Acton Academy Lincoln | A Montessori Inspired Private School in Lincoln, Nebraska

An Educational Journey

​with Unlimited Possibilities

The future is changing rapidly.Traditional Education is not. So We are changing it. 
Join us on this journey as we ​reimagine school in Lincoln Nebraska.
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4/16/2021

Finding Your Calling At Acton

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tHE HEAD AND THE hEART

"I wonder, how many of us graduate high school with no awareness of our calling? How many of us enter college without knowing our diverse gifts and talents..."
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The following was written by our newest guide - Miss Brittany - as she reflected on her own journey to arriving at Acton Lincoln. We can't WAIT for her to get started next fall and after reading this, you'll know why! 


​I was a straight A student all through grade school.
I received a 4.0 by my high school graduation. 
I was successful in my classes, even the hard ones. 
My goal was college.

Yet. 

Once I got there, I was fairly lost. 
I changed my major 5 different times. 
I spent a lot of time wandering, without much direction.

My intellect proved successful for most of my life, but college needed more than that. 

I needed to listen to my heart and follow it - something I was never taught.
I needed to find my calling. 
_____

Everyone’s education’s stories are different. 

But I wonder, how many of us graduate high school with no awareness of our calling? How many of us enter college without knowing our diverse gifts and talents, understanding what brings us deep joy, and realizing (or even creating!) an avenue to contribute and be a light? 
​What if education focused more on each child’s uniqueness, each child’s heart, and not just the intellect? 

Would there be more fulfillment? 
Would there be more joy?
Would there be more positive change, in small and big ways?

Acton Academy Lincoln doesn’t just focus on head knowledge.
We focus on the heart as well - the light within.
  
We focus on helping your child find a calling that will change the world.
That’s our mission.
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The Find Your Calling Poster in our Studio

Listening to Hearts

All 250+ Actons around the world share the same mission: 

“We believe each person who enters Acton Academy will find a calling that changes the world.”

Now, how do we do so? How do we at Acton Academy Lincoln guide the heroes to find their calling. You may also be wondering how you can help your own child do the same.

Provide opportunities.

There are seven sessions in our academic calendar. Each session is a Quest.
And every Quest is different. One session our heroes may be studying the human body. In another, they may have an active role in a play or may be creating, owning, and managing their own business.

These Quests invite the hero to step out of their comfort zone and into the daunting, but exciting unknown. Not only does learning occur but also self-awareness. There are ample opportunities for heroes’ strengths and weaknesses to be tested. There is space where their imagination can flow. 

Step back. Let go. Observe.

Once opportunities are presented, it’s our duty as Guides to let the process, learning, and yes, chaos ensue. 
​

This isn’t easy. And even if it’s our duty, we certainly are not perfect at it.

Would you agree that it’s easier to step in, control, and help when you see your hero struggling or in a conflict?

But by doing this, we may be robbing the best opportunities for them to step up and practice (or yes, even fail) at a skill. We may be missing a chance to see our heroes’ strengths and what they are capable of without us.  

Coach and affirm.

Sometimes we don’t know our gifts and how we authentically contribute until someone else points it out to us. Sometimes we don’t know how to strengthen our weak areas. At Acton, the heroes not only have a Guide in the studio, but also 10+ other heroes to coach and cheer them on.

Guides and heroes meet one-on-one to track progress and talk about their journey. The heroes affirm one another during Character Callouts each day. We strive to fill our speech with growth mindset language towards ourselves and others. 

The encouragement gives light to the path and fuel to move onwards. 

What are small ways that you can create new opportunities? When is it hard, but necessary to step back? Are you speaking affirmations to yourself and your children? 

Your Heart Beats too

All Actons share the same mission: 

“We believe each person who enters Acton Academy will find a calling that changes the world.”

Each person.

It’s easy to skip over. Most likely, you found our private micro-school mainly for your own child.

But here, we care about each person who walks through our doors, not just the heroes.

This includes our owner.
This includes our guides.
This includes you. 

Yes, you. 
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Whether you are living your calling or feel far from it, we want to be on the journey with you. Whether you think you are too old to dream or have judgments swarming your head, we want to affirm you instead. 

We believe that the Hero’s Journey is not only for our heroes but for all of us. 

Do you believe that? 
Do you desire to listen more fervently to your heart within you? 
Do you dream of living a calling that changes the world?
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mISS bRITTANY

Head Elementary Guide | Acton Academy Lincoln

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3/18/2021

Virtual School Helps Mom Realize Something HAD to Change...

