Progressive Education

A student's hand touches a colorful manipulative

"How did people learn before there were schools?"

It's a good question. Our earliest ancestors didn't learn by doing worksheets or taking tests. They learned through trial and error, by observing, by doing, by experiencing.

Progressive education is built on the knowledge of how children learn best. Experienced educators tap into children's natural curiosity to drive inquiry and exploration. Green Acres students are encouraged to take intellectual risks, embrace challenges, and dig deeper in their studies. Our intentionally designed curriculum gives children the structure to build solid academic skills, while also providing them with the room to be their full selves.

At Green Acres, students learn the way that humans were always intended to learn: by creating, exploring, experimenting, analyzing, questioning, tinkering, and becoming fully immersed in their studies and the world around them.

Key features of progressive education

Excitement for learning

"To keep alive the bright enthusiasm of the 1st grader just starting his first week of school should be the goal of any school, regardless of method, for the children who want to learn, learn best," one of our school directors told The Washington Post in 1962. And that remains our credo today. Green Acres teachers have an uncommon ability to tap into students’ genuine excitement for learning. Teachers intentionally craft projects that are meaningful to our students and spark their interests by encouraging students to imagine, ask questions, experiment, and explore.

School work that stretches and challenges

When is the last time your child stayed engaged in a task because it was "so easy?" At Green Acres, we believe that engaging work and challenging work go hand in hand. But simply learning skills and concepts are not enough. Children become true masters of their learning when they're stretched to apply their knowledge in open-ended contexts that call for creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation—the same skills the workforce awaiting them in a decade or two will require from them.

Authentic learning experiences

"Busy work" is not part of our vocabulary at Green Acres. Progressive education focuses on creating as many authentic learning experiences as possible for Green Acres students—experiences that encourage them to think critically, to work collaboratively, and to produce school work that is meaningful to them and that often has value beyond school. In doing so, students begin to see themselves as connected to a larger world, where their ideas and efforts matter.

An emphasis on the social-emotional wellbeing of children

While many schools now describe themselves as places that value the "whole child," Green Acres has been doing this since its founding in 1934. We consider the social and emotional development of children to be as important as their cognitive development, and we understand that the two go hand-in-hand. With an extensive support network of education professionals who know each child deeply—teachers, advisors, the school counselor, the learning coordinator, and division heads—students learn and practice self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills.

A focus on citizenship and community

Active voices are vital to a democratic society, and, at Green Acres, we value students' voices and encourage them to share their thoughts, ideas, opinions, and feelings. Likewise, each member of the Green Acres community models respect for all individuals, cultures, and the environment; shared decision making; and an ethical approach to local, national, and global issues. Progressive education prepares students to be successful in and out of school and to contribute to improving society overall.

Opportunities for student voices and choices

Rather than learning only to comply and memorize, Green Acres students participate fully in their education: They create, they make choices within a given structure, and they make their voices heard. To do so deepens learning and, in turn, builds in each of our students an intrinsic interest and a motivation to learn. This sets them up for a lifetime of sincere effort and achievement in and out of school.

One of the benefits of progressive education is that our teachers have flexibility. Because we don't "teach to the test," teachers are able to spend more time on topics, extending and enriching learning and ensuring true comprehension.

The ability to prioritize breadth and depth in the curriculum is a unique feature of progressive education and ensures that our students are prepared for the next step in their academic journey.