Below you will find the supporting classes that we generally run during the school year.
Please call our Saco Learning Center for more information at (207) 282-3846
Essential Skills for Adults
Essential Reading & Writing
Through a variety of reading materials, as well as grammar and writing exercises, students practice communication skills and gain a better understanding of English. Essential Skills is designed to improve students’ abilities for employment, to simply refresh reading and writing skills, or to enhance performance on the HiSET
Phonics to Fluency
Do you struggle with “sounding out” words, pronunciation, spelling rules and reading aloud smoothly? Let’s go back to the beginning to help you build your confidence in these areas. We will say and play with word sounds, then combine these sounds to make up words, and then break up words again! This class is paired with a great workbook and fun word games to help you learn through a variety of methods!
Reading Basics / Adult Literacy
Join this fun & comprehensive class to improve your reading skills for personal, academic, & work goals! This course uses an interesting text that has true stories from across a variety of content areas and topics. Through these fascinating stories we practice reading comprehension skills, vocabulary, & grammar activities. We will also apply all of those skills and activities to some classic stories. For example: “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, “Treasure Island”, or other classics!
Introduction to Math Facts & Skills
Learn basic addition and subtraction facts in a fun, new way! Get comfortable with counting coins and making change. Find out when and how to use tally marks, charts, tables, and number lines. Discover all the ways math is used in our daily lives.
Financial Literacy
Learning how to budget, saving an emergency fund, and planning for expenses are just a few of the many topics covered in this free class. Research shows that children make up their mind how they are going to handle their money by the time they finish the fifth grade!
Beginning Critical Reading
Through reading and enjoying exciting beginning level novels, students will be introduced to and use critical reading and writing skills.
ESOL
ESOL classes
Learn English for FREE! Are you a non-native speaker looking to learn English language conversation, reading, writing and computer skills in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere? Then, these classes are for you!
English Speaking & Pronunciation
Let’s talk! Focus on what really matters; the art of conversation! Improve your pronunciation and gain confidence in you speaking skills.
Citizenship
Are you thinking of becoming a citizen of the United States? We can help you prepare for FREE! Learn what you need to do to become a citizen, study history and government, discuss rights and responsibilities, and prepare for the exam.
Alternative Education & Youth High School Diploma Programs
Mathematical Geometric Art
Students will learn mathematical concepts through art, such as, angles, ratios, percents, etc. During this course students will create art based upon the mathematics they learn through instruction.
U.S. History
Investigate 14 different eras that represent American history from Early America to the New Millennium. Eras will be explored through primary documents, discussion, video, biographies, and the construction of a class timeline. This is a great class for any young adult who is curious about our history, working towards a high school diploma and/or wishes to increase their academic skills.
Essential Reading & Writing
Through a variety of reading materials, as well as grammar and writing exercises, students practice communication skills and gain a better understanding of English. Essential Skills is designed to improve students’ abilities for employment, to simply refresh reading and writing skills, or to enhance performance on the HiSET.
Scientific Research
Explore various aspects of science including environmental issues, how the mind and body work, climate change, and many other topics that will blow your mind!
Criminal Case Studies
Crime does not discriminate between age, race, social status, or geographical location. It can occur anywhere. This course will examine both high profile cases, as well as non-high profile cases. Students will be expected to look at how evidence was found, witness encounters, as well as the court proceedings. They will participate in discussions about the case studies, as well as analyze the findings and verdicts. Who did it, and did they get the appropriate sentence?
Algebra
Algebra is designed to give students a foundation for future mathematics courses. The fundamentals of algebraic problem-solving are explained. Students will explore: foundations of Algebra, solving equations, solving inequalities, an introduction to functions, linear functions, systems of equations and inequalities, exponents and exponential functions, polynomials and factoring, radical expressions and equations, and data analysis and probability. Throughout the course, College and Career Readiness standards are taught and reinforced as the student learns how to apply the concepts in real-life situations.
Physical Education
Students will engage in physical education and team sports with the goal of improving physical fitness and fostering a spirit of teamwork. Students will meet at the Saco Learning Center and be bussed to and from Saco Sport and Fitness for class.
Taking Responsibility
This course assists students in identifying and communicating their values and in making tough decisions about what is right and wrong. The class meets the humanities requirement in the adult high school diploma program and is open to others in the community who wish to explore contemporary social issues and values.
Writing About Art
We are living in a period where images flash before our eyes at a rapid and sometimes overwhelming pace. This class is about slowing down the act of viewing art where the student can process, reflect and then creatively write about images that hold meaning for the student. We will look to art for inspiration to facilitate the creative writing process.
College & Career Readiness
Focus on investigating career and college options for post graduation! Take skill, personality, and career assessments to identify individual skills and interests. Create individual portfolios that include: career descriptions and required competencies, a cover letter and resume, compatible college options and descriptions, and a completed college application and essay. (w/ Christine, Liis & Melissa)
U.S. Government
Learn all about the United States government using discussion, videos and other presentations to examine the structure of the U.S. government and the saga of American politics. Topics include government, politics, current events, and citizenship.
Maine History
Students will be introduced to Maine from a historical point of view, through important events and cultural changes.
Math in the Real World
How will I ever use Math? This course will cover the topics in mathematics that every educated person needs to know! Learn to process, evaluate, and understand how math plays a part in our everyday world. Applications of mathematics in problem solving, baking, carpentry, finance, population growth, and even math in the grocery store.
Health & Life Science
This course highlights a variety of personal and social life skills for personal development. Students will explore topics in personal health, communication, stress management, life science, and group dynamics. The study combines classroom and hands-on activities. (w/ Christine)
U.S. Geography
While most students are probably familiar with the United States, they may not understand the diversity of its geography. Deserts, rolling hills, oceans, forests, and even arctic tundra are included in the vast landscape of the United States. When students learn about the geography of the US, it can help them understand the diversity and uniqueness of the country and the individual states within its borders.