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Excelling, spiraling, thrivinG

A FAMILY'S JOURNEY TO NAVIGATE SCHOOL THROUGH THE PANDEMIC
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I've seen Alex excited and engaged since moving to Acton.  He no longer has anxiety related to school and homework, he simply enjoys learning again.  It’s fun to pick him up every day and hear about what he worked on and what he’s proud of.
The following is a open letter testimony written by the mom of one of our founding members of our new middle school studio. 

​Prior to Covid-19, Alex was a great traditional student, excelling in the public school setting.  He didn’t require supervision on his homework, nor did I ever hear from the school about any issues.
 
When schools were forced to close after spring break in 2020, he and I worked together to navigate online learning.  It was very challenging and confusing, as it was new to everyone and there was no standard… just multiple teachers trying to figure out how to upload and grade lessons, and Alex and I trying to find and complete them. 
 
Summer break couldn’t come soon enough. 
 
He physically went back to school in August, however after a few short weeks his allergies kicked in and we were (understandably) given the option of getting him tested for Covid-19 or quarantining for 2 weeks every time he had allergy symptoms (since they are identical to Covid-19).  This didn’t seem to be a viable option, so we elected to move back to Online Learning 100% of the time.
 
Zooming throughout the day seemed like a great idea, in a perfect world he’d be engaged online, be taught the lesson and do his homework.  In reality, he found it hard to focus sitting on Zoom from 8am-3pm, there were technical difficulties and he didn’t feel like he could ask questions of the teacher.  He was getting none of his homework done during the day, so we would spend evenings and weekends working to “catch up”.  This turned out to be a blessing and a curse. 
 
Without this experience I never would have known what he was studying and working on.  Being so involved in his homework made me realize that very little of what he was doing in traditional school would serve him in the future.  I was so convinced of this I found myself “helping” (doing) homework alongside him just to get through it faster in the evenings – he’d work on one thing, I’d work on another. 
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The cost of inaction is terrifying to me.  In my opinion, anyone looking at and weighing options has already lost belief in the current system and believes there is something better.
In late January I simply broke.  After spending months in this mode, I couldn’t take it anymore and neither could Alex.  We were exhausted and desperate to have a life back, we were convinced there was a better way.  I started looking for solutions online, and naturally the internet answered… a sponsored ad for Acton Academy Lincoln.  I read everything available about Acton, I watched every video about Acton.  I looked for anything I could find about Zach and Heidi.  I sent an email and I scheduled a tour.  Frankly, Alex and I were convinced before we ever walked in the door. 
 
My biggest reservation in switching to Acton was making sure Alex would be prepared for college when the time comes.  This concern was alleviated while reading the required book, “Courage to Grow" (request a FREE copy) and during a short conversation with Zach on our tour (schedule a tour today!).
​
First, Acton students typically fare better than peers in testing;
Second, the goal is to be ready for life:
  • Critical thinking (Socratic discussion) is how they begin their day at Acton
  • He will be permitted to move through subjects at his own pace – if he has a great understanding of material he is allowed to move on, if he struggles with a subject he can continue to work on it until he “gets it” instead of being dragged along regardless
  • He will have had 15 internships prior to graduation
 
I’ve seen Alex excited and engaged since moving to Acton.  He no longer has anxiety related to school and homework, he simply enjoys learning again.  It’s fun to pick him up every day and hear about what he worked on and what he’s proud of.  He also really enjoys the time they have during the day to move and be active. ​
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Mr. Alex in deep thought during a Socratic Conversation
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Mr. Alex at Forest School Friday

​As I do with most big decisions, I went through the Fear-setting exercise (see the Ted Talk by Tim Ferriss)…

 
If I move Alex to Acton…
 
  • What’s the worst thing that could happen?
  • How do I prevent the worst thing from happening?
  • How do I repair the situation if the worst thing happens?
 
What might be the benefits of an attempt or partial success?
What is the cost of inaction?
 
Ultimately, the cost of inaction is terrifying to me.  In my opinion, anyone looking at and weighing options has already lost belief in the current system and believes there is something better.  What is the cost of inaction?
 
Acton has been a great choice for our family, we are thrilled to be on this journey!

Mr. Alex's HeroHighlight Video 

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3/15/2021

Parents on A Hero's Journey

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At our independent school in Lincoln, Nebraska we are often asked, "What is your curriculum?" by prospective parents. Curriculum is a hot topic as everyone seeks to provide the best education possible for their children. 

At Acton, we believe in the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic if you will, but we find this is the easy part! The harder and far more impactful part (and frankly where we focus most of our time) is: 
Developing self-awareness from having tried a number of things and the self-confidence from actually having pulled through doing hard things that mattered! 

