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Something Different In Education

January 8th, 2010

Well, the summer of 09 remains young, but August will be here before we know it, and if you’re considering a change in your child’s education its best not to procrastinate.

In 2004 King’s Academy Christian School opened its doors to approximately 30 students. In a town where numerous private schools have operated for decades, it seemed like contributing to an already flooded market, except that King’s offers a very unique learning experience. K.A.C.S. is a “University Model School,” meaning that, like a college, students sign up for the classes they require in order to graduate, and attend those classes three days out of the week. On the other days they work at home on assigned reading and research projects. Part of the purpose of the approach is to prepare the students for the independence of college life and studies. It also allows the parents to take a more proactive approach to their child’s education.

But King’s Academy is more than just a school with a funny schedule. It offers a full, rich student life. In fact, the three day schedule actually increases the opportunities for learning by allowing more field trips & out of town travel, both as school groups or individual families.

There are also electives including photography, yearbook, home economics and others. Athletics, always central to the student’s experience, includes football, volleyball, basketball and junior high soccer. In 2007- 2008 King’s won the state championship in six-man football.

In philosophy King’s is an unapologetically Christian School. In fact, involved families are required to attend the church of their choice. That being said, the school has students of all denominational backgrounds. Faith is central in each classroom, but particular theology is not.

The staff of King’s Academy is as unique as the school itself. It’s made up of retired Tyler Texas public and parochial school teachers, career private school educators and home school parents anxious to try something new. The result is a wonderful staff with a variety of educational experiences, whose first concern is the spiritual and academic well being of the student.

After five years, the spring semester ended at King’s with around 107 students and all signs point to continued growth and success. While the university approach may not be for every family, it could be for your family.

Adventures in Learning in Tyler

September 15th, 2009

I spent much of this past summer writing about both educational opportunities and booksellers in Tyler. Well summer is almost over and school has started but I have still not exhausted either of these topics. Adventures in Learning, is both an educational opportunity and a bookstore.

The fact is, Tyler is a town that believes strongly in providing the best possible academic choices to its young people, whether it be public, private or home school and home school co-op institutions. Adventures in Learning is there to help teachers and parents supplement their existing curriculum’s and enhance the learning experience for students of nearly all ages. The store offers all sorts of work books from grammar, reading, spelling, history and geography, to math and science. Home school parents in particular will benefit from the material. So will parents with students whose children need additional practice at home. But don’t search for a core curriculum here. It’s probably best to look to an established company for that kind of material.

If you’re a teacher looking for charts, maps, globes, timelines or other school supplies, A.I.L. has a huge selection. Educators will probably find things they were unaware even existed. They have all sorts of educational games and teaching aids designed to make the students enjoy learning.

My one criticism is the store carries a lot of toys, and things I would not particularly want finding their way into the classroom. Call me old fashioned, but I consider these things more of a distraction to students. The store has so many different teaching aids, that perhaps the enthusiastic teacher can risk over stimulating the class if he or she is not careful. But of course the good teacher knows to be careful in this respect.

This being said, if you’re looking for material to supplement your students learning material, Adventures in Learning is a great resource with a lot to offer. On a scale of one to five I would give the store a four. Pay a visit and judge for yourself. They are located on South Broadway in the French Quarter next to China King.