How subjects are taught is where we foster a love of learning. Our classroom philosophy pulls from Charlotte Mason and interest-strength led learning in a multi-age classroom to create a unique co-op experience.
First, our curriculum is based on the foundation that Biblical Christianity is truth.
Interest-Strength Led Learning
- Get engaged: use knowledge of children’s strengths, cognitive profiles, learning preferences, interests, and talents to engage them in the curriculum; decreasing struggles and increasing their love of learning.
- Unique: students are encouraged to be uniquely themselves, displaying their level of subject understanding through the medium that suits them best.
- Whole child approach: weaknesses are not ignored, instead, strengths and interests are leveraged for skill development — including academic skills, self-regulation skills, executive function, and emotional regulation.
- 2e: interest-strength led learning is particularly successful for gifted children with learning differences, or 2e (twice exceptional) children. Learn more about 2e here.
Charlotte Mason
- Whole child approach: the Charlotte Mason method is based on Charlotte’s firm belief that the child is a person and we must educate that whole person, not just his mind.
- Read it: students use living books rather than dry textbooks. Living books are usually written in narrative or story form by one author who has a passion for his topic. A living book makes the subject “come alive.”
- Feast of ideas: introduce a wide variety of activities, ideas, and sources to educate.
- Breathe in: spending time outdoors, interacting with God’s creation firsthand, and learning the living ways of nature is key.
Multi-age Classroom
- Mentorship: older students have the chance to become mentors to their younger classmates while learning and practicing important leadership skills.
- Look up: younger children naturally look up to and emulate older children, and in a classroom with a range of ages, there are always opportunities for a child to “graduate” from observer to leader.
- Diversity: by combining multiple age groups into one classroom, the Montessori method creates a diverse environment—since differences in age, for young children, correspond with vast differences in every other ability.
- More information here.
How does it work? Curriculum example.
- Teacher introduces “whole armor of God” by reading out loud direct from the Bible. (Charlotte Mason, living book)
- Students are asked to reflect what they heard in an age appropriate level and way they choose (interest/strength led), such as: Lego creation, drawing, writing, or acting it out. Students can be grouped in multi-age cohorts based on interests to develop problem-solving skills, leadership, and teambuilding (multi-age classroom).
- Teacher works between groups, provides direction, and support as needed.
- Students share their reflective work with each other. Students, based on age group, provide supportive feedback to each other encouraging positive communication skills and a growth mindset.