This means at time that life can be messy at Acton, it can be messy in the studio, it can be hard on parents and guides to see the learners struggling through real issues. We always encourage our parents to sit back and give issues room to breath and for the heroes to work through these issues themselves. That said, we aren't asking parents to be passive, they can still be an active participant in their child's Acton journey, it just looks different at Acton than it might in a traditional school setting.

No doubt, as a parent at Acton Academy, you have embarked on a hero’s journey (whether you are ready for it or not!). Below are answers, testimony and tips we’ve gathered from Acton Academy parents from all over the world to equip and inspire you on your Hero’s Journey as a parent:

What should I do as a parent if my hero has an issue?

In a learner driven community, run by developing heroes, this is sure to occur. One of the overarching goals for these young heroes is to empower them to solve their own problems, and see themselves as heroes of their lives, not victims of their circumstances.
 
So when an issue occurs in the studio we typically ask a few questions, which help us determine what actions to take:
  • Is a child being intentionally harmed either physically or emotionally? 
    • If so, email the guides and encourage your hero to talk about it with a guide.
  • Does this bother them or just me? 
    • If just me, wait and observe.  
  • Does this bother them? 
    • Encourage them to use the tools they have to make the studio a better place to be. In most cases, a hero knows the courageous action they must take, but would rather a parent step in and rescue them.

We find that oftentimes problems in the studio bother us as parents or guides, but don’t really bother the heroes. 

Sometimes, however, it is a real problem for the heroes, which creates a great opportunity for them to learn to do something, and forge character in the process. As parents, we can encourage our hero to pick up a tool in the studio, and solve their own problems.

In this scenario, here are a few questions to help them recognize what tools they have, and empower them to solve the problem:
  • “Have you asked the person doing it for a hero buck every single time?” - This will stop negative behavior extremely fast.
  • “Do you have any outstanding issues with any of your fellow travelers about this?”
    - Challenge them to go to the peace table and, if they would be more comfortable, request a guide to help with conflict resolution.
  • “Is this a problem that everyone faces?”
    - Challenge them to bring it up in town hall meetings, and suggest a solution.

What if my hero is unhappy?

Our promise is to equip and inspire your child to find a calling that will change the world.  Struggles and difficulties are part of the journey.  

Instead of focusing on short term happiness, Acton Academy focuses on long term satisfaction and fulfillment. Overcoming short term challenges is often a part of that journey.

As parents, we’ve found our heroes grow most when we comfort them and listen empathically, but do not try to solve the problem ourselves or allow blame to be cast on others.  “I hear you. That must be so hard.  I trust you to find a way to solve this on your own and can’t wait to hear how you did it” seem to be the most powerful words we can use as parents.

If your goal is to have a child who is happy all the time, Acton Academy may not be the right place for you.

What if my hero is facing a problem that makes me especially anxious?

Our heroes take extremely difficult situations in stride every day.  They are more resilient than we might be able to expect.  Most of our hearts would break if we knew the challenges heroes quietly and bravely overcome. 

It can be hard to watch our children face challenges, but heroic parents must look to the long term value of challenges to determine if they must interject. I was recently talking with another owner who said that one of their parent nights led to a wonderful belief that struggles and challenges are valuable if they are in pursuit of a worthy goal or outcome. Sometimes stepping back is the best choice we can make.

We also find that many challenges make us anxious because they touch on something we’ve experienced in our past or experience today.

So if a situation makes you particularly angry or anxious, before reacting ask: “Is this more about me or my hero?”

Why can’t you force my hero to ____________ ?

Many of us wish our hero would spend more time on handwriting or spelling or Math, and when s/he doesn’t, fall into the mindset that the learning community or school should require the behavior.

Unfortunately, deep and lasting learning doesn’t work this way.  Someone has to want to learn, if deep learning is to occur. 

We’ve found that Growth Mindset language and praise – and most of all patience – work better than criticism.  Additionally, the systems at Acton Academy reward hard work and growth by rewarding effort (Weekly Points), excellent work (Badges) and leadership (360 Degree Feedback) with more freedom, which encourages growth and learning through choice. All of these things will be introduced with time in our studio, when the learners are ready and asking for them. 

What if my hero simply refuses to work hard?

This is a difficult question, because human motivation remains one of the great unsolved mysteries.

Our studio systems, modeled after companies like Google and Amazon, are designed to reward effort, excellent work and leadership with more freedom, and to reduce freedom for lack of effort, excellence, and leadership. 

