“When will I ever use this?” That refrain has been uttered by students for decades. And to an extent, they have a point. Traditionally, students learn math but not financial literacy. They learn English language arts, but rarely do they learn the finer points of negotiation and debate.

But skills like the ones mentioned above — plus others such as grit, sociability, teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving, and confidence – are invaluable for navigating both personal and professional life. In fact, many of these skills are now considered so important, they’re referred to as “power skills.” 

In traditional schools, teachers try to pepper in those skills during academic lessons or cultivate them for an hour or so in afterschool activities. But with the 2 Hour Learning model used for academics at our flagship school, Alpha School, there’s a full four hours in the afternoon for workshops that build essential life skills. 

Let’s take a look at four examples of these life skills workshops.

1. The “Better Together” Workshop

Designed for students in kindergarten and first grade, this life skills workshop teaches participants how to play games fairly, how not to give up or cry when they’re losing, and to cheer on their classmates. Those children begin to acquire essential life skills such as getting along with others, grit, and self-confidence, and self-directed learning. 

2. The Triathlon Student Workshop

Students in second through fourth grade take part in a triathlon that requires them to solve a Rubik’s Cube, juggle three items for 30 seconds, and run half a mile. It may sound a little weird, but it’s all about developing grit and a growth mindset. 

A lot of the kids initially believe that there’s no way for them to accomplish one or more of those tasks. But over the course of six weeks, we help them figure out the algorithm that allows them to solve the Rubik’s Cube. They also find that when they run a little every day, they build their endurance and speed. 

At the end of the workshop, students go through a “Test to Pass,” where they demonstrate their new abilities. The test confirms that they’ve been able to stick with something that’s hard and keep going when they’re frustrated — essential life skills that will serve them well in any field.

3. The “HypeSquad” Workshop

One of Alpha’s most fun and engaging life skills workshops for fifth and sixth graders emphasizes teamwork. Typically, teamwork is taught through team sports, but in this workshop, every student is assigned a classmate as their “hype man.” The hype man is ready to extol the accomplishments and great qualities in the student at a moment’s notice. During their daily morning and closing meetings, students shout out the great things their classmates have accomplished. 

In addition to teaching teamwork, HypeSquad is one of the student workshops that specifically focuses on developing an uplifting and positive culture among Alpha students. The kids learn that instead of negatively labeling each other and forming cliques, they can find the uniqueness and value in everyone. It also lays the foundation for ice-breaking and building friendships because there is no better way to engage with new people than by learning about them and then hyping them up.

4. High School Social Scene Prep Workshop

Middle schoolers often say that the thing that scares them most about high school is the social scene. In one of Alpha’s life skills workshops, students at the middle school level learn how to crush the social scene in healthy and positive ways.

The student workshop is divided into three stages. In the first stage, students practice navigating friendships, handling social pressure, and building strong, positive relationships with their classmates. In the second stage, the kids head over to the friendly Alpha high school lunch table to practice their social skills. Stage three involves visiting another school’s high school cafeteria. By the end of this workshop, kids are as confident in their social capabilities as they are in their academics.

Life Skills Workshops Increase Students’ Confidence and Adaptability

Those are just a few examples of the workshops that Alpha students attend. There are dozens more workshops at every grade level, ranging from athletics to financial literacy, entrepreneurship, public speaking and communication, community engagement, and even Japanese Ikigai. The school retains workshops that spark students’ interest and replaces the less engaging workshops with fresh options.

Participating in these workshops gives Alpha’s students skills they carry forward into college and careers:

• Overcoming physical and academic challenges teaches them resilience. 
• Starting businesses or leading team projects fosters their initiative.
• Early exposure to financial literacy helps students make smart financial choices in the future.
• Practicing public speaking and communication skills gives students the confidence to speak up, share ideas, lead discussions, and conduct presentations.
• Learning how to work with others, handle setbacks, and support teammates sets students up for career and life success.

Giving Students a Solid Foundation for the Future

Alpha School proves that learning can be faster, smarter, and more meaningful. By the time students graduate from Alpha, they don’t just believe they are limitless; they have the skills to prove it.

The rapid pace of technological and industry change has made continuous learning essential for modern workers. We’re all expected to regularly update our skills so we can stay competitive in our current work roles and take on newly-emerging roles.

That’s why one of the most critical goals in education today is to nurture a love for learning that lasts long after graduation. In fact, the World Economic Forum’s 2025 report, ranks curiosity and lifelong learning among the top 10 most essential skills for the future workforce.

However, the traditional educational approach — where students sit still while listening to lectures for six hours, ask permission before doing anything, and learn from a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum that doesn’t account for their specific needs — leaves many children less than enamored with learning. When we ask kids what they like at their “regular school,” they typically list P.E., recess, lunch, and their friends. Nothing about learning.

One of the primary commitments of our flagship school, Alpha, in Austin, Texas, is that students will love school (for the learning).

Here’s how we keep that promise.

Igniting a Love for Learning from the Moment Students Arrive

Alpha School is designed to foster a mindset of growth and engagement through student-centered learning. The result: Students wake up excited to learn every day.

Every school day starts with a group activity called “Limitless Launch,” where students engage in a short bout of physical activity, strategies to develop a growth mindset, and set goals for the day. For example, ten-year-old Nadine (surname withheld to protect her privacy) focuses on how many skills she can master within the 30-minute time blocks she gives herself for each subject. “I set a goal for myself for the total,” she said.

By the end of the launch activity, students are ready to start the academic block. The morning exercise has energized them, boosted their mood, and made them ready to focus. The mindset strategies and daily plan has given them a sense of clarity, agency, and ownership regarding their own learning.

AI-Powered, Student-Centered Learning

The academic block embodies the core of what sets Alpha apart: the 2 Hour Learning model. In this system, students master core academic subjects in just two hours per day, learning twice as much, twice as fast. 

Alpha students spend their time in the two-hour academic block learning with an AI tutor and adaptive learning apps. As students learn math, reading, science, and social science, the technology assesses their strengths and addresses gaps in their knowledge in real time. The result is completely personalized and engaging education. 

Instead of feeling frustrated because they’re struggling to keep up with the class or bored because they’re waiting for the class to catch up with them, each kid receives exactly what they need to know at the pace they need to know it. The AI doesn’t care how many times a student needs to review a concept; it works with that student until they understand that concept. At the end of the academic block, the computer dashboard shows students the daily and weekly goals they’ve met and what still remains to be done, adding to their sense of ownership.

That personalized attention has resulted in all Alpha classes climbing to the top 1% in the country by the time they leave first grade, no matter where they were academically when they enrolled in Alpha. Getting kids on track academically is the first step to showing them their potential. Competence leads to confidence and the love for learning that’s now essential to life success.

Also, since the approach to learning is based on mastery, students can advance far beyond their current grade level. Imagine the pride and confidence a fifth grader feels when they’re working on reading comprehension at a seventh grade level and at an eighth grade level for both science and math. That’s exactly the case with Nadine.

Alpha Guides Make Students Feel Seen and Supported

Strong, positive relationships with adults in the school setting serve as a foundation for students’ academic motivation, emotional resilience, and sense of belonging. When a student knows there’s an adult who genuinely cares about their well-being and believes in their potential, they are more likely to engage in learning, take academic risks, and persevere through challenges.

At Alpha, the traditional teacher’s role has been transformed from lecturer to “guide.” These guides serve as supportive mentors who build meaningful relationships with each student, offering motivation and emotional support, ensuring each student stays engaged. 

By freeing educators from time-intensive tasks like daily lesson planning and grading assignments, Alpha allows them to focus on getting to know students deeply. The guides understand what excites each student, what obstacles specific students face, and how best to support their growth.

For example, one student who enrolled as a fourth grader was struggling academically at that time. One of the guides realized that the student had a passion for football, specifically the Denver Broncos, and used that connection to spark a breakthrough. The guide showed him the class leaderboard and asked where he would be if this were an NFL draft. The student concluded that he wouldn’t be drafted at all, based on his performance, and that relatable reference to football motivated this disengaged student to take his studies seriously.

Nadine related that students can also turn to the experts for academic explanations and “coaching calls.” “You can ask them if you’re really struggling and you still need some help,” she said. “The guides are really motivating and no matter how hard your stuff is, they always make it so that in the end you achieve your goals.”

Growing Students’ Love Learning By Honing Their Life Skills

In the afternoons, students engage in workshops and collaborative projects that focus on practical, real-world skills such as coding, debates and public speaking, leadership, entrepreneurship, and creative problem-solving. These experiences make learning more meaningful and personal.

For older students, the afternoons can be a gateway to real-world exploration, including internships and independent research. These enrichment opportunities help students move beyond passive knowledge acquisition, allowing them to test ideas, apply skills, and grow in confidence. When students are given the freedom to follow their interests and take ownership of their learning, they begin to see school not just as a place of possibility, experimentation, and expression — key ingredients in cultivating lifelong learners.

The Future is Student-Centered Learning

By combining engaging education and a “student-first” approach, Alpha has realized its goal of sparking a love for learning and school within students.

How do we know? Every six weeks, we ask our students two questions. The first question is “Do you love school? Yes or no?” Last time we asked, 93% of our students said that they loved school.

The second question is “Would you rather go to school or go on vacation?” And 65% of students have said that they would rather go to school. 

Curious to see how engaging education can be?