The core tenants of the approach to the learning environment at JLSA include:
- Individualized learning plans
- Multi-aged classrooms
- Hands-on, experiential learning
- SENSEI Through Arts Approach ©
INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PLANS
After evaluating new students for a period of at least two weeks at the commencement of enrollment at Jordan Lake School of the Arts, the academic team develops an individual learning plan for each child.
Developing and following an individual curriculum for each student acknowledges that different children learn at different paces and in different ways. By taking the time to craft a unique plan for each JLSA student that incorporates their strengths and appropriate accomodations in learning style, better progress can be made. Add to this a mixed age classroom that matches students by skill and learning level rather than age, and a better learning environment is created.
MULTI-AGED CLASSROOMS
At JLSA, students are grouped together by skill level rather than age. Currently there are 4 groupings of children:
Level 1: Grade Level Equivalents Kindergarten through Second
Level 2: Grade Level Equivalents Third through Sixth
Level 3: Grade Level Equivalents Seventh through Tenth
Level 4: Advanced College Prepatory or Vocational Life Skills Training
Research proves that children excel in mixed age classrooms. It offers each child a chance to be a leader and follower. Children are never held back in areas of great strength and yet always have support in areas where they need it. It also allows older children to act in as role models for desirable reasons. In a school where academic and emotional intelligence is highly regarded, all children grow from this grouping.
HANDS-ON, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Many of the students at JLSA tend to be visual learners. Hands on projects use the principle of multisensory learning, combining visual, tactile, and verbal stimuli to teach new skills and concepts, appealing to the visual learner. For example, experiential learning science projects aid in the comprehension of complex concepts in both science and mathematics, bringing them to life for the visual learner. Model building, painting, or drawing projects can bring history or social studies lessons firmly into focus.
Furthermore, another issue that is eased with the use of hands on experiential learning projects for JLSA students is short attention span, which is common in both gifted and autism spectrum children. Active learning can be a great help in keeping children focused, alert, and engaged, making it easier to stay on task.
SENSEI THROUGH ARTS APPROACH ©
The team at Jordan Lake School of the Arts has developed a proprietary approach to academic pursuits called the Sensei Through Arts Approach. It is fundamental to the learning environment of the school and is described in its own section.