OUR GREEK PROGRAM
The Socrates Approach
The Academy’s multilingual, multicultural curriculum follows both the North Carolina Essential Standards and Common Core (language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, art, and music) and the National Greek Curriculum Standards (language arts, mathematics, and Greek culture).
Instruction relies on the Socratic Method to foster critical analytical thinking. The program is characterized by high academic quality with a special emphasis in mathematics, reading, writing, character development, multiculturalism, and early learning of a second and third language.
What is the Socratic Method?
Definition: The use of questions as employed by Socrates to develop a latent idea, as in the mind of a pupil, or to elicit admissions, as from an opponent, tending to establish a proposition.
The Socratic Method is the oldest, and still the most powerful, teaching tactic for fostering critical thinking. It is also know as inquiry-based teaching. In Socratic teaching we focus on giving students questions, not answers. We model an inquiring, probing mind by continually probing into the subject with questions. Questions are used to arouse curiosity and at the same time serve as a logical, incremental, step-wise guide that enables students to figure out about a complex topic or issue with their own thinking and insights.
The Socratic method is an integral part of instruction at Socrates Academy. This method of thought and analysis has been in use since the time of the ancient Greeks and has been recognized as not only an effective teaching tool, but also an engaging way for students to take an active role in their own education.
Want to learn more about how the Socratic Method works in the classroom? Read more >>
"We were thrilled when our son got in off the wait list to start Socrates in 3rd grade with a stellar team of teachers. The community was warm, welcoming and nurturing. With no prior Greek language experience, our son, with the investment and dedication of the Greek teachers, went from not yet knowing one word in Greek to getting an A! Along with language exposure, he benefitted from the experience of hard work, team work and mastery, and the confidence that comes from that. "
- Kathy C., Socrates Parent
What is a Partial Dual Immersion Model?
Socrates Academy uses a partial dual language immersion model. Native speakers of English are taught in an environment where Greek Language, Culture and Math, are delivered in the Greek Language daily in addition to English. Our curriculum is driven by the North Carolina World Language Esstential Standards.
Other sources that guide our curriculum are the ACTFL (American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Language) proficiency guidelines http://www.actfl.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/public/ACTFLProficiencyGuidelines2012_FINAL.pdf and the Center for the Greek Language for Greek Proficiency certification http://www.greeklanguage.gr/certification/node/94
The intent of the World Language Essential Standards, along with the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Language (ACTFL) is that a comprehensive set of language skills will be developed and used for effective communication. These skills are Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities.
Socrates Academy has established a curriculum model that encompasses all of the above guidelines.
Greek Language Proficiency Guidelines
ACTFL has established a national proficiency scale which currently has 10 levels of proficiency:
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Novice Low (NL)
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Novice Mid (NM)
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Novice High (NH)
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Intermediate Low (IL)
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Intermediate Mid (IM)
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Intermediate High (IH)
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Advanced Low (AL)
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Advanced Mid (AM)
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Advanced High (AH)
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Superior (S)