Academic Philosophy

 

Classical Education

No matter which specific skills will be valued in the workforce of tomorrow, free-thinking and articulate adults capable of acquiring new skills rapidly and independently will always be in demand across industries.

To prepare our students to be lifelong learners, we follow a classical education model: an intellectual, content-focused curriculum that teaches students how to think and how to learn. Classical education rests on three pillars: grammar, logic, and rhetoric.  Each pillar dominates a different stage of child development [though all are present at each stage].

 
Grades K-3: Focus on Grammar

Children at this stage love to observe and are sponges for information. Across all disciplines, repetition and memorization are the dominant modes. At this stage, our curriculum focuses on phonics and vocabulary, numeracy and mental math, the acquisition of a second language, and the learning of names for a whole universe of objects, people, and places.

 
Grades 4-6: Focus on Dialectic 

At this age, children begin to analyze and investigate, seek out explanations and connections, and show an increased interest in cause and effect. Our curriculum focuses on reading comprehension, analyzing text, constructing valid arguments, using logic, and understanding the scientific method. This is the age at which our students begin the chronological study of history and its accompanying geography.

 
Grades 7, 8: Focus on Rhetoric

This is the time when children take the knowledge and skills from the prior stages to express their own independent conclusions – a process known as synthesis. At this stage, there is a focus on persuasive argumentation when writing and speaking — in proofs, during debates, and throughout discussions.

 

Here are some key features of our academic program: 

We believe such a teaching standard is necessary to instill core fundamentals while also conveying genuine, life-long passions.

This exposure to expertise is something students can’t get from general education teachers.

Unlike some elementary school programs, where early Math and Science lessons lack substance, our programs provide a deep foundation that we will carefully build upon each year.

Additionally, Logic and Robotics/Computer Science are mainstays of the curriculum from grades K through 6. 

Because we believe young students can handle more than they are currently given, and introducing these topics at an earlier age gives them many more years to master the material.

…Not in isolated units. Because when subjects are taught continuously across multiple years, it allows students to better absorb and build their knowledge base.

In other words: Our STEM education is a marathon, not a sprint. If we encourage students not to cram, we educators also shouldn’t be “cramming” a subject like Geometry into a single term.

Specifically, math classes (e.g. Algebra, Geometry, Probability/Statistics) and science classes (e.g. Biology, Physics, Chemistry) are taught without interruption across multiple years — which currently is not the norm in most US curricula.

Because students deserve convincing answers to their frequent questions of “Why does this matter?”

We want to show them that seemingly unrelated subjects are deeply interconnected in the pursuit of a common understanding. Doing so adds a layer of depth and memorability that many modern curricula lack.

History and Literature classes, in particular, will coordinate with each other starting in 4th grade. It’ll be that much more meaningful for students to read Greek Mythology while studying the Trojan War (on top of learning about Pythagoras in Math, the Venus de Milo in Art, and the Aegean Sea in Geography).

…By providing students with distinct classes and programming dedicated to both native and foreign languages.

The benefits of bilingualism (and biliteracy) are well-documented, extending beyond language and reading skills into realms like math and logical reasoning.

However, those of us from immigrant communities know all too well how quickly English can take over household discussions. And for those of us without a second language at home, starting from scratch is nearly impossible.

Instead of leaving you on your own or waiting until 6th grade, we want to cultivate multilingual values from day 1.

Starting with Russian as the “native language” offering and expanding to other languages (Mandarin, French, Hebrew) based on interest. And starting with Spanish as the “foreign language.”

High-quality homework helps students improve their time management, attention, and organization. Bigger picture: It allows them to develop independence, agency, and executive functioning skills.

And, of course, it provides them with the opportunity and challenge for extra practice — at their own pace but left to their own means.

We strike the balance between too much homework and not enough (or none at all) by adhering to the “10 minutes per grade level” guideline, issued by the National Education Association (NEA) and the National PTA.