Academics

The Master's Academy

A Three-Day Elementary Program
Enrolling K-5 Students for September 2024

Listen to Dr. DeBisschop's interview on 104.9 WIHS about The Master's Academy!

The Master’s Academy’s unique organization is designed to support learning both at school and at home. It is a three-day alternative to our traditional five-day Lower School program. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. learning happens on campus and is facilitated by content area experts. For a few hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, academic lessons taught at school are reinforced at home by students’ first and most important teachers, their parents. This organization provides parents with larger expanses of time to guide faith and worldview development and to individually curate extracurricular experiences. 

The Master’s Academy features direct and explicit Reading, Writing, Math, and Science instruction along with artistic expression and outdoor exploration experiences.

Academy students will collaborate in project-based research and problem-based learning to solve complex problems with innovative solutions!

Academy Tuition

 
Grade Level Cost
Kindergarten - Grade 2 $10,495
Grade 3 - Grade 5 $11,995

Academy Family Grant

Take advantage of our Family Grant!

$500 for the 2nd student
$600 for the 3rd student
$700 for the 4th student and beyond

Academy Instructional Approaches

List of 4 items.

  • Direct and Explicit

    At The Master’s Academy, instruction is direct and explicit (includes explanations, demonstrations, and gradually faded guidance), systematic (logically ordered from simple to complex), cumulative (new teaching builds from previous learning), and responsively and precisely individualized (with data informed variations in duration, frequency, and intensity) to ensure a gap free education.
  • Gradual Release of Responsibility

    Lesson structure reflects a gradual release of responsibility model with patterns of whole group, small group, and individual learning experiences designed to intentionally shift the cognitive load first from the teacher to the teacher and learners, then to learners first in supported group and then individual practice, and finally to learners in independent application (Fisher & Frey, 2013).
  • Cognitively Complex

    Academy students are challenged to move beyond remembering and understanding to reproduce knowledge to using knowledge to apply, analyze, evaluate, and create.
  • Shepherds

    During reading and writing instruction, shepherds, or skilled co-teachers, guide students with immediate feedback during instruction to support Academy students to develop greater fluency, automaticity, deeper understanding, and a gap-free foundation.

Academy Curriculums

List of 5 items.

  • Reading Instruction

    Reading instruction is delivered using an Orton-Gillingham approach and explicit comprehension strategy instruction.
     
    Highly effective reading instruction at the Academy concurrently incorporates instruction to support the development of two interrelated sets of skills: foundational reading skills and reading-comprehension skills. Foundational reading skills include phonemic awareness, phonemic decoding skills, fluency in word recognition and text processing, oral language vocabulary and skills, and spelling and writing skills (Foorman et al., 2016; NRP, 2000). Comprehension skills are undergirded by foundational reading skills and include broad conceptual knowledge, text-comprehension skills, thinking and reasoning skills, and motivation and engagement (Shanahan et al., 2010).
  • Writing Instruction

    Writing instruction is delivered using the Institute for Excellence in Writing approach.

    The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) approach incorporates the evidence-based instructional practices identified as necessary to support students to reach the instructional goal of writing effectively, authentically, and flexibly for any purpose (Graham, 2019, Graham, Harris, et al., 2016; Graham, Harris, et al., 2015; Graham, Hebert, et al., 2015; Graham, Liu, Aitken, et al., 2018; Graham, Liu, Bartlett, et al., 2018). Specifically, the approach supports the development of foundational writing skills including pencil grip, handwriting, spelling, sentence construction, grammar, and processes for planning, drafting, evaluating, and revising writing. Further, IEW connects writing, reading, and learning, and builds knowledge of the components of the writing process, writing process strategies, characteristics of good writing, vocabulary for writing, and familiarity with different types of writing. Finally, the method features intensive and gradually fading guidance, frequent and timely feedback, and extensive time to write for real and different purposes in a supportive and motivating environment.
  • Math Instruction

    Math instruction is delivered using the Singapore math method.
     
    The Singapore math method focuses on the development of mastery, numeracy, and mathematical confidence and requires students to be resourceful as they synthesize math concepts with innovation to solve novel problems. A distinctive of the method is that new concepts are first presented concretely (e.g. using manipulatives), then, students practice using new concepts supported by mediating tools (e.g., pictures), before students manipulate concepts abstractly. Other distinctives include number bonds, bar modeling, and mental math. Students supported to achieve numeracy during the elementary grades excel in more advanced math in successive grades.
  • Inquiry-based Science Instruction

    Using inquiry-based science, Academy students are supported to investigate questions scientifically to uncover evidence and explanations and present and justify newfound understandings and theories.
  • Problem-based Research and Learning

    Through project-based learning, Academy students collaborate for extended periods of time and synthesize knowledge and skills acquired in classroom settings to investigate and respond to authentic, engaging, and complex questions, problems, or challenges with innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 26 items.

  • Why the three-day model?

    The Master’s Academy’s unique organization is designed to support learning both at school and at home. It is a three-day alternative to our traditional five-day Lower School program. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. learning happens on campus and is facilitated by content area experts. For a few hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, academic lessons taught at school are reinforced at home by students’ first and most important teachers, their parents. This organization provides parents with larger expanses of time to guide faith and worldview development and to individually curate extracurricular experiences.
  • Is there an admissions process?

    Yes, the admissions process includes the submission of an inquiry, completion of an application, a review of previous educational experiences and records, assessments of reading, writing, math, learning dispositions, and skills, recommendations, and family and child interviews.
  • Am I able to enroll my child(ren) in only part of the program?

    Unfortunately, no.
  • Am I able to apply for financial aid?

