INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING

BLACK KIDS ACADEMY seeks to prepare our children for life and further their education. We know why we learn, and how we learn, are just as important as what we learn. Our educational program is grounded in a deep respect for our children's intellectual rigor. We work with our children to internalize a process we call "QRA"—Question, Reflection, Action—which ensures that they think critically, integrate new knowledge, and apply what they learn. We help them to develop their individual sense of purpose as they become caring citizens of the world.

Close, cooperative relationships between teachers and students are the firmest foundation for effective learning. Young minds learn best in an environment of trust and respect where each student is valued as a unique, gifted individual.
Our children are expected to move beyond just memorizing facts to “higher-order thinking skills” to analyze, interpret, synthesize, and create. Working within an above-grade-level curriculum, they become skilled at prioritizing and managing academic challenges as they progress.
We feel children learn best when they are acknowledged and included in the classroom. This is why BLACK KIDS ACADEMY values small class sizes with rations being just 1:8, where every voice is heard.
They are encouraged to interact with the natural world as a part of their learning environment. This is why we strive to maintain a balance of 60% classroom time and 40% out in our communities.
We seek to provide a global perspective. In a world that is increasingly international and cross-cultural, we emphasize our students' development of cultural competence and the ability to view each challenge and opportunity from multiple perspectives.
Classroom learning must be authenticated by real-world experience.

STREAMS (STEM) D.I.C.E curriculum at Black Kids Academy

PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING

Why Use Problem-Based Learning?

Problem-Based Learning or PBL is a student-centered, inquiry-based instructional model in which learners engage with an authentic, ill-structured problem that requires further research.

Our children identify gaps in their knowledge, conduct research, and apply their learning to develop solutions and present their findings. Through collaboration and inquiry, students can cultivate problem-solving, metacognitive skills, engagement in learning, and intrinsic motivation.

A well-designed PBL project provides students with the opportunity to develop skills related to:

Working in teams.
Managing projects and holding leadership roles.
Oral and written communication.
Self-awareness and evaluation of group processes.
Working independently.
Critical thinking and analysis.
Explaining concepts.
Self-directed learning.
Applying course content to real-world examples.
Researching and information literacy.
Problem-solving across disciplines.

Students generally must:

Examine and define the problem.
Explore what they already know about underlying issues related to it.
Determine what they need to learn and where they can acquire the information and tools necessary to solve the problem.
Evaluate possible ways to solve the problem.
Solve the problem.
Report on their findings.

"The more anger
towards the past
you carry in your heart,
the less capable you are
of loving in the present."
~Barbara De Angelis

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING

Our program allows your child(ren) to embrace creativity and critical thinking with relatable project-based learning. Process (rather than content), is emphasized and the challenge of teaching is to help students learn how to learn rather than to simply impart information. Much of life requires solving problems or overcoming challenges via the input of two (2) or more individuals. From learning to walk, write, or speak, to conducting research. Think of these problems to be solved or challenges to overcome as projects.

Since projects are a way of life from newborn to adulthood it seems fitting that our education system should focus on starting our learning journey exactly where we need to end up in our lives. That is, our education should begin and persist with projects since ultimately adulthood and the world of work require an innate ability within us to be problem solvers.

Here at BLACK KIDS ACADEMY we use a Project-based approach when teaching:

Critical Thinking — An ability to transcend simple recollection of information and upgrade to logical reasoning via analyzing information and applying correlating knowledge-based principles.
Communication — The ability to share information, ideas, arguments, and narrative clearly and correctly according to the situation.
Cooperation — The ability to pool resources for the success of the group or project, whether the resources are information or ideas.

PBL encourages students to delve further into a subject past simply recalling information for quizzes, tests, or exams. PBL pushes students to analyze a problem and correctly adjust and apply knowledge in search of solutions.

After having delved deeply into subject areas to find solutions our children then have increased knowledge, superior understanding, and even some mastery of the subject matter because it was reinforced via completion of a project.

THE ABC's OF D.I.C.E.

The children are taught according to an acronym developed by Mimi Ross which is: D.I.C.E.

Which focuses on the below principles:

D-Discovery

I-Intelligences (All 9)

C-Cognitive

E-Exploration

All lessons are love, language-based, multisensory, cumulative, cognitive, and flexible. Multisensory learning involves the simultaneous use of visual, auditory, and tactile pathways to enhance memory and learning.

D.I.C.E. focuses on the below principles:

A-Academics

B- Behaviors

C-Character Development

We maintain very low ratios to have the time and freedom from distraction to ensure that each child is taught and evaluated appropriately on a regular basis, and we are able to respond to each child's needs quickly and effectively.

It also gives an opportunity to build a strong bond that is often much more difficult in settings with a higher amount of children.

HOLIDAYS

We do not celebrate any and all pagan holidays but we do recognize GOD's Holy Days and Feasts in the Holy Bible. If it is NOT in the 1611 KJV Holy Bible we do not celebrate it!