Grades 5–6
Live online6:30–7:30 PM PT
December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 & 30
Six 60-minute classes · Up to 6 students
$207 per student · full camp
Enroll: Grades 5–6ARC I Winter Camp · Grades 5–8
Build stronger reading
skills this winter.
Six live online classes that teach students to understand challenging stories, choose strong evidence, and explain their thinking.
December 21–23 & 28–30, 2026 · Up to 6 students per group
Choose Your Camp$207 for the full six-class camp
Enroll in Winter Camp
Same six dates. A group for your child’s grade.
Grades 7–8
Live online7:30–8:30 PM PT
December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 & 30
Six 60-minute classes · Up to 6 students
$207 per student · full camp
Enroll: Grades 7–8Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday for two weeks. All times Pacific.
A new story. A focused skill.
What students will practice
Each class features a new short story selected to help students practice that day’s reading skill. Students read and discuss the story together, explain their thinking, and support their answers with evidence from the text.
- 01Dec 21
STORY & Best Evidence
Track the plot and choose the evidence that most directly supports an answer.
- 02Dec 22
STORY & Best Evidence II
Distinguish literal and figurative language and evaluate how each supports a claim.
- 03Dec 23
Facts of the Text
Identify exactly what a passage says and separate stated facts from unsupported assumptions.
- 04Dec 28
Characterization
Use a character’s words, actions, and choices to explain their traits and motivations.
- 05Dec 29
Perspective
Analyze how a character’s or narrator’s point of view shapes the way events are understood.
- 06Dec 30
Compare & Contrast
Explain meaningful similarities and differences between characters using evidence.
The camp covers the first six lessons of the eight-week ARC I course.
COURSE CREATOR & INSTRUCTOR
David Marrufo, MAB.A. English, Highest Honors | UC BerkeleyM.A. Philosophy | San Francisco State University
20+YEARS TEACHING
The educator behind ARC
Meet your instructor
David earned a B.A. in English with Highest Honors from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in Philosophy from San Francisco State University.
David is an educator whose experience includes teaching in private and charter schools, independent tutoring, and instructing SAT Reading Boot Camps. He guides students through close reading and helps them connect their answers to the text.
David created the Advanced Reading Course (ARC) I Winter Boot Camp to provide students with advanced reading strategies that will boost their reading skills during their winter break. The ARC I Winter Boot Camp is designed to teach students advanced reading strategies that develop students into strong, analytical readers and evidence-based thinkers.
Frequently asked questions
Is this camp a good fit for my child?
The camp is for students in grades 5–8 who can already read connected text fluently and are ready to strengthen comprehension and analysis. It focuses on understanding texts rather than teaching phonics or decoding.
Will students read a chapter book?
Each class features a new short story selected to practice that day’s skill. Students read and discuss the story together during class rather than working through a chapter book across the camp.
Does my child need to take ARC I before joining?
No. The winter camp starts with the first lesson of ARC I and introduces the skills students will use throughout the camp.
How does the camp compare with the eight-week ARC I course?
The camp covers the first six lessons of ARC I in six meetings over two weeks. It does not include the final two lessons of the eight-week course. Families considering both should expect overlapping content.
Does the camp teach writing?
The focus is reading comprehension and analysis. Students practice explaining their thinking and supporting answers with evidence, skills that also support writing. The camp is not a writing workshop.
Do we need to attend a Free Class before enrolling?
No. The Free Class is optional. It gives families a chance to experience the teaching approach before deciding whether to enroll.
Want to try a class first?
Experience the winter camp’s teaching approach in a free live reading class.
Sign up for a Free ClassMake winter break a time to grow.
Six classes · Small groups · $207