    • Financial aid is available for Academy students in the form of family grants.
    • With family grants, tuition for the second student enrolled in each family is reduced by $500.00, for the third student enrolled, tuition is reduced by $600.00, and for the fourth and each successive student enrolled, tuition is reduced by $700.00.
  • Does our family qualify for Family Grants for the Academy if we also have children enrolled in the traditional Lower, Middle, or Upper School at The Master’s School?

    Yes!
  • Does my child(ren) need to be vaccinated?

    Yes, the Master’s Academy is required to follow Connecticut State law regarding immunization requirements for school entrance. Please find immunization requirements linked here.
  • What training or credentials will The Master’s Academy teachers have?

    Master’s Academy teachers are experienced educational experts with degrees in content area specialties and advanced training in Academy curricula and instructional approaches.
  • How many students will be in each grade?

    Each grade has capacity for up to 12 students.
  • How are students grouped?

    Students are grouped in multiple ways throughout the day including in grade-level cohorts of up to 12 students, cross-grade small groups for precisely individualized instruction, and cross-grade groups of various sizes for project-based research and learning.

    Grade-level cohorts of up to 12 students:
    • Students begin the day in grade-level cohorts of up to 12 students with grade-level teachers.
    • Grade 1-5 students move in grade-level cohorts to content area specialist classrooms for Reading and Writing instruction.
    • Grades 2-5 students move in grade-level cohorts to the content area specialist classrooms for Math.
    • Kindergarten and Grade 1 students remain in their classrooms and receive Math instruction from their grade-level teacher.
    Large groups with five-day cohort peers.
    • Academy K-2 students attend recess on the Lower School playground with K-2 students from the five-day cohorts.
    • Academy Grade 3-5 students attend recess on the Academy playground with Grade 3-5 students from five-day cohorts.
    • Academy K-5 students eat lunch in the Dining Hall with peers from the five-day cohorts.
    Cross-grade small groups for precisely individualized instruction
    • In addition to reading instruction in grade-level cohorts earlier in the day, later in the day, Academy students are divided into small cross-grade groups for precisely individualized reading instruction.
    Cross-grade groups of various sizes for project-based research and learning,
    • At the end of the day, students are assembled in various size cross-grade groups according to project-based research interests.
  • Will my child be with the same group of children each year?

    Yes. Academy students will join and remain in a grade-level cohort of up to 12 students.
  • What does a typical day look like for an Academy student?

    Each day begins with Academy students gathering for devotions, prayer, and announcements. In addition, a typical day would include the following:
    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Math
    • Science
    • Lunch
    • Recess
    • Walk to Read
    • Reflective Plan
    • Homework Review
  • Are there added specials such as Physical Education, Music, Art, and Foreign Language?

    The Master’s Academy organization (8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) provides parents with large expanses of time to individually curate extracurricular experiences outside of Academy school hours.
  • Is lunch provided?

    Students may bring lunch from home or pre-purchase lunches prepared in our Dining Hall.
  • Will The Master’s Academy students have recess?

    Yes! Additionally, Academy students will meet some curricular goals in outdoor contexts.
  • Will Academy students use technology?

    The majority of daily work will be done with pencil and paper. 
    Students who read and write independently will use technology to conduct research and to provide evidence of learning.
  • Will Academy students have homework?

    Homework is designed to support students to practice as they approach mastery and develop automaticity.

    Depending on a student's age, homework will range from 30 minutes to two hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

    Younger students will need parent support to complete homework. Older students will need limited parent support to complete homework.

    Homework is not assigned on weekends.
  • Are there field trips?

    As part of project-based research and learning, Academy students invite visiting experts to campus and will participate in on- and off-campus field trips.
  • Does this program extend beyond Grade 5?

    The Master’s Academy serves K – Grade 5 students.
  • Is there 5th grade commencement?

    We celebrate our students' achievements at a ceremony at the end of each year!
  • What happens after 5th grade?

    Academy students master rigorous educational standards preparing them for admission to The Master’s School’s traditional five-day Middle School program.
  • Will my child be prepared to enter the traditional Middle School program if they attend the Academy?

    Yes! Academy students master rigorous educational standards preparing them to transfer or matriculate into The Master’s School’s traditional programs.
  • Will The Master’s Academy parents use the TMS Portal?

    Yes. Academy parents will use The Master’s School Portal to complete the admissions process and, once enrolled, to access announcements (e.g., snow days, early release), calendars, schedules, assignments, instructional resources, report cards, attendance, the resource board, lunch registration, and the like.   
  • Will The Master’s Academy students participate in any part of the traditional Lower School daily schedule or Lower School events?

    In most ways, the Academy’s daily schedule and events are separate and different from the traditional Lower School daily schedule and events. However, Academy students will join five-day cohort counterparts to enjoy recess and lunch.
  • Will there be a picture day?

    Yes!
  • How can I be involved?

    We welcome parent volunteers to support community engagement activities and special events.
  • Will there be events for parents to connect?

    Yes! The Master’s School hosts many events that connect families such as the Back-to-School Celebration, Homecoming, Grandparents' Day, Parent-Child events, group attendance at professional sport contests and fine arts performances, family restaurant dinners (e.g., Chipotle, Flatbread) and the Festival of the Fine Arts. In addition, Academy families also join together to attend project and research presentations several times per year.
The Master’s School is an independent, college-preparatory, non-denominational Christian day school enrolling children in preschool through post-graduate in West Simsbury, CT.

The Master's School is fully accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).

The Master's School opens its doors to all qualified students regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or religious affiliation. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national affiliation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid, and other school-administered programs.