The curriculum taps into students’ passions and works to strengthen their related skills. Learning is treated as a participatory process that functions to counter the top-down schooling model that fails to support many of our students’ individual attributes.
Practices for Making Learning Interesting and Relevant:
Establishing Clear, Transparent Learning Goals.Instructors make learning goals explicit, but not compulsory or punitive. Each day has concrete tasks. Some parts are discussion-based, some are technical, and some are physical and exploratory.
Maintaining Open Communication around Goals/Activities. Instructors and staff conduct regular check-ins and provide opportunities to switch if an activity isn’t holding. They engage in conversations and brainstorms, and active gameplay with students whenever possible.
Highlighting Characteristics Students Already Possess. The curriculum is designed to highlight and expand upon the persistence, reflection, self-control, and group work ethic that many of our students possess. As they work, teachers highlight their academic habits and connect them back to skateboarding.