"Learning that goes beyond books"
The Academy at SOAR realizes the critical need for quality education, the necessity to meet students at their individual level of achievement, and to key into their unique learning style. To do so requires developing an individualized academic plan for each student and providing instruction utilizing traditional and alternative teaching methods. Understanding the individual learning style of each student is one critical step in this process. When a new student arrives at SOAR, one of their first tasks is to complete the C.I.T.E. Learning Styles Inventory. Students will also complete a StrengthsQuest © Evaluation, identifying his or her “Top 5” individual strengths. This information increases self-awareness, and is utilized in both the presentation and reinforcement of academic material.
The overall mission of the academic component is to provide an alternative, experiential environment that nurtures self-discovery and independent inquisition. Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science are presented in a format combining classroom instruction and educational field experiences. SOAR will work with the family and students “home school” to tailor the curriculum to each student. Academic and adventure components are closely linked utilizing lesson plans designed to meet the experiential opportunities encountered in the field. Student writing skills are enhanced through journal writing, publishing monthly newsletters, and corresponding with friends and family back home.
Each course typically begins with a two-week training phase as students learn critical skills necessary to work as a team. The groups then begin rotations between a 7 to 10 day academic block and a 10 to 14 day field / adventure experience. Classroom instruction is facilitated utilizing a low 1:4 staff to student ratio during the academic block.
"Survival skills for the real world"
The program is designed to provide students the opportunity to develop “Life Success Attributes”. The qualifiers listed in the Life Success Attribute Model are those identified by MH Raskind, RJ Goldberg, EL Higgins and KL Herman in Life Success for Children with Learning Disabilities: A Parent Guide; Frostig Center, Paseadena, CA; 2003 pub.; www.Ldsuccess.org. The 6 life attributes are indicators of future life success and as such can be nurtured to help develop resilience and a deeper understanding of ones abilities, challenges and strengths. SOAR has adapted this groundbreaking research from Frostig and applied it to our Semester Course Design. The 6 life Success Attributes include: Self-Awareness, Proactivity, Perseverance, Goal Setting, Support Systems, and Emotional Coping Strategies.
Courses begin with all distractions removed from the environment. This means no I-pods, video games, personal computers, TV’s etc, are permitted (students may bring these items, but will not have access to them until a proposal is passed). Once students and their team are moving forward on their goals and responsibilities, they have the opportunity to advocate for their additional needs by writing and presenting their proposals to the Semester Director. Students often find most of their proposals are passed as they advocate for their needs and wants in a positive manner.
Students are involved at each level of the planning process to facilitate development of critical life skills. Organization, time management, and communication skills are developed as students plan and implement each activity. Decision-making skills are enhanced as students are empowered to make the day-to-day decisions that affect their lives. Likewise, problem-solving skills are developed as they find solutions to real-life problems.
Service learning projects are a significant component to the semester course model. This component increases student awareness of their role in the human family through volunteer service. In the end, students walk away recognizing learning as a life-long pursuit and come to view life as a journey, rather than just a destination. |
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