Our Studios
Learning DesignOur Studios
Vail Valley Unbound will have three studios (when we are fully ramped): Transitional Kindergarten, Lower Elementary, and Upper Elementary. These studios are learner-driven one-room communities. Our first year, we will have two studios: transitional kindergarten and lower elementary with the goal of opening upper elementary our second year.
We believe that children learn best when working with children younger and older than themselves rather than split up into groups based solely on age. In addition to individualized curriculum, all ages of students work together in groups.
Transitional K
Purpose: Be a good friend and learn to read.
Signature Experience: Montessori/Loose parts play.
Lower Elementary
Purpose: Be Curious.
Signature Experience: Quests and Civilization
Upper Elementary
Purpose: Be Curious. Lead.
Signature Experience: Ownership & Accountability of Studio
Learning Design
The origin of the word “curriculum” is Latin, in which it means “a running, race, lap around the track, course”. At Vail Valley Unbound, we like to use the term “Learning Design”.
Socratic Discussions
Socratic discussions are used in all of our studios, even our youngest learners enjoy participating. We launch every day with a discussion and close every day with another discussion. For our youngest learners, these are Guide-led. For our upper elementary learners, these discussions are learner-led.
Quests
In our elementary studios, learners spend a year immersed in seven Quests, each in its own way struggling with the same profound question like: “When does a hero submit to authority?” or “Does the past determine the future?” or “Does power corrupt?” These quests are a right of passage for our transitional kindergarten learners and they are excited to join the older learners.
Exhibitions
Exhibitions of Learning take place at the end of our four- to seven-week sprints that make up a session. Much like an agile software sprint, sessions have a real-world deliverable at the end and are often presented to a live studio audience made up of more than parents.
Exhibitions are performances, with stakes as high as possible. We want learners to feel more like Steve Jobs presenting the iPhone than like a lame middle school science fair.
Registration
How To Register Your Learner for Vail Valley Unbound
We encourage all families to start by reading Courage to Grow by Laura Sandefer. We know time is limited, it’s a quick read and does a great job of explaining our approach. If you still feel like your learner and family are a fit, fill out our application. There is no fee until you schedule a family interview.
Call For Inquiry
(720) 326 – 0932
Mail For Inquiry
01.
Read Courage to Grow by Laura Sandefer
02.
Fill out our Application to join our Waitlist
03.
Wait for an email from us with next steps!