School Navigation

In the sixth grade, our School Navigation curriculum teaches students the study skills that they need to improve their grades and to put their school performance on an upward trajectory. Students learn to organize their assignments and school materials, manage time, set goals, participate and take notes in class, prepare for tests, and ask for help. The curriculum also helps develop the values, attitudes and behaviors that contribute to academic—and lifelong—achievement, such as focus, resourcefulness and perseverance. 

A 60-minute School Navigation lesson starts each program week. Each session culminates with a skill mission that students work to complete over the course of that week, requiring them to apply the newly learned skill to their school work in a meaningful way.  Each lesson also includes a reflection activity for Team Leaders to implement with their team during daily homework sessions to reinforce the skill taught. Finally, in conjunction with the larger campus culture of academic achievement, School Navigation  reinforces the belief that everyone has the capacity to get smart. Over the course of the year, each apprentice creates a portfolio of his or her best work, and comes to recognize that school success is not the result of innate ability, but of effort applied effectively.

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