How Project-Based Learning Helps Students Find Themselves

Along with learning about academic subjects, students spend their time in school discovering who they are and who they want to be. Many students find that extracurricular activities give them the most opportunities for self-discovery. However, there’s another way students can learn a lot about themselves while learning about classroom subjects: through project-based learning. Here are some of the ways project-based learning can help students find themselves. 

Collaboration and Social Skills

Project-based learning requires students to work together toward a common goal. One of the best ways to learn about yourself is by working with others. Students learn how they can overcome challenges, from the intrapersonal to the academic. They learn the most effective ways to communicate, often through trial and error. At the end of each project, they build even more on these essential skills, gaining more insight into who they are.  

Building Autonomy and Self-Direction

It may seem to contradict the previous point, but in many projects, working independently is as important as collaborating with the group. Each student needs to build their part of the project so that the whole can come together. While working collaboratively, they learn what they can do by themselves and where they need to lean on each other. Once the project is complete, each student can take ownership of their contributions.

Developing Critical Thinking and Creativity

Children who learn in project-based settings often find themselves needing to think creatively and critically at the same time. Leaning too much on creativity can create beautiful end results that lack substance, while leaning too much on critical thinking can lead to too much thinking and not enough doing. Each project creates new opportunities to make informed decisions with the help of teammates, who learn from each other in the process. 

Cultivating Passion and Purpose

Finding yourself, especially as a young student, means discovering what you’re passionate about and where you excel. Project-based learning allows students to explore their personal interests in a way that relates to the subjects they’re studying. Rather than being abstract and distant, academic concepts become tangible, and therefore more relatable. Students may discover interests they never knew they had and talents that they choose to explore outside the classroom. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we believe project-based learning puts students on the path to success. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

5 Benefits of Christian Education for Children

School is where children go to learn about academic subjects, but it can be a place to learn so much more. Christian schools teach children to be Christlike while they learn the lessons they need to learn to succeed in society. They do this by focusing on values and the gospel just as much as the fundamentals of education. Read on to learn about some of the many benefits of Christian education for children. 

Focus on Character Development

Schools with a Christian foundation teach with the philosophy that who a child becomes is as important as what they learn. Therefore, lessons and activities focus on how students can be the best versions of themselves. Teachers emphasize the importance of traits like honesty and kindness, relating these subjects to what students learn in the classroom. As a result, children have what they need to be good people as well as good students. 

Faith-filled Foundation

While Christian schools discuss faith in the classroom, they also provide faith development opportunities outside of the classroom. These can take place in the form of assemblies, individual Bible counseling and opportunities to serve the community. Students have plenty of room to incorporate faith into their lives. What they learn at school matters. 

Christianity-based Perspective

Christian religions focus on aspects of life like hope and love. While children can find love at public schools if they know where to look, they’re often surrounded by it at Christian schools. Looking at lessons through a faith-based lens allows students to put the subject matter and their faith into perspective. Learning about these qualities inside and outside of the classroom gives these students a unique outlook they can carry with them throughout their lives. 

Opportunities for Family Involvement

Along with faith-based values and perspectives, Christianity teaches the importance of family values. For that reason, Christian schools often encourage participation from all families. Some even require parents to volunteer their time to the school. Family involvement in children’s education sets them up for success and helps them gain the confidence they need to succeed. 

Emphasis on Serving Others

The benefits of Christian school go beyond the student. Students at these schools serve the community as part of the curriculum. Learning to serve others and becoming involved in the community helps children understand from a young age how they can contribute to the world around them. They continue to feel empowered to help others throughout their lives. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we offer more than a place for children to learn. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Teaching Your Child to Love Learning for Life

Most of us start out inquisitive and creative, but after facing the pressures of life, some people lose that love for learning. Children who learn to love learning early on often carry that interest with them throughout their lives. Every day can be a learning experience, which leaves room for openness, curiosity and seeing life as an opportunity. Here’s how you can instill a love of learning in your child. 

Read Together

One of the most valuable tools for activating a child’s imagination is reading to them. Read a variety of stories, from true life adventures to science epics. When your child is ready, encourage them to read to you. The act of reading together makes reading a more engaging experience, which is important for developing, inquisitive minds. 

Make Learning Fun

There’s more to learning than reading and writing. Show your child how learning applies to everyday life. Go exploring together in nature, and have them record their observations as a science lesson. Play board games as a family to teach your child about storytelling, math and more. You can always find opportunities to learn together. 

Say “I Don’t Know” 

Every once in a while, your child will stump you. They’ll ask you “why” one too many times, and you won’t know the answer to the question. You may be tempted to make something up that seems plausible, but that won’t help them learn. Admit that you don’t know, and take the opportunity to learn something new together. Go on a research journey, and validate your child’s curiosity. 

Explore Their Interests

Children often cling to a particular interest — or several — and refuse to let go. Explore their interests with them. If they love butterflies this week, see if there’s a museum exhibit nearby that you can take them to. Maybe they’re into snakes, and it’s time to check out some books about their reptilian friends from the library. 