There are three primary reasons a hero struggles to work hard in the studio. These real world obstacles are a core piece of the learning and development at Acton Academy. Most of us face these same struggles each day:
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  • Resistance: Sometimes it just takes courage to take the first step towards something hard. Encouragement and modeling are powerful tools here. We often ask ourselves when we see resistance in our children, when is the last time we took a difficult and courageous first step in front of our family?
  • Distraction: Cheap distraction is everywhere in life. For me this comes in the form of social media, tv, or checking my email. In the studio, this might look like a hero fiddling with a toy, chatting with a friend, doing cartwheels or even changing the background on their computer.  Freedoms in the studio can be lost if a child is too distracted. Parents might also consider removing distractions at home to encourage more effort in the studio.
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  • Victim Mindset: Often heroes gain attention and solace by playing the part of the victim, and almost all families have some form of the Dreaded Drama Triangle.  We highly recommend listening to the book as a family or watching the videos, and committing to use the language of empowerment instead. At the very least, while being empathetic we refuse to allow our heroes to blame others or circumstances.  If you were born in America and attend Acton Academy, the complaint that “life is unfair” rings hollow. When the Victim is the issue, we ask if we are modeling negative or blaming language ourselves, or playing the part of a Rescuer or a Persecutor.

​More important than measurements on a hero’s journey are the questions a parent asks a child every day. Here are a list of powerful questions we can ask our young heroes to prepare them with the character to embark on a hero’s journey:

Questions that seek understanding:
"What's the best thing that happened today?" 
"What's the most challenging  thing that happened today?"
"What did you discuss at launch this morning?"
"Did you learn anything new about yourself or your calling today?"
Asking "Why?" Listening, then asking again. Variation: "Why do you think...?"
What did you fail at today? 

Questions that discover and reinforce heroic character:
What did you do that was hard today?
What did you do that was kind today?
What did you do that was [character trait] today?
What did someone do to you that was [character trait] today?

Questions that follow up on challenges or goals: 

"What goals did you set today?"
"Did you submit that town hall request today?" 
"Did you ask [name] to go the the peace table today?" 
"Did you ask someone for a hero buck today?" 
"Did someone ask you for a hero buck today?" 
Likely a lot of opportunity to follow up with encouragement, trust, and relatable personal stories with these questions.

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2/18/2021

There's no-such thing as bad weather

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1000 Hours Outdoors - Arctic Blast Update

This story is the first in a multi-part series by Heidi Harsin, wife, mom, co-founder of Acton, and the reason Acton Academy Lincoln exists. If it weren't for her momma heart pushing her to find a refreshing approach to our children's education we wouldn't have discovered Acton.
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​I came across a great analogy the other day comparing the “witching hour” we, as parents, all know and love - to the second half of February. The long, exhausting time period you just wish would hurry by. We’re definitely there. I find myself checking my weather app an unhealthy number of times, as if checking it will hurry these frigid temps along.

We rounded out the month of January with 25 hours outdoors, about 5 hours less than I would have liked. I see that number and it looks so small and yet I KNOW that many of those hours required some real effort, time and tears to make it out the door. So, we’ll take them.
In just 25 short hours I’ve already learned a few great lessons:
  • Hot chocolate + marshmallows = a simple pleasure
  • "Sweet exhaustion" is a beautiful term and after your children have spend HOURS outdoors in the cold and snow- that’s exactly where they’re at.
  • Favorite winter hack, trying to have the dryer empty so that when we come inside all the cold, wet gear gets thrown right in. This is an extra sweet idea if you’re headed back out shortly, the girls LOVE putting back on their warm, snuggly clothes straight from the dryer.
  • We’re absolutely doing things that we NEVER would have done in the past. My personal favorite, a 90-minute, Saturday afternoon hike through our neighborhood “woods” with snow falling all around us. Hands down one of my favorite experiences since becoming a family of five.

Here’s what I also know- we MISSED our outdoor time during the frigid temps. The other day our 3 year old asked when it was going to snow again, so they could go outside and scoop. THEY are missing their outdoor time. We have extra energy that’s hard to get rid of, lots of LOUD voices inside that we’re used to using up in the great outdoors

I’m already making plans for how we can knock out some chunks of time once those temps hit the 30s and 40s...40s...a heat wave. Bring it on!
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We spent almost an hour outdoors one night after work this week. It was a balmy 15 degrees and we were ALL so happy, rosy red cheeks and all. Our middle said, “oh wow, it’s so warm”. It’s all about perspective, dressing warm and find a big mountain of snow to climb!

Heidi Harsin

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In 2021, our family is on a quest to experience 1000 hours outdoors. Heidi will post monthly updates on our journey. We invite you to follow our journey and hope it inspires your family to live life outdoors.

Outdoor time will also be a staple at Acton Lincoln. We plan to implement Forest School Fridays later this spring and build an outdoor classroom as soon as the weather allows.

