Inspiration

We’ve listed some of the resources that have helped inform and inspire our approach, as well as a few others to help you explore some of the current thinking around best practices in the world of education.

Books

Unschooling Rules, by Clark Aldrich (foreword by Jeff Sandefer, founder of Acton Academy Austin)
The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined, by Salman Khan
The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, by Sir Ken Robinson
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol S. Dweck
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv
Brave Parenting, by Krissy Poztek
Choice Words, by Peter Johnson

Articles

One Of Education's Best Examples Of A Learner-Driven Community, by Tom Vander Ark
How a Radical New Teaching Method Could Unleash a Generation of Geniuses, by Joshua Davis
Creating Innovators, by Erica Swallow
It’s Time to Rethink How We Are Educating Our Children, by Benjamin Stecher
Lessons Learned From Great Schools Around the World, by Will Minton
The Founder of Khan Academy on How to Blend the Virtual with the Physical, by Salman Khan
Student Centered Learning: Math in the Blended Learning Environment, by Kaylie Reed
The Secret to Raising Smart Kids, by Carol S. Dweck
Let Children Take Risks, by Lenore Skenazy

Videos

Imagine If We Invented School Today

A short animation on reimagining school.

Rethinking Education: Genius and Heroes

In this TED talk, Jeff Sandefer poses the question of why we no longer apprentice our own children in our trade or craft?

Get Hooked on Nature

Ben Klasky proposes a free and natural remedy to the physical problems kids face: the Great Outdoors.

Grit: the power of passion and perseverance

In this TED talk, Angela Lee Duckworth explains her theory of "grit" as a predictor of success.

Build a school in the cloud

Hear Sugata Mitra's inspiring vision for Self Organized Learning Environments.

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

A TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson, emphasizing the importance of creativity in education.

Let's teach for mastery — not test scores

A TED talk by Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, and Acton Academy visitor.

Acton Academy Austin Middle School/Launchpad interviews

Learn about the student experience at Acton Academy.

Acton Launchpad

Would you prefer a traditional high school or the adventure of a lifetime?

How to Educate Your Children

Dr Jordan B Peterson and Jeff Sandefer discuss the k-12 education machine, its origins and failures, and how the Acton Academies are making leaps to correct the system.