Ask More Questions

Teach your child to be curious by modeling curiosity. Open-ended questions like “why do you think that is?” and “how did you come to that conclusion?” can help your child look deeper into what they’re learning. The critical thinking process is an essential part of learning, and by getting those gears turning early on in life, you’ll put your child ahead of the game. 

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we hope all of our students develop a lifelong love of learning. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

Fun Activities for Florida Families in the Winter

While Florida isn’t the first destination you may be thinking about for your family vacation, there’s plenty to do in the Sunshine State this time of year. Whether you’re looking for a warmer winter wonderland or something uniquely Florida, there are plenty of places you can go on a tankful of gas. These are some of the most unique family activities Florida has to offer during the winter. 

Swim with Manatees in Crystal River

As the weather changes, so do the habits of many different types of animals. Manatees, for example, can be seen roaming around Florida from around April to October, but when the weather starts to drop, they move to the springs where the temperature is more moderate. Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River is one of the best places to go see the manatees in the winter months. You can swim, snorkel or paddle alongside these majestic animals. No matter how you choose to navigate the manatee-filled waters, it’s sure to be a memorable experience for the whole family. 

Watch the Surfing Santas at Cocoa Beach

Florida is home to all kinds of peculiar sights, from the mermaids of Weeki Wachee to the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee. While some are permanent installations, some of the more unique ones can only be seen once a year. Every Christmas Eve starting at 8 a.m., hundreds of surfers dressed as Santa show off their surfing skills at Cocoa Beach. Families gather each year to enjoy the spectacle and participate in family friendly activities on the beach. 

Tour One of Many Florida Citrus Groves

Florida citrus is in peak season during the winter months. This makes it the perfect time to explore one of the state’s many citrus groves. If you want to pick your own fruit as a family when it’s the freshest it will be, there are plenty of places you can go. At citrus groves, you can often tour the space and see where your favorite fruits come from. Some of the most notable orange groves are The Orange Shop in Citra and Hancock Grove in Dade City. 

Enjoy the Snow at Pensacola Winterfest

Walking through a winter wonderland is always better with snow. Bring your family to Pensacola this winter, and your family will have the opportunity to experience artificial snow. Families with younger children will have plenty to do at Pensacola Winterfest, which offers plenty of family-friendly activities, including photo ops with Santa and the Grinch, a Polar Express Tour and more. 

We encourage our students to experience all Florida has to offer, especially during winter break. At North Tampa Christian Academy, we offer more than a place for children to learn. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.

5 Important Lessons Taught By Collaborative Learning

Have you ever heard that two heads are better than one? Collaboration is one of the keys to solving problems and creating meaningful work. Children who learn through project-based learning team up with classmates and teachers to achieve great things together. While collaborative learning can prepare students for success, it’s not always easy. Sometimes, teammates don’t get along, or a project doesn’t turn out the way it was planned. Read on to learn about some of the most important lessons students can learn from collaborative learning. 

How to Interact with All Kinds of People

In a collaborative classroom, anyone could be your next partner on an assignment. People from all walks of life come together to create group projects. For children who are new to interacting with others outside of their families or neighborhoods, this can be a challenge. Learning these lessons from a young age helps children learn how to communicate with anyone, even if they have completely different personalities and perspectives. 

How to Communicate Thoughts and Ideas

People of all ages sometimes struggle with putting their thoughts into words. Children may find this especially difficult when interacting with new people. Through collaborative learning, they figure out how to best explain their ideas and how to listen. They learn that each of these is as important as the other. The art of talking and the art of listening are invaluable skills. Every group member has valuable ideas, and it’s important to make sure everyone is heard. 

How to Be More Confident

Children often feel like they’re not being listened to when they speak. Collaborative learning gives them an opportunity to be heard and know they’re being heard. As the project comes to fruition, they also see how the ideas they contributed worked out. This helps build confidence over time. Seeing what works and what doesn’t helps them understand the subjects they’re learning on a deeper level. They also feel empowered to help others who may be struggling. 

How to Think More Creatively 

There’s nothing like another person’s perspective to help you see things differently. Students who work in groups hear a range of ideas. Not all of them will make it to the final project, but any idea can spark another idea that could answer an important question. When students work together toward a common goal, they quickly learn that creativity is key. Making a project that truly stands out means thinking about it differently. 

How to Be a Team Player

One of the most important lessons children learn from collaborative learning is how to be a team player. If everyone doesn’t work together on a project, parts of it will fall on others. When a student sees this happening, they’ll need to learn how to navigate it, whether it means talking to the teacher or reassessing who is doing what. This helps students build leadership skills and learn what it means to be an effective member of a team.

At North Tampa Christian Academy, we believe collaborative project-based learning can help children succeed in and outside the classroom. We offer more than a place for children to learn. Students at our Tampa private school thrive creatively, academically and spiritually in a project-based learning environment. Faculty and families work together to inspire leadership through Christian innovation. Contact us today to learn more.