Educational Approach

Strategic Learning and Teaching
The Bear Creek School structures our Middle and Upper School teaching so as to develop metacognitive and strategic behaviors necessary for students to become independently strategic learners. Our teaching techniques aim to help students develop proficiency in both metacognitive and cognitive learning strategies, as well as the attitudes necessary for successful learning. In so doing, we develop the skills and attitudes that support the learning process.

Classical
Classical education is an approach to learning that recognizes true learning takes place when students have mastered content (grammar), wrestled with ideas and applied them (dialectic), and can then express their understanding effectively both orally and in writing (rhetoric).

As a classical school, our program is designed to provide students with general knowledge across the core subjects and to develop the general intellectual capacities (reason and judgment) as opposed to professional or vocational skills.

Worldview Integration
Worldview integration is more than simply praying at the start of each lesson. All teachers purposefully teach their subjects from a biblical worldview, incorporating the truths of the Bible (regarding God, mankind, creation, purpose, and moral order) in their lessons.

Departmental Approach
Core subjects are taught within departments in Middle and Upper School. There are eight departments: History, Science, Languages, English, Mathematics, Christian Studies, Fine Arts, and PE/Health. In addition, there are a number of elective classes that students have the option to study. Teachers plan their curricula and share pedagogical ideas within departments.

College Preparation
The selection of a college or university requires substantial research, prayerful consideration, and due diligence in determining which academic environment appropriately fits your needs and interests. Thoughtful and timely attention to the details of the process will be a major asset in college selection. These resources are available through the Office of College Advising.

Core Learning Strategies
One aspect that separates the Bear Creek Upper School from our educational peer group is our attention to CORE learning and teaching strategies. CORE is a faculty program that teaches students to be metacognitive learners. The acronym CORE - Collecting, Organizing, Reviewing and Evaluating reflects four broad systems of approaching lectures, research, and homework assignments. The Upper School faculty utilize various applications in the classroom that allow students to develop strategic attitudes toward learning. Additionally, various learning strategies are taught to encourage students to view their learning and study habits strategically.

Assessment
Assessment is both formative (ongoing) and summative (based on final testing). Of these, formative assessment is considered the most worthwhile in terms of teaching students because it provides more immediate feedback. Benefits that are gained by determining a student's academic background and aptitude as early as possible are:

1) The teacher can see students as individuals and learn their strengths and weaknesses, which will enable him or her to plan lessons with individuals in mind; and

2) The teacher can plan to build on the student's previous specific growth and can relate that progress more informatively to the parents.