At Arches Academy, we believe that every student is equipped with innate learning strategies and talents. We recognize, train, and enhance these talents in order to empower students to achieve their highest potential in core academic subjects and beyond.

 

We follow gifted and talented models with every student, not just a few who “test in.” This means that all students are encouraged to follow their passions and pursue projects that excite them, even topics that go above and beyond a state curriculum. These projects are often team endeavors and are always nurtured by the coaching and guidance of a capable teacher.

 

Teacher Directed Activities

This gifted and talented approach enables students to participate in a wide range of enrichment activities. Many activities are teacher-selected and directed, chosen carefully to expose students to a wide variety of disciplines, topics, occupations, hobbies, persons, places, and events that would not ordinarily be included in the regular curriculum. Teachers invite guest speakers, travel on many field trips to places as varied as Zions National Park to Washington D.C. They integrate films, plays, and other special performances. These activities are designed to spark interests that lead to student-selected learning and projects.  

 

Student Directed Activities

Students interested in delving into topics not offered as electives are encouraged to do so. These student-directed projects are primarily all their own, with only as much teacher involvement as the student prefers. These projects are individualized, in-depth studies, connected to and integrated with core subjects.

 

For example, one project students took on was accurately recreating the Battle of Bunker Hill in Minecraft. They had to do intensive and accurate historical research and included many quotes, dates, and other facts in the presentation. They also had to learn screenshotting and other computer techniques.

 

Another student wanted to teach the school about canine diseases. This meant not only doing veterinary research, but locating and interviewing veterinarians, and learning pedagogical techniques as well. Each of these projects are student chosen and directed, which means it is up to them to not only choose the subject, but also choose the method of presentation, figure out what skills they need to learn, and figure out how to learn them.

 

This type of learning is beneficial for all students, but is common only in gifted and talented programs.