Who We Are
Our Pillars
Lake Country Academy was founded on three pillars that support high academics and a virtuous environment. Our pillars are Direct Instruction, Core Knowledge, and Core Virtues.
Direct Instruction
Direct Instruction – a curriculum and teaching method that is backed by extensive research and proven success! Our classrooms embody dynamic teacher-led instruction characterized by swift pacing and lively group engagement, creating an immersive learning experience.
What sets our program apart is its commitment to precision – skills are presented in logical, child-sized bits, mastery is carefully measured, mistakes are swiftly corrected, and a structured schedule emphasizes early proficiency in phonics and computation. Additionally, our emphasis on continual review seamlessly integrates old skills with new ones, creating a robust foundation for lifelong learning.
Core Knowledge
The Core Knowledge curriculum is based on University of Virginia English professor E.D. Hirsch's research. While conducting research for his acclaimed book, Cultural Literacy, Hirsch found that students are more successful in their studies when they work from a common base of both facts and ideas. A literate society, he stressed, needs a strong background of core knowledge that crosses generations and enables people to communicate effectively. Hirsch found that this is true for all levels of ability and all socioeconomic backgrounds.
The Core Knowledge Sequence is a detailed and systematic curriculum content guide for each grade level that can be taught consistently year by year. This core content is organized to circle through grade levels, becoming more sophisticated and detailed in each successive grade. Created with the help of a large number of professionals, it represents a consensus of diverse groups and interests.
The Core Knowledge curriculum focuses on core academics and teaches a wide knowledge base of literature, science, history, geography, music, and art. It is sequenced to avoid gaps in learning or wasteful repetitions. This guarantees students have the necessary background preparation for successive grades.
Core Virtues
Experience the transformative power of character education from the Core Virtues Foundation – a practical, inclusive program designed for Pre-K to eighth-grade students. Our character education program is a journey that cultivates virtues, fostering positive behaviors among both staff and students. Delve into a rich exploration of historical and contemporary figures who have left a lasting impact, igniting the question in our students' minds, 'Who will I be like?'
It is a commitment to spark imagination and inspire each student to reach their fullest potential. Core Virtues isn't just a set of principles; it's a dynamic tool that propels academic success both within and beyond the classroom.
Join us on a path where character meets education, and the question isn't just 'What will I learn?' but also 'Who will I become?'
