Relax, You Are At The Right Place: How the Academy is Benefitting Your Student

It can be difficult switching schools for both students and parents alike. Not only are you concerned with how your child will adjust to the new curriculum, new classmates, new environments, and new teachers, but you also wonder how you will fit in. After all, you cared enough about your child’s education that you enrolled them in a private, Christian school, and so it’s likely you will be wanting to know more than just what grades they are getting each quarter. 

Thankfully, at the Academy, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you made the right decision for your student. If you are looking for a place where biblically literate staff will do their best to ensure your child is mentally, socially, and spiritually prepared for the world they live in, then you are at the right place. Yeah, it may take some time to get adjusted, but we think you’ll like it. Here’s why: 

We’re Biblically Grounded

The Academy for GOD believes in the authority of scripture, which is why they dedicate time and energy to studying it in depth. This allows them to apply it in every aspect of the school, from the events they plan to the curriculum they teach and even the attitudes they teach with. Our desire is for Biblical values to permeate all that we do, because it is through God’s word that we learn about him, and through obedience to his Word is how we can draw close to him. 

We’re Holistic

With classes to increase emotional intelligence and weekly spiritual emphasis days, we are concerned about more than just a child’s mental aptitude. Emotional awareness and spirituality will help form healthy social connections among students, so that they are developing holistically. A holistic approach also means we are thrilled whenever the parents get involved. Whether they are cheering during sports or volunteering at a school event, parental involvement helps create a healthy environment children can flourish in. 

We’re Relevant 

The Academy is not mindlessly replicating educational systems and traditions that have been set by generations past, instead, they are implementing effective fact-based educational strategies to ensure this next generation of students is going to be prepared for the times they are growing up in. They are making the necessary changes so your children are being taught relevant content and skills to make them future leaders. 

Don’t just Take our word for it, look at the fruit…

If you are really wondering how well the Academy prepares your kids for their future, just ask any Academy graduate. Jesus tells us to judge a tree by its fruit, and we have confidence in those who have graduated from our institution that they can be a testament to the kind of fruit we produce. 

Academy Students on Mission this Summer

The following excerpt was written by Vice Principal Meg Mathews, who organized the Academy SLAM Nashville Week 2023.

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What a wonderful week we had as a student body of worshiping the Lord together, serving those in need in Nashville and studying His Word! I am so thankful for safe travels and for the Lord meeting us every night in Worship. This year’s theme was "How Much it Cost?" from John 15. I can say the energy that our students bring to worship is unmatched. I love watching our students give their all, even on the first night, without hesitation. 

The Service Projects that we participated in last week were as follows:

1. The Bridge Ministry 

1. THE BRIDGE, INC. exists to alleviate the suffering of underprivileged children, the homeless, and the working poor by providing life-sustaining resources and a message of hope.The Bridge is housed in a 20,000 square foot warehouse in Nashville, TN, that not only stores the food for the Tuesday evening services, but also acts as a local food bank for other area ministries. The Bridge Ministry also aids school children on assisted lunch programs by filling their backpacks with food on Friday afternoons so that they have food to eat over the weekend.  Academy students packaged over 1,000 care packages for the homeless. 

2. Dream Streets

1. Dream Streets is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Their mission is to protect and empower individuals living in distress. They provide supplemental groceries and family-strengthening tools. In addition, they foster positive community relations at our physical locations, mobile ministry sites, and the streets we serve in West and North Nashville. Students got to help distribute food two days this last week.

3. Mother to Mother 

1. Mother to Mother is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 with the sole mission of connecting those in a position to help financially with the case workers and healthcare professionals who see firsthand the enormous needs of struggling mothers and children.

4. Widow & Elderly Care 

1. Students got to help elderly residents in need by doing some much-needed landscaping around their houses, mulching and trimming hedges. 

5. TWO Refugee and Immigrant Kids Camps at the Summit and Overton Apartments

1. Students had the opportunity to get engaged with the next generation! We brought activities to each location, and facilitated kids camps, engaging the children with the gifts that God gave us.

