ACADEMICS

Teaching Philosophy

Course Descriptions

Academics

Teaching Philosophy

Beacon Academy offers students a challenging curriculum and important cultural and social enrichment to prepare them to enter independent secondary school environments with confidence. We emphasize problemsolving, collaborative education, inclusive learning, and sensitivity to students’ cognitive styles. Our small classes foster a high degree of student-teacher interaction, and our teachers are committed to addressing the individual needs of each student.

Course Descriptions

Grammar

Taught by Anne-Marie Yu-Phelps

This course meets two days a week and focuses on learning the fundamentals of grammar. It begins with a study of the parts of speech and then moves on to functions of nouns, phrases, and clauses. By developing an understanding of the grammatical structure of English, students will be able to improve the mechanics of their writing. Learning the fundamentals of grammar will also help students when they study a foreign language in high school.

Humanities

Taught by Cary Hammonds

This course combines the study of literature and history and includes a heavy emphasis on developing writing skills. The goals of the course include teaching students how to analyze literature, evaluate primary and secondary sources of history, develop strong writing and critical thinking skills, and expand their vocabularies. Students learn how to approach and conquer difficult texts, drive class discussion, and make thoughtful arguments.

ACADEMICS Math

Taught by Robert Bruckner

Beacon’s math program is designed to provide students with the mathematical skills and academic habits necessary for success in a rigorous independent high school. The curriculum begins in the summer with a thorough review of foundational arithmetic topics, such as operations with fractions and decimals. In the fall, students review early algebra with a focus on the topics that are the most conceptually difficult, such as ratios and proportions. Beginning in winter and continuing through the spring, students complete a thorough and comprehensive algebra course, including but not limited to linear, exponential, and quadratic functions. Students learn to construct, compare, and analyze functions through multiple representations. After successfully completing Beacon’s math program, students are prepared to enroll in a Geometry or Algebra class at the high school to which they matriculate.

Pedagogically, the class is designed to align with teaching methods used at top independent schools. Math class is heavily discussion and homework-based. Students are expected to be active contributors and develop the ability to articulate and defend their solutions through frequent practice and feedback from peers and the teacher. Students also learn to construct their own understanding of the concepts through problem-based and exploratory activities. Additionally, students use a variety of technologies to develop and demonstrate their understanding of the concepts, such as graphing calculators, Desmos, and Google Classroom.