"True education is about teaching how to think, not what to think." -Albert Einstein
We are preparing students for jobs that may not even exist yet. Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Communication are the 21st century skills that going anywhere. They are a critical component to student success in a rapidly changing workforce and society. Luckily, these are easily woven into any quality process/product exploration. This is where the active engagement really starts to shine with student groups, creating original solutions and compositions and exploring questions from multiple perspectives. Our approach to education takes what we do to succeed in the “real world” and places those same practices in our teaching and learning cycles. So we can finally remove the brick walls and classroom doors to get at the heart of learning.
Our Approach to Learning: There is no "one size fits all"
Interest Based Learning Experiences
Interest Based Learning Experiences
Interest Based Learning Experiences
Students inspire our learning topics based on their interests and curiosities. Teachers serve as facilitators to provide quality learning experiences. They apply research, reflection, collaboration, and communication to their experiences to create meaningful learning experiences.
Whole Child Approach
Interest Based Learning Experiences
Interest Based Learning Experiences
Learning isn't just about the school subjects or the learning standards. We focus on the whole child by supporting student autonomy and independence for a higher self-esteem. We teach emotional, mental, and physical health. We cultivate a growth mindset, flexibility, and intrinsic motivation.
Multi-Sensory Approach to Learning
Interest Based Learning Experiences
Multi-Sensory Approach to Learning
There is no better teacher than the world around us. From insects and animals to architects and police officers, our community is full of things to learn about! Our teachers focus on ways to bring learning to life using a multi-sensory approach to exploration and discovery.
Beyond The Classroom
Missouri Learning Standards
Multi-Sensory Approach to Learning
We bring the children into the world and the world into our school! Through trips to caves, farms, businesses, parks, aquariums, and zoos, our students can deeply experience more of the world around them. We also invite community members into our classroom to share their knowledge. We have been honored to host a doctor, nurse, veterinarian, police officer, firefighter and more!
Social Interactions
Missouri Learning Standards
Missouri Learning Standards
The environment at The Launchpad Academy promotes the acceptance of responsibility for oneself as an individual and in association with others. This helps to develop the appreciation for and acceptance of each person’s uniqueness. It expands problem-solving to the social level.
We offer many opportunities for learning by encouraging communication between children, between child and teacher, between the school and home, and between the school and the community.
Missouri Learning Standards
Missouri Learning Standards
Missouri Learning Standards
With an individualized approach, our goal is to spark the joy of learning in each child, building a strong educational foundation for the years to come.
our Framework:
Process and Product
There are six steps in our Process to Product approach to learning. In each step, students are working through content (weaving in core subjects and learning standards) and the arts to address a central problem or essential question that was chosen based on their current interests. Let’s take a look at each step.
1. Focus
In this step, we’re selecting an essential question to answer or problem to solve. Usually, we do this by thinking about the future. What do I want to be when I grow up? How can I ensure a strong community in the future? How can I help the environment for the next generation?
2. Detail
During the detail phase, you’re looking for the elements that are contributing to the problem or question. When you’re observing the correlations to other areas or why the problem exists, you begin to unearth a lot of crucial background information, skills, or processes that students already have to address the question.
3. Discovery
Discovery is all about active research and intentional teaching. In this step, students are researching current solutions, as well as what ISN’T working based on the solutions that already exist. As a teacher, you can use this stage to both analyze the gaps your students may have in a skill or process and to teach those skills or processes explicitly.
4. Application
This is where the fun happens! After students have dived deep into a problem or question and have analyzed current solutions as well as what still needs addressed, they can begin to create their own solution or composition to the problem. This is where they use the skills, processes and knowledge that were taught in the discovery stage and put them to work.
5. Presentation
Once students have created their solution or composition, it’s time to share it. It’s important that the work is presented for feedback and as a way for expression based on a student’s own perspective surrounding the question or problem at hand. This is also an important opportunity to facilitate feedback and help students learn how to give and receive input. Presentations may take the form of a science fair, art show, writing competition, or career fair depending on the topic they have chosen.
6. Link
This step is what closes the loop. Students have a chance to reflect on the shared feedback and their own process and skills. Based on that reflection, students can revise their work as needed and produce an even better solution. There is no limit to how long a student can spend on a topic, or how many topics a student can work through.
intentional alignment to state standards is key:
Science & Engineering
Our learning process teaches critical thinking skills, the search for truth, and highly transferable problem-solving skills based on evidence and logical thought patterns. The scientific process is repeatedly explored and implemented through driving questions and engineering to find solutions. In addition to students' individual projects, students will be allowed to participate in school-wide units that explore various scientific topics, from planets to fossils, in our school-wide monthly units, as well as many agriculture topics through our outdoor learning. Other areas, such as our culinary time, will also explore scientific topics.