6. Old Hickory Estates

1. Ms. Paula is the manager of the trailer park where Camp Skillz Madison is held each year. The trailer park community center needed some stain put on a new fence, as well as some landscaping around their offices. Students were able to complete this task, helping in this community of need with very limited resources!

7. Madison Church of Christ Garden and Meals on Wheels

1. The Madison Church of Christ Church Garden creates a common growing space for the Madison Church family to work together, practice stewardship, build relationships with each other, and provide a tangible expression of God’s love to their neighbors through providing fresh and healthy foods for the local community. They raise chickens, fish and grow fresh fruits and vegetables without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers in raised garden beds and aquaponic systems, which are then distributed to the local community through their Benevolence Center and Meals-On-Wheels program. In the short time our student group was there, the director reported that they knocked out the equivalent of two weeks of gardening projects!

2. Meals on Wheels: Volunteers prepare and deliver about 35 lunches per day, six days a week, to nearby residents. Most of the people who receive this service live alone, don’t drive, and live on a low income. Students served these recipients, doing everything from washing dishes to organizing and meal preparation.  

8. Dandridge Apartments, Trevecca & Chippington Towers

1. Students cleaned the apartments of the elderly by doing tasks that they no longer can due to their physical age. We are so thankful we can serve those that are in our city’s high rise apartments.

I can truly say that the Lord was with us every step of the way. I really am so thankful for all that transpired amongst our student body, and my prayer is that they will continue to reflect upon what type of friend they are to one another. 

I left the students with some questions to reflect on as they finished out the week: 

1. Are your friendships rooted in the shared value of loving Jesus? How can you evidence this?

2. According to John 15, how can you cultivate a mindset of joyfulness despite whatever circumstances you might be in?

3. How do you think we make God known through our relationships?

4. How can you be a better friend this summer, denying your preferences so you can love your friends like Jesus modeled?

My prayer is that as students go into the rest of their summer, that they will spend their time wisely investing into the things that matter, such as family and friends. May they look to the interest of others and not their own, and spend time with Jesus every day because that is the best time spent. 

5 Ways To Help Students Be Their Best: How parents can help their kids succeed at school

Every parent wants their child to succeed at school, but this isn’t as easy as it may seem. After all, you aren’t in the classroom with your child, so how can you ensure they are going to succeed? Here are some tips to help you think through ways you can mold your child into being the best student they can be from outside the classroom. 

1. Help Improve Their Self-Awareness. 

At the Academy, parents are invited onto campus for formal events and teacher meetings throughout the school year. These visits are valuable to the parent’s involvement in the student’s school experience and relationship with their teacher.

If you don’t have a chance to be actively involved in the school’s PTO or other volunteer programs, make sure to talk with your child about the in’s and out’s of their school life. Who’s their favorite teacher? Why do they like the kids they hang out with and what role do they play in their circle of friends? What subjects do they enjoy, and which ones do they struggle with? This will help you help your child, by asking more focused questions that can help them better process their experiences. School can bring out a lot of insecurities in a child, and not every child is gifted with the intrapersonal skills to make sense of it all on their own. Asking personal questions and helping them talk through their thoughts and feelings can hopefully bring them some clarity concerning how they think about certain situations. Elementary aged students may be more prone to being open and vulnerable than middle school or high schoolers, but it’s never too late to start. Share with them ways that you’ve seen them change, and how they are growing. Self-awareness will help make them be their best as they will know how to better approach situations based on how they know themselves.  

2. Give Them Opportunities to Explore

Part of students learning about themselves involves exploring new interests and figuring out what types of things they are good at or enjoy.  Every child is different. What may be the most boring thing in the world to one child, may be seen as wildly interesting to another. Providing strong emotional support will help students be more willing to try new things, as it builds confidence knowing that they will still be loved and supported even if they fail. It will give them the encouragement they need to further explore certain interests which can help build self-confidence as they begin learning more about themselves. This shapes their mindset and can help them develop as a student. 

3. Develop their Strengths

When you see a child has a knack for a skill, provide opportunities for them to develop it. If they are athletic, try to get them on a sports team, or if they are musically inclined, enroll them in a music camp. Encourage them to find ways in which they can enhance the natural skills they have. As they develop these talents, they are also developing their minds as they learn the ins and outs of a skill. This not only boosts their confidence, but will help shape the way they view themselves. They will be more okay with their weaknesses knowing that they have strengths.  

