SPARK Studio
Ages 3-6
The purpose of the SPARK is to equip very young learners with skills of independence and mindfulness, thus building the foundation for further empowerment and freedom. This is accomplished through the integration of the Montessori method, a project-based learning approach inspired by Reggio Emilia, a loose-parts play learning design inspired by a Waldorf education, and the Hero’s Journey.
Elementary Studio
Ages 7-11
The purpose of the Elementary Studio is to ignite curiosity through a wide range of challenges and experiences, to develop self-awareness and independence through reflective processes, to discover a joy for learning through a balanced learning design, and to ignite curiosity through a wide range of challenges and experiences. We believe that learning to do, learning to be, and learning to learn are more important than memorization.
Middle School Studio
Coming in 2027
Ages 11-14
The purpose of the Middle School Studio is to embark into the real world, with the thrilling opportunities and responsibility that come with it. Offering a higher level of freedom, as well as a safe place to test your limits, failing early, cheaply and often. Learners apply real-world skills in hands-on projects including apprenticeships each year with heroes in the community. M.S. learners Master core skills (reading, writing, and math) through the latest technology. Develop critical thinking and an appreciation for heroes and history through Socratic discussions. Dive deeply into biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, finance and psychology through immersive quests and public exhibitions.
Launchpad
In the future…
Ages 14-18
We plan to launch our Higher Education Studio – Launchpad – as soon as founding students from the lower studios mature to build this fast-paced work environment. Launchpadders get ready for real-world success by gaining valuable skills, mastering them through apprenticeships, and launching real startups, businesses and projects. Whether that’s in business, science, humanities, or the arts, apprenticeships and projects increase in length and complexity, according to the Launchpadders experience and learning journeys at Wonderwood. By the time a young person leaves Launchpad they have a portfolio of real-world work to prove what they can do.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF….
SPARK
The SPARK Studio learning environment in the village is an empowering physical space where learners are comfortable navigating independently, allowing their curiosity to drive them. A day filled with beautiful songs, poems, and story-telling around the fire or in the open fields, focused on utilizing the outdoors with unstructured loose parts to cultivate their creativity. While some learners may be building large structures to climb, some may be in Fern Gully identifying mushrooms or finding new insects, while others may be playing with our pet chickens! Success in SPARK means flourishing your unique, curious, and independent spirit! The Seed Pod is an authentic Montessori environment of whole child development each morning: cognitive, physical, emotional and social. Children in SPARK learn and discover through loose parts play where they plan, build, create and collaborate with one another. SPARK also builds foundations of reading, writing, autonomy, goal setting and independent learning skills that prepare young people to soar in the Elementary Studio.
Elementary Studio
The Elementary Studio resembles a collaborative, working group-environment. Learners set their intentions for the day and the learners in E.S. get to experience a blend of independent work time, the content of which is determined by their personal goals, and collaborative hands-on projects that expose them to various fields of study and potential Callings on their Hero’s Journeys, for 6 weeks at a time. With ample space, and options throughout the campus, you’ll find throughout the day, children engaging in the outdoors choosing to read in hammock tree, running under the mountain trails, collaborating on the deck, creating in the outdoor kitchen, or focused and engaged independently at their table in flow. Beyond all this, learners engage in riveting Socratic discussions and debates, on topics ranging from current events to culinary skills, all with the purpose of putting them in the shoes of a hero who will make decisions.
Measuring Mastery – Elementary Studio and Beyond
Young heroes celebrate the mastery of tools, skills and character by earning badges, assembling portfolios and taking part in public exhibitions.
Public exhibitions at the end of most Quests allow young heroes to present work to experts, customers or the public for a real world test.
Parents use badges to track academic progress in Core Skills like reading, writing, math and spelling and character development in “Learn to Be” Badges.
Portfolios and the Journey Tracker (our internal goal-setting and tracking software) captures rough drafts, photos, and other creative work.
A Learner Driven Community
Learners create and sign a Contract of Promises describing how each individual will act and the consequences for violating community norms.
Mentor teams encourage younger and older learners to listen, affirm, set goals and hold each other accountable.
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21st Century Learning
The latest in educational tools and technology for self paced mastery of reading, writing and math skills.
Deep Socratic discussions about heroes, history and self governance to hone critical thinking skills and the ability to powerfully think, write and speak.
Hands-on Montessori Works and project-based Quests to master the tools and skills needed to solve problems in the real world.
Written promises and covenants that form a tightly bound community of individuals learning to form authentic friendships and honestly resolve interpersonal problems.
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Learn more about how Acton Academy turns learning upside down.
“A remarkable book that captures the powerful journeys of Acton Academy’s founders, students, parent community, and — I hope — the future of education around the globe. Any school, whether traditional or innovative, will gain insights from this magical place.”
Ted Dintersmith
Education Author, Film Producer, and Philanthropist
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