Authentic Literacy

Authentic literacy is integral to both what and how we teach. According to Phillips and Wong (2010), it is the "spine" that "holds everything together" and, thus, must be emphasized in all content areas. At the Academy, authentic literacy refers to purposeful reading, writing, and discussing.

As a part of our Curricular Framework, the Academy stresses the teaching of Academic Content Knowledge. The importance of high levels of college-oriented levels of reading, writing, and discussing is evident in this teaching. As a result, scholars learn to read to infer, interpret, and draw conclusions; support arguments with evidence; resolve conflicting views encountered in source documents; and solve complex problems with no obvious answer.

Joyful Reading

Independent reading time is an integral part of the Academy's day. During this time, teachers use a differentiated instructional approach for motivating scholars at varied levels to discover the rewards of reading appropriately challenging books. The joy of reading is unveiled through book talks, read alouds, individualized conferences, and reading-enrichment activities. Independent reading time is dedicated to improving scholars' fluency and comprehension, while motivating them to become life-long readers.

Social Studies

Sixth grade scholars at the Capital College Preparatory Academy study World History with an emphasis on ancient civilizations. Seventh grade scholars study American History, beginning with Native American history and concluding with the Civil War and Reconstruction. The eighth grade curriculum will continue the study of American History into the 21st century. Social Studies standards are organized into five areas of study: political systems, economics, history, geography, and social systems.