Great Valley Academy is a Kindergarten thru 5th grade school for the 2009/2010 school year.  We will add a grade level each year keeping pace with our oldest group of students until we reach 8th grade. 

Our academic program based on proven best practices in education, melding together brain science, character education and effective instruction.

Common sense dictates that a safe, happy child is more productive and achieve more learning than a student who is distressed. For this reason, our model is to first create an environment that is nurturing and supportive, and based on relationships rather than coercion. This can be further understood by learning more about Choice Theory  . Another key piece to this model is Mastery Learning. A student will be expected to do Quality Work, demonstrating they have fully learned a concept before progressing to the next level. This works to the advantage of all students; they are allowed the time they need to master a specific topic and aren't expected to continue studying a topic once they have mastered it. Students who need a bit more support to master a topic will get it. On the flip side, once a concept is mastered, the student will be allowed to move on, eliminating the requirement of simple seat time. The students who seek the opportunity to advance will be given the chance.

By keeping the classes as small as possible and allowing teachers to keep the same students for several years, we are setting the stage for the teachers, students and parents to form real relationships that serve as the basis for the students' success. Teachers and students don't have to spend several weeks or even months learning about each other and forming friendships on a yearly basis, allowing us to get to the business of teaching and with much more efficiency.

Teachers receive two full weeks of training before school even opens. Continuing teacher training occurs every Friday afternoon when the student are dismissed.

We offer Differentiated Instruction to all students. A Balanced, Experiential and Relevant instructional program ensures that the students develop not only a wide base of skill development, but also an appreciation for the learning of Language Arts and Mathemetics. Teachers trained on the essential components of the program and how to organize/structure their classrooms to be effective from the beginning.

Integrated Visual Learning . IVL takes advantage of our knowledge of neurological science and child development to offer the students appropriate learning opportunities. We will supercharge the developmental process for those students who need it and give all children the learning tools that gifted learners use.  IVL helps even helps the gifted learners become more efficient, allowing them to accomplish more with less effort.

We use an Inquiry model of learning in Social Studies and Science. This means that children are  asked to explore concepts, experiment with their knowledge and be creative in demonstrating their learning. Projects, research reports, dramatic presentations, speeches, experiments, service learning...these are all examples of appropriate learning activities under the Inquiry model of learning.

 Reality Character Education is an integral part of all interaction and instruction with the children. While there is explicit instruction, the greatest value comes from the model that teachers present, as well as the teachable moments that often occur in the normal school day. The motto is "Do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do".