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2/13/2021

Your Kids Can Love School!

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A school that helps Kids Love learning again!​

Meet Miss Mayah. This past session our learners wrote their memoirs and she chose to write hers about Acton Academy Lincoln, "her favorite place to be". Watch and see why she loves Acton, a private school in Lincoln, Nebraska 

WHAT SETS ACTON APART FROM
​TRADITIONAL EDUCATION OPTIONS?

Acton is a place where the learning environment is nurturing, and we provide a variety of academic offerings, technology, entrepreneurship, physical education, music, art, community service, and leadership opportunities. We believe middle school is a time to build character, seek independence, and gain an understanding of self and others. As an independent school, we place great value on preparing our students not only for High School (coming soon!) but also for a world beyond school. We believe in the education of the whole person - inside and outside of the studio - and encourage students to develop intellectually as well as into citizens of good character. Quests help students learn about potential careers they might be interested in as well as develop lasting skills such as the ability to work as a team, develop creative solutions, and to set and crush goals.

Students from all types of school choice backgrounds thrive at Acton Academy Lincoln: Whether your family comes to us from a Montessori school, after homeschooling, public school, private Christian school, or charter school, we believe a like-minded tribe aligned around a common purpose is powerful. Learning happens all the time, and staff, parents, and children each have a powerful part to play. All parts of our learning community are engaged for support, to share perspective, and bring value.

Grab Your FREE Info Kit Here: my.actonacademylincoln.com/freeinfokit

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2/6/2021

Applying to Private Schools

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What to Expect from our Audition Process

Applying to private schools in Lincoln, Nebraska can seem like an overwhelming process. There are so many options from private Christian schools, to Montessori schools, not to mention a handful of alternative  homeschool options to choose from. Each has their unique application process.

For us, we prefer to call ours and audition. We are auditioning for you as much as you are for us! It's a two way street, and it must be a good fit for both parties. 
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Our philosophies must be well-aligned. Our unique audition format acts as your guide as you discover the Acton learning design and philosophy. As you go through, you will be asked to reflect on your ideas about education to ensure that our environment and execution are REALLY what you want for your family!

We recognize that we ask you to dedicate time and thought to the process. Families who are thriving in our community often share that they truly enjoyed the process, and we hope you do too.
​
1. VISIT US!
We invite you to schedule a campus tour OR attend a Discovery Night. 

2. REQUEST OUR PARENT APPLICATION + HERO FORM
After completing your own research and reading "Courage to Grow" we invite you to complete our two-part online questionnaire.
3. HERO FOR A DAY
After we receive the completed questionnaires and your videos, your child is invited to visit our school for a day. The visitor day is an excellent way for us to get to know your child and allow them to experience learning at Acton Academy Lincoln.

4. ADMISSIONS DECISION​
If we believe Acton Academy Lincoln would be a good fit for your family, we will invite you to enroll. Admission to our school will be confirmed upon receipt of the registration fee, and signed enrollment documents.

Acton Academy Lincoln is a "year-round" private school.  The 10 month school year is broken up into "sessions" that are typically 5-7 weeks with a 1-2 week break in between. There is an 8 week break in the summer with an optional 2 week summer session.

You can find tuition information along with other specifics about our audition process to our private school here in Lincoln, Nebraska under the apply page of our website.
​
Apply to Acton!

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2/5/2021

The Importance of the American Experiment: A Hero's Perspective

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EveryDay Heroes

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One of our Acton Heroes Mr. Tucker with his dad Captain Borchardt
At Acton Academy, a private school in Lincoln Nebraska, we believe that the American Experiment, with all its faults, is the best hope on earth for protecting human liberty. As Acton Co-Founder Jeff Sandefer says in this episode of Our American Experiment, "We believe in liberty and justice and the ideals of the American revolution as the cornerstones of civilization. In addition to experiential learning, we will study the American documents and the true meaning behind them, as we examine other cultures and forms of government." 

This session our heroes (what we call our students) learned about the American flag and the history of the pledge of allegiance.
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Our Elementary Studio saying the Pledge of Allegiance to start their day.
Whenever possible, we bring in what we call "everyday heroes," individuals who can share their life experience and stories from their own Heroes Journey that may inspire and help further the lessons we are exploring in our Elementary Studios.

Last week, we had the opportunity to invite a real-life hero into our studio to speak to our heroes! Mr. Borchardt, who currently serves as a Captain in the U.S. Army and National Guard, shared about his job and what being a part of a team means to him. “Being a part of something bigger than myself is what my job is really about. In order to accomplish our missions, my team has to work together.”

