Academic Antics

Specialties

We specialize in quality afterschool and homeschool classes with professionals teaching within their specialty. Our small group classes encourage creativity and creative thinking through hands on projects.

We have classes, clubs, field trips, and activities in a wide range of subjects, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math), Language Arts, Foreign Language, Fine Art, Social Science/​History, as well as cross-​curricular classes that defy categorization.

We serve families with children 4yrs9mo. through 12^th grade, and occasionally have adult-​friendly classes, as well.

History

Established in 2010.

Academic Antics started when a few moms got together to plan activities for their soon-​to-​be high school homeschool teens. Initially, we thought we’d have a co-​op program, and scheduled a meeting at a local restaurant with several friends to see what others were interested in. By the end of the evening, ti was clear that there was a need for quality classes that were professionally taught by excellent teachers, and that parents were less interested in the co-​op idea originally conceived.

For the first three years, we were an informal group and met in donated space in homes. At the end of our third year, it was clear to some of us that we had outgrown that arrangement. The two moms who originally founded Academic Antics decided to go separate ways as Academic Antics itself moved on to a more official existence as a non-​profit entity. One of the original moms, Julie Wright, serves as Director of the current program.

Meet the Manager

Julie W.

Manager

A Software Engineer by training, Julie came to the field of Education through homeschooling her own kids/​teens. She has helped to found co-​ops, volunteered as a teacher of many subjects, especially science, computer science, and writing. Her previous professional work was in COgnitive Adaptive Computer Help (COACH) and user interface design. She has also taught computer science courses at Cogswell Polytechnical College.

Julie has also served on the Boards of several local nonprofits, including Explorer Preschool in San Jose. and as co-​president of the Santa Clara Valley Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools.