Learning Design
“The way kids learn to make good decisions is by making decisions, not following directions.” –Alfie Kohn
THE HERO'S JOURNEY
Your child is the hero of their unique story
BEYOND ACADEMICS
Preparing for Life, Not Just Tests
Unlock your child's potential with a curriculum designed to inspire curiosity, instill confidence, and foster a lifelong passion for learning. Learn more below about the core principles of learning design at Acton Academy.
Self-Directed "Core Skills"
For “core skills” like reading comprehension, writing, and math, we substitute lectures and homework with the latest educational technology. These computer-adaptive programs use gamification to make learning fun, and effectively allow young people to teach themselves. During core skills, learners also set daily SMART goals, manage their own time, and work at their own pace on core subjects.
When you give children the freedom and responsibility to take charge of their own learning, they enjoy it more, learn better, and normally progress 2-3 times faster. Our personalized approach to core skills allows young people to work at their own pace, zooming ahead in topics they quickly grasp while taking their time on topics they find challenging. By setting their own goals, young people are also learning accountability, time management, and self-discipline.
At Acton, all learning is concentrated within school hours, so there is no homework. Core skills is a daily block of time for learners—armed with a good book of their choosing, a laptop, or their journal—to work at their own pace toward mastery of reading, math, and writing. Our learning is authentic, where learners focus on accomplishing their personal SMART goals, not on passing tests or memorizing facts.
Guided - Not Taught
Acton has “guides” and “studios” instead of teachers and classrooms. While teachers settle disagreements, give lectures, and orchestrate the entire classroom, guides are mentors who facilitate learning in ways distinct from traditional teaching. They act more like game-makers, operating on the sidelines to inspire curiosity and put in place systems that allow the studio to be learner-led.
If we want young people to become independent, self-reliant, and perseverant, they need the opportunity to practice those skills. When young people take charge of their own education, they set themselves up to be life-long learners. Guides at Acton inspire young people to solve their own problems, work together to run the studio, and resolve their own conflicts.
Guides never, ever answer questions. Instead, they point learners to existing studio processes, connect them with a peer, or ask illuminating questions when someone is truly stuck. Also, in the spirit of truly self-directed learning, guides never, ever lecture. Rather, they lead deep Socratic discussions, creative quests, and meaningful launches to inspire, equip, and connect young people.
Socratic Discussions
The “Socratic Method” involves teaching by asking questions instead of giving out answers. In Socratic Discussions learners wrestle with dilemmas that don’t have clear right or wrong answers, forcing them to think through real-world and moral implications, take a position, and defend it with evidence. Learners are encouraged to actively listen, share their own ideas, question diverse perspectives, and ultimately formulate their own informed conclusions to apply to their learning.
Knowledge is rendered useless if it fails to impart wisdom. Our job is not to teach young heroes WHAT to think, but rather HOW to think for themselves. Not only do Socratic Discussions lay a strong foundation for moral and character development, but they also help young people hone their listening, critical thinking, and decision making skills. They equip young people to become powerful thinkers, writers, and speakers who can respectfully challenge other people’s beliefs or defend their own.
From Sparks through Launchpad, a learner will engage in over 7,000 Socratic discussions. During the “Civilization” sessions each week, young people engage in deep Socratic Discussions about heroes, history and self-governance where they wrestle with moral dilemmas and high-stakes decisions. Each day also begins and ends with a Socratic Discussion that inspires, equips, and connects learners.
Studios - Not Classrooms
Acton has studios, not classrooms. Students in traditional schools are normally trapped in assigned seats among rows of uncomfortable desks staring at the front of a sterile and stifling classroom. By contrast, our studios are designed to let young people take charge of how they learn, foster thought and creativity, and honor the meaningful work they do each day.
Children are innately curious so a learning environment should cultivate this curiosity. Our focus at Acton is to create an environment where creativity is the fuel for learning. Whereas traditional classrooms inhibit collaboration, restrain movement, and encourage passive learning (i.e. lectures), our open studios are designed to allow movement, encourage collaboration with peers, and help young people engage in active learning (i.e. independent discovery).
By providing learners with double the time outdoors of most schools, we maximize their levels of engagement and focus. While indoors, young people have the freedom to learn in whatever creative spaces suit them best: whether it’s a quiet beanbag by themselves or with buddies at a communal workstation. Our studios empower learners with the autonomy to discover where they can concentrate and learn most effectively.
Hands-On Projects & "Quests"
Learning comes to life with quests that immerse learners in a 4-6 week series of gamified, hands-on, learning challenges and role plays bound by a compelling narrative about a real-life hero. Every quest culminates in a public exhibition, where learners showcase their mastery of real-world skills to an audience of friends and family. Beginning in middle school, learners also obtain summer apprenticeships in a field they are passionate about.
We learn best by doing. Quests measure and track outcomes in a way that mirrors the real world, helping learners master tools and skills needed to solve problems in real life. The challenges presented during Quests hone the analysis and critical thinking skills needed to make thoughtful tradeoffs as well as the interpersonal skills needed to work as a team and accomplish the impossible under real-time pressure. Similarly, through apprenticeships our learners benefit from early experience in real work environments.
Young people at Acton dedicate their afternoons to engaging, immersive Quests that make the hero’s journey come to life. Whether designing and launching a business, producing and marketing a play, building and programming a robot, or surviving in the wilderness, our learners build real-world skills using gamification and FUN! Later, in middle school, learners also intern with doctors, entrepreneurs, bakers, plumbers, attorneys, and graphic designers.
Mixed-Age, Peer-Based Learning
Young people at Acton learn in collaborative, mixed-age studios that are more like a modern, one-room school houses than rigid grade levels defined by age. Every learner acts as both a teacher and a student of his peers, all while progressing at his or her own pace. Instead of a teacher grading schoolwork, projects go through a peer-review process where young heroes learn to give and receive feedback.
Whether in a job, marriage, or friendship, success in life requires working well with others. Among the most valuable life skills learned at Acton are the interpersonal skills and self-awareness required to build authentic relationships and thrive in a group without losing one’s own identity. Each studio is a tight-knit community that upholds the highest standards of excellence while creating a supportive environment that fosters mentorship, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging among learners across ages.
Each studio is a learner-driven community where tough mindedness and warm heartedness are encouraged. At the start of every year, learners work together to draft a written set of shared expectations that govern their studio like a Constitution. Every day, learners hone their interpersonal and communication skills as they learn to rely on one another for teamwork as well as hold each other accountable by giving and receiving feedback and honestly resolving interpersonal conflicts.
Points, Portfolios, & Badges - Not Grades
Grades are a poor measure of performance and kill the joy of learning. At Acton, we replace homework, tests, and grades with points (to track effort), portfolios (to prove rigor), and Badges (to recognize mastery). During the year, learners work to earn all the Badges on their unique Badge Plan, only advancing to the next level after completing all of the badges for their studio.
At Acton, young people completely master each topic before moving on to new concepts. This makes learning more enjoyable, builds a stronger foundation for all future learning, and equips young people to be life-long learners. We also believe that embracing rigor is part of saying ‘yes’ to a Hero’s Journey. Deep learning brings a special sense of joy, but the mastery required for a Hero’s Journey goes even further, requiring commitment, discipline, and hard work toward a worthy goal.
Each day, learners earn points for their intentionality and effort toward Core Skills goals which they redeem for more freedom or prizes in the studio. At the end of each 4-6 week session, learners demonstrate their work at public exhibitions and assemble portfolios of their best work. After mastering any given topic, their success is celebrated with a Badge, roughly equivalent to getting an “A” at the end of the year.
Growth Mindset - Not Fixed Mindset
A growth mindset is the belief that our abilities, intelligence, and talents can be expanded through dedication and hard work. People with this mindset embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and see effort as the path to mastery. They view failures as opportunities to grow and welcome feedback as a tool for improvement. By contrast, people with a fixed mindset fear failure and avoid challenge, limiting their personal growth.
Not only are mistakes both natural and unavoidable when learning anything, we learn faster and better when we have the freedom to make them. At Acton, we cultivate a growth mindset in all of our learners, encouraging them to ‘fail fast’ and make course corrections. This builds confidence to do hard things because they’re not afraid of messing up. Instead of avoiding challenges and struggle, they lean into them and develop resilience, adaptability, and an attitude of continuous improvement.
From the inspirational messages of Socratic discussions that launch each day, to the content of the language we use in the studio, to the time of reflection that ends each day, every aspect Acton is geared toward fostering a growth-mindset culture where everyone is capable of achieving their goals. Learners at Acton are encouraged to adopt a fearless approach to making mistakes, recognizing them as crucial stepping stones toward real progress rather than fatal blunders to be avoided.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Every Learner Starts a business from Scratch
By starting multiple of their own small businesses before even finishing elementary school, your child will be prepared for the future workforce—or to launch their own venture! Each spring, learners build a business from the ground up as part of our Entrepreneurship Quest, covering everything from ideation to branding, marketing, and sales. They test their ideas on real customers at the Acton Children’s Business Fair, gaining hands-on experience and learning to provide value to the community. This immersive, real-world experience empowers young heroes to work hard, think creatively, and embrace the entrepreneurial spirit.
UNLOCK YOUR HERO’S POTENTIAL
Explore Our Studios
Lower Elementary
Spark Studio
AGES 4-6
Spark Studio taps into the inherent love for learning, innate curiosity, and creativity within each learner. It provides an authentic, Montessori-inspired environment where young people learn through specially designed hands-on materials and lots of outdoor play. Guides help model skills to students, then give them the freedom to learn at their own pace and from peers across age ranges. Learners practice basic goal setting, age-appropriate discussions, and team-building challenges. They complete hands-on quests and enjoy ample outdoor time with a mixture of adventure and play. The Spark Studio lays the groundwork for reading, math, science, citizenship, and independent learning skills, preparing young individuals to excel in the Elementary Studio.
