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How we Educate for Life
Our aim in education is to give a full life. We owe it to them to initiate an immense number of interests. Life should be all living, and not merely a tedious passing of time; not all doing or all feeling or all thinking - the strain would be too great - but, all living; that is to say, we should be in touch wherever we go, whatever we hear, whatever we see, with some manner of vital interest.
– charlotte mason
Today, American students are suffering from record rates of burnout, anxiety, depression, and stress. Every child has unique needs, and at SLOCA, we want our students to fall in love with learning – not be captives to it. We’re proud to offer an exciting alternative for students and families: a unique weekday rhythm that maximizes rich learning while creating space to nurture relationships, creativity, knowledge integration, and the connections they need to thrive on their academic journeys and life beyond.
Interested in our Infant + Toddler care program?
collaborative model
Preschool-8th grade
Our collaborative model of education combines parent involvement and rhythms of structured and less structured instruction to build and maintain a love of learning in our students. In jointly employing their expertise, parents and SLOCA act collaboratively in conversation with one another to mutually benefit and educate the student.
The foundation of this Collaborative Model is our belief in the power of family in the lives of their students—in short, our families matter. When parents, teachers, staff, and students all work together, education really comes alive. Whether in the hybrid or full time program, involved and engaged parents alongside passionate teachers help students thrive, becoming their best selves at each of their developmental stages.
In a traditional school setting, students are on campus in a formal classroom for 35-40 hours per week and are given homework for after-school hours. Our model allows students to maximize their formal time in the classroom in order to enrich valuable time at home, and gives them freedom from the more formal classroom to truly absorb and practice what they learned. Students in all programs benefit from this Collaborative Model of one day of teacher instruction and content, followed by one day of integration and practice. During school days, students learn math, science, history, reading, writing, Latin, logic, art, music and more from inspiring, well-trained teachers who bring classical education to life, assess student progress, provide feedback, and teach crucial academic and personal skills. On alternating days, whether at home or on campus, students complete assignments, read, write, play, discover, rest, and receive more individualized adult attention as they integrate all of the knowledge they learned the day before. When they finish their work, they are free to pursue creative projects, go deeper with the material, or play outside in the fresh air.
This is a unique rhythm that maximizes rich learning while creating space to nurture relationships, creativity, knowledge integration, and the connections they need to thrive on their academic journeys and life beyond.
Want more on our Collaborative Model? Learn more here.
Learn more about:
Our University Model
High School
The SLO Classical Academy High School (SLOCAHS) program is set up as a University Model, where students attend school three days weekly (M/W/F) and study independently two days weekly (T/Th), much like in a college setting. Although we encourage students taking a full load, students are afforded the option of picking and choosing their classes. Our students have a reputation for the love of learning and are willing to work hard. Parent involvement is important, but they are no longer considered “home educators” as student independence is required.
