Acton Academy & Montessori
Drawing Out A Child's Infinite Potential
OUR STUDIOS
Our Studios (classrooms) are crafted from beautiful blends: timeless Montessori & Socratic philosophy with cutting edge Project Based Learning, blended with the richness of Eastern and Western philosophies combined.
Studios are flexible spaces for work, learn, and play. Each studio is a tight-knit community of mixed-age learners who support each other and collaborate daily. This environment fosters a culture of respect and serves as fertile soil for much of their character development.
SPARK STUDIO
(3-6yrs)
An authentic Montessori classroom, the Spark Studio follows the Montessori curriculum and method, providing a strong foundational basis for our youngest learners as they begin their journey at Ethos.
The goal of this studio is to spark an interest and curiosity in learning by providing an environment rich with self-correcting and hands-on materials to help foster their natural inclination to refine gross and fine motor skills, build perceptual and language skills, social-emotional learning, and develop mathematical and scientific thinking.
DISCOVERY STUDIO
(6-9yrs) & EXPLORER STUDIO (9-12yrs)
Children become ready to take the journey to become an independent learner, while enjoying freedom within boundaries. They look to the horizon and set weekly SMART goals and strive to achieve them, work collaboratively in STEAM Project-Based Learning, and joyfully learn with with Montessori materials & adaptive technology. They enjoy helping and being helped by fellow travelers in the studio. The goal of this studio is to for children to develop growth mindset, responsibility of their own learning process, proactivity, self-discipline, integrity, and leadership.
The Ethos School is accredited by the International Association of Learner-Driven Schools (IALDS).
CORE SKILLS
Core skills are the basic toolkit that students need to master to become lifelong learners. Students spend approximately three hours each day, setting SMART goals and choosing which Core Skill (reading, writing, math) to improve. Ethos uses the Montessori method (children 3-9yrs), as well as the latest in adaptive online systems (children 9-11yrs) in a purposeful, meaningful way, allowing children to learn at their own ability level and at their own pace.
PROJECT-BASED LEARNING
Projects are carefully developed and designed for students to learn science, social studies, and history, while concurrently instilling and incorporating the growth of valuable real-world skills and abilities. They are student-designed projects which not only provide opportunities to learn concepts through “doing,” but when strung together, answer larger questions, fuel student passions, and motivate students to strive further. In these ways, projects become powerful drivers of learning.
WRITER'S WORKSHOP
The purpose of Writer's Workshop is to instill a love of writing, reading, and story-telling and to empower young heroes for the rest of their lives with an understanding that putting clear thoughts to paper leads to freedom and opportunity. To establish this habit of always striving for excellence, students engage in repeated process and daily writing for the entirety of the Elementary School journey.
Each session of Writers’ Workshop is based on a different genre. The guides design a new writing quest each session in which students have full freedom in their choice of content; however, they must learn how to navigate the creative constraints that come with each genre.
SOCRATIC DISCUSSIONS
Guides use the Socratic method, rather than lecturing as experts or asking leading questions. A Socratic guide sets up scenarios and asks questions to stimulate critical thinking through debate and inquiry.
We begin each day and major block of work time during the day with a launch to create high energy and focus. During the Socratic launch, a guide might share a story, a video clip, or a world-class example to inspire and encourage, address the purpose behind the upcoming activity, bring up a community need, focus on building character, or establish priorities for the day. Alternatively, the guide might set up a scenario that puts students in the shoes of someone facing an important decision, and ask the students what they would do in this hero's position.
P.E./ART
Children complete units of various sports/games in P.E. to strive for mastery in personal fitness and sportsmanship, which becomes part of the Hero’s Journey. They also have other periods of free time outside, breaks that are important because they allow physical energy to be released.
Art is incorporated in the project-based learning for the session. Students are given the chance to express their learning in a creative manner through various art projects that expose them to different art mediums. Children are also given a variety of tools for artistic exploration during their free time.
D.E.A.R.
D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything and Read." Students spend 30 minutes every day developing a love for reading by, well, reading! Students choose from a selection of books, find a comfortable place to sit, and silently delve into a book.
Unique to Ethos
GRATITUDE FOR THE WORLD THAT IS
Nurturing Naturalists
We believe in the power of taking learning out of the classroom and getting young people immersed in nature. We aren't afraid to get dirty while we learn through play. Research has shown that children's healthy development requires exposure to nature, which facilitates increased concentration, greater attention capacities, better motor coordination, reduced stress levels, and increased social interaction.
UNDERSTAND ONSELF AND THE WORLD THAT IS
Cultivating Mindfulness
We are inspired by mindful awareness and oneness from Eastern philosophies. From how you wash your hands to how you speak with others in conflict, mindful and intentional practices permeate through life at Ethos. Through process and reflection, we strive to reflect on ourselves and increase conscious awareness of our place in the world. With mindful choices, yoga, and intentional breathing to start the day, learners are equipped to more deeply understand themselves and their world.
CREATE THE WORLD THAT OUGHT TO BE
Proclivity of Service
Heroes at Ethos will have opportunities to understand their role in a community. It is designed to present children with the chance to dig deep and understand the needs of others as well as their own strengths in serving. Major themes will include exploring the traits of servant leaders, developing empathy to better serve the needs of others, and deep gratitude.
Individualized Learning in a Tight-Knit Community
You begin to discover who you are by being in relationship to others. Our learners strive to become highly independent, only to realize how interdependent they need to be in order to thrive.
