The Studio at HP

The Handpicked Studio programs are hosted at Handpicked Education HQ

— a thoughtfully designed, second-story 1,600-square-foot space that feels far more like a home than an office. Think We-Work for teens, grounded in mentorship, accountability, and academic focus but intentionally warmer, more personal, and deeply rooted in community.

Our Jr. High & High School Programs

  • Mondays | 9am to 12pm | 6th - 9th Grade

    In Literary Launchpad, we explore the timeless art of storytelling through rich literature, narration, and thoughtful writing. While we immerse ourselves in the beauty of classic works and meaningful discussions, we also sharpen communication skills that are key to leadership, marketing, and entrepreneurial success. Whether you’re crafting a persuasive pitch or captivating an audience, this class cultivates the storyteller within, preparing you for life’s ventures—both in business and beyond.This class will focus on improving communication skills through literature and deep discussions.

  • Wednesdays | 9am to 12pm | 9th - 12th Grade

    In The Foundry, students gain hands-on, real-world experience in essential business and professional skills. From mastering Google Workspace and crafting standout résumés to learning marketing strategies and building networks, The Foundry equips students with practical tools to thrive. Each session blends actionable skill-building with real-life scenarios, ensuring students walk away ready to navigate professional environments, take on leadership roles, and confidently step into their future ventures.

  • Fridays | 9am to 12pm | 9th - 12th Grade

    The Forum is where entrepreneurial ideas take flight. Each week, students tackle hands-on business or entrepreneurial objectives, applying their creativity and critical thinking to real-world challenges. Once a month, a guest speaker—an experienced entrepreneur—joins us to share their journey and insights. Students engage in Q&A, making connections between their own projects and the wisdom of real-world practitioners. It’s a dynamic blend of doing and learning, inspiring students to shape their own entrepreneurial paths.

  • M | W | F | 1pm to 3pm

    After each class session, from 1 to 3 p.m., we offer an optional free add on of Creative Commons —a relaxed, open space where students can stay, create, and connect. Whether they want to work on assignments, dive into an art project, or simply use the space as their creative home base, this lab offers flexibility. Students can grab lunch, collaborate, or just unwind, making the day not just educational but also a time for creativity and community.

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Course Information

Literary Launchpad

Course Title: Literary Launchpad


Grade level: 6–9 (best fit), with select 9–12 students needing communication foundations

Schedule: Mondays, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Old Town Orange, CA at The Studio at HP

Format: Charlotte Mason-inspired (living texts, narration, conversation, habit-building)

Purpose: Build confident communicators using story, narration, and deep reading—skills that transfer directly to leadership, business, and real-world work.

About the Course:
Literary Launchpad is the communication skills foundation of the program. Students learn to read with attention, think clearly, and speak with confidence by practicing narration (retelling), discussion, and storytelling. Rather than worksheets or heavy lecture, students grow through consistent, guided practice with excellent texts.

Why it connects to business (without turning into “business class”)

Business runs on communication: listening, understanding, summarizing, explaining ideas, and speaking with clarity. Literary Launchpad trains those exact skills through story—so students gain the communication habits they’ll use later in The Forum, Foundry, interviews, presentations, teamwork, and leadership.

Skills students build (practical + transferable)

Students learn to:

  • Speak clearly and confidently in a group

  • Retell and summarize accurately (narration = meeting recap skill)

  • Ask and answer thoughtful questions (discussion + real-world conversation)

  • Organize ideas into a beginning, middle, end (story structure = presentation structure)

  • Read with deeper understanding (attention, comprehension, vocabulary in context)

  • Write with clarity (short, strong writing—no fluff)

  • Communicate with professionalism (tone, listening, respect, presence)

What class looks like (weekly rhythm)

Each session includes a blend of:

  • Read-aloud or shared “living text” reading (short, high-quality)

  • Oral narration (students retell with clarity and detail)

  • Guided discussion (what happened, why it mattered, what it reveals)

  • Short written narration (building clear writing habits)

  • Storytelling practice (voice, pacing, eye contact, confidence)

  • Light “real-world communication” moments (introductions, speaking up, giving a clear answer)

Student work between classes

  • Short reading (or excerpt) + simple preparation note

  • Occasional short written narration or revision

  • Work is designed to be consistent and doable.

Evaluation (simple, growth-based)

Progress is based on:

  • Preparedness and participation

  • Growth in narration quality (clarity, sequence, detail)

  • Discussion contributions (listening and responding)

  • Writing improvement over time

  • Confidence and professionalism

Outcome

Students leave with stronger comprehension, clearer speech, better writing, and noticeably increased confidence—plus the communication foundation that supports future business-oriented work and leadership opportunities.