Parent-teacher meetings are welcome and encouraged at the Academy. Our teachers invest into a partnership with the students and parents in order for the student to have a successful learning experience.

4. Overcome their Weaknesses

Everyone has weaknesses and the sooner they are addressed, the sooner they can be caught up to speed with others. While no child is going to want a tutor, if they are falling behind in a certain subject then it may be an appropriate way to help them succeed. However, before hiring a professional tutor, you may want to try other options first. While children may react differently when their parents try to teach them, if you can find the time you may be able to tutor them yourself. If not, see if there are friends who are skilled in that subject who could tutor them. Other options may be hosting some of their classmates for a group study session. By opening your home to allow students to work on group projects or study for upcoming tests, you are encouraging both healthy academic and social practices. Getting students to be comfortable having weaknesses and being willing to face them head on is beneficial both in and out of the classroom. 

5. Challenge Them

Another way to help your student become the best they can be is by making sure they are challenged. This doesn’t just have to be in a purely academic sense, but by getting them out of their comfort zone and participating in activities they would rather avoid, it can stretch their familiarity, expanding their willingness to try things they would otherwise shy away from. When this attitude is applied to their academics, it helps students approach new topics with greater optimism even if it is in a subject they are weak in or unfamiliar with. 

How To Teach Reading To Younger Kids

You may not be a teacher, but something as crucial as literacy should not be left as the sole responsibility of any one person. The more ways we know how to teach reading to younger kids, the more we can aid in their educational development. Whether it is your own kid or someone else’s, everyone benefits from investing into the next generation. So, here are some tips when helping those little ones learn how to read:

Have Patience. 

The first rule is obvious: have patience. If a child is scared of being wrong due to an overly strict teacher, they won’t try, and if they won’t try, they won’t learn how to progress. Don’t forget, English is no simple language. Even learning the word “patience” requires patience, because why in heaven’s name is the letter ‘t’ making a ‘sh’ sound? And why do we need a ‘c’ in the word, when we could just use the letter ‘s’? These young students must learn rules only to find out those rules are often broken. So remember to bear with them as they learn, because it is no easy task. 

Practice, Practice, Practice

Repetition is the key to retention. If a child only practices reading once a week, it may take them even longer than seven times the amount of time a kid who practices everyday may need. This is because the once a week practice will spend a good portion of time simply reviewing what they learned previously, whereas daily practice makes it easier for a child to remember and quickly build off of what they learned.

Assessments

Be aware of where a child is at in their reading journey. This will help you to know the next step they need to be taking, or if they need to pause and spend more time focusing on what they’ve already learned. Can they identify all the letters and their sounds? Can they pronounce C-V and C-V-C combinations? Do they know vowel combination rules? Do they understand the words they read? How many words can they read in a minute? The smaller and more specific each step is, the more you know exactly where your child is at, and exactly what you need to teach them next. So make sure to assess them as this will allow you to better organize their reading journey allowing them to progress faster. 

Make it Fun

If a child does not enjoy reading, there will be no desire to learn. They likely won’t understand how important it is for their future, so you may have to persuade them by having them read about a topic they enjoy. This may mean letting them choose the book or you could write a quick story utilizing some of their favorite cartoon characters. 

Don’t Stress

While it is important your child learns to read, don’t forget every student has different strengths. Some children learn faster than others, so don’t be anxious if your child is learning a bit slow. Although some kids could benefit from some extra attention or tutoring in this area, once a child learns to read, they should be able to catch up with their peers.  

Exercises and Activities

If your child is at the stage where they are learning to read, try out some of these activities to help them develop their sense of words and language. 

• Have them circle, box, or underline specific site words in a newspaper article

• Read to a child and occasionally pause to let them read the words they know how to read. 

• Have them follow along in a book while everyone takes turns reading aloud

• Have them try to write a simple story

• “Bring me something that starts with the letter _” Game

• Give them a picture or comic they must write a caption for

• Spelling quizzes with scrabble letters or spelling words out of playdough 

• Charades or pictionary where they must write down what others are acting out or drawing

• Have them make sticky note labels for as many things in their room as they can

• Teach them words on common signs or brand logos they are familiar with

• Re-read the same stories multiple times, to help them better remember certain words

• Play word game apps on a mobile device or computer. 