Digital Literacy
This course is designed to give a basic overview of desktop publishing applications such as Open Office. Get a basic overview of word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation applications while developing a familiarity with desktop operating systems. A basic understanding of computers and access to a computer outside of class is strongly recommended.
Journalistic Happenings
Research, investigate, and discuss various aspects of journalism and current events. Through writing and discourse, students will develop an improved understanding of the unfolding events in the news media.
Adult High School Diploma
Pre-Algebra
This course picks up where the “Comprehensive Review Math Class” ends. We will quickly review the relationship between Fractions, decimals, & percents, then move into the basic concepts in Algebra, and finish with an introduction into geometry concepts. Math in this course is learned through practice, real life contextualization using the concepts, and individualized instruction.
***Requirements: Students must be able to add, subtract, multiply, & divide, and have a solid understanding of decimals and fractions in order to succeed in this class.
U.S. History
From our early struggles through the major wars through current day, find out how did the United States became the country we live in today! We will start with the Native Americans, follow the long and winding path of the 1st colonies to the 1st states, and then on to the expansion of all the states.
Explorations in Science
“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure science.” (- Edwin Powell Hubble) Travel the world and discover new ways of looking at things through fascinating stories and studies from a variety of science fields!
Math: Fractions, Decimals & Percents
Refresh your skills with whole number operations, use visuals, objects for manipulations and fun activities to discover and understand fractions, decimals, and percents. This is a fun, no-stress way to learn math skills that you will use every day in real life contexts!
Critical Reading Skills & Paragraph Writing
Improve reading comprehension and become clear, competent and confident writers! Write a number of different types of paragraphs using the 5 components of “Critical Thinking:” open-mindedness, problem solving, creativity, analysis, and communication. A wonderful variety of National Geographic readings and writings will be used as instructional guides.
Reading Comprehension: (w/ Melissa) This course will provide instruction & practice in the 4 components of Reading: Comprehension, Fluency, Vocabulary, & Alphabetics. The “Reading Basics” text uses a wide variety of content & formats for the reading materials, then follows with numerous reading skills, vocabulary, & grammar activities. This is a fun & comprehensive class to improve your reading skills for personal, academic, & work goals!
Grammar & Sentence Skills
Frustrated with all the rules and exceptions in the English language? Discover the eight Parts of Speech and get comfortable with how and when to use each part. Know when to use a comma and what makes a good sentence? Learn all this and more in this fun, relaxed class.
U.S. Government
Meet the “Founding Fathers” and discover why and how the Constitution and Amendments were written. Learn about the 3 branches of government and what each branch does. Explore what our rights and responsibilities are as U.S. citizens.
Maine College & Career Access (MCCA)
MCCA College Transitions Language Arts
Prepare yourself for the academic demands of college! Gain confidence in your potential as a student and improve your reading, writing, and study skills.
MCCA College Transitions Algebra @ UMA Saco
College Transitions Algebra is designed as an introduction to basic algebraic concepts. The course covers signed numbers, algebraic expressions, graphing, polynomials, factoring and problem-solving strategies. The scope of this course is fairly broad and is intended to enhance your knowledge of elementary algebraic topics. Successful completion of MCCA Algebra (with a grade of 83% or better) will be equivalent to a passing score in MAT098 at YCCC, meeting the prerequisite for MAT109, MAT122, or MAT127.
MCCA College Transitions Math, an Introduction @ UMA Saco
Learn basic mathematics skills needed for success in future math courses in college and for many personal and professional situations as well. With an emphasis on arithmetic computations and informal geometry, other topics included are elementary number theory, operations with fractions, decimals, percents, ratio proportion, signed numbers, data interpretation and introductory algebra.
Accuplacer Prep Math
The class is self paced and individualized depending on the results of Unit Pre-tests – You only work on the skills you haven’t mastered yet! Accuplacer Prep starts with basic arithmetic and progresses through geometry and algebra skills. Generally, students work independently but get support & instruction when needed
Critical Reading Skills & Paragraph Writing
Improve reading comprehension and become clear, competent and confident writers! Write a number of different types of paragraphs using the 5 components of “Critical Thinking:” open-mindedness, problem solving, creativity, analysis, and communication. A wonderful variety of National Geographic readings and writings will be used as instructional guides.
College Advisement
Prepare yourself with the necessary skills to help you succeed in college! Special attention will be given to career decision making, as well as self assessment to help guide the decision-making process in selecting a college major and/or career.
HISET
Hiset Math
Target those math skills and test taking strategies needed to pass the HiSET! Every class introduces a new concept with an activity and skills practice. Included in this review are fractions, decimals, percents, algebra and basic geometry. Time is also given for individualized instruction.
Hiset Reading
Learn strategies for reading comprehension and interpretation of a variety of genres: nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and journalism. This workshop is appropriate for those students who need to enhance their skills in reading, social studies and/or science to complete the Hiset test successfully.
HiSET Orientation & Pre-testing
Thinking about completing your high school diploma equivalency test? The time is NOW!
Find out if you are ready to pass the HiSET! All HiSET orientation & pre-testing sessions are free and so is getting your high school credential!
Pre-testing sessions are at the Saco Learning Center.
HiSET Official Testing
Complete high school by passing the HiSET. The HiSET is a series of five tests, held in Old Orchard Beach on the first 3 Tuesdays of every month. Pass and get your high school credential at no cost to you!
Testing takes place at 28 Jameson Hill Rd in Old Orchard Beach.
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