Dianne McLean, Lower Junior School Leader and Learning Enrichment Teacher
Michelle Chaplin, Head of Junior School
Our indoor and outdoor Early Learning Centre at AISM uses a Reggio Emilia inspired approach. This learning philosophy focuses on student centred, inquiry based learning, where children learn through real life and hands-on experiences by touching, moving, speaking, listening and observing. Students are given rich opportunities to explore, discover and construct knowledge using many different modes of learning to explore, observe, hypothesize, question and discuss to clarify their own understanding. At AISM this translates into indoor and outdoor curiosity seeking adventures - students can explore the outdoors, ask questions and create their own learning around the things that interest them and in turn the teachers deepen their learning with questioning and unique opportunities derived from the child’s innate curiosity.
AISM teachers provide learning rich provocations to generate curiosity and inspire wonder in the students and this curiosity drives the students to want to learn and explore more. This explorative learning takes place in a real life context and students are able to build upon and construct their knowledge through discovery whilst developing a strong sense of community and positive collaboration. Teachers see students as capable and competent learners ready for anything!
“...our image of the child is rich in potential, strong, powerful, competent and, most of all, connected to adults and other children.” - Loris Malaguzzi (Founder of Reggio Emilia philosophy).
When on campus teachers document each student’s learning journey and this is shared with parents on a daily basis through our Seesaw learning platform and is made visible through dynamic and creative displays in the classroom. This provides a valuable learning link between home and school and helps each child continue to grow as lifelong learners. This is what we call ‘Our AISM Learning Journey’. On entering the Early Years Environment it immediately becomes obvious what the children are interested in, what they are learning and they can tell you all about it - a dynamic and exciting atmosphere for every student.
“The wider the range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.” - Loris Malaguzzi
At present, there are infinite wonderful opportunities to learn more about the world around our children. Sometimes the best learning happens in the exploring stage when children are developing curiosity and wonder. Our Early Years teachers are tapping into the home world and the global world as our littlest learners question what’s happening at home, across the globe and at the school they love. Children will explore their world in so many ways. The founder of the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Loris Malaguzzi, speaks of the ‘100 Languages’ in which children can learn and the importance of giving children a wide variety of opportunities to learn and explore in many different ways. Our program at AISM includes learning through art, dance, music, small world play, getting into nature, speaking and listening, explorative play, water play or moving their bodies. Every time children are exposed to something new, different or exciting they develop intense curiosity and are forming important connections between this new experience and what they already know.
If children are being exposed to learning in many ways, they form a deeper understanding of new concepts in many different contexts and are more likely to be able to adapt and reapply what they have learned to new contexts. This is real learning.
Learning about measurement can be done through cooking experiences and also through water play with containers of various shapes and sizes. Learning to count could be by counting how many legs a dining chair has and then an extension could be working out how many legs there are on all of the chairs together. Children also learn a lot about how machines are designed, work and move by using kitchen tools such as measuring scales, egg beaters, kitchen timers, rolling pins and children begin to learn how simple tools and machines work.
Recently our Early Years learners went on a virtual trip with their teacher to Mars -they explored what you might wear and eat - what might grow on Mars - how long to get there and all sorts of other questions around Space - of course we built our own rockets and created our own space suits but we also learnt a lot about “What’s in Space!”
It is a joy watching our AISM students develop creative and critical thinking skills, develop their own passions and special interests and grow their literacy and numeracy skills through our Reggio Emilia inspired practices. These 21st century skills will help guide and develop our learners to be great communicators, amazing problems solvers of the future, leaders in the global world and to be capable of thinking outside the box.
AISM is proud to grow students from the early years through to young adults to follow their passions.
Learn if Australian Curriculum is the Right Fit for Your Child at AISM’s Open Week
There is no substitute for experiencing what happens at Australian International School Malaysia for yourself. Experience a virtual campus tour that will allow you to make the best decision for your child during our Open Week from 24 to 28 August 2020. Speak to our Principal, Head of Schools and teachers virtually to understand more about our school and community. Register now at www.aism.edu.my/admissions/virtual-open-week.
