Amy--Academic Coach

Multiply certified teacher and adult educator

Many subjects and grade levels

Free initial consultations

All services are confidential and individualized

"Strategies for success"

Hello, from Amy and Bill


Amy Chapin works with a student

Bill Chapin plays piano
Amy Chapin works with a client at the office of Academic Coaching Services Bill Chapin comps with the College of Lake County Jazz Ensemble

Bill--Jazz Pianist & Teacher

Jazz piano and improvisation instruction

Jazz piano performer

Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop coordinator

"Creative growth through improvisation"

 

Academic Coaching Links

THE SWEET 16: What Good Readers Know

THEY KNOW…

1. Reading is thinking. Good readers read for meaning—not just to “get it done.”

2. You don’t read everything the same way.

3. The purpose of their reading and how to pace themselves appropriately.

4. They don’t remember everything they read. They must use tools to help them (notes, highlighters, post-its, etc.)

5. The importance of asking questions before, during and after reading. Have a dialogue with the author!

6. Not all of their questions will be answered within the text.

7. How a reading is organized.

8. How to find the big ideas in a reading and the smaller ideas that support them.

9. How to add new ideas to older ideas.

10. How to think beyond the page and read “between the lines” to the author’s meaning. (Understanding literary elements, making predictions, etc.)

11. Know the difference between fact and opinion.

12. How to connect themselves to the reading or the reading to something else. Take it personally! Don’t be afraid to analyze!

13. Being emotionally connected to a reading helps them read better. Being emotionally connected to anything helps us learn it better!

14. How to create a wide range of sensory images when they read. They can GIVE themselves to the literature.

15. What they understand and what they don’t understand—and are honest with themselves.

16. How to use a strategy when confusion hits. They don’t stop reading.

 
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Memorial Concert 2011 a Success

Thank you to everyone who attended, performed at, and contributed to the 2011 Drew Chapin Memorial Jazz Jam Concert, which took place on Thursday, August 11th in the Grayslake Central Park Pavilion. 

At one time, more than 20 musicians were on stage jamming to Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man. The concert raises funds for a scholarship, presented annually to a deserving Grayslake Community High School student. Read more...

dcscdonate

Last Updated on Sunday, 14 August 2011 08:51
 
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About Chapin and Chapin

With over 50 years of combined experience as educators Amy and Bill Chapin are dedicated to providing personalized services for learners and jazz improvisers.

Amy Chapin

A certified teacher and adult educator, Amy Chapin through her Academic Coaching Services provides confidential, individualized help for learners on a wide range of subjects and levels. A typical day in the office of Academic Coaching Services, at 18 S. Lake St, Grayslake, will see Amy helping students hone their study and test-taking skills, prepare for tests, tackle a long-range project, and overcome learning issues of many kinds. Integral to her coaching is frequent consultations with parents of her learners, and she often attends meetings with parents at the student's school to assist with communications and to help the family and school develop a plan for the student's learning. Her Frequently Asked Questions, services, and her bio provide more information, both about her special approach and her unique skill set for helping students develop "strategies for success."

Bill Chapin

While Bill's day job is managing the technology program at Warren Township High School, where he is the Director of Educational Technologies, he also plays and teaches jazz piano and improvisation. He brings to his music instruction more than 30 years as an educator and musician, which include teaching high school English, teaching jazz piano, and leading or playing with numerous groups in the Chicago area. Bill also founded and coordinates, with fellow music educator Paul Nielsen, the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop. This summer program provides opportunities for young jazz students to play in a combo setting. These days he is playing with the College of Lake County Jazz Ensemble and taking his own playing to a new level through weekly lessons with one of the area's best jazz piano teachers--definitely an opportunity to explore his own "creative growth through improvisation."

Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 April 2010 10:03
 
 
 

Jazz Piano Links

End of Summer Combo Workshop Dates

One more chance to play!
  • Tuesday, August 23rd, 6-8 pm: Hear the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop students perform at a jam session at Riveras Restaurant, 1745 Northwind Blvd, Libertyville, IL. Available members of all three of our 2011 workshop combos will join anyone who joins us at the restaurant to jam on jazz tunes.

GJCW Alumni Perform

On March 5th, Lydian Concept performed at the Wildwood Presbyterian Church. Consisting of alumni of the Grayslake Jazz Combo Workshop, Lydian Concept shared a number of jazz tunes. 

Hear them playing St. James Infirmary and Watermelon Man on YouTube.

Congrats to these young performers. Let us know if you'd like to book them for your event.