Academy Archives - Page 9 of 12

Top 10 Challenges Students Face in Their Reading and Writing

Our virtual English Tutoring Programs and English Tutoring Programs in Bloor West Village are available to students in Grades 4-university, but whatever the grade, there are reading and writing skills – from essay writing to paragraphing and reading between the lines - that most students struggle with these days. 1. Essay writing Research, planning, first drafts, editing… middle and high school students all struggle with this, regardless of ability. When I ask what they know about writing essays, the response is usually: “Oh, I know that! We learned how to do it in school!” But there is a difference between learning how to do it, and knowing how to do it. There simply isn’t enough time allotted to essay writing in schools – so students [...]

January 20th, 2022|English Tutoring|

New Arts Classes for Kids & Teens Starting January 2022!

Young writers, actors, artists and filmmakers can choose from 10 new after-school classes and weekend classes at Centauri Arts, starting January 2022. Creative Writing Classes include Short Fiction, and a broader Writing Salon for ages 12-18. Acting Classes for Kids and Teens include a new Junior Acting program for ages 9-14. Film Production Classes include an opportunity to make a short movie as you learn directing, screenwriting, audio, lighting, production design and more. Film and writing enthusiasts can choose to explore Screenwriting on Saturday mornings, and artists have two programs to choose from: a virtual Digital Arts Class, and a Fine Art Class for children and teenagers, in our Toronto studio. Join our talented teaching team for classes in creative writing, acting, filmmaking, fine art [...]

January 5th, 2022|Academy|

10 Reasons to Join Centauri Arts English Tutoring Program

Our English program is unique. All four of our instructors are published authors with MFAs in Creative Writing and years of teaching experience. We use our love of words and literature to inspire our students to reach new heights. We focus exclusively on Reading and Writing skills – spending extensive time on both. Language Arts and English curricula include not only Writing and Reading, but also Oral Communication and Media Studies. This means that in some schools, only half the assigned English time is spent on Reading and Writing – and even this portion of the course may explore everything from websites and graphic novels to advertising campaigns. While these are all important, their inclusion has diluted the time some students spend on extended writing [...]

December 27th, 2021|Academy, English Tutoring|

Young Writers: 8 Markets Looking for Your Work!

Getting Published... There are plenty of places that young writers can submit their creative writing: magazines and writing competitions are great options. If you have a short story, poem, novel excerpt or even art piece you would like to see in print, check out the following options: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/teens/young-voices.jsp This is a creative writing magazine published annually. They accept art, too! You must live in the Toronto area to submit your creative writing. https://thewalrus.ca/amazon-first-novel-award-youth/ This one is a great choice for young writers working on a novel! https://www.breakbreadproject.org/submissionguidelines This magazine promotes work by creative writers under the age of 25. https://www.nawe.co.uk/DB/magazines/cuckoo-quarterly.html This is a UK-based online magazine designed by and for young writers. For art, novels, creative non-fiction, poetry and short stories, try out this New [...]

December 16th, 2021|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens, Writing Prompts|

Fine Arts Classes for Kids & Teens!

Centauri Arts has Digital Art Classes for kids & teens, and Fine Art Classes for kids & teens, all beginning in January 2022. Our Digital Art Class is virtual, so it’s available to anyone, wherever you live. Students use free software easily available online to explore the techniques and creative skills needed to create characters, build worlds and more. Each semester, our digital art class has a different theme and focus – everything from science fiction to popular movies, to poster art. This means kids and teens can take our digital art classes as often as they wish, building their technical drawing skills and exploring new creative projects every time. Our Fine Art classes take place in our Toronto studio and include painting, drawing and [...]

December 14th, 2021|Academy|

Creative Writing Classes for Teens: 10 Ways to Get Inspired!

Young writers in our creative writing classes often ask for writing prompts they can use to write poetry and short stories in their own time. Here’s 10 ways to find inspiration for your creative writing: Spend a day noticing whenever you smile, and what caused it. This is a great way to write poetry! Ask random questions on social media, and use the responses as writing prompts. Example: in ten words, what is something you always wanted to do, but never had the courage to try? Open a book at random and make note of interesting phrases. Use these in your creative writing. Take a virtual tour of an art gallery or museum. Imagine the story behind a famous painting, sculpture or artefact. Look for [...]

December 13th, 2021|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|

Creative Writing Classes for Teenagers at the Centauri Arts Academy

Screenwriting Classes, Short Fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Fantasy… we have it all at the Centauri Arts Academy, starting January 2022! We are thrilled to announce that our popular Screenwriting program is back for Semester 2! This virtual program is taught by the talented Abby Buchmeyer, who is an award-winning screenwriter working in Writers’ Rooms in New York. Abby has been involved with Centauri Arts for more than a decade and currently teaches our Screenwriting Masterclasses in high schools, too. Our Screenwriting Workshop is ideal for anyone 12+ who loves writing and is interested in how to write for TV and Film! You’ll explore the work of successful screenwriters, dissect your favourite shows and learn to produce stories and scenes packed with intriguing characters and conflict. [...]

November 22nd, 2021|Academy, Writing Classes for Teens|

Join us for NEW after-school arts classes starting January 2022!

As we move out of the pandemic, most of our programs are now in-person at the Centauri Arts Academy, including FILM CLASSES, CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES, ACTING CLASSES & FINE ART CLASSES for children and teens. We’re also offering ONLINE CREATIVE WRITING CLASSES and ONLINE DIGITAL ART CLASSES for teenagers. Why join our after school and weekend arts classes for children and teens? We have an experienced faculty of instructors, many of whom have taught with us for years, at our arts summer camps, and in our after school programs. Joining our arts classes means exploring your creative side… but it also means being a part of a community. Creative, learn and laugh with other people who enjoy an activity just as much as you do. [...]

November 11th, 2021|Academy|

How do you Plan a Novel?

So you love creative writing and you have an idea for a novel – but where do you begin? Here Are Some Tips to Get You started! 1. Map out your story. Begin by doing this in a general way. What is the ‘status quo’ for your characters before the story begins? What is the climactic event of the story? How is the character changed by the end of the novel? 2. Identify key elements of the novel What is the ‘inciting incident’ that sets story in motion? Look for rising and falling action in the story. Will the reader be gripped throughout? Why? Every writer has their own method for planning. Some plan every detail of the novel before they begin to write, in [...]

October 14th, 2021|Academy, Retreats, writing retreats|

12 Best Novels ALL High School Students Should Read

With so much content clamouring for attention, novels often get less class time than they deserve. When students read widely, they think more deeply, and their writing naturally improves. Here’s a list of twelve novels all high school students should read – either because they are enduring classics which have impacted our world, or because they speak to issues vital to our contemporary world. All these novels offer a gripping read, and themes of relevance to teenagers. 1) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury First published in 1953, Bradbury’s classic maintains its relevance in our social media age. There’s so much for readers to discuss in this novel, and as an added advantage it’s action-packed. 2) 1984, by George Orwell Orwell’s vision of an alternative future [...]

September 7th, 2021|Academy, English Tutoring|