Our Approach
to Learning
What we teach is as distinct as how we teach. Stanley combines strong academics with a purposeful, creative approach to teaching that helps children grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, creatively and physically.
What Guides Our Teaching
Our mission is to inspire a lifelong love of learning. Stanley combines clear academic goals with an instructional approach that is purposeful, creative and responsive to each child.
The following principles shape how teaching and learning come to life across every age and stage at Stanley:
Our Outcomes
Stanley’s 7 Goals for Learners define the qualities and capacities we seek to develop in every student. Across their years at Stanley, children grow in self-awareness, collaboration, respect, curiosity, perseverance, academic resourcefulness and a joyful commitment to lifelong learning.
Self-Awareness
Confidence in one’s abilities, beliefs and sense of self.
Collaboration
Working effectively with others and contributing to a community.
Respect
Appreciating others, ourselves and the perspectives we each bring.
Curiosity
Creativity, thoughtful risk-taking and the ability to think anew.
Perseverance
Finding success through effort, resilience and internal motivation.
Academic Resourcefulness
Problem-solving, thinking deeply and using knowledge flexibly.
Joyful, Lifelong Learning
Finding fulfillment, growth and possibility in learning throughout life.
From Foundational Years to Future Ready
Pre-Kindergarten
Where curiosity begins.
Through purposeful play, exploration and strong relationships, our youngest learners build foundational academic skills while developing independence, creativity, confidence and a joyful sense of themselves as learners.
K/1/2 & 3/4/5
Where confidence grows into independence.
In our multi-age K/1/2 and 3/4/5 classrooms, students deepen their skills through inquiry, integrated learning and differentiated instruction while taking on increasing challenge, responsibility and ownership of their learning.
Middle School
Where independence becomes ownership.
Middle School students engage in increasingly complex, rigorous and purposeful work that asks them to think critically, solve problems, collaborate and apply their learning with greater independence, preparing them for high school and what comes next.
Teachers Who Inspire
Accreditation through the ACIS is a rigorous and exacting process involving a comprehensive self-study, a multi-day, on-site visit including in-depth interviews with faculty and staff, a compliance assessment including all relevant safety and programmatic standards, and a summary report from an evaluation team that details areas of program strength and opportunities for growth. It’s a process we proactively undergo in the name of ongoing school improvement for the benefit of our current families, our teachers and administrators, as well as new and prospective families in the Denver community. Learn more about the ACIS standards of accreditation here.