Learn to Learn. Learn to Do. Learn to Be.

“Acton Academy is grounded in trusting children and believing they can handle big responsibilities.”

Laura Sandefer, Acton Academy cofounder; author of Courage to Grow

A One Room School House for the 21st Century

Acton Academy Upstate nurtures a tight-knit, mixed-age, learner-driven community. Each learner at Acton is in charge of his or her own learning. With the foundation of Montessori principles and the metaphor of the hero’s journey, Acton uses educational materials, frameworks, tools, and technology that allow children to master subjects and concepts themselves, on their own timeline. Learners commit to holding themselves and each other to high standards. They learn self-governance by running the classroom.

Our classrooms have guides, not traditional teachers. Guides use the Socratic method—asking questions instead of providing all the answers—to help learners take ownership of their education. We encourage our learners to try, fail, and try again, going at their own pace without fear or shame, knowing that this process will form character and build perseverance, knowledge, and mastery. The Acton curriculum focuses on:

• Learning to Learn —Individualized Mastery Learning: Our Eagles work at their own pace to achieve mastery in the core skills of reading, grammar, and math rather than to earn grades or pass tests. In mastery learning, children take the time they need to master a topic before moving on to the next, more advanced level. This allows children to work in their challenge zone, to breeze ahead in topics that come quickly to them and to go slower in areas where they need more time.
• Learning to Do—Project Based Learning: Acton Upstate takes an innovative and creative approach, engaging learners in real-world projects, or quests, that challenge them to learn in a hands-on environment. They don’t just read about physics and complete physics problems on paper. Instead they build marble runs, boats, and bridges. Along the way, they learn the value of teamwork, problem-solving, hard work, and perseverance. And they have fun! Quests challenge our Eagles to learn by doing in fields as diverse as biology, programming, poetry, history, and more. And rather than simply taking tests, Acton students prove their learning through public exhibitions.
• Learning to Be—Socratic Discussions, Self-Governance, Character: Eagles learn to be by engaging in Socratic discussions that encourage deep thinking and reflection about themselves and the world; take ownership of their learning by setting their own learning goals and participating in the governance of their class; and practice and celebrate key character traits—such as hard work, integrity, courage, persistence, and grit, as well as kindness, grace, and courtesy. These traits are critical ingredients for a fulfilling life.

At Acton Upstate we challenge our Eagles to delve deep, and explore questions such as: Who am I? Where am I going? How do my passions and talents connect with the world around me? How can I serve a great need and even change the world?

It is our mission to help your Eagle discover his or her own path.

And this approach is working. Learners throughout the Acton Worldwide network are gaining on average 2 to 2.5 grade levels per year.