International Schools In Chennai - Leadership Practices In International Schools

It is estimated by the International School Consultancy in October 2017, there are 9,200 international schools and over 5 million students studying in these schools with staff strength of 463,000 around the globe. The increases in the number are driven by the rise of International Baccalaureate schools both in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Despite the growth in the school number, research leadership in these schools is yet to make an impact.

Some of the key features of leadership practice as seen in international schools located in various regions are discussed. The discussion is on the perspectives of leadership and its practices in schools. In case of International Baccalaureate schools in Southeast and East Asia a range of leadership strategies are adopted to address the challenges in implementing innovative curricula like International Baccalaureate programmes. Some of the leadership strategies used by International Baccalaureate schools in Asia is the five disconnection points namely intellectual, instrumental, professional, communicative disconnections and cultural. The actions are addressed through two faces of distributed leaderships; one is the distributed leadership and teacher leadership.

International mindedness is the most significant goal in the formal curriculum in many international schools and it suggests the most difficult goals for school leaders. The leaders engage authentically in the International Mindedness in international schools. The leaders enact IM authentically and the discussion moved onto the emerging literature and ethical leadership.

The complexity of leadership challenges affects international schools in Chennai conceptually and empirically. There is a pattern set between leadership practices and academic achievement confirming the research carried out in non-IB schools in different school systems. The IB exam scores are associated with Strategic Resourcing and Encouraging Teacher Learning and Development. On the contrary monitoring classroom teaching and curriculum has a negative effect on the IB exam scores. The common features of learning affect the status of both international and local schools.

Pre School Chennai – Importance of early education

Early childhood is the most critical part of the a child’s life. The foundation laid at this age is crucial for holistic development of their life. It is at this point of time children develop cognitive, social, emotional and physical skills essential for their success. The early years are largely spent with family and community. The Census data 2011 reveals 164.48 million children are between the age of 0-6 years in India. 

The government has devised educational policies to provide quality pre school programmes. Article 21A provides right to free and compulsory education between the age of 6 and 14 years. Article 45 urges the states to provide free education upto 6 years. Meanwhile, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2010 provides right to quality elementary education. 

The National Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Policy was devised in 2013 and the policy framework includes National Curriculum Framework and Quality Standards for ECCE. The policy brings all children under the age of 6 years to universal access to quality education. Around 1.4 million anganwadi centers cater to 38 million children through the Integrated Child Development Services Programme supported by the nodal department of The Ministry of Women and Child Development. 

Despite the steps taken by the government the number of children enrolled for preschools is less. In the case of elementary education, the number is on the rise, though dropout rates are a major concern. Evaluation reveals that the literacy skills are low in primary grades. All this points to the urgency get children school ready through quality ECE programme. 

Research reveals that early education has long term effects on the child and their future social and economic adjustment. Pre schools in Chennai understand that it can further be passed on to the future generation. Evidences are clear that Early Childhood Education programme change the development projection of a child and make them school friendly.

Boarding School Application – What makes them special?

Students of modern India face immense challenges when it comes to realizing their goals. Formulating educational strategies to meet the demands of the global scene can help the student to stay ahead of the race. Boarding schools offer residential programs emerging as a preferred destination to parents and students. Today boarding school applications are in great demand, here are some of the reasons to prove it.

Inculcating human values: Education and values go hand in hand. The aim of residential schools is to impart quality education without compromising on human values. Preparing human beings to become self sufficient and sagacious is the ultimate goal of any education system. But not all schools are able to accomplish this fact. Only a focused and valued based curriculum can help achieve this goal. Reputed boarding schools follow this path to glory.

Role of teachers: Boarding schools do not limit the interaction of the students with the teachers to the classroom, they go beyond it. At the boarding school, children are given access to teachers even after school hours helping them to concentrate of their goals fulltime. Weak students are given special coaching to improve their performance in the coming examinations. 

Discipline: Parents send their children to boarding school to inculcate discipline. The attitude of the children changes at the boarding school as they learn the value of time and responsibility. Residential schools work on strict timelines and students follow timetables, be it academic or non-academic activities.

Extracurricular activities: The school infrastructure like laboratories, library, playground, sport facilities are used by the students any time at the boarding school, making them confident and competitive. It is here they foster friendships and carrying it all their life.

Family issues: Children at the boarding school forget about their family issues and develop a strong bond among co-students and teachers. They live in a multi-cultural environment making them a versatile personality.

Best boarding school – Building resilience

Best Boarding schools offer 360 degree experience giving the child the advantage of experiencing independence with responsibility. Boarding schools are no more disciplinary dorms. Today, more and more children are embracing boarding school as they want to write their success chapter. Boarding school teaches your child to handle life with patience and perseverance. The boarders cultivate child skills in and out of their classrooms. Resilience is an important attribute necessary for every child. It gives them the ability to bounce back from setbacks and try again to reach the pinnacle of success. 