Upper Elementary
Discovery Studio
AGES 6-11
The Discovery Studio is a vibrant mix of hands-on projects, cutting-edge technology, and self-paced academic mastery. Here, our learners accept their calling to a hero’s journey and embark on an adventure of learning and self-discovery as a close-knit community. Each student has the freedom to learn in an environment that challenges them to be excellent while respecting their unique gifts. Through the mastery of foundational core skills, engaging introductory Socratic discussions, collaborative teamwork, and immersive real-world quests, our learners delve into the realms of arts, sciences, history, and the natural world. On any given day, they could be building racing prototypes, doing outdoor activities in the wild, or having a Socratic discussion about history. Integral to the Discovery Studio is a strong emphasis on character development, learning decision-making skills crucial for a virtuous life, and actively cultivating a growth mindset such that they view failure as an opportunity for personal growth and development.
Middle School
Exploration Studio
AGES 11-14
NOTE: Currently, Acton Academy Blue Ridge is focused on Elementary learners. Our vision is to grow organically, starting an Exploration Studio as our population of young learners begins aging out of Discovery Studio.
Exploration Studio is about deepening a passion for individual subjects while broadening each learner’s understanding of self and calling. Learners have a broad palette of topics to study, pairing in-depth academic exploration with real-world connections to experts and local apprenticeships. In Exploration, learners are propelled into a distinctive realm of challenges that foster self-discovery and growth. Featuring even deeper Socratic conversations and an emphasis on practical knowledge application, learners cultivate clear thinking, effective decision-making, and positive habits. Navigating freedom within boundaries, these heroes become adept decision-makers and form a close-knit community that values authentic friendships and honest resolution of interpersonal issues. Within the Exploration Studio, learners not only engage in more challenging real-world quests and deepen their understanding of contemporary issues, they begin seeking and completing real-world apprenticeships.
High School
LaunchPad Studio
AGES 14-18
NOTE: Currently, Acton Academy Blue Ridge is focused on Elementary learners. Our vision is to grow organically, starting an LaunchPad Studio as our population of young learners begins aging out of Exploration Studio.
LaunchPad is designed to help learners discover where their talents, passions, and calling intersect in the real world. The focus is to prepare each learner for the next great adventure in their life, regardless what it might be: entrepreneurship, college, military, trade work, etc. Each learner’s education is very flexible and highly customized. Working in tightly-knit teams with our Guide staff, Acton students explore everything from the sciences to art to robotics and coding to advanced courses for college credit. Students also continue to conduct apprenticeships within the community in fields that interest them, preparing them for life after school. No tests, no grades, no homework, just real-world lessons leading to real-world success. This is 21st-century learning.
Spark
AGES 4-6
NOW ENROLLING
Spark Studio ignites curiosity, creativity, and practical ability through Montessori-based learning, hands-on quests, age-appropriate discussion, and play-based learning, laying the foundation for academic excellence.
Discovery
AGES 6-11
NOW ENROLLING
Discovery Studio is about embracing the hero’s journey and cultivating a growth mindset while continuing to master core skills, practice teamwork, improve interpersonal skills, and learn through immersive quests.
Exploration
AGES 11-14
COMING SOON
Exploration Studio is about rigor, practical application, and community. Learners undertake even more elaborate hands-on quests, real-world apprenticeships, and more challenging Socratic discussions.
LaunchPad
AGES 14-18
FUTURE
LaunchPad is about identifying and preparing for the next great adventure in life. Each young person’s learning experience is highly-customized. Learners continue apprenticeships, Socratic discussions, and higher-level core skills.
UNLOCK YOUR HERO’S POTENTIAL
Explore Our Studios
Spark
AGES 4-6
NOW ENROLLING
Spark Studio ignites curiosity, creativity, and practical ability through Montessori-based learning, hands-on quests, age-appropriate discussion, and play-based learning, laying the foundation for academic excellence.
Discovery
AGES 6-11
NOW ENROLLING
Discovery Studio is about embracing the hero's journey and cultivating a growth mindset while continuing to master core skills, practice teamwork, improve interpersonal skills, and learn through immersive quests.
Exploration
AGES 11-14
COMING SOON
Exploration Studio is about rigor, practical application, and community. Learners undertake even more elaborate hands-on quests, real-world apprenticeships, and more challenging Socratic discussions.
LaunchPad
AGES 14-18
FUTURE
LaunchPad is about identifying and preparing for the next great adventure in life. Each young person's learning experience is highly-customized. Learners continue apprenticeships, Socratic discussions, and higher-level core skills.
DAILY SCHEDULE
A Day In The Life At Acton
Our daily schedule is carefully crafted to provide a balance of structured learning and creative exploration. We focus on empowering students to take ownership of their education and guiding them towards mastery in core subjects while fostering a love for learning through hands-on projects and real-world challenges.
Now Enrolling
If you're seeking an educational experience that goes beyond the ordinary, where your child can embark on a journey of self-discovery, critical thinking, and real-world exploration, your journey starts here.
- Schedule a quick Discovery Call
- Complete your research & application
- Meet with us for a casual interview
Acton Academy Blue Ridge
224 Taylor St
Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: (540) 324-9686
