp It!: The Story of Postage Stamps
Spar Art 2: Understanding Great Art Through Debate-Rembrandt and Van Gogh

These classes can be taken any time. Often parents will  choose to enroll a learner in a single session class to find if I am a good fit as a teacher for their child’s learning style.

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For senior learners (12-18)

The Socratic Discussion Classes:

Can Reading Novels Create a More Empathetic Society?
How is Reading a Book Like A Painting?
A Kinder, Gentler Way to Change Minds

Many senior learners start with these single session classes before moving into the multi-session classes. But that is not a prerequisite. After the Socratic classes many learners will move to Spar Mystery or The Elegant Essay or Spar Lit: Essays and Debate , or Spar Lit Short Story Classics or Spar Lit Short Story Masterpieces.

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The SPAR Classes

I am best-known for teaching the Spar Lit classes for both Juniors (ages 8-12) and Seniors (12-18).  Spar stands for “SPontaneous ARgumentation” and this is a practice technique for Public Forum debate at the high school level. The classes combine both literature and debate to give students the opportunity to speak with confidence and clarity while sharpening their critical thinking skills.  Open to students of all levels. There is no debate prerequisite.

Any of my classes can be taken in any order. Learners do not have to take a single session class before enrolling in either a multi-session or ongoing class. 

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The Spar Lit Jr. Classes (Multi-session)

I am extremely proud that there are now eight books in the Spar Lit Jr. series, ranging from A Wrinkle in Time to The Phantom Tollbooth. The classic books in these series represent the apex of children’s literature—most are Newberry Award winners. These classes can be taken in any order. Many students will work there way through the entire series of multi-session classes. If there is a class that isn’t currently listed please feel free to ask me to schedule it for you! I am delighted to help. 

Spar Lit Jr: classes:

A Wrinkle in Time
A Long Way From Chicago
The Westing Game
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Harriet the Spy
Chasing Vermeer
A Single Shard
The Phantom Tollbooth

Many learners will move from the Spar Lit Jr classes to the Spar Mystery classes and eventually to the Senior writing classes. 

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Spar Mystery Classes (Multi-session)
Aimed at learners ages 12-17, these classes give learners the opportunity to team with others both to sharpen critical thinking skills to solve these classic mysteries—and work with Spar debating to consider the key issues at the heart of each series of chapters.  The perfect introduction to the world of mystery reading, learners will also hone their speech and debate skills in each session. 

The Spar Mystery Classes include:

The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
And Then There Were None
A Murder is Announced
Five Little Pigs

Learners who take the Spar Mystery classes will often move to the Spar Lit Sr. classes (below).

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Spar Lit Senior Classes (Multi-session and semester)

These carefully crafted, honors-level classes (are aimed at preparing learners for the rigors of both high school and college literature courses. 

Spar Lit Sr 1: Essays and Debate: Great Stylists

Spar Lit Sr 2: Essays and Debate: Bold Provocateurs

Spar Lit Sr 3: Essays and Debate: Harbingers of the Future

How to Write the Personal Essay: Conquer the College Essay with Style and Power

Jump Start Poetry: Learn to Write--and Appreciate--All Forms of Poetry

The Elegant Essay: Crafting Essays for Power and Punch

How to Write the Nature Essay

Spar Lit Short Story Classics: Understanding Classic Short Stories Through Debate

Spar Lit Short Story Masterpieces: Understanding Modern Short Stories Through Debate


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VIEWS ON HOMEWORK

Optional assignments are provided for every mult-session and semester class. Learners will gain a full and complete understanding of each class without completing the homework. If students do choose to complete the assignments, I always respond immediately with a full written response.
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A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR MY LEARNERS, FOR ME
My innovative and creative learners make each and every class I teach a transformative experience for themselves, for each other, and for me as well. I am extremely proud to be chosen as an Outschool Epic Teacher. Please be in touch if you have questions and thank you for your time!

Sincerely, Cindy