Math is taught from the AoPS Beast Academy curriculum (more fun and challenging, with a problem-solving focus). Students work individually at their own level with one-on-one teacher support as needed, and take the corresponding test as they reach the end of each unit. This is the only textbook we use at Inner Fire; while convenient, we find textbooks quite boring for students and instead focus on reading primary sources.

In English, we study three novels and a play throughout the year, weekly poetry, spelling and grammar practice, and lots of journal and response writing, as well as a couple longer form essay and creative writing projects. For social studies, we cover a mix of US and global history, as well as physical and political geography. We focus on understanding how the world works and why over memorizing names and dates. In science we blend a mix of curricula (QuantumCamp, Generation Genius, Mystery Science) but every class is interactive and lab based–students learn to ask questions, run experiments or build engineering models, and capture and analyze data.

All students at Inner Fire are expected to learn a foreign language, choosing between Spanish or Mandarin Chinese (or both!) These classes are taught by native language teachers 3x weekly, incorporating the full range of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. For art and music, the focus is experiencing and enjoying different forms rather than mastering technical skill. The class completes about one art piece every two weeks, mixing between drawing, painting, and sculpture. Our music program features plenty of singing, rhythm, and movement games, as well as basic note reading and theory. Twice weekly we walk to the big soccer field at Franklin Square park for PE, which starts with a warm up jog and stretches then focuses on skill-building and team games. Lots of running and outdoor fun.

Coding is one of our most popular classes. Students use scratch, a visual interface designed for kids learning code, and have a lot of autonomy and creativity in the projects they create. Games, skits, music videos, and visual art are all things students enjoy making with code, while learning fundamental logic and functions. We have two “project time” periods each week in which students can work on anything they choose: more coding is a popular choice, as is starting art side projects (making comic books is a favorite), or just finishing homework.This is in addition to three full daily recesses, plus open free time before and after the end of the day. We believe unstructured play is just as important to learning and development as class time.