Learning Approach
The school is based on the following beliefs:
- Children are inherently good and have an innate desire to learn
- Every child can be successful in school
- Children’s energy, unique talents, and individuality are assets, not obstacles.
- Every student possesses the ability to think critically, learn and understand information, and solve complex problems
- Every student should spend their time in school engaged primarily in these kinds of activities.
Primary methods of instruction include inquiry-based methods and active learning approaches, where the teacher serves as facilitator and coach to support student learning. Instruction includes an emphasis on social-emotional learning, and classrooms will be student-centered with students working in small collaborative groups, individually, and through child-initiated play.
The goals for our students are centered around four principles: Intellect, Inquiry, Imagination, and Integrity.
Intellect
- Reading and Literature: Students will comprehend and analyze age-appropriate literature and nonfiction text, and communicate powerfully through writing, speaking, and the arts.
- Math: Students will focus on math facts, operations, problem-solving and understanding and applying concepts.
- Science and Social Studies: Students will explore and understand the complexity of the social and scientific worlds.
- Critical thinking: Students will apply content knowledge to relevant and current situations, problems, and experiences and be intellectually and physically active, self-directed learners.
Inquiry
- Students will act as researchers: problem-solving, generating questions, collecting and analyzing information, and proposing solutions.
- Students will rely on curiosity and collaboration; an internal motivation to learn; wonder; keen observation; and attention to detail, data, and possibilities for further investigations
Imagination
- Students will exhibit the skills of creative and independent thinkers: the courage to create, a joyful spirit, the ability to generate ideas and devise solutions, and the ability to play.
- Students will exhibit resourcefulness, ingenuity, and optimism when faced with an unfamiliar challenge or opportunity.
- Students will come to expect that their creativity and imagination will play an essential role in their success in school and in life.
Integrity
- Students will act as members of a democratic society, demonstrating honesty; the ability to stand up for one´s beliefs; the confidence to make decision according to one´s value system; the ability to listen to, respect, collaborate and learn from others; and the capacity for empathy, compassion, and strong ethics.
"I love working in a school that teaches both children & teachers - and prepares these novice teachers to instigate thought, encourage inquiry."
- ITDS Teacher