Learning Principles

Our learning principles are the bedrock of our school community.  At PJS we believe that children learn best when:

 
WHAT CHILDREN LEARN IS: 
  • Developmentally appropriate
  • Engaging, active and hands-on
  • Informative, not definitive
  • Purposeful and relevant to their lives
  • Transdisciplinary and interconnected
  • Provocative and inspires creativity
  • Internationally minded
  • Conceptually oriented
 
HOW CHILDREN LEARN IS THROUGH:
  • Bridging the gap from the known to the new
  • Collaborating
  • Meaningful contexts
  • Problem solving
  • Appropriate challenges based upon individual learning styles
  • Inquiry
  • Active engagement
  • Asking questions and making close observations
  • Opportunities to take risks and be innovative
  • Valuing mistakes through iterative learning
  • Clear expectations, meaningful and authentic (self-) assessment and reflection
  • Ongoing and direct feedback
 
THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CHILDREN LEARN:
  • Is supportive of the development of well-balanced children with rich academic strengths and strong character traits
  • Is light-filled, exposed to the natural world, and is joyful
  • Honors the importance of play in each child's development
  • Endeavors to make the process of thinking and learning visible
  • Is nurturing and makes its community members feel known and understood
  • Embraces family members and values multiple perspectives in a diverse community