Proven, Effective Educational Methods That Result In Competent And Happy Students

Reading, writing and mathematics are taken to a level of solid mastery in the Heron Basics™ Program, a curriculum proven over the last 35 years. 

The Heron curriculum covers the subjects of reading, mathematics, spelling, geography, science, research, history and other vital study basics. 

The word “basics” here is used to mean the key fundamentals that every student should master in order to be successful in life.

These basics are extremely important as they are the foundation on which the rest of the student’s education is based.

Achieving Literacy

The Middle School reading program is a literature-based program.  Its goal is a student who truly enjoys reading, and who reads widely and well.  This is achieved routinely at Oak Crest.

One of the first benefits of our program is that a student transitions from instructed to fully independent reading.  Students also build a strong vocabulary and the ability to independently read and understand a wide range of materials.  This is achieved through an hour of daily supervised reading.

He chooses from a wide selection of fiction and non-fiction books selected for high-quality writing, significant subject matter and positive values. Over a thousand such books have been sorted into a series of reading levels according to vocabulary, general reading level and complexity of ideas.

Reading many books from each level a student progresses gradually from reading elementary books to Dickens’ Great Expectations. 

Along the way, he is exposed to a wide spectrum of world geography and cultures, historical events and human experience. A student completing this program has a strong foundation for reading widely in the world of literature.

Spelling

While learning to spell a wide range of words, on an individually tailored basis, a student also learns the fundamental principles and rules of English spelling. 

Special attention is paid to words which sound alike but are spelled differently.  This is important even in today’s computerized world, as even sophisticated spell checkers are usually unable to detect this kind of error. 

Moreover, later he branches out into Greek and Latin word elements, derivations (where words come from) and grammar as keys to spelling.

He also learns to proofread effectively and by the end can produce (without using a spellchecker) large essays with few or no spelling errors.   

Mathematics

Up to the fifth grade level lessons are given seminar style.  This provides for lively classroom interaction and is followed by mathematics drilling.  Our math program is very hands on, with a constant focus towards applying mathematics in life (more below). 

Beginning at the sixth grade level, the Heron math program is based on study guides, which allow students to proceed with supervised independent study through the program.

It continues the emphasis on full understanding of key math concepts and terminology.  Topics covered include: fractions, decimals, geometry, measurement, consumer math, probability and statistics, ratios, percents, integers, trigonometry and eventually algebra.

Our consumer math component teaches students concepts ranging from bank accounts and interest, through the stock market all the way down to calculating correct change while shopping.

The program includes detailed testing which ensures that every student’s assignments can be precisely tailored.  In other words, time is not wasted on material the student already knows.  The student only does those chapters or parts of chapters where he is deficient. Thus, well-prepared students can get through the program very quickly.

All of these programs are based on the educational breakthroughs of American educator, L. Ron Hubbard.