Walk into a classroom at AIM Academy and you can see the 1st – 12th grade school’s tagline “Innovative Teaching, Fearless Learning” in action. It’s apparent in an Upper School literature classroom transformed into medieval England, with students taking on the persona of their favorite Canterbury Tales characters; on the AIM field as 7th graders learn how to play cricket to develop background knowledge for reading a new novel; and along the wall of the 5th grade Famous American Wax Museum with students bringing their interactive exhibits to life.

AIM’s style of innovative teaching for children with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia, reaches every corner of the school and helps unlock students’ passions for learning.

Expanding Innovative Programs and Spaces

Providing AIM’s 402 students with innovative spaces and expanded learning opportunities is an important way to make sure that students are prepared for their future.

“We have expanded our Innovation and Tech team for the 2022-2023 school year to begin providing a greater variety of technology curriculum opportunities to students and to find more ways to weave innovation and technology into classroom practice across divisions and departments,” said Annette Fallon, who became AIM’s Head of School in July. 

AIM’s STEAM Innovation Team not only supports the creative work in the Lower School Makerspace and in Innovation Hub classes for Middle and Upper School students, but also dives into new challenges with FRC and FLL robotics teams, shares STEAM and literacy learning with Philly area schools with AIM’s Mobile STEAM Lab, and explores new lessons and technology programs to provide students the tech-skills they need beyond AIM.

“My charge here at AIM is to bring extraordinary educational opportunities to our students,” said Aaron Brill, AIM’s new Director of Innovation Technology. “I value content creation over passive absorption. When planning products and projects, it is important to provide students the opportunity to “do” using these products. Furthermore, we try whenever possible to have the technology lessons relate to the classroom curricula so the skills are not taught in isolation.

AIM will also be providing students on the Conshohocken campus with even more inspirational and innovative learning spaces, with construction anticipated to begin in Spring 2023 on a new Global Innovation Hub. This 17,000-square-foot, 2-story addition will feature new science labs, an amphitheater for community gatherings, technology labs and a corporate commons to provide AIM’s neurodiverse students opportunities to connect with partners as they develop skills for future careers.

Empowering Lives Through Literacy

AIM’s new programming and plans for learning spaces are grounded in the organization’s core purpose to transform and empower lives through literacy. Developing literacy skills for all children, not just those with language-based learning differences, is key to future success. AIM’s Integrated Literacy Model, which drives AIM’s evidence-based curriculum and teacher training, was recently featured in The Innovative Models Exchange, a compilation of inspiring learning models developed by Transcend Education to provide educators and schools with ideas and tools to “reshape school without starting from scratch.”