• Boarding schools is a place where friendships are made for life. They learn to understand their schedule of learning and co-habiting with friends. The students learn to adjust by making small compromises and shifts to make the environment friendly and lively. 

• Boarding school provides a world of experience ranging from academics, extracurricular, community living, social responsibility and reality. Many alumni from boarding schools make it to the top leadership positions across the globe. The reason being they are engaged in the community by design and experience firsthand how their own decision can impact the lives of their own and others.

• Boarding schools help students to push boundaries. They are presented with a host of opportunities and test and learn how to overcome them independently. The supportive environment in the campus gives them the confidence to compete any situation. Every day is a new day where the students learn new things. This experience is valued for life and come handy in solving complex situations in life.

Living away from home and loved ones is a biggest challenge faced by boarding school students. But this challenge is overcome by finding substitutes in the form of friends and teachers. The boarding school offers a bouquet of experience that is hard to find by day scholars. 

Matric School Chennai – Moving Towards Problem Solving Approach

Reforms in the education system is crucial for the upliftment society. Parents aspire for professional courses, the society aims at socially conscious citizen whereas the industries are looking for skills. Tough task lies in the hands of the educationalists to design a curriculum to meet the requirements of all the heterogeneous society. The Government of Tamilnadu has a vision plan for the students. They have initiated reforms in the educational system by launching the new curriculum followed by Matric schools in Chennai.

The new curriculum comes with a host of challenges like rote learning supported by predictable examination model, poor analytical skills and relying on theory than practical approach. Moreover, it is felt that the syllabus is disconnected from the real life scenario. All this with the lack of vernacular language fluency has become a challenge for the government curriculum.

The introduction of National Level Entrance Tests (NEET) has triggered a major reform in the Tamil Nadu textbooks. Though, one cannot ignore the concerns of the demand to updating the curriculum to meet the dynamics of the national level tests. Finally, Tamil Nadu has began the process of redesigning the textbooks and contents. Traditionally, textbooks were a warehouse of knowledge where the student will not require any additional reference material or supplementary resource. But the new textbooks has changed this scenario. 

New textbooks have a pinch of technology and features like inforgraphs, case studies, reference book names, web links, concept maps, information and communications technology. They also add mobile apps and web resources. 

The examination pattern of national level tests shows an unusual trend. For this purpose the higher secondary curriculum was reoriented with few structural changed. The students lose out in physics and chemistry due to the conventional approach as they rely on theory ignoring the problem solving approach. The new textbooks have filled this gap by redesigning to give importance to problem solving. 

Rising Popularity Of International Schools In Chennai

The rise of international schools in Chennai is tremendous. Two decades ago, only 1000 international schools with English medium instruction was available worldwide, says ISC Research. Thhe students of these schools were primarily children from expat families, diplomats, NGO staffs, journalists, technicians and corporate employees. Today, it is alarming to note that there are over 8,000 international schools serving over 4.5 million students. The percentage of students from the host country is about 80%. This goes to prove the popularity of international schools among the locals. It is predicted by the ISC that in the coming 10 years the international schools will be double more than 16,000 schools with over 8.75 million students. 

Top international schools are special with their unique characteristic. The school is made up of students from different linguistic and cultural background. Over 80 countries have adopted the curriculum and this gives a diverse blend. The students are considerate making the classroom interesting and non-issue.

There are a host of extracurricular activities offered with infrastructural facilities like playground, swimming pool, badminton court and more. Some schools also offer spots like fencing, etc. 

International schools have beautiful gardens to encourage living close to nature. The students can take time off at the garden to refresh their mind. 

The school kitchen practices different cuisine giving the students an opportunity to taste diverse food. Since students are from diverse community offering food of their choice would bring them close to their home.

Teachers plan their lessons to make it inspirational to their students. The students are selected with care as they fit with the school’s vision and mission. The teachers use different resources to reach their point to the students. Materials and equipment can make this task easier. Students connect with the teachers to explore new venues to grow and excel.

The international schools inspire students and teachers to work towards building a harmonious society.

Best Boarding School – The Ideal Choice For Your Child

Boarding schools are often treated as punishment for students who are naught and cannot be controlled at home. Many feel that boarding school is a place where the happiness, innocence and curiosity is compromised. These are traditional thoughts about residential schools. Best boarding schools are a seen as a multicultural environment where students learn, play, are socially responsible, cherish lifelong friendship, have access to school infrastructure round the clock and get help from teachers. This is a place where the students develop their personality.

Nuclear family and double income household has given rise to residential schools. Parents work late and do not have time to care for their children. Parents want their children to be watched and cared while they are away and residential schools is the best way to satisfy both the needs of the parents and the children. 

Parents who travel regularly or get transferred periodically find residential schools a great option. The boarding space gives the students stability and continuity to enjoy their learning seamlessly.

