How do children learn best? At Innovations Academy in San Diego, we have a few, er, a LOT, of ideas about this, collected thoughtfully into our mission, vision, and curriculum. Here we sum up how we think children learn best and how we support these ideas at our small, tuition-free K-8 public school.
Learning at Its Best
At Innovations Academy, we believe that learning is inherent to being human. Our approach recognizes that learning is fundamentally a process—one that begins with exploring individual interests, setting meaningful goals, and celebrating achievements along the way.
We believe that learning best occurs when:
- There is freedom of choice through a diverse curriculum allowing students to follow their passions while meeting high academic standards. Theatre? Sure! Socratic Seminars? Let’s go! Ceramics? Certainly.
- Using a constructivist learning approach in which students collaborate to learn subject matter. For example, students are encouraged to learn in multi-age groups in which they can contribute to each other with knowledge. They can also grow socially by interacting with peers of different ages.
- Integrating various learning modalities into our daily teaching. Whether a student is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner, our hands-on, inquiry-based approach ensures all children can access and engage with the material meaningfully.
- There’s no homework, but lots of room to play, both in the classroom and outside in our amazing “backyard”.
- Intellectual, social, emotional, and physical (hello again hands-on!) components are integrated in the learning experience.
- There is strong family involvement in the educational process: parents, students, and teachers collaborate as an educational team.
- Class sizes are small within a small school setting. A survey of a host of different studies concluded that small class size has the largest impact in the early grades.
- Students are given personal attention both academically and personally.
- The learning environment is safe and supportive.
- Technology is fully integrated into the curriculum. The use of the internet and educational software will be used to support classroom instruction, assessment, project development, communication with parents, and teacher designed curriculum materials.
Perhaps most importantly, we connect learning to students’ personal experiences and give them purpose in their community. When children see how their education makes a real difference in their daily lives and local community, their motivation and engagement soar. This is learning that sticks, learning that transforms.
Give your child the best learning experience you can -tuition-free- and contact Innovations Academy to ask a question, take a tour, or enroll at our tuition-free K-8 school.
About Innovations Academy
Innovations Academy is a tuition-free public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in San Diego, California. Our small school values a hands-on, inquiry-based education with high academic standards using self-expression, compassionate connection, and purposeful learning. Our new modern campus is intentionally designed with curiosity and exploration in mind. Join our innovative school today! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Find us at innovationsacademy.org.