Academic Program

Our educational goal is help every student REALIZE WHO THEY REALLY ARE, BECOME WHO THEY REALLY ARE and ALWAYS DO THEIR BEST.  We accomplish this goal through personalizing every student’s academic program.  Each student’s curriculum is individualized and the instruction they receive is always personal.

The PowerThink Academy provides:

  • An 8:1 student/teacher ratio;
  • Individualized curriculum and instruction;
  • An ungraded structure that emphasizes individual growth and achievement in a     non-competitive atmosphere;
  • A mainstream curriculum for all students with the intention of preparing them to     return to more traditional school settings;
  • All students learn at their own pace.

Curriculum and Instruction

Inspired by past and current educational research on the nature of learning and where and how children best learn, The PowerThink Academy Acdemic Program is designed to encourage, nurture and support students in using their personal interests, natural learning ability and individual learning style to develop and reach their fullest intellectual, personal, creative and social potential.  The  methods used challenge and engage students, helping them to build important study, critical thinking and decision-making skills.  We believe that there is no substitute for excellence and that every student deserves the opportunity and freedom to excel in his/her own way. 

Our personal and individualized approach to preparing curricula and our instructional design makes it possible for each student to go back and fill in any academic gaps when needed or move ahead in each subject area.  All students have the freedom of studying and learning at their own  pace.  This approach to education infuses learning with excitement and  joy!

Our curriculum includes but goes beyond the goals and objectives set for each grade level and content area by the State of Illinois Department of Education. As you read through the descriptions of the following subject areas , please be aware that no subject is taught in isolation, but rather all subjects are taught in relationship to one another.  What results is a tapestry of learning rather than an isolated compendium of facts, figures or information.  Learning is meaningful and enriched when it is approached from a relationship perspective.

The Enhanced Academic Curriculum

The Enhanced Academic Curriculum includes all grade-specific subjects. In addition, the use of accelerated learning and brain-based learning techniques and strategies makes it possible for each student to learn how to make Reading, Memorizing,  Note Taking, Writing, and Problem-Solving more efficient and effective for them.

The Life skills Curriculum

The Life skills Curriculum also incorporates accelerated learning and brain-based techniques and strategies designed to improve the student’s Self-Confidence, Motivation, Communication Skills, Relationship/Social Skills, Goal-Setting and Presentation Skills.

Beginning Level Program (First-Third Grade) 

Middle Level Program (Fourth-Sixth Grade)

Upper Level Program (Seventh-Eighth Grade)

Overview of Specific Content Areas

High School Information provided upon request

Beginning Level

The Beginning Level at The PowerThink Academy is for students in First through Third Grade.

The curriculum for these children includes:

  • Reading Instruction with Phonics
  • Writing which includes Spelling and Grammar
  • Literature which focuses on Fluency and Comprehension
  • Math which includes both Computation and Problem-Solving
  • Social Studies and Science which flow from personal interests and themes
  • Spanish                                
  • Art
  • Music which includes theory and band participation

All curriculum designed and instruction given at this level is guided by the principles and methods of Personalization and is, therefore, tailored to the personal interests, academic needs and learning-style of each student.  All learning is self-paced.

Middle Level

Students in Fourth, Fifth and Sixth make up the Middle Level at The PowerThink Academy.

The Middle Level Curriculum is designed around the subject matter that one would find in a traditional middle school but there is always student choice about the focus, organization and assessment of each subject

All curriculum designed and the instruction given at this level is guided by the principles and methods of Personalization and is, therefore, tailored to the personal interests, academic needs and learning style of the individual student.  All learning is self-paced.

Upper Level

Students in Grades Seven and Eight are in the Upper Level at The PowerThink Academy.

The Upper Level curriculum is consistent with the traditional State of Illinois requirements for the subjects studied at this level and the state requirements for graduation.  Upper Level students are able to choose the focus, organization and assessment procedures for each subject area.

All curriculum designed and the instruction given at the Upper Level is guided by the principles and methods of Personalization and is, therefore, tailored to the personal interests, academic needs and learning style of the individual  student.  All learning is self-paced.

Students at all Three Levels are taught the way they learn best by teachers who know them, value them and care about them .  The result is empowered students who are highly motivated, self-directed, responsible,  capable of achieving academic excellence and fully prepared to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of others as they take their place in the world.

Alumni

Graduates from  PowerThink Academy  have been accepted at Stanford University, Loris, Benedictine, The University of Wisconsin, Western Illinois University, and The University of California

OVERVIEW OF SPECIFIC CONTENT AREAS

Language Arts Overview

Designed to meet the needs of all students, the PowerThink Academy Language Arts Program is an integrated and vital component to all areas of study and geared to all levels.  Students are taught the reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, speaking, listening and research skills that are critical to communication in today’s world.  All students are taught to: 1) acquire and  develop  reading and comprehension skills; 2) acquire and  develop excellent writing skills and techniques in the areas of narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive and creative writing; 3) study, use and apply proper  English grammar when speaking and writing; 4) study and  develop a strong, versatile vocabulary; 5) explore and experience literature from a variety of genres.  This allows students to become aware of universal themes and compare works, styles of writing and ideas in all academic areas; 6) acquire and  develop oral communication skills and techniques; 7) acquire and  develop learning-how-to-learn skills that are applicable to all areas of study; 8) acquire and  develop technological applications for writing and research.  Meaningful, challenging, creative and enriching assignments engage students at every level and prepare them to be critical thinkers, able to meet the demands they will encounter as they move on in their academic lives  and become personally-motivated, lifelong learners.

Mathematics Overview

All mathematics instruction provides a framework in which each student develops his/her mathematical abilities while learning the value of math and its applications in daily life.  Problem solving, logic, mathematical patterns, organizing mathematical evidence, communicating mathematical information clearly and concisely and proving mathematical solutions are merely some of the major elements of our math curriculum.  The specific elements of a student’s math program are determined by the student’s individual proficiency and desires to explore new mathematical territory.

Science Overview

Our hands-on approach to science provides our students with experiences that allow them to connect with all the various areas of science.  We stress the interrelationship between man and his planet home and strive to develop attitudes and behaviors of stewardship toward our earthly home. Each student also has the freedom to study areas of science that are of particular interest to him/her.  The relationship between science, technology and research is woven throughout our science curriculum. 

Social Studies Overview

Our social studies curriculum focuses on the individual and society and prepares our students to become citizens of the United States and the world.   We believe that personal understanding and acceptance leads to understanding and accepting others who share this planet.  We provide opportunities for our students to make informed and reasoned choices every day not just during a social studies class.  Our social studies units and projects draw from multiple disciplines including history, geography, archaeology, political science and sociology.  Art and music are also used to enrich our students’ social studies experiences.

Art, Music and Foreign Language Overview

Art, Music and Foreign Languages are woven into other academic areas and help our students to learn Spanish and Latin.  Specific times each week are also dedicated to the study of musical instruments, eras and composers.  Art focuses on the basics of color, design and perspective and is presented through the study of various movements and masters.                  

In addition to the addressing the specific curricular needs and desires of our students, we also work with our students in preparing for the ACT, SAT and/or parochial high school entrance exams.

Students who leave The PowerThink Academy to attend other institutions of learning are always more than prepared academically to make that transition.   Often our students are one or two grades ahead of where they would normally be had they stayed in the regular school system.