Curriculum Overview
Elementary
Direct Instruction methods are used for the implementation of the K-5 curriculum. Direct Instruction (DI) is a method of instruction that has achieved exceptional results within elementary schools across the country. Part of what makes the program successful is that it takes full advantage of the natural aptitudes that K-5 students display. K-5 students are at a stage of development that allows them to quickly comprehend pieces of information. This aptitude enables them to memorize information quickly. To take full advantage of the natural student aptitude, Direct Instruction presents information in a fast-paced and highly structured environment. The structured format of the program uses pre-planned lessons, formulaic teaching methods, choral responses, and other techniques to maximize student engagement and results. Direct Instruction uses traditional teaching methods to keep students “on task.” The traditional methods, coupled with a traditional philosophy on education, come together to create an exceptional education for the elementary school.
Junior High
Major cognitive changes begin to occur between 4th-6th grade. Students begin to interact with the world in a noticeably different way. A 6th grader will be much for likely to ask for an explanation about why the answer is the answer; the passive-receptive stages of elementary education is transitioned away from. The Thales’ curriculum adapts to these changes accordingly. At Thales we actively engage the Junior High students in a curriculum that will challenge them to think in depth about answers, to act in accord with reason, to synthesize information, to hypothesize and to draw rationale conclusions. The junior high education shares greater similarities to high school than to elementary school. This is due to the fact that students are beginning to perceive themselves as adults, so, the school should treat them as such. A variance in perception is where most schools go wrong. By adult standards, junior high students are still kids, so most schools treat the students like kids. At Thales, we acknowledge that the students perceive themselves as adults, and as such we treat them as young adults. This is a way to show respect for our students and a proven way to increase performance: students rise to the occasion.
High School
High school is the summation of the Thales Education. By this point students have received the tools to learn and have reached a level of maturity that will allow them to actively engage the opportunities at Thales HIgh School. Similar to curricula in the world’s top schools, Thales has adopted a curriculum that enables students to select their route of academic study. Students, dependent on prerequisites, may elect to pursue college preparatory coursework either in the Luddy Institute of Technology or within the traditional high school track of study. The curriculum is structured so that any motivated student can excel.