When it comes to education, young people are like sponges, ready to soak up as much as they can from the environment around them. However, as Lorna Orleans, our Director of the Early Years Program notes, if they are not “engaged” in what you are trying to teach them, you might as well save your breath. However, when children are engaged, they begin to ask lots of questions, especially in a group environment where they can share ideas and gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter at hand.
According to the International Baccalaureate (IB), an international educational foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland that was established in 1969, there are five Approaches to Learning (ATL), that are important in the development of young minds. Those approaches including:
- Thinking Skills
- Communication Skills
- Social Skills
- Self-Management Skills
- Research Skills
At Strelitz International Academy, we understand the importance of getting students involved as opposed to having them memorize facts and figures, then being able to recite them back at an appropriate time (tests). We also understand that different students learn in different ways, which is why the five ATLs are also so important. This is just one of the reasons why we are not only one of the best elementary schools in the Hampton Roads area, we’re also one of the best affordable private schools, ready to provide your students with lessons and experiences that make learning fun. More importantly, keeping them engaged helps them to satisfy the five Approaches to Learning.
Some recent activities noted by Lorna Orleans showing these principles in action include:
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- An EY2 class learning about shapes from food. In addition to eating crackers that were both square and rectangular, they made pizza, noting that it is traditionally round, but when cut into pieces they make up triangles.
- In an EY3 class, instead of simply reading to students, the teacher read a story to the class first, then prompted them to create props they could use when retelling the story at home.
- Our EY4 teachers guide their students in drawing connections they hear about in “read alouds” with moments from their own lives.
We encourage our parents to continue these learning moments at home or even when on vacation with their children. Learning is a life-long pursuit. Let’s keep it fun and interesting.
