The Other 3 R’s at Oak Hill Academy

You are for sure familiar with the first three R’s: reading, ‘riting, and ’rithmetic.  There are three others that we must focus on that complement and enhance the first three: namely; reasoning, resilience, and responsibility.

Reasoning is a skill that gives a person the ability to make sense of sometimes confusing thoughts.  At our independent school in Monmouth County we use creative thinking to generate new ideas that we can combine with prior knowledge.  We also have to use our analytic mind to decide if our ideas are worthwhile.  A part of the reasoning process is to make sure that the idea is usable and will serve the test of time and it is necessary for good problem solving.

The second R of this new trio is resilience.  Sometimes things don’t work out nicely and we have to adjust.  This is where the greatest learning takes place.  If we find a bump in the road we must figure out how to navigate any obstacles. The willingness to take a step back and retool will pay great dividends as we refine our approach while we pursue our goals with drive and motivation.

The final R is responsibility which covers the ethical and moral dimension of development.  This involves knowing the difference between right and wrong as we care for others as well as our own interests. Care, an understanding of others’ viewpoints, and empathy for others result in a responsibility to take action when deemed necessary.

At Oak Hill Academy, a private elementary school in Lincroft, NJ, we teach these new 3 R’s not as separate subjects but rather as a component of all knowledge areas.  This includes the arts, sciences, foreign language, and the humanities.  We provide students with opportunities to learn through multiple modalities.  We value creative thinking applied to a knowledge base, recognizing that knowledge sets the stage for creativity.  We have our students think out of the box, but must first have a box to think out of.  This is done by applying their knowledge to real-world situations.  We look at mistakes as opportunities to fine tune an approach and look for corrective measures.  This all must be done by always thinking of others as the school has a high moral code of values by emphasizing sincerity, integrity, and honesty.

Oak Hill Academy is a NJ private school that is co-educational, independent, nonsectarian, and nonprofit for grades pre-kindergarten through eight. Oak Hill Academy is dedicated to a traditional, challenging, and caring learning environment that encourages comprehensive thought processes and deep understandings; thus promoting the wholesome intellectual, emotional, moral, and physical lifetime growth of our students. To learn more about how we are the best Private School in New Jersey, visit us online at www.oakhillacademy.com , or subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when we post more topics.