Learning – first and foremost
At Laura Jeffrey Academy, teaching is subordinated to learning. The typical education environment requires students to learn the subject, usually through memorization, and then repeat back the required information. This is known as “teaching to the test,” and has proved lacking, in part because it means students actually learn very little and are discouraged from becoming enthusiastic and independent learners.
At LJA the human urge to explore, discover and create knowledge is integrated with students’ need to develop a solid command of the subjects. Teachers create classroom settings that provide for a variety of social and cultural interactions, essential to learning. This approach to education has been used successfully to address each student’s learning abilities and encourages individual talents.
Critical Thinking
LJA is particularly focused on developing students’ critical thinking skills. Students use habits of reasoning, reading, writing and speaking to understand the root causes and consequences of public and personal actions. By taking a critical look at knowledge, students learn to access the power of information for personal and public benefit. Ultimately this access, in combination with critical thinking skills, leads to freedom in making decisions and power to realize their talents and potential.
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