Teaching Philosophy
We love families and believe parents should have the option of sending their children all to one school!
We therefore provide services for preschool through the twelfth grade, as well as additional childcare for younger siblings. We partner with parents to create customised learning plans for each child, with a schedule and environment conducive to their unique learning styles and needs. We also have innovative opportunities for homeschoolers. We have a mixed-age model currently and love the dynamic that it adds to our school.
We provide our students with holistic growth, engaging learning experiences and life-changing ideas. We are also pioneering new ways to learn with our nature-based STEAM education initiatives. We partner with local service agencies, take weekly field trips, and offer our students entrepreneurial leadership opportunities. We have also successfully integrated students with IEPs and special learning needs, as well as dual-language learners and students from multi-culture families, creating an environment of belonging that feels like family.
We are an “Apprenticeship School” where learning and real-life application coincide within working relationships. The examples we set matter. We build teams. We are servant leaders, truth speakers, advocates for the lonely and marginalized; we are filled with joy, hope, and purpose. We know our identity, we walk in our calling, we are loved and we love. We change the world. Our teachers and students live by the following leadership principles: Clear Vision and Direction, Empowerment, Communication, Adaptability, and Continuous Learning.
We believe that learning happens best in a natural environment, so learning out-of-doors is a priority and kids will spend at least 50% of their time outside year-round. Forest School (to us) means: self-discovery, teamwork, dirty toes, working math problems in the sand, reading up in a tree, engaging in thoughtful dialogue, everyday adventures and exploration, asking questions, moving mountains, joyful learning, helping each other, friendship and reflection; holistic learning that is as unique as each child.
Our curriculum was originally inspired by The Silk Road Project/Along the Silk Road (a curriculum developed by Yo-Yo Ma, the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) , experts at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the New York Department of Education, learn more here: https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/news/spice_brings_the_silk_road_to_new_york_teachers_20090309).
Just as the Silk Road of antiquity was a hub of knowledge and adventure, we seek to provide a collaborative learning environment that supports idea and culture sharing, as well as fosters the imagination and stories that live deeply within each child.
We also incorporate aspects of Montessori learning, in the fact that children are individual learners and can be responsible for their work and belongings. Like Waldorf, we will use predictable rhythms in class and emphasize creative learning, developing the child spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. We also seek to know each child individually and guide their interests (Reggio Emilia and Emergent Learning).
Educational Areas
Our Educational Areas that are incorporated into our daily play and learning include:
- Cultural Anthropology
- History
- Political Science
- Economics
- Bible: stories and scripture memorization
- Prayer and Worship: through song and dance and creative expression
- Geography: map making and learning about other countries
- Zoology: learning about animals
- Arts: painting, coloring, poetry, baking, cooking, building and dressing up, crafts
- Science
- Creative Representation: imitation, recognition, role playing
- Language and Literacy: talking, describing, scribbling, dictating stories
- Initiative and Social Relations: making choices, problem-solving, relationship-building
- Movement: bending, running, dancing, hiking, climbing
- Music: singing, playing Instruments
- Classification: describing shapes, sorting, matching
- Seriation: arranging things in order
- Space: filling, emptying
- Time: starting, stopping, sequencing
- Sensory Awareness Education: exercises make sure children use all five senses to learn
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Geometry: children learn about numbers through hands-on techniques using concrete materials.
- Practical Life Skills: tying shoes, preparing snacks and drinks, cleaning up after oneself, gardening, etc.
- Multilingual Education: intro to Chinese, Spanish and ASL, making linguistic connections and understanding the role of languages, cross-cultural communication.
In addition we will implement concepts and play projects borrowed from Tinkergarten (tinkergarten.com) and Generation Mindful (genmindful.com). We also employ curriculum from The Good and The Beautiful (goodandbeautiful.com) and Letterland Phonics (us.letterland.com). We also follow a themed rotation around the world…sojourning through Asia, Australia/Oceania, North America, South America, Antarctica, Africa, Europe, Oceans, Space, People, with each unit typically lasting for 2-3 weeks, giving us plenty of time to dive into a variety of fun topics. And then we repeat. Holidays, or additional topics of interest may also be covered throughout. Our curriculum is continually assessed to ensure that it aligns with the domains of Colorado’s Early Learning and Development Guidelines (ELDG’s), as well as Colorado’s Academic Standards.
And finally, we also spend a lot of effort helping students see who they are and how God made them.
This is the joy of walking closely with students. We start from the premise that God is always good and each of us are created in His image. We call out giftings, skills, natural abilities and passions that are inside of students. We help them discover more about themselves with the understanding that their original design is precious to God and is how their lives will express what He has given them. We expose our students to real life learning experiences through service opportunities, project based learning, and a general atmosphere of inquiry and curiosity. We believe the Holy Spirit is the One who will walk with the students and train them in His ways. He is invited into everything we do, from learning in the classrooms, to making strategic plans, to guiding staff meetings. He truly is the center and is recognized and welcomed as such. We want a real-time interactive relationship with the Holy Spirit. We want to cultivate a generation who knows and understands the power of prayer and sees God answers us when we cry out to Him. Prayer is not simply petitioning God; it is a two-way conversation. Children can and will hear from God. Our school is therefore viewed as an organic apprenticeship with Jesus.
At Sojournings Academy, we desire to not only equip kids academically, but to also instill in them an awe of God. It is our hope to shine His light in all of our daily encounters, whether spoken or not, and to let each child and family know that God loves them, that they have a purpose beyond themselves, and that Jesus is inviting them to follow Him and to hear His voice, clearly and practically everyday.
Memberships and Associations
