Approaches to learning are essential for young children's school readiness and early school success. At Northbridge International School Cambodia, we know that positive learning approaches, such as self-management, communication, social, thinking and research skills, are associated with higher levels of early school achievement.
Our EL teachers are always attentive to creating a learning environment that values children for who they are and who they will become. We support their agency through social interaction, learning spaces, symbolic exploration and expression, and play.
But we also intentionally create learning experiences through our Units of Inquiry that develop the ability to manage emotions, set goals, respect and support others, resolve conflict, communicate ideas, make informed choices and use creativity to solve everyday problems.
At this developmental stage, tolerance to frustration is critical to adaptation and school success. EL teachers in our school understand the value of helping students manage setbacks and work through disappointment and change. We give them strategies based on resilience and techniques like mindfulness and awareness of body-mind connections to manage negative emotions, support concentration, and overcome distractions.
We use the "zone of emotional regulation" to identify feelings and discuss strategies to overcome negative and stressful emotions. We teach them how to manage anger and resolve conflict through role-playing, story books and reflection. We practice positive thinking and language that reinforces self-motivation in our everyday routines.
We also practice "visible thinking" strategies and techniques to make connections between the conceptual understandings of the Units of Inquiry, and we put thinking ahead of knowing.
EL teachers at Northbridge constantly plan uninterrupted time for play and offer opportunities for symbolic exploration and expression. We also create literacy and numeracy experiences that develop a range of playful, inquiry-based explorations into symbolic and representational learning.
Our Units of Inquiry are flexible and based on conceptual and enduring understandings connected to the students' lives. We understand the importance of developing self-regulation through play, modelling behaviours, language group games and music and movement.
At Northbridge International School Cambodia, EL students thrive and grow in a welcoming, nurturing, happy and safe environment!
World Children's Day, celebrated on November 20th, is a global occasion dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of children everywhere.
Metacognition is the process of thinking about one’s own thinking. It involves reflecting on how you come to conclusions, understanding why you think the way you do, and recognizing patterns in your thought processes. By developing an awareness of your thinking, you can learn to reduce cognitive biases or identify and reuse effective thought processes in different situations. Essentially, metacognition helps people become more intentional and effective in their actions and decision-making.
At Northbridge International School Early Learning, we believe that children's curiosity is a powerful tool for learning, sparking discoveries that help them develop important skills for life. Through loose parts play, we create an environment where children’s natural inquisitiveness shines.
What is art for? Why do artists create? What does it mean to be creative?
