Mary Ellen Hill ~ Storyteller & Teacher


mary ellen hill FAD PAD mary ellen hill FAD PAD mary ellen hill FAD PAD

Home School Classes


For anyone remotely close to Oakland, Mary Ellen Hill runs a truly wonderful and magic Harry Potter themed home school class from 10-2 on Tuesdays. All the details are below, but I just want to add that my daughter has done this class with Mary Ellen for two years and it is by far and away her favorite home school day. Mary Ellen has created a very special place for kids to be themselves while learning to be part of a community and having SO MUCH magical, dramatic and artistic fun indoors and out. Please read on and consider signing up! ...  Katie, SF, Isaac 11 and Alice 8


Welcome to my Homeschool page!


When a new-to-homeschool mom told me her son needed to practice his social skills in a positive, school-like environment, I created a Harry Potter homeschool curriculum based on my Harry Potter Enrichment After-School Class. Her son had taken that class when he was in a traditional school: "It was the highlight of his year," she said.

I've been an avid fan of the books since they came out and have been teaching Harry Potter after-school classes and camps since 2010. That first class -- five hours/week for 13 weeks -- was based on The Sorcerer's Stone. We covered the second book - The Chamber of Secrets -- for the twenty week winter/spring term.

These classes give students a chance to make their favorite books come alive using hands-on learning. My home studio, called the FAD PAD, is an ideal place for children to learn and create while having fun!

Here are some endearing photos of some Harry Potter connoisseurs!


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"It's such a gift that my kids get to have this class with you at this time when they are so very in love with Harry Potter. They loved the class and "can't wait" until next week! (Their words.)" Mom of 8 year old twins

"My daughter always comes home calm and so happy after being in your class." Mom of 7 year old



This is an example of a previous homeschool class.

Fall STARWITZ Class 2019
FALL 2019~ STARWITZ: A Harry Potter Homeschool Book Series Class on Tuesdays from 10-2.
Making books come alive with creative hands-on learning activities in a homey, fun and supportive environment.



Tuesdays 10am -2pm


This class will be based on "Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban". We will delve into the magical and imaginary realm of witches and wizards through art, play and drama. Some of the various activities will include the Knight Bus, Diagon Alley, Platform 9&3/4, Hogwarts Express, making wands, choosing the perfect witch/wizard outfit, creating an original name & house name, the Sorting Hat, visiting Hogsmeade, freeing Buckbeak & Sirius Black, as well as attending Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Divination, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, and Potions classes.

On October 29, we will be having a special Halloween celebration! We also like to celebrate the seasons at Starwitz such as Autumn Equinox.

This class will continue in the Winter and Spring.

There will also be time for free play, climbing Bob (the loquat tree), exploring the gardens and the enchanted and forbidden forests!

Oakland location near 580 and Edwards Ave.

Headmistress ME, Mary Ellen Hill, has been an avid fan since the HP books came out! She has been a professional storyteller since 1990. She is the director of FAD PAD playshops and camps. Mary Ellen also brings 35 years experience as a special and elementary education teacher and an after school day care teacher at Adventure Time. She has been teaching Harry Potter classes and camps since 2010. She has been offering Homeschool classes since 2014.


Sample Class:

Each student will make wizard money- galleons, sickles, and knuts from beautiful gold, silver and bronze paper. They will create a cloth pouch to hold their wizard money. As a class we will set up Gringotts and choose the parts of the banks' goblins and the wizards/witches coming to the bank. Then we will act out the scene.

15 Classes from 10-2 on Tuesdays

September 3, 10, 17, 24

October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

November 5, 12, 19, NO CLASS November 26

Fee: $60 per day + $30 supply fee = $930

Scholarships and Payment Plans available.


*There are 4 ways to send this fee.*

1. Make a check out to and mail it to: Mary Ellen Hill, 7548 Circle Hill Drive, Oakland, CA 94605.

2. Use your own Pay Pal account and pay under the family and friends button to mehstories@netzero.com.

3. Use VENMO on your phone. I am listed as Mary Ellen Hill @ MaryEllen-Hill-4.
There is also a photo of me that is the same photo that is on the homepage of my website, 510-219-3474.

4. Cash










OTHER HOME SCHOOL OFFERINGS

Do you have a child or a group of children that want to be together in a fun, creative, homey setting? I am delighted to create any particular homeschool class they would enjoy! I tailor make a 2, 3 or 4 hour class for one child up to eight. Classes offerings: Science (see below), Gardening, Cooking, Hand Sewing and Embroidery, Fairy Lore, Drama and Storytelling, Drawing and Painting, Cooperative Games and Free Play.

This is the 2 hour class that I taught in the winter of 2014. This came from a mom's request for a hands- on science class for her son. I have been studying and exploring cosmology, evolutionary biology and eco-justice since 1987. My specialty piece as a professional storyteller is called," We Are The Stars That Sing: The Story of the Universe". I presented workshops and created supportive materials that enhance this particular piece. With all of this under by belt, I felt ready to create this new class.

Happy Birthday Universe!

This dynamic 12 week class will explore the 13.7 billion year old story of the Universe, Stars, Earth and All Life through storytelling, various art forms, drama, and science experiments.

We will cover the Flaring Forth (the Big Bang Fireball), the birth of quarks, atoms, stars, Milky Way, Solar System, Earth, Moon, plants, animals, and ourselves! On the last class we will all make a birthday cake and have a big celebration!

This class is for hands- on learners, those that like delving into all types of art and also for science lovers! One Example: We will use storytelling, sound, movement and role play to enact matter, space, time and energy flaring out of the big bang as well as the creation of quarks.

Ages 6-10 ( younger or older if your strongly feel your child would be good fit)

$30 per class
$360 + $20 for supplies = $380
Time : 1pm - 3pm

Here are some photos from that fun class!

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"My son enjoys this class so much. What an oasis to have your class in the middle of OT and eye therapy!" Mom of 9 year old

"This is the quickest decision to commit to a class my daughter has ever made. She usually resists long-term commitments like this, even when I think she'd really love a particular series. Your class description in her mind was a no-brainer, and she wanted to sign up even though she has already committed to ballet class on Thursdays. What a testament to the energy and genuine passion for storytelling/teaching you share with these children." Mom of a 9 year old homeschooler





heart arms star sun  moon  earth spiral

Oakland, California, USA, North American Continent, Earth, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, Universe
Mary Ellen Hill ~ Storyteller & Teacher
Telephone 510-219-3474
Email mehstories@netzero.com
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