Mr. Borchardt’s words relate very closely to what life looks like in our studio here at Acton. Each and every day, our heroes must work together to ensure they accomplish their SMART goals for the day and stay on schedule. If one hero falls off the track, the entire tribe is affected.

Mr. Borchardt described that America to him is about opportunity and freedoms. “Less than 1% of Americans go into the military. We get to do things over 99% of people don’t get to do.” This goes to show how incredible of a job Mr. Borchardt has and how he truly is a hero every day. At Acton, our heroes learn every day how special of a role they have in the world! Becoming a real hero may not be the easiest or most common path, but, as Mr. Borchardt shared, there is no doubt it is the most impactful. To wrap up our time our special guest, we asked Mr. Borchardt to share any advice he had for our Acton Lions. He said, “Focus on being a part of the team here. If you give your best, your team will be able to give their best too.”

We are incredibly grateful for Mr. Borchardt’s service to our country and that he was able to come share about his hero’s journey in our studio! We can’t wait to see how our young heroes apply what they learned from this discussion to their adventures here at Acton!

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Acton Academy Lincoln

A learner-driven private school in Lincoln, Nebraska. We offer a truly different approach to school. Supported by the latest in technology and cognitive science, we move beyond the traditional tools of lectures, homework, high-stakes tests, and grades. At Acton Academy Lincoln, students K-8 learn in collaborative classrooms of multi-age learners. Our flexible approach challenges each student with their differentiated learning plan and inspires them through real-world projects.​
Learn more by watching this video.

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1/29/2021

What is your curriculum?

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"What is your Curriculum?"

One of the top questions we are asked by parents when touring our private  school in Lincoln, Nebraska is "what curriculum do you use?" 

While we utilize Montessori elements and the latest in game-based adaptive software, the "curriculum" at Acton Academy Lincoln can seem confusing; especially with so many Lions pursuing independent learning plans.

When asked about curriculum on tours, I like to quote fellow Acton owner, Matt Beaudreau:
Our most important curriculum is fostering self-awareness from having tried a number of things and developing self-confidence from actually having pulled through doing hard things that mattered.
​

​-Matt Beaudreau | Acton Placer Founder
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That said, below are four principles that form the foundation for our curriculum at Acton Academy Lincoln. 

1. First, Make it Fun.

Job number one is to make it fun to be part of the community.  If the Lions want to belong to the tribe, they will accept hard work and the Hero’s Journey as the price of membership, deeply imbedding the core belief that Grit matters more than IQ for heroes in the long run.

Plus, motivated Lions work at 10X the rate of average students.

2. Focus on Core SKills.

Reading, writing (communication) and math are fundamental tools for decision making and critical thinking.

Reading: First, make reading fun and enjoyable (see point number one above.)  Allow Lions to read anything they want.  Once Lions love to read, you can offer more challenging ideas, authors and genres.

Hint: Never mention the word “classic.”  Sadly, many children define "classic” as “a boring book that grown-ups make you read.”  You can and should offer Great Books; just be careful what you call them.

Writing (Communication):​ Make writing fun by starting with journaling or lighthearted creative writing.  Start early with Socratic discussions.   Always write or communicate for a reason, usually as part of an exhibition, so that quality matters to the Lions.  Over time, offer more difficult challenges and genres.  Use peer critiques to boost motivation; Lions will write and revise a great deal if they can share with friends.

Handwriting and spelling will come over time, but giving Lions incentives to improve these earlier helps some parents relax.  Grammar is different.  Too much early emphasis on grammar can kill the joy of getting thoughts and emotions on paper.  If Lions care about writing and communicating, better grammar will come.

Math:  Khan Academy and other game based adaptive programs make math curriculum a breeze, so you can focus on motivation and including math in real world projects.

Civilization:  Find articles, videos and ethical dilemmas that put the Lions in the shoes of a heroic decision maker, require them to take a firm stand and debate the alternatives in a Socratic Discussion.

Lions are competitive by nature.  Ask them to track and post the results for the Core Skills activities above, and deep learning will happen.

3. Add Quests for 21st Century Skills

If you are confident that the Core Skills are being mastered, you can add Quests to master 21st Century skills and subjects like Science.  A Quest is nothing more than a series of hands-on, real world projects that contain a narrative and a public exhibition at the end.

Start with simple Quests first.  Then add more complex Quests.  Once you have a sense of what makes a great Quest, simplify again.  Then hand over Quest creation to your Lions.

4. Real World Apprenticeships

As soon as possible, ask Lions to begin real world apprenticeships – often as early as ten years old.  This includes each Lion considering his or her individual gifts and talents; activities that bring joy or “flow,” and the irresistible opportunities or terrible injustices that inspire a young hero.

