CURRICULUM : Learning to Think, Collaborate, and Discover

Our program is designed to help each of our students discover and develop his unique talents and capacities. We treat each as a unique individual learner. We know that no two students will learn at the same pace, nor will they necessarily learn best from the same teaching methods, and our goal is to be flexible and creative in addressing each student as a unique individual. At Brilliant Star, students learn to collaborate with one another in the process of education rather than compete against each other. Our students discover their own innate abilities and develop a strong sense of independence, self-confidence, and self-discipline.

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In an atmosphere in which children are given the freedom to work through the curriculum as quickly as they wish and compete only against themselves, they learn not to be afraid of making mistakes. They quickly find that few things in life come easily, and they can try again without fear of embarrassment.

One way of thinking about the difference between our approach and one that is more traditional is to consider that while learning the right answers may get our children through school, learning how to become life-long independent learners will take them anywhere! Our children are learning to think, observe, and reflect; not memorize and quickly forget.

Rather than present students with loads of right answers, their teachers ask the right questions and lead the children to discover the answers for themselves. Learning will become its own reward, and each success will fuel their desire to discover even more.

Elementary students are encouraged to do their own research, analyze what they have found, and come to their own conclusions.

The teachers encourage our children to think for themselves and become actively engaged in the learning process.

Freedom of Movement and Independently Chosen Work

The students are free to move about, working alone or with others at will. They may select any activity and work with it as long as they wish, so long as they do not disturb anyone or damage anything, and so long as they respectfully return it to its place when they are finished.

Next: The Integrated Curriculum