Aya Akoma Academy

📣 Last Chance to Join Us Today! 📣

As parents, caregivers, and educators, we all want our children to feel confident, capable, and supported in their educational journey. That's why I'm excited to host today's FREE virtual workshop:

10 Ways to Support Black Children in Education

During this workshop, we'll discuss practical strategies to help Black children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Whether your child attends public school, private school, homeschool, or a learning pod, you'll leave with ideas you can begin using right away.

✨ We'll cover:
• Building a growth mindset
• Supporting learning at home
• Encouraging confidence and self-advocacy
• Creating positive educational experiences
• Resources for families

🎁 Plus, attendees will receive a free downloadable resource to take home!

📅 Today, June 18
💻 7:00 p.m-7:45 p.m
🎟️ Free to Attend

If you've been thinking about registering, this is your sign! I would love for you to join the conversation and connect with other families who are passionate about supporting Black children in education.

👉 Register here: https://forms.gle/Tfwwps443H4pXUKz9

Please feel free to share this post with a parent, caregiver, grandparent, mentor, or educator who may benefit.

Presented by Aya Akoma Academy
An Afrocentric microschool opening in Atlanta in August 2026, serving students in grades 6–12 through culturally affirming, hands-on learning experiences.

Supporting Black Children in Education Join Aya Akoma Academy for a free virtual workshop designed to provide families with practical strategies to help your child thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

☀️ Don't Let Math Take a Summer Vacation!

Many parents are surprised to learn that middle and high school students can experience a "summer slide" too. When students go months without practicing math, they often return to school needing to relearn concepts before they can move forward.

Here are 3 simple ways to keep math skills sharp this summer:

📊 1. Use Math in Real Life
Have your child calculate discounts while shopping, compare cell phone plans, create a budget, or help plan a family trip. Real-world math helps students see the value of what they're learning.

🧩 2. Practice a Little at a Time
Just 15–20 minutes of math a few times a week can help maintain important skills. Consistency matters more than long study sessions.

📎Attached to this post is a list of online practice for grade levels 4-8 for math skills. There are a lot of questions, but it is meant to last the entire summer, and it can be saved so that students can only do around 5 questions a day.

🎯 3. Focus on Problem-Solving
Challenge your child with puzzles, logic games, strategy games, or real-world scenarios that require critical thinking. Strong problem-solving skills support success in all math courses.

Summer doesn't have to feel like school, but a little math practice now can make a big difference when fall arrives.

💬 What math skill would you like your child to strengthen this summer?

I often remind parents that a student struggling in one environment does not automatically mean the student is incapable.

Sometimes the environment simply isn't the best fit.

Some signs a child may benefit from a smaller learning environment include:

1. Feeling overlooked in large groups

2. Hesitating to ask questions

3. Becoming overwhelmed by busy or noisy settings

4. Losing confidence in school

5. Learning best through hands-on activities and discussion

6. Needing more individualized support and flexibility

Smaller learning environments can often provide stronger relationships, personalized instruction, and a greater sense of connection and support.

As a former 6th grade math teacher and SAT instructor, I've seen students flourish when they feel known, encouraged, and comfortable participating in their learning.

This isn't about one type of school being better than another. It's about recognizing that children have different needs and finding the environment where they can thrive.

What qualities do you think help students feel most supported in school?

One of the things I love most about education is watching students learn through hands-on experiences. This week, students designed RVs for an imaginary road trip, tackled cup-building challenges, and worked through number puzzles—all while strengthening their creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

These activities are a reminder that meaningful learning happens when students are actively engaged, curious, and encouraged to explore new ideas.

Lately I’ve been reflecting deeply on this question:

What should education actually feel like for students?

After years of working with middle school students as a math teacher and SAT instructor, I’ve come to believe that meaningful education should go far beyond test scores and memorization.

I believe education should:
✔️ nurture curiosity
✔️ encourage critical thinking
✔️ build confidence
✔️ include culturally responsive learning experiences
✔️ provide opportunities for hands-on engagement and collaboration

Students learn differently when they feel connected to what they are learning and supported within their environment.

I’ve seen firsthand how confidence can grow when students feel:

✅comfortable asking questions
✅encouraged to think independently
✅emotionally supported
✅genuinely seen by their educators
✅engaged in meaningful learning experiences

These values are a major part of the vision behind Aya Akoma Academy and the type of learning environment I hope to continue building.

As parents or educators, what do you think education should feel like for students?

One question I’ve received quite a bit recently is:
“What exactly is a microschool?”

So I thought I’d answer a few common questions here for families who may be curious about alternative educational environments and personalized learning.

What is a microschool?

A microschool is a smaller learning environment designed to provide more personalized instruction, stronger relationships, and flexible learning experiences.

How is it different from traditional school?

Microschools often emphasize:

✅smaller class sizes
✅individualized support
✅relationship-centered learning
✅hands-on experiences
✅flexibility and engagement
✅What about socialization?

Students still collaborate, build friendships, work together, and engage socially throughout the learning process. In many cases, smaller environments can actually help students feel more comfortable participating and connecting with peers.

What inspired Aya Akoma Academy?

My experiences as a 6th grade math teacher and SAT instructor showed me how deeply environment impacts student confidence, engagement, and growth.

I wanted to help create a learning space where students feel:
✔️ supported
✔️ encouraged
✔️ challenged
✔️ emotionally safe
✔️ connected to learning

Who may benefit from this type of environment?

Students who thrive with:

🌻more individualized support
🌻calmer learning environments
🌻smaller group settings
🌻relationship-centered instruction
🌻engaging, hands-on learning experiences

I’m excited to continue sharing more about this journey and vision for Aya Akoma Academy.

Feel free to ask any additional questions below!

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a little more about the heart behind Aya Akoma Academy and some of the experiences that inspired this journey.

As a former 6th grade math teacher and SAT instructor, I had the opportunity to work with many different types of students — and one thing became very clear to me:

A student’s environment can deeply impact their confidence, engagement, and overall learning experience.

Over the years, I worked with students who were incredibly capable, creative, and intelligent, but who also struggled within environments that felt:

overstimulating
emotionally overwhelming
socially stressful
difficult to navigate confidently

Some students struggled with negative peer interactions.
Some became anxious about participating in class.
Others slowly lost confidence because they no longer felt comfortable or connected within their learning environment.

These experiences helped shape my educational philosophy and ultimately inspired the vision for Aya Akoma Academy.

I believe students thrive best in environments where they feel:
✔️ emotionally safe
✔️ supported
✔️ encouraged
✔️ known by their educators
✔️ comfortable asking questions and growing

Alongside my experience as an educator, I also earned a Master of Arts in Education with concentrations in math and social studies.

My hope is to help create a learning environment where students feel both academically challenged and emotionally supported.

Thank you for being part of this journey.