Absence of reputed schools in their home district also forces parents to send their children to residential schools. Lack of proper infrastructure and latest technological aids are also instrumental in parents choosing boarding schools in cities. 

Apart from the above reasons, some parents send their wards to boarding schools to keep up the family tradition. In some families you find generations passing out from the same school or college. 

There is no doubt that students at boarding schools are independent and well groomed. Boarding schools apart from academics give importance to extracurricular activities like sports, art, drama, debates among other.

Residential schools mostly follow international curriculum giving the children an edge over others. Students at international residential schools get ready to pursue their higher education abroad in reputed universities and colleges.

Pre School Chennai – Addressing psychological and psychological needs

Pre school education is must for the overall development of the child between the age of 2 and 6 years. Pre schools in Chennai pave the way for effective education. It prepares the child for the future. These schools provide an enriched environment to make the child receptive to education. Preschools in the form of Kindergarten or Montessori follow focused programmed aimed at students between the age of 3 to 6 years. Each programme is different from one another. 

Environment plays a vital role in the early 6 years of a child’s life. The facilities at schools should enable the child to enquire, interact and play with peers. This ensures optimum education. The childhood education is based on physiological and psychological needs. Early education improves:

• Group socialization

• Instills healthy habits

• Stimulates creative learning

• Improves scope for holistic development

• Prepares the child for futuristic education

• Provides a solid base for healthy adulthood

Age eligibility for child in preschool has reduced

The dissemination of joint family system has lead to the decreased age of child admitted in preschool. Earlier mothers used to be with the child for most of the time giving them no scope to indulge in school at a very young age. But today, the scenario has changed with nuclear families and working mothers. All this has reduced the mother-child time. The only solution parents find is to get their child enrolled at preschool.

Parent’s involvement in education plays a pivotal role in increasing the quality of education. The involvement can be in both education and daily tasks. Only parent involvement helps the child to shape their academic self concept. Preschool teachers guide parents in this process and for this the parents also need training. Unless the parents and teachers join hands in this endeavour the child may not reap the complete benefits of education. 

Pre Kg Admission – Impact Of Education Media

Young children are moving towards screen media and it is impacting their lives greatly. Technologies like tablets and e-books have become part of school life for children. Most children during Pre Kg Admission are aware of using electronic gadgets. The technologies have taken over the childcare classroom as well. The emerging practices are implicating the policy makers, teachers and parents. Educational media helps to foster early literacy in children. From the day they set foot in their classroom, children are introduced to technology. 

Children are immersed in educational media with approximately 83% of kids aged between 6 months to 6 months to 6 years using screen media on a day to day basis. It has become part of their lives and cannot be ignored. Educational media is the solution for students who face language issues. It can facilitate second language acquisition and makes it easier for home to school transition. 

Educational media can be defined as videos and software designed to enhance the academic development and readiness of the child. The challenge lies in front of parents and teachers on how a young child with stronger literacy in second language to accustom them for English. Sometimes this helps in getting the child school ready. Vocabulary learning has been in practice since 1990. Parents and caretakers at home ask for documenting the viewing habits of the child but at school the media has been integrated into the classroom. It is used as a separate pedagogical activity.

Vocabulary instruction is missing from the curricula despite the importance of vocabulary growth in early childhood. This is crucial for risk factor children like poverty, language and ELL status. Both educational media and rich vocabulary exposure has displayed the most effective and stunning word learning in children. Research enforces the use of dominant language to promote the vocabulary learning through educational media. Trans-languaging is also used where both home language and school language are taught alongside. 

Tips To Choosing The Best Schools Chennai

Schooling is a crucial phase in the life of a growing child. Every successful individual has its roots in their schools. Only a right school can provide the child with the right intelligence, emotional and creative skills. Here is how the best schools Chennai have to be chosen.

Tips to choose a school

Research adequately: While researching for the right school, it is important to understand the child’s preference in terms of environment, structure of the curriculum. Every child is unique, some children may need extra attention as they may be shy or their grasping skills are limited. Check the school website and prospectus before making a choice. Talk to experts and get their recommendations.

Can you afford: Not all schools follow uniform fee structure. Private schools charge higher fee when compared to public schools. You get what you pay for. A school that charges a reasonable fee offers good academic training but may be low on sports and extracurricular activities. While others may be good in sports but poor in academic training. Finding the right balance is crucial for the holistic development of your child. 

Value system: Every school has its own set of value systems. Find out what is their vision and mission. Talk to the school authorities to find out what they have to offer other than academic excellence. Certain schools imbibe social responsibility in students by offering community services as part of their curriculum. Children learn to share and help one another at an early stage thereby giving them an opportunity lead a successful professional and personal life.

Child friendly: The child’s needs have to be satisfied in terms of both teaching and learning methodