through hands-on project-based quests that promote curiosity and problem solving. This is the most amazing school ever. This is our first year at The Forest School. We believe that education should be about learning to learn, learning to do and learning to be. Public schools hold kids hands too much, but at Acton, we felt like there wasnt enough adult mentoring that could have helped our kids. As we began searching for answers to these questions, we came across Courage to Grow by Laura Sandefer, Acton Academy Co-Founder. Home Explore our Main Campus Find a School Elementary School blog Middle and Launchpad Blog Parent Blog Launch an Acton Join the Learning Revolution Turn Learning Upside Down Adaptive game based programs for core skills Socratic discussions to strengthen critical thinking A limited liability company headquartered in St. George, Utah, an A++ location in Boise, Idaho (Heroes Academy), We have written about the average tuition cost at Acton, Acton is not a Christian school or a denominational school, My three kids attended an Acton Academy at different ages, We came to know two different Acton Academies in two different states, A family member went through the training to become an Acton owner and told us what things are like from the owner side, We have extensively studied Acton Academys teaching model and, of course, read the book. One of the best arranged daily programs of work I have seen for a school of seven grades called for thirty-three class exercises per day. Anonymous. I am writing this blog in tribute to the critically important work on the history of education and its intersections with military research and automation done by brothers David and Douglas Noble. 2 - Launch in your home or a rented space. I soon realized Actons framework is in strict contradiction to self-directed learning. If, like me, you are interested in your children learning because its inherently interesting to learn, developing discernment or intuition, and knowing the skills to not be distracted from their values by rewards, then Acton may not be a good fit for you. Acton uses the latest technology in a self-paced learning environment that is designed to foster responsibility, goal-setting and teamwork. Per Acton tradition, Eagles are putting their big-picture thinking, project management skills, and team building into practice by planning and organizing a Lip Dub (plus, it's lots of fun)! Then, they gather together to set and review daily and weekly learning goals. 3 Ways Learning is Different Here Child Centered, Just as the search was getting too overwhelming and hopeless, I saw an ad for a start-up school that said all the words; it was going to be as intimate as homeschooling but in a mixed-age classroom. The intentionally limited role of guides encourage self-directed learning and yields a low cost staffing model that keeps the school affordable for many families. Heroes will begin to . investigating Acton Academy a good fit for Kentucky? Success is not about completing worksheets or memorizing facts to pass a test. We moved from NYC and right before the school year started, we heard about Acton Academy. Knowledge is power. Instead, they grabbed a camera and started goofing around until they got it. So they would sometimes be frustrated, but didnt feel that the teacher would help them to figure it out. The standards are extremely high and nothing short of excellence is acceptable. Welcome to Acton Academy of Washington, DC. The goal is to unlock an intrinsic love of reading. We believe students learn by doing. promise is shockingly bold and full of agency. Acton's school committee report in March 1896 explained: "There are at present seven grades in the East and North schools. Acton Academy Concord is an innovative K-8 school in Concord, California with learner-driven technology, Socratic discussions, hands on projects and real world apprenticeships. That robust promise has activated the Austin microschool for a decade. I will be impartial and mention pros AND cons, but please dont lose the messagego to Acton. Acton Academy Hampton Roads is part of the Acton Academy network -a network of true learner-driven micro schools started in Austin in 2009- and considered by many to be a leading model of K-12 innovation in the United States. Business Outlook. It's an innovative approach to education that celebrates personal responsibility, creative freedom, and the pursuit of one's life purpose. For example, kids that work for months and still have no idea how to actually GET a badge. Seriously, when my family and I walked out of a tour of the school in the city we moved to, we all literally cried. Sandefer recently explained, Unlike a traditional teacher, the ways in which a guide can intervene in the studio are strictly limited.. through deep socratic discussions about history, heroes, and self governance. (Alison McDowell) You can review the information provided to Jeff and Laura Sandefer by the guest blogger mom here. Our unique approach challenges learners through real-world, collaborative, hands-on projects and experiences, combined with the latest in adaptive-technology. Instead of an institution, school is viewed as a community of learners who are each on their own "Hero's Journey." The school is now Ark Acton Academy (Image: Google Maps) Ealing Council 's chief member for education has said she could "write a book" about some of the things that happened at Acton High School before it became an academy and that some of what went on was "frankly pornographic". They didnt like students always picking at each other. Purposeful education that is both student-centered and character-based. Acton promotes authentic relationships through written promises and covenants that form a tightly bound community around four character traits: Acton learners hold themselves accountable with public exhibitions at the end of each quest and a portfolio of quality work. They talk to a few students, and get confusing and contradictory instructions. Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. Begin a Hero's Journey. Another example is something we saw with our own kids. Thus, let's learn from them. The Lip Dub is a full-length music video, with a well-known song "dubbed over." Eagles are responsible for 100% of the process. Learn if opening an Acton Academy is the right fit for you. We are happy we made the transition an look forward to the upcoming year. We will notify you when an Acton Academy launches near you. Acton Academy Taipei is honored to be a part of the Acton Academy network. They receive feedback from peers and guides on their contribution to the studio. We are so pleased and confident it is a great fit! If they do not, they will lose a buck each week for not completing the minimum. He didnt think anything of it, but we were horrified when we found out he had taken a knife to school! We're Joe, Emily, Katelyn and Michael and weve decided to do school differently for our children and other children in our community! An adult mentor could teach them the basics to shorten the learning curve, have encouraged them to learn to tell a story, could have provided positive and negative feedback to spur them to create something valuable. new Acton Academy starting in Nashville TN, KYStats: High School Feedback Reports Getting Better, Linda Darling Hammond on Equity and Deeper Learning, Lessig on Code is Law & Regulation Mechanisms, PBL Video from both kid and adult perspective, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The kids learned without even realizing it. Demand for learner-driven education is growing. The Acton Academy issue is Facebook executives' first chance after our proposal to show that they mean that they say. We've heard about the excessive homework and standardized tests that start in the early elementary years. PS: This 17-minute video outlines the Cold War origins of the planned Future of (No) Work. Were in the parking lot of a nondescript office building on the outskirts of Boulder, CO. Its the mailing address for EduCause. Not only do our learners practice and learn the skill; but over time they will . We believe that learning should be an adventure that empowers students to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. It is completely a liberal school, where Acton academies are not to have political affiliation. Acton Academy Monterrey cuenta con acreditacin internacional por parte del International Association of Learner Driven Schools . My wife and I went to a friends house the other day. The first location we attended was wonderful. There is one location in Washington DC charging over $25,000+, and other locations that are nearly free. In upper elementary, a student on the highest freedom level can choose anywhere to sit during work time, and can even choose not to work. Unlike a traditional teacher, the ways in which a guide can intervene in the studio are strictly limited., After adding 50 new schools this fall, the tiny. My kids look forward to going to school every day. A guides role is to model behavior that leads to self-directed learning. The Sandefers have received over 18,000 applications to join the network. Joining the Acton Academy Tribe Acton Academy Joining the Acton Academy Tribe from Acton Academy on Vimeo. Former teacher, councillor Yvonne Johnson said she could "sell . The first Acton Academy was launched in the U.S. in 2009, serves grades K-12, and has graduated several senior high school classes. He is especially excited about the opportunity to participate in an apprenticeship this year! Were focused on teaching them about dangerous behavior, but not about making strict rules. I like that approach. The school uses a self directed learning approach. WHY WE ARE STARTING AN ACTON ACADEMY. Our learner transition from public school. The only apparent consequences I have witnessed are demotivation and demoralisation towards any lifelong learning. Our kids did not struggle to find friends at Acton because there is so much social engagement between the kids all day. We join teams in Wisconsin, Chicago, Toronto, Houston and London who won the right to open a new wave of Acton Academies to build on the success of the original Acton Academy in Austin, Texas. They are asked to make and defend. Indeed, decentralization of authority and an elevation of the individual is at the root of Acton Academys broader mission. We like that Acton doesnt only focus on testing, but also shows progress through demonstrable skills. We support every student to complete . When we homeschooled, we found that in just 2-3 hours per day, we could keep our kids ahead of the public school. Sending your child to TFS is the best give you can give them and our future society. Heres a science projectfollow these directions. Frankly, most kids these days are helpless. They are written and published online, on Actons tracker. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. As a parent, the teaching style was very foreign to me at first, and my wife and I spent a lot of time confused about what was happening at the school, but in the end, my kids were happy and thrived while at Acton. The self-directed learning environment has been a game-changer for our 9 year old son. Subject: Acton Academy. As strange as it may seem, ed-tech, health-tech, and futures trading are all enmeshed in one another. The Forest School gives its students an experience that they wont get anywhere else. I have an open letter I wrote asking Acton about their knowledge of or connection to the agenda. Acton Academy Columbus is a secular, private, project-based learner-driven elementary school. At The Wilder School, that work currently involves participating in an interactive lesson on colonial America, as well as developing a sales pitch for which type of classroom pet to adopt. Your kids wont study the Bible at an Acton, and they wont receive religious training, but there is still a nice focus on morality and ethics. During Drop Everything And Read time, elementary students occasionally read from a list of Badge Books. Middle school and high school learners are required to pitch their individual choices to studiomates for approval to ensure adequate challenge. I love that Acton doesnt track absences and many locations have a great school schedule that will allow you to go on family vacations, still focus on school, and not have a zillion half days just so the local public school gets credit for holding lunch that day. I remember the first time we had a family event planned on a school day. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational . They are given a space to write a sentence of evidence for their rating, and then are given space to write stars for things they like about the person, and wishes for what they wish that person would change. The kid immediately came back to the parents crying because they tried to do their chores and the wheel was broken and they needed mom to fix it. Soon after, I started to learn about the agenda for 21st century education, and I saw overlaps with what I was experiencing at our Acton school. Acton's primary model, what they are most known for,is that learners are completely independent with only rare interventions from adults. One of my sons told me he finished ELA minimum requirements by guessing enough times to see all the possible answers and memorizing them-instead of actually learning. A teacher and literacy specialist for 20 years in both public and private schools, Ross values the freedom and flexibility of the Acton model. The school, an Acton Academy affiliate, was founded by Matthew Clayton, who studied under the late Clayton disruptive innovation Christensen, worked as an analyst for Goldman Sachs, and was recruited to help build the Acton Academy brand. If they do not, they will lose a buck each week for not completing the minimum. I love that each child can work at their own pace and that the traditional school performance pressure is gone as our kids control how fast or slow they go but the school structure creates enough positive reinforcement to make them want to do well and soar! After leaving the University of Texas Austin, Sandefer launched his own private business school, interestingly enough with Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson as a partner. In our opinion, the approach to academics was a little too extreme, and we feel that a few low-stakes standardized tests during the year, a clear set of milestones, and commonsense benchmarks could have been implemented in a way to improve the experience. There is not a moment in the day when bucks are not in jeopardy. Gregory added: If anything positive came out of it, the pandemic has raised our collective awareness of education alternatives and the expectation families have for their children.. It made things unnecessarily contentious. Hes a good kid and certainly isnt threatening anyone. and athletic and other school-administered programs. I want to end with a positive so that it is clear that we were very happy with Acton. Start typing in the city or country in which you are interested. As a parent, I couldnt ask for anything more. Welcome to Acton CE Primary Academy. They are being prepared to bring their own unique genius to the world. A student or teacher with a fixed mindset ignores constructive criticism, instead relying on what they think they already know about themselves. Acton students are empowered to thrive in a world that needs independent, motivated thinkers and learners. They may showcase a learner as a role model or turn over more responsibility to learners. The promise is that through Socratic dialogs and experiential learning, each member of the Acton community will begin a Heros Journey; discover precious gifts and a commitment to mastery; become a curious, independent, lifelong learner; embrace the forging of a strong character; cherish the arts, the physical world, and the mysteries of life; and treasure economic, political, and religious freedom. None of your business! Organizing learning as skill sprints, projects, and dialogs rather than discipline-based courses; Growth community: a commitment to individual and collective growth; and. A growth mindset is open to constructive criticism, knowing that it gives an opportunity for improvement. Id ask why, and they would say they had a low freedom level for the next week. I can easily see how it would work well with many learners on a daily basis and would lead many of those students to find deep rooted passions which they could hopefully translate into careers. They attracted educators who were extremely gifted. Right from the start, we noticed that Acton tends to keep parents at arms length. Now the student is working toward. Instead of any learning taking place, students are simply focused on completion. Acton Academy Tyler's 2021-2022 school year will run from August 29th, 2022 to June 9th, 2022. After adding 50 new schools this fall, the tiny Acton Academy team is gearing up to onboard 150 new schools each year thereafter. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin For the most part, the school was better than we could have expected. When I found it, I was intrigued. We hope your experience at Acton is great! Acton Academy CAN be a great experience and its certainly a school you should take a hard look at, but I wanted to paint a clear picture of the positive and negative things you may find. He loves being able to self direct his learning pace and to set his own daily and weekly goals and has skipped a grade because he has accomplished the necessary work. We encourage our students to develop personal virtues such as honesty, hard work, responsibility, kindness and empathy. Teaching by lecturing or issuing instructions is not allowed at Acton. Develop a deep respect for economic, political and religious freedom. Acton Academy is a 21st century solution for the epidemic of mediocrity and apathy that plagues young people in traditional school. The Forest Schools educational model is cultivating the confidence and curiosity our daughter was lacking in the public school setting. This is NOT the school discussed below, but I think my commentary provides useful context for this mothers open letter. Since its inception, Acton Academy has received over 15,000 applications from parents who desire to launch an affiliate school. The Staff at The Forest School work with us to help make the transition seamless. Thank you. Learn to be curious, independent, and lifelong learners, Develop a deep respect for economic, political and religious freedoms, Cherish the arts, wonders of the physical world and the mysteries of life on Earth, Discover their most precious gifts and learn to use them to solve difficult problems. The kids in this group would pick areas of interest, and experts or tutors were hired to support the childs learning. I highly recommend The Forest School! 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