- Lakeland Academy utilizes three educational components: PlayWisely (0-3yrs), Montessori (3-12yrs), and Dual Credit College Prep (12-18yrs).
- Lakeland Academy is designed to prepare its students for life independent of whether the next step is university or career.
- Lakeland Academy teaches the importance of values, character, diversity, and nature as well as scholarly subjects.
The Montessori Method, established by Dr. Maria Montessori, is simply a unique approach to learning. The campus enviromnet is designed to stimulate the individual child’s interest and to facilitate his understanding and learning capacities rather than simply “teaching” educational concepts to children in a group setting.
To a child, the world is unmanageable – very big, very complex, and very confusing. By careful selection of materials by the teachers an environment is created that allows the child to proceed at his own pace from simple activities to more complex ones. Materials and curriculum center around Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Math, Geography, and Science. Art, music, Spanish, and gardening are included to enhance creativity and add joy and beauty to each child’s life experiences.
As a parent, your job is to come to understand your child’s developmental needs and join with Lakeland Academy to meet those changing needs. We encourage parental involvement through conferences, observation, e-mails, weekly newsletters and folders, events, volunteering, evaluations, calendars, etc. The staff feels that the more parents understand the child’s experience in the classroom, the better able they are to follow through at home. Naturally, when parents follow through at home, the child benefits even more by having a consistent environment in which to grow and develop.
Based on the above fundamentals, the Lakeland Academy curriculum is detailed by student grouping below:
- Primary
- Transitional Elementary -Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Lower Elementary
- Upper Elementary
- Upper School - Middle/High School
PRIMARY (The Children’s House - Ages 3-6)
The Montessori 3-6 classroom is a “prepared environment” that provides the foundation on which a child’s future learning rests. The Children’s House classroom is a natural, well-ordered and homey environment specifically designed to benefit children in this three-year cycle of development. The core curriculum of Practical Life, Sensorial, Mathematics, Language, Geography, and Science utilizes hands-on materials that make learning easy and fun. Enrichment is added through art, music, gardening, Spanish, horseback riding and Nature’s Lab. The classroom teacher (often referred to as a “guide”) holds Montessori Certification in addition to traditional educational training. The multi-age classroom environment allows the child to develop a strong consistent relationship with a teacher over the three year period and interaction with the older Academy students gives the young child a feeling of “family”.
TRANSITIONAL ELEMENTARY (Grades K-4 - ASD)
Lakeland has made the commitment to create a classroom on campus that extends the Montessori Method of education to a group representing a fast growing and academically under-served population: children identified with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. This class enrolls 6 to 7 students of elementary age with the intent of mainstreaming them into our Lower and Upper Elementary classrooms when ready. It is our belief that the individualized nature of the Montessori classroom is perfectly suited for these students. 2010/2011 plans include the construction of a small therapeutic gym facility in partnership with Excel Pediatric Therapy, Rockwall.
Our program for 6 to 9 year old students introduces the basics of academics in an atmosphere that fosters independence, self-esteem, and self-discipline. Teachers carefully design a personalized curriculum for each child based on pre-testing of concepts. Students receive individual presentations followed by practice with sensorial materials. While learning to read with proficiency and mastering math concepts are emphasized, the children also develop social skills in an atmosphere of respectful interaction. Students develop a world view by making maps and constructing natural science projects. All students participate in Junior Great Books groups that develop critical reading and self-expression skills. Large and small group lessons in science, history, foreign language and cultural subjects are also a part of each day. Computers are utilized to reinforce reading skills and math facts memorization. Homework includes spelling, study skills exercises and science projects. Teachers take advantage of every opportunity (including lunchtime, play periods and field trips) to mentor the children in conflict resolution, environmental awareness and other life lessons.
Our Upper Elementary program is based on the principles of multi-age grouping, concrete lessons and individual pacing. At this stage students are ready to take more responsibility for time management and goal setting in class work and home study time. Teachers give individual lessons in language arts (grammar, writing, reading comprehension and spelling) and mathematics (abstract functions, problems solving, geometry and algebra). Teachers prepare the environment to inspire intellectual curiosity and to reward diligent effort. After completing daily core subject goals, students are free to develop individual or collaborative projects in biology, zoology, geography, natural and human history, cultures, and current events. Computers are used as tools of inquiry and research as students develop keyboarding and word processing skills. The Junior Great Books program continues at this level with emphasis on creative writing techniques and supporting viewpoints with evidence. Positive competition is encouraged as students participate in national spelling and geography bees. Instruction in life lessons is expanded to include public speaking skills, recognizing needs, dealing with emotions, earning freedom and critical thinking. Teachers guide the students in organizing school projects such as organic gardening, weekly assemblies, and mentoring programs.
The overall elementary curriculum is based on the following:
- Language - phonetics, parts of speech, sentence analysis, spelling, penmanship, essays, reports, creative writing
- Foreign language (Spanish)
- Reading - SRA/McGraw Hill Reading, Junior Great Books literature, poetry
- Mathematics - numeration, place value, basic operations, decimals, fractions, problem solving, application, number theory, equations, geometry, probability
- Science - anatomy, astronomy, botany, earth science, ecology, geology, life science, physics, zoology, science history and contributions, science lab
- Geography - globes, maps, land forms, research
- History - timelines of life, man, ages and early civilizations, fundamental needs of man, American and Texas history
- Technology - keyboarding (touch typing), word processing, drawing, painting, image editing, spreadsheets, web pages, computer history
- Arts - visual and performing arts
- Physical Education - includes a wide range of physical activities and athletics such as soccer and cardiovascular exercises
In addition to the subjects listed above, our students have options to participate in studios each semester according to student interest and instructor availability. These have included Horsemanship, Art, Shutterbugs, Martial Arts, Golf, and Archery. Further details of the studios and student extra-curricular opportunities can be found in the “Extracurricular-Studios” section of this website.
The Lakeland Approach affirms brain-based research that learning is systematic and strategic. The Lakeland Approach systematically develops each student’s intellectual, emotional, and physical potential to become strategic learners through:
- inquiry and research activities
- collaborative problem solving
- critical/creative thinking & writing
- project management & direction
- spiritual and ethical exploration
- a culminating senior project
Read more about it here: Upper School Brochure
ACCREDITATION BY SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS - SACS
Lakeland is proud to announce that the school is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Lakeland Academy's SACS Accreditation Certificate
|
SACS CASI provides nationally-recognized accreditation, the purpose of which is continuous school improvement focused on increasing student performance. To earn accreditation, schools must meet SACS CASI’s high standards, be evaluated by a team of professionals from outside the school, and implement a continuous process of school improvement. Accreditation demonstrates to Lakeland students, parents, and our community that we are focused on raising student achievement, providing a safe and enriching learning environment, and maintaining an efficient and effective operation staffed by highly qualified educators. SACS CASI accreditation is recognized across state lines, which not only eases the transfer process as students move from accredited school to accredited school but also assures parents that the school is meeting nationally accepted standards for quality and successful professional practice. Dr. Parents and interested community members can learn more about accreditation at www.advanc-ed.org. |
Lakeland Academy
4271 County Road 2546
Union Valley, Texas 75474
972/636-3777
972/635-9393 Fax