By Laura Sandefer September 28, 2015 “I view Acton Academy as Khan Lab School’s mentor on our very own hero’s journey here in Mountain View.”  Christopher Chiang, Academic Director of the

By Laura Sandefer April 26, 2021 I was given permission to share the following letter written by an elementary school Eagle. The heartfelt request is beautiful and simple. And, I suspect,

by Laura Sandefer July 27, 2012 “Some people need to know their goal or they can’t search at all.  For others, though, the quest itself is enough.” (Gerald Morris, “The Quest

by Laura Sandefer November 4, 2014 At Acton Academy, we have a long-range vision. We aren’t teaching to a test, or merely aiming to get your child into college. We envision the long

By Laura Sandefer July 1, 2019 Parents tend to crave the kind of learning that feels familiar to them – especially when it comes to “science.” A recent conversation with a parent

Calling. What are you uniquely good at and love doing? This is your gift. When are you “in the zone” –  doing something that makes you lose track of time and energizes

By Laura Sandefer, October 25, 2012 “We promise your child will learn to cherish the arts, the wonders of the physical world, and the mystery of life.” We probably should have stated

By Laura Sandefer February 23, 2021 Sharing stories is the fastest road to understanding, growth, and connection. With that in mind, I interject my series of Essential Elements with a story. Yesterday,

In high school, I remember a poster on the wall that said "these are professions where you'll use algebra." I'm not 100% sure it was referring to algebra, but you

By Laura Sandefer March 2, 2021 During a recent Socratic discussion, a six-year-old reminded her peers that they need to listen and not just hear. This led to a rich discussion about