• Watch shows like Alphablocks  or Between the Lions

• Download reading apps on your mobile device

• “What’s the Missing Letter?” Word Game 

• Write letters in chalk in the driveway, and time how fast the kids can run to each letter to spell the words they are told. 

Sources: 

Crowe, Ashley. “27 Fun Reading Activities To Try At Home or In The Classroom.” Prodigy. December 16, 2021 (visited 10 April 2022). 

https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/reading-activities/ 

https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/reading-apps/ 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_qs3c0ehDvZkbiEbOj6Drg 

How to Thrive in High School

1. Learn How to Study

School is for learning and to learn you need to study. It’s not just about what you can absorb while in the classroom, but how you interact with the material outside of the classroom as well. Studying may look different depending on the subject or project, but it is something you need to get good at. Find out how and where you study best.  A few tips are to rest or get a snack before studying, so hunger or tiredness do not distract you. Also, finding a good study environment is key. Don’t study in your bed as your mind associates it with sleep, or a place where there are too many distractions, whether it is in the form of television, music, or people-watching. We won’t cover all of them here, but there are plenty of blogs and websites with lists of tips and tricks to help improve your study habits, so go check them out. 

2. Make a Study Schedule

When making a schedule, we often plan out how we’ll make time for our extracurricular activities, but sometimes we forget to block off enough time for getting homework or projects done. One way to manage your time better is to create a study schedule at the beginning of the year and stick to it. Even if you do not have homework in a certain class, you can organize your notes, review the content, and prepare questions for your next class. It may sound like a drag, but it will make paper writing and studying for tests much easier, and will save you time in the long run.  

3. Trust Your Teachers

At the Academy, this should be easy. Their genuine smiles and love for God and others make them the perfect people to deserve your trust. Your teachers have your best interest at heart, so don’t be dismissive if they offer correction or discipline. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Teachers are there to help you learn, and they want to make sure you do. When they give you advice, be sure to listen, because they are saying it for your benefit, not theirs.  

4. Be a Friend

Like the old saying goes, “if you want a friend, be a friend,” which is almost just a reverberation of the golden rule applied to friendship. Remember that your classmates aren’t your competition, they’re your teammates, so be sure to show them the respect, kindness, and forgiveness that you would want shown to you. Having a good set of friends, makes the good times better, and the hard times easier. If you have a hard time making friends, then ask someone you know for advice on how to be a better friend. Of course, being a friend isn’t always easy, but the work you put into it is definitely worth it.  

5. Get Perspective

Learn what does and does not matter in the long run. There are a lot of things in high school that seem like they are such a big deal, but will hardly be remembered a year or two later. Whether it was a trending style, an event you did or did not get to attend, or an embarrassing situation, you’ll soon find out that some of these things are not near as big of a deal as they seem in the moment. Other decisions you make will have a big impact on your future, even if they only seem as simple as turning in an assignment on time or being obedient to your parents. Gaining perspective will keep you from being overly dramatic about unimportant things, and keep you focused on what matters most.

6. Honor Your Parents

What does honoring your parents have to do with surviving high school? A little. So why are we bringing it up? Because it has everything to do with thriving during high school. Having a healthy relationship with your parents can make all the difference during your high school years. If you are stressed with all you are trying to do in high school, consider how much more they are responsible for every single day. You can be a blessing to them by ensuring to respect and obey them. This will not only make your parents happy, but God as well. Stress at home affects our school life and can negatively impact your academic performance. How do you expect to succeed  at school if you are unable to do well at home? 

7. Don’t Forget God 

If you are not spending time connecting with God, then don’t be surprised if you are having trouble staying afloat in any aspect of your life, let alone high school. God’s Spirit helps us to stand firm in the midst of trials. By remaining connected to the vine, we are able to be full of the wisdom and life God gives. This will help us walk according to his ways, so that we do more than just get through every day, but that we live it to the fullest for God.