English/Language Arts (ELA)
In this digital era, we feel it’s also essential to teach the importance of print-based literature but allow students to establish a love of reading by providing them time to engage with high-interest reading of their choice. Students will research deep questions through their projects and learn to find reliable sources. Through their presentations, students will learn the best methods to share their knowledge through various communication types. For our students in grades K-3, we prioritize phonics and phonemic awareness to establish excellent foundational literacy within our youngest students. Finally, we work closely with our local library, our school librarian, and many online sources to build interest and fluency in reading and writing.
Math
Our approach to mathematics education is built with a mix of the best classical methods supplemented by the most modern approaches. We establish fact fluency at an early age and ensure students develop a mastery of basic mathematics, algorithms, and concepts. Students receive the opportunity to apply those skills in real-world situations, including counting money within our school store and collecting and evaluating meaningful data to drive school decisions. Students will work with fractions and decimals in our culinary class. They will work with time daily as they manage their own schedules and calculate the time needed/left to work. Finally, they will work on grade-specific standards that lie outside of our daily learning (such as algebra) online at their own pace with teacher support for remediation or enrichment as needed.
Technology
With technology-related skills increasingly in demand, students must learn to utilize technology at a young age and continue to use technology throughout their education. Our facility offers student interactions with various technology resources including computers, smart board, circuit, 3D printer, iPads, and more. Mr. Justin is a computer technician who spends ample time properly explaining how to use technology in various outside-the-box ways. Mrs. Megan teaches programs such as Canva design, website building, spreadsheets, and resume making.
Social Studies
Humanities are woven into our learning approach through inquiry, curiosity, finding solutions to a problem, and being creative in finding the solutions. We also believe it is essential for students to understand and appreciate their civic responsibilities from a young age. Our instruction prioritizes using primary sources, such as journal entries and historical documents, so students understand the foundations of our country, state, and community.
Other unique learning opportunities....
Music
Students learn key concepts to promote success in singing and playing music. For example, students learn about tempo and gain practice recognizing and composing different tempos. Students will be introduced to a variety of instruments (private lessons can be offered during school hours for an additional fee).
Languages
New! Students and staff will spend time each week learning and advancing in Spanish Language Learning! The more familiar this language becomes, the more it will be used in the school between students and staff on a regular basis. Each child will also be taught basic sign language vocabulary and phrases to introduce them to a world of American Sign Language.
Zoo Encounters
Each month, the Dickerson Park Zoo comes to us! They bring new animals for us to touch and see up close in this private animal encounter explicitly tailored for our students! Students learn about animal topics and get to talk directly to the zoo educators. It's a favorite activity of both teachers and students!
Library Time
The library is a valuable resource that we believe students should know about! Students will take trips to our local Republic Library often throughout the year to explore various resources there. Additionally, Ms. Amanda from the library will read to our students in person each month. We also have a virtual library that jumps on Zoom and reads to our younger children each week. Students will have access to our school library and an online library for research and entertainment resources.
Art
Students will begin learning essential art elements such as line, shape, color, and texture. More importantly, students will learn to express themselves and their ideas and show their talents and new skills through art.
Physical Activity & Yoga
Our upper grades will lead our preschool and younger elementary students in the rules of physical activity games; they will coach students practicing sports skills and mentor students on the importance of physical health and mindfulness. With teacher guidance, will lead lessons in physical activity for their younger peers. They will participate in daily yoga, stretching, and outside activities. We do not teach "health" as part of our curriculum, but we do offer time for students to take an age appropriate health course each year online if parents wish to enroll them . Students will have at least one hour of outside time daily.
Gardening
Preschool students have ample opportunities to learn about the life cycle, nature, water cycle, weather, and other important Science concepts through hands-on planting and gardening.
Culinary Arts
Students are provided a variety of food education experiences and are involved in growing, preparing, and crafting a variety of foods. Students share their food experiences through “show and smell” and explore local food heritage and history.
Beyond the Classroom
We bring the children into the world and the world into our school! Through trips to caves, farms, businesses, parks, aquariums, and zoos, our students can deeply experience more of the world around them. We also invite community members into our classroom to share their knowledge. We have been honored to host a doctor, nurse, veterinarian, police officer, firefighter and more!
Social Interactions
The environment at The Launchpad Academy promotes the acceptance of responsibility for oneself as an individual and in association with others. This helps to develop an appreciation for and acceptance of each person’s uniqueness. It expands problem-solving to the social level.
We offer many opportunities for learning by encouraging communication between children, between child and teacher, between the school and home, and between the school and the community.
Conscious Discipline Approach
Teachers are trained in the Conscious Discipline approach. Please take some time to learn about what Conscious Discipline is and how we believe it supports each child in their own unique way. Brightwheel Explains "What Is Conscious Discipline"
Family Involvment
Family and community members are encouraged to participate in our program, both on and off campus. Several family events will be held throughout the year, encouraging family and other adults to see what we are learning!