Mondays | Communication Foundations

The Foundry

Course Title: The Foundry

Grade Level: 9-12 (high school/ homeschool)

Schedule: Wednesdays, 9:00am-12:00pm (1x/week)
Duration: 16 Weeks Per Semester (2 Semesters)

Location: Old Town Orange, CA at the Studio at HP

Format: Hands on, Workshop and Weekly Intensive

Purpose: The Foundry exists to help students turn ideas into finished work by building real projects, practicing teamwork, and developing follow-through.

About the Course:
This elective builds the same core skills used in most entry-level jobs: clear communication, digital productivity, teamwork, and finishing real projects –  and leaves students with published work they can show.

What students will learn (high-level)

  • Workplace communication: clear writing, professional tone, presenting ideas

  • Digital productivity: Google Drive/Docs/Sheets/Forms/Slides for real tasks (organization, revision, simple analysis, presentations)

  • Design & marketing basics: creating visuals and communicating a message with Canva

  • Web publishing: building a simple website and maintaining a professional online presence

  • Project management habits: weekly milestones, checklists, deadlines, revision cycles

  • Professionalism: receiving feedback, improving work, teamwork roles and responsibility

Most work happens during class time. Each session students aim to complete:

  • One website update

  • One short writing draft or revision

  • A small amount of evidence/proof to support their ideas


Between-session work is optional/light and primarily supports revisions or source gathering.


Feedback and professionalism

Students practice giving and receiving constructive feedback using a structured routine. The course emphasizes growth, revision, and clear communication over perfection.


Teamwork

Students complete a brief team project during the year with defined roles (writing, visuals, presenting) and clear individual accountability.


Assessment

Students are evaluated on:

  • Consistent progress and completion of milestones

  • Clarity and organization of work

  • Evidence-based reasoning

  • Improvement through feedback and revision

  • Not on advanced design skills or technical complexity.

  • End-of-course outcome

Outcome

Students leave The Foundry with finished, real projects they can show—proof of transferable skills like teamwork, communication, digital productivity, and follow-through—and the confidence and habits that make them entry-level ready for the workforce.

Wednesdays | Skills & Application

Course title: The Forum

Grade level: 9–12 (high school / homeschool)

Schedule: Fridays, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (1x/week)
Duration: 16 Weeks Per Semester (2 Semesters)

Location: Old Town Orange, CA at The Studio at Handpicked

Format: Discussion seminar + guest speaker interview/Q&A + guided analysis + independent research (minimal lecture)

Purpose:
The Forum exists to connect students with the real world—so they learn what careers actually require, practice professional-level conversation and critical thinking, and leave with a clear next-step plan and a portfolio of insights they can show.

About the Course:
The Forum is a full-year, discussion-driven course built around real conversations with entrepreneurs and working professionals from the local community. Students don’t “just listen” to speakers—they learn how to interview, analyze, and extract practical insight from real careers and real businesses, then connect those lessons to their own strengths and next steps.


Why a full year (32 weeks)

Career clarity and professional confidence are not a one-time event. Over 32 weeks, students meet a range of professionals and learn to compare paths side-by-side—so they move from “that sounds interesting” to “I understand what this work requires, and I know what to try next.”


What makes The Forum different (from a build/project class)

The Forum is centered on discussion, interviews, and decision-making. Instead of building a product or running a venture, students build the transferable skills that power almost every workplace: communication, preparation, analysis, and professional presence—using real guests as the learning engine.


Practical, transferable skills students build:

Students learn to:

  • Ask strong questions and follow-ups (informational interviewing, client discovery, mentorship conversations)

  • Listen actively and summarize accurately (meeting skills, clarity, retention)

  • Speak clearly in a group and lead discussion respectfully (team communication, confidence)

  • Prepare professionally (research, note-taking, agenda thinking, time awareness)

  • Turn real stories into insights (pattern recognition, tradeoffs, decision-making)

  • Communicate learning in a workplace style (recaps, short memos, brief presentations)

  • Identify career fit and next steps (strengths, interests, work style, and realistic expectations)

Semester deliverables

The course includes two larger semester deliverables focused on:

  • Interviewing and communication growth over time

  • Career exploration and comparison across fields

  • A portfolio of writing that demonstrates maturity, clarity, and real-world thinking

  • (Details are shared with enrolled families; students are guided step-by-step.)

Evaluation

Student progress is assessed through:

  • Preparedness and consistency

  • Quality of discussion participation and question-writing

  • Written recaps/insight memos and communication growth

  • Professionalism with peers and guest speakers

  • Completion of semester deliverables


Outcome

By the end of the course, students leave with stronger communication skills, higher professional confidence, and clearer direction—plus a portfolio of written insights and career learning they can reference for future classes, internships, applications, and next-step planning.


Fridays | Career Exploration & Real World Insight

The Forum