Challenge Lions to identify and pitch apprenticeship opportunities themselves, with as little help as possible from adults.  There’s nothing quite as freeing as knowing you can identify and land your next adventure in life, all by yourself.

Lion Driven Learning Communities offer a rich tapestry of collaborative discovery with serious rigor, as young heroes negotiate collaborating and learning with Running Partners and in small groups.  But “self organized” doesn’t mean chaos; in fact, it usually requires a rigorous set of  rules and natural consequences.  Embracing the principles above allows the chaos at Acton Academy to (usually) have an upward trajectory, and to self correct when it doesn’t.

Originally posted on "The Eagles of Acton" Blog

You can read more from this blog here.

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1/26/2021

Is Acton Academy a Montessori School in Lincoln Nebraska?

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A question we commonly hear at our Private School in Lincoln, Nebraska is: “How is your school different from a Traditional Montessori school?”

As we prepare to open a more traditional Montessori Studio in the Fall to compliment our Elementary and Middle School Studios, we thought it would be great to share this article from a
 fellow Acton Academy owner. They explain their experience as parents with a top-rated Montessori school near them and opening an Acton Academy similar to our school in Lincoln, NE.
The following has been adapted from their original article. We added our specific name and city where applicable.
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What are the Main Differences Between Montessori and Acton Academy Programs?

We relied on the experience of having both of our children attend a wonderful Montessori program as toddlers and preschoolers, our own research on this topic, as well as the input from other Acton Academy owners who have also spent time contemplating the answer to this question. We certainly share many values of the Montessori system and care greatly for our friends who run and work in these schools.

A common response to this question from other Acton owners is that Acton Academy is almost like a Montessori 2.0 or Montessori for the 21st Century. While Acton Academies do believe in many of the principles espoused by Maria Montessori (respect of the child, self-learning/freedom of choice, multi-age classrooms, a prepared environment and teachers as guides, to name a few), there are significant differences between the programs as well.

It is important to note that not all Montessori schools are officially licenced so there is some variation in the style of programming delivered. Similarly, each Acton Academy is independently owned and operated as well so absolute generalizations cannot be made.

With that in mind, here are some specific distinctions that make an Acton Academy a unique learning environment compared to a Montessori school.

Consistent Progressive Education Goals vs. Focus on Early Years

Acton Academy Lincoln is a great option for families looking to continue an alternative education after graduating out of their current Montessori School in Lincoln, Nebraska.
View Our Montessori Studio
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Maria Montessori seemed to invest her genius in preschool-aged children and early childhood development. Acton owner Kai Olderog had this to say: “She designed it for those ages and placed an enormous amount of trust in children that age to be responsible for their environment and capable of doing amazing work.”

The Montessori programs offered for older children weren’t necessarily developed by Maria Montessori and have been formed by individual programs wanting schooling for higher ages. As a result of this distinction, many Montessori schools add more traditional elements to their programs as the children get older; this actually leads to decreased responsibility in the higher grades. At an Acton Academy, our Hero’s are given more responsibility as they get older and are heavily involved in self-management, leadership, and self-government of their learning environments.

Having said that, our school and many other Acton Academies accept students at age six or seven so we often rely on, recommend, and partner with local Montessori programs for the toddlers and preschoolers who will come to our school at that older age.

​The Focus on Mastery + Use of Technology

At an Acton Academy, a large emphasis is on the development of mastery when learning Core Skills (reading, writing, math, and spelling). We utilize tools, at times technology-based, that allow our students — we call them “Heroes” — to learn at their own pace and individually. We continually seek the most efficient ways to enable this, and many Acton Academies incorporate other paper-based tools (Singapore Maths, Writer’s Workshop, for example) to find the best means to achieve our ultimate goal.

Technology is one tool we use to allow this kind of learning to take place. For the most part, Montessori programs have a reflexive policy against the use of technology in the classroom.

Jeff Sandefer, the co-founder of Acton Academy said this about our program: “Acton isn’t pro-technology, but we use powerful game based programs for areas like Math, as well as relying on the internet to bring experts and the world to us. We don’t dismiss technology out of hand. If it’s a useful tool, process or habit, we use it, whether its Khan Academy or a walk in the park.”

Socratic Method vs. Group Discussions

Acton Academies emphasize the use of the Socratic Method in educating our students. This differs from the group discussions led by teachers, which Montessori programs encourage. The Socratic method, with the use of active questioning in order to draw out and clarify one’s thinking, is a vehicle for developing critical thinking skills, stimulating critical reflection, and developing depth of character. Although group discussions are better than lectures, often the teacher is still in the role of ‘expert’ and this can limit the robustness of thought required by the students.

