Adolescent Community (12 - 15 years)

An Occupation is a unit of study with a limited and concrete scope that meets an immediate and engaging need in the community that also reflects universal scientific and humanistic themes. Occupations are designed to give students the necessary knowledge and skills to address and solve real problems in the community. Working side by side with peers, specialists, and guides supports the development of every student to become experts in their own right. Students choose from a range of farm and community projects which will include acquiring and caring for farm animals, organic gardening, campus improvement and landscaping, water quality management, sustainable living, small business ventures, construction, and many more that arise from need or interest. Each occupation group takes on the practical work in their area while studying the science relevant to their project. Over the course of a student's enrollment, chemistry, physics, botany, zoology, earth science, and other areas are covered. The projects incorporate lectures, readings, discussions, experiments, historical studies, literary connections, applied mathematics, independent projects, and contributions to the community. Older students often take on additional management responsibilities for an area of the environment they have studied in an occupation.

The Humanities program provides the opportunity for young adolescents to orient themselves to their place in humanity and provides them the opportunity to connect with and participate in its ongoing progress. The curriculum revolves around thematic questions that invite exploration and research into the idea of what it means to be a part of humanity. Students work in project-oriented classes which include some lectures, primary and secondary source readings, note-taking, seminar discussions, research and formal writing, independent projects, off-site visits, guest speakers, dramatic and artistic expression, and presentations to the community.

Students study mathematics in small groups using manipulative materials, calculators, computers, and pencil and paper. They receive lessons and work independently through a series of problem sets keyed to the common core curriculum and Texas Essential Knowledge and skills for pre-Algebra, Algebra I, and Geometry. In addition, each student will complete one applied project each quarter, based on personal interest and/or farm-based need. Special workshops in basic and advanced mathematics are also offered, and applied mathematics problems arise frequently in the context of work on the land and for our weekly math seminars. Most adolescents will receive high school credit in either Algebra I or both Algebra I and Geometry after their third year.

All students study Spanish through the Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS) technique. This method uses age and developmentally appropriate activities to help novice learners understand short utterances and respond orally, creatively producing words, phrases, and sentences. Students learn to detect the main ideas and discriminate between major and minor details while listening and reading. Students are expected to be active listeners and to express themselves orally and in writing. Accuracy of expression is developed by experience and based on students’ intrinsic desire to be understood and communicate. Grammar is taught as students' understanding of the complexity of language develops, and while the concepts are those common to any novice level class, the sequence of grammar is determined by the student’s interest. With the exception of grammar, all vocabulary lessons are taught in Spanish.

Physical expression is equally important to young adolescents, providing a focus for their physical energy, exposure to a range of activities, and an opportunity to challenge themselves. P.E. units offer varied experiences which may include: soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee, swimming, ice skating, various forms of dance, yoga, or tennis. Choices are based on student interest and the resources available.

Self-expression is essential to adolescent development, as young people explore and experiment with their emerging identities. Gaines Creek offers a series of workshops so students can experience diverse modes of expression. Classes will include such things as photography, cooking, drawing, guitar, piano, vocal performance, painting, and many others. Students will present performances every year, which may include: a play at our annual “Theater Night”, open mic performances, and/or art exhibits.

Rotating workshops are offered according to student needs and interests. Some students are directed to particular classes because of a particular academic need. "Directed" workshops may include sentence, paragraph, and essay writing, pre-algebra and algebra assistance, speech and language assistance, work management assistance, and others as the need arises. "Elective" workshops may include current events, debate, creative writing, recreational mathematics and science, typing, computer programming, outdoor work, and others, as student interest and staff availability suggest.