Latest News 

Each year, about 20,000 new children’s books are published in the United States.  In this sea of choices, how can we help match kids with the books that are right for them?  How do we know if a book is a good fit?   Matching kids with the right books is an art, not a science, but there are some general guidelines you can use to help you narrow the field. Interest Most importantly, the right book for your child is the one they are interested in reading.  Children who love book

What do you think of when you hear the word “testing?”  Do you envision number 2 pencils and bubble sheets?  Or rows of silent kids staring at Chromebooks?  Do you feel a little nervous, or maybe a little sleepy?  For neurodivergent learners, standardized tests can feel torturous, and the data they provide don’t accurately represent the “spiky” abilities that are characteristic of these learners. One of the best things about being a private school is that we can make assessme

When you think about school projects, what comes to your mind?  For many people, projects are associated with arts and crafts, usually the kind that require lots and lots of parent help.  These projects can be fun (for some people), but they aren’t necessarily very meaningful.   So, what makes a project meaningful for students, particularly when those students are neurodiverse? Multiple Modalities Different students learn in different ways, and this is especially true for neu

The Power of Chunking in Learning “My robot keeps going crazy!” was a common refrain when we first started working with BeeBots. Our students loved programming the BeeBots to drive in long, straight lines. However, programming a simple “dance” with a few turns often sent them straight into the frustration zone. A few weeks later, those same students confidently programmed the BeeBots to navigate mazes of their own design. So, what changed? We learned about chunking. What is C

Every child learns differently. Some grasp concepts quickly, while others need more time or a different approach. This is especially true for those who are neurodivergent or gifted. I believe that embracing customized education strategies is essential to help each child thrive. When education adapts to the learner, it opens doors to confidence, curiosity, and success. The Power of Customized Education Strategies Customized education strategies focus on tailoring teaching met

When I think about the best ways to help young children learn, I always come back to the power of hands-on experiences. Nothing compares to stepping outside the classroom and exploring the world in a way that sparks curiosity and excitement. Educational field trips offer exactly that - a chance to connect lessons with real life. For families with young children, especially those who are neurodivergent or gifted, these trips can be a game changer. They provide a unique way to

It was so much fun to work with our students to choose our project topic for this quarter. Together, we chose the History of Transportation ! Our Exciting Journey Begins To kick off our adventure, we traveled back 15,000 years to a time before vehicles or even domestic animals. We took a virtual field trip to the Lascaux caverns in France. There, we learned how archeologists uncover early human history. We discovered early innovations like the wheel and the domestication of h

How can we set students up for writing success? Writing can seem like a simple task from the outside. You think of a sentence, and then you write it down. The fact is that this task feels simple for many of us because we have practiced enough to make most steps automatic. Let’s take the simple sentence “Call Mom.” How many different steps do students have to go through to write it? I just counted 27 . This is why our goal for young writers is to build automaticity. To get thr

This summer, take a vacation to your child’s “island of competence.” “Islands of competence” are a child’s areas of particular strength.  Focusing on islands of competence can help students experience success, build self-esteem, and develop resilience.  How can you help your child find and develop their island of competence?  It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3! FIND IT - Notice when your child feels the most energized, motivated, and confident. This can give you clues to locate your ch

We are so excited to announce that Helix Academy has found our home! We will be located at 821 W El Camino Real in Mountain View. This location has so many great things to offer. We are within easy walking distance of two beautiful parks - Eagle Park and Schaefer Park -, which will both be great options for our daily picnic lunch and recess. We can also walk to the public library - we will incoroporate regular library trips into our schedule and never run out of good books

Helix Academy is looking for a place to call home. We are currently searching Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Mountain View for just the right location. We aim to have a lease secured early in 2025, and be ready to welcome families for open houses and family events by the spring. We will begin accepting enrollment applications for the 2025 school year as soon as our lease is secured, but we are happy to talk with you before then. Please contact us to learn more about our plan