Program Of Valor

An Overview

Valor Classical Academy’s program provides a coherent grade-by-grade sequence of specific topics to be taught in grades K-8, and is based off of the Core Knowledge Sequence. The program provides a solid framework for Valor’s classical education. The curriculum focuses on specific content and building background knowledge.

As they progress through their courses, high school students will receive a content-rich classical liberal arts education by studying literature, math, history, civics, the sciences, music and art. Teachers will be equipped to train upper level students in Socratic Seminars to encourage intelligent, logical, and independent thinking. To earn a diploma from Valor, students are required to earn 48 credits, exceeding Indiana’s graduation requirement for a diploma with the highest honors.

Valor’s K-12 program eliminates the possibility of gaps or repetition and exposes children to shared knowledge essential to a shared literate culture. The program provides resources for Valor’s teachers to guide them as they write lesson plans using their own knowledge and expertise. This approach allows teachers to customize their instruction to suit the unique capabilities of their students. The program and curriculum have proven to be successful for all students, including special needs students as well as English Language Learners (ELL).

 

Valor Classical Academy’s academic standards meet or exceed Indiana’s academic standards.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • Valor’s program and curriculum define a common heritage and common ground for cooperation in a diverse society. Valor’s student body will be composed of diverse ethnicity, ability, and economic backgrounds. The school’s framework of instruction is intentionally designed to ensure that each student will be provided with all of the services available in other public schools consistent with state guidelines and student needs.

  • Valor uses a multi-sensory approach to teach reading and written language. The Literacy Essentials program is based upon visual, auditory, and kinesthetic approaches and uses a model developed by Samuel Orton (Orton-Gillingham) to teach students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities. This program emphasizes strategies that are very effective with all students, including students experiencing learning difficulties.

  • Valor provides a curriculum that is sequential. By utilizing a sequential method of delivering instruction, gaps will be less likely to occur, and there will more likely be a commonality and consistency in what students are learning from grade to grade.

  • Valor’s program uses a teacher-driven approach to help students gain the basic reading, writing, and math skills they will need before proceeding to the more advanced curriculum. Students remain focused and are more able to stay on task. With a teacher-centered, knowledge-driven approach, families can expect to see impressive results similar to those where direct instruction is used.

  • The Socratic Method teaches students to reflect and talk about their learning experiences so that the learning becomes more engaging and meaningful. Valor students learn to communicate respectfully and effectively in school, which will have positive implications for their lives outside of school and as they are being exposed to learning lifelong skills.

  • At Valor, students learn more effectively and become independent learners because they learn to organize, store, and retrieve information.

  • Valor’s programs are designed to build foundations of knowledge in the elementary years. Emphasizing foundational skills and rich content, teachers can not only effectively bring students with academic problems up to grade level but also strengthen the knowledge base and challenge the academic potential of every student at grade level.