I Second That Emotion

Emotional intelligence is critical to success in school and life Reading. Writing. ‘Rithmatic. These “three R’s” of education have been embraced as the pillars of education programs around the world. Often overlooked, however, is the necessity for a strong foundation of social-emotional learning that supports a child as he or she works work to excel … Read more

(Not) Ready To Go?

Top tips for emigrating with children Transitioning from one job to another, especially if they are on two different geographical meridians, is exciting. New perspectives, new possibilities and new enticing challenges in our own eyes make everything look perfect. But, no matter how we picture and project our expectations, transitions in action are tough. And … Read more

Namaste

Yoga for mindfulness in the elementary classroom What’s the big deal about yoga, anyway? Isn’t it just a bunch of people rolling around on mats, twisting themselves into pretzels or passing out in an overheated room? Far from it. Any yogi will tell you it’s not a form of exercise, but a way of life. … Read more

The Ta Lai Project

The Grade 11 students at European International School Ho Chi Minh City rebuild sanitation facilities at Ta Lai village school This spring, when Grade 11 students at the European International School Ho Chi Minh City learned that primary students in the ethnic minority village of Ta Lai had no functioning toilet at school, they decided … Read more

Fun Time

The importance of letting children be children Children are fascinating—the way they think, joke, create and even manipulate. The increased pressure for early childhood teachers to introduce academics earlier has become a great debate. Do we push what was once grade one material to kindergarten and what was once kindergarten material to pre-kindergarten? Most parents … Read more

Universal Design

An educational blueprint for today’s diverse classrooms The world is already a much smaller place and our classrooms are increasingly diverse. Schools are charged with educating students who speak various languages and who have a wide range of pre-existing knowledge from vastly different cultural contexts. This lends itself to a myriad of benefits for students: … Read more

Crucial Beginnings

Defining excellence in early years settings A 2001 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) analyzed 12 industrialized countries’ Early Years’ policies and service provisions and concluded: “Quality early experiences promote children’s short-term cognitive, social and emotional development along with their long-term success in school and later life.” Striving to do things … Read more