Ability to Apply Learning to the Real World

Real world preparation includes a need to adapt to a place influenced greatly by technology, a continual shift in knowledge, and a rapidly changing landscape. We just don’t know what kind of future our children will face so developing useful skills and a critical thinking approach is extremely important moving forward.

The Acton Academy system is focused on preparing our Lions to find their own calling in the real world. We continually help our students in this regard in multiple ways:

1. The use of the Hero’s Journey heuristic as a way of using stories as a backdrop for learning, and in understanding that they themselves are on their own journey

2. Bringing in guests to discuss their Hero’s Journey and demonstrate the challenges everyone faces on their life’s path

3. The use of Quests as structured real-world challenges that create real world accountable results, much like project-based work

4. The use of Apprenticeships as Eagles get older to make the world their classroom

5. The focus on entrepreneurship, leadership, and self-management

6. An emphasis on character development and the concepts that allow our Hero’s to do their best – Curiosity, Gratitude, Grit, Growth Mindset, Optimism, Purpose, Self-Control, Social/Emotional Intelligence, and Zest
At an Acton Academy, we continually focus on relating lessons and tasks to the real-world in order to give our Hero’s the skills, abilities and confidence to succeed in whatever field they choose. The focus is on the process of learning, not just the content of it, thus enabling them to be ready for whatever the future may bring.

Ongoing Improvement to Achieve our Educational Goals

An Acton Academy has, at its core, the mission to enable our Hero’s to Learn to Learn, Learn to Do and Learn to Be, along their path of finding their own calling. The program has been developed with this goal in mind and therefore there is constant reflection on what is working and what is not, so continual improvements can be made as needed. The Montessori Method is a specific educational philosophy in and of itself, and thus it can be hard to change in a rapidly changing education landscape.

Overall, while Acton Academies do share, respect, and incorporate many of Maria Montessori’s philosophies on children’s education, we do have a number of differences which we feel help our Heroes to best prepare themselves for the future. It comes from the similar desire to do all we can for our next generation but also takes advantage of the recent advances in tools, philosophy and understanding of education in the 21st Century.

Written by Dr. Vineet Nair & Andrea Nair, M.A., CCC

INFINITY SCHOOL: AN ACTON ACADEMY IN LONDON, ON, CANADA


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1/21/2021

The Desire To Do Work That Matters...

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"What do you want?"

Lincoln, NE Montessori School
“You don’t have to be smart to go to Acton. You have to want to be smart.” – Matteo, an Acton Academy middle school Eagle

Though merely two sentences within a long, heated Socratic discussion, Matteo’s words were flashes of gold. Everyone agreed with them. With clarity and ease, he’d pointed us to the essence of why Acton exists in a way I had never pondered.

It is about wanting. It is about desire.

Desire is longing for something not yet attained and includes a sense of dissatisfaction with the status quo. It is the fuel for curiosity – the most powerful intrinsic motivator.

But I wasn’t satisfied with my analysis of Matteo’s words. Was he really talking about just the desire to be smart?

I decided to pursue his idea further. I asked a small group of Eagles to help me out:

Why do you want to be smart?

So I can feel confident in the world.
So I can understand how things work.
So I can make hard decisions and tough choices.
So I can do the right thing.
So I can do something important with my life.
So I can solve problems that aren’t being solved yet.
So I can find my calling.


Their wanting to be smart was not about having an academic credential. It was not about pleasing parents and teachers. 

These young people desire doing intelligent work that matters for this big, wonderful world.

Shakespeare wrote: “Joy’s soul lies in the doing.”

Acton Academy exists for the “doing” not just the “knowing.” Ultimately, there will be joy even if the journey includes suffering and sacrifice because the learning and work are purposeful. They are driven by the heart – where desire and character reside.

As a parent, this shifts my stance on talking with my sons about their work at school. My natural tendency at the end of the week is to ask them: How many points did you earn? How many Eagle Bucks do you have?

These extrinsic, academic questions are easy and okay. But, frankly, they miss the target.

There is a much more important question: What do you want?

I often forget to consider the desire in their hearts. When I focus merely on the external evidence of their daily learning, I snuff out the force that will drive them for the rest of their lives: the desire that lies in their hearts to do work that matters.

These young people exude profound confidence and inner freedom because they carry a mindset of growth. They know they can learn absolutely anything if they work at it. There is no slumped-over pessimism that comes from the burden of being labeled “smart” or “not smart.”

It’s as if they are already saying, “Open wide your doors, world. We are excited to meet you.”
​
Thank you, Matteo.

Laura Sandefer

Acton Academy Co-Founder
Original blog published on Being an Acton Academy Parent

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