Critical thinking =
problem solving strategies + knowledge
Mt. Helix Academy’s curriculum is designed so that all students learn the important critical thinking strategies they will need and use in high school, in college, and in life. Students at all levels are specifically taught important comprehension skills that allow them to answer both literal and increasingly difficult inferential questions with ease. These comprehension skills enable students to think critically in all areas of the curriculum. Beginning in the Elementary Module, the focus changes from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”. At this time, students apply their reading skills to content-area texts, which they read and understand effectively.

Creating the readiness for new skills and knowledge
Mt. Helix Academy’s curriculum, which meets or exceeds California State standards, systematically builds new skills and knowledge on those already taught. It is designed to provide as much practice as the students require in order for every student to master each lesson. Moreover, what is learned never goes away because our curriculum includes cumulative review of the skills and knowledge previously taught.

Students are placed in the curriculum to be challenged, yet successful
Mt. Helix Academy is also unique in that its students are placed into each basic skills strand of the curriculum according to their skill level in that strand. This ensures that students will be highly successful, yet always challenged in their academic studies; it ensures that
they are continuously challenged to think critically.

Fluent readers
In the Primary and Elementary Modules (grades K-5), the research-validated Reading Mastery Program developed by Engelmann and his associates is implemented to teach students the skills necessary to become fluent, independent, and highly skilled readers. In the beginning levels of the program, students are explicitly taught phonics skills, including strategies for sounding out and blending new words. In addition, they acquire a large sight word vocabulary. Daily fluency building exercises allow students to develop a level of automaticity that makes reading effortless and fun.

Critical thinkers
Students at all levels are specifically taught important comprehension skills that allow them to answer both literal and increasingly difficult inferential questions with ease. These comprehension skills enable students to think critically in all areas of the curriculum. Beginning in the Elementary Module, the focus changes from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”. At this time, students apply their reading skills to content-area texts, which they read and understand effectively.

Literature
In addition to the core reading program, students in Mt. Helix Academy’s Elementary and Middle School Modules complete a number of novel studies. The main goal of this literature program is the development of sophisticated skills in comprehension and literary analysis. The program also fosters an understanding and appreciation of a variety of literary forms. Through a sequence of exercises involving creating, critiquing, and discussing both print and non-print texts, our students also develop sophisticated writing skills that include the application of knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre.

Competent Authors
Writing is integrated throughout all areas of the curriculum and students are taught to spell using the Spelling Mastery program developed by Engelmann and his associates.

A research-validated program for written expression
Our students receive in-depth instruction and extensive practice in a variety of writing genres including book reports, five paragraph essays, research reports, comparison/contrast essays, persuasive writing, descriptive writing, and creative writing. Writing instruction uses the highly successful, research-validated program for teaching written expression developed by Dr. Anita Archer, a nationally recognized expert in effective instruction.

Writing that is fluent and effortless
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, interviews of people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and their intended audience. Because our students have many opportunities to practice each genre of writing, the writing process becomes fluent and effortless for them.

Confident Mathematical Thinkers
In the Primary and Elementary Modules, the highly acclaimed Connecting Math Concepts program, developed by Engelmann and his associates, is implemented to teach our students the critical mathematics skills that will fully prepare them to undertake the study of algebra and higher mathematics. The goal at Mt. Helix Academy is for students to develop fluency in math facts, computations, and math applications, so that they will enjoy and seek out this critically important subject area.

A “deeper understanding” of mathematics
In the Connecting Math Concepts program, mathematical operations and concepts are introduced gradually and students are taught to understand the connections between concepts. Focusing on the big ideas of mathematics, students are instructed using explicit strategies that enable them to master difficult concepts such as ratios, proportions, probability, functions, data analysis, and word problems. Detailed explanations and guided practice move students toward successful independent work, ensuring mastery of each skill area. This strong skill base ensures that our students gain success and confidence as mathematical thinkers.

Algebra and geometry in Middle School
Beginning in Middle School, students are taught mathematics up to and including Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry using the Saxon Math program. The goal of this program is to provide students with a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and how to apply them. Complex concepts are analyzed into simpler components. Instruction, practice, and assessment of those components are systematically distributed throughout the year. This distributed approach ensures that students gain and retain critical thinking concepts. Fluency building activities continue to be implemented daily in order to foster automaticity of facts and concepts, so students can easily generalize them to each level of the mathematics curriculum and to a variety of real-world applications.

Science = knowledge + methods + curiosity
Mt. Helix Academy’s Science Program teaches scientific knowledge, the skills to conduct scientific investigations, and, perhaps most importantly of all, fosters an interest in and curiosity about the world. Using Houghton Mifflin Science in grades K – 2, Harcourt Science in grades 3 – 5, and Glencoe Science in grades 6 – 8, students are taught key scientific concepts and facts in Life Science,

Earth Science, Physical Science, Environmental Science and Health and Nutrition in a scope and sequence that is aligned with the California State Standards.

Students are taught to think critically
Students are taught strategies in important study skills such as note taking, active reading of content area texts, finding information in a text, answering increasingly complex questions about what they are learning, and extending their learning by conducting research on topics of interest to them. Our students are challenged to use their critical thinking skills to solve hypothetical problems or generate inventive solutions to real world scientific issues. Each year many students in the Primary and Elementary Modules develop and enter inventions into the Mt. Helix Academy Inventors Fair. Some of these inventions are also entered into the San Diego Inventors Fair.

Systematic instruction in how to think scientifically
Using the Scientific Method, students pose questions, develop hypotheses, conduct research, test their hypotheses through in-depth, hands-on experiments and other laboratory activities, and finally, draw conclusions about their hypotheses based on interpretation of their data. In the Primary and Elementary modules these activities are conducted as whole class activities, as teachers guide their students through the steps of the Scientific Method. Beginning in Middle School, students learn to conduct experiments and laboratory activities independently and in conjunction with their scientific studies.

Science Fair projects provide many valuable lessons
Each year, Mt. Helix Academy 7th and 8th graders complete a science fair project for possible entry in the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. Our students are regularly accepted into the Fair and recognized for the high quality of their projects. Per capita, Mt. Helix Academy has as many top winners of San Diego Science and Engineering Fair awards as any school in the area.

Tech savvy kids
The Computer Technology Program at Mt. Helix Academy offers a basic introduction to many essential computer skills. Beginning at the primary level, students gradually build proficiency in keyboarding, word processing, computer graphics, and Internet research. As students move into Middle School, they create databases, spreadsheets and multimedia presentations. Integrating computer skills with their Language Arts, Science and Social Studies classes, they create thematic projects and stories using clip art and text that help enhance the learning process.

Using computer technology, students develop creativity and visual communication skills, building sophisticated projects in web communication and design, video journalism, and filmmaking. By the time our eighth graders graduate, they have mastered computer skills that will support their educational goals and prepare them for a future that increasingly becomes more “high tech.”

“Big Ideas” in Social Science and History
The focus of the Mt. Helix Academy social studies and history curriculum is to teach students the “big ideas” that have shaped society from generation to generation and that continue to influence current events so that the relevant facts and concepts are more readily understood and appreciated. The scope and sequence of the curriculum is carefully designed to ensure that students meet and exceed the California State Standards.

“Big ideas” permit critical thinking
In the Primary and Elementary Module, students use the Houghton Mifflin Social Studies, California History and U.S. History to expand their knowledge of these critical “big ideas.” In Middle School, students study Ancient History and World History using the Houghton Mifflin History programs. Eighth graders are challenged by Understanding U. S. History, which not only emphasizes the acquisition of facts about the history of our country, but also encourages the students to respond in a variety of ways to challenging critical thinking questions about the important events in U.S. History.

Important topics to think about and to write about
Language arts and computer technology are integrated with the social studies/history curricula. Beginning in the Primary Module, a major emphasis is placed on the growth of students’ research and writing abilities. By the time students reach Middle School, their history courses challenge them to continually develop and extend their critical thinking and analytical skills through essays, research reports, projects and class discussion.

Enrichment opportunities make it all real
Mt. Helix Academy students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of living history experiences to enrich their understanding of important events in history. Fourth graders travel to Mission San Juan Capistrano and recreate a night in the life of an immigrant to the United States during their overnight experience on the Star of India. Fifth graders travel to Boston, Massachusetts for a week to walk the Freedom Trail and experience first-hand the birth of our nation. Seventh graders travel to Los Angeles to participate in the Medieval Times living history event and our eighth graders participate in a trip to Washington, D. C. to culminate their study of United States history.