مقالات

Focusing on our student's talents

 

Standardized education has its pros and cons. Teachers in schools create plans to accommodate all students but what many don’t realize is there is no such thing as an average child.

Every student learns differently and we aim to provide all our students with a competitive yet engaging environment in which they can nurture their skills and adapt to the ever-challenging job arena. Our goal is to create a safe environment where children can learn without the fear of scrutiny or any other social challenges. This environment can then serve as a building block for the future, as children learn new ways to engage with their surroundings and to innovate with what they already have.

We do not just focus on specific classes. We want to teach each student to use their skills to do things in a new way, and one of the ways to encourage this is through co-curricular programs.

Through our programs, we help our students develop a ‘growth mindset’ – the idea that talents can be developed through effort. By allowing children to challenge their minds, we are encouraging them to think beyond their scope and not to be bound solely by grades or end results. We are inspiring personality development at a foundational level. Once a child has learned to focus on the learning and not just on passing a test, he or she is positioned for success in life.

What makes us one of the best American schools in Sharjah is our ability to recognize each child’s gifts and to focus on our students’ talents. We manage this through our gifted students’ program. This is where we challenge our advanced students to harness their creativity and channel through more rigorous activities.

Advanced students are encouraged to take control of their learning experiences. Our students can learn with others, or on their own. The program is available through individual mentoring or even in groups. Many people believe that creating an environment where high ability students thrive is a biased approach to learning. As educators, we beg to differ. Our responsibility is to foster the intellectual, social, and emotional development of each student.

A student’s ability could lie in strategic thinking, creativity, sportsmanship or math – so long as we recognize an innate talent, the responsibility to develop it lies with us. Our strength as one of the best American Schools in Sharjah is that we provide students with work outside of the classroom, group them in projects to problem solve, or even ask students with different talents to put their heads together in order to create something new.

Through equal access and opportunity, we help students learn concepts beyond their years, build business ideas, test different concepts or even develop a new product – wherever their interest leads them. Ultimately, the more they learn, the more they grow into successful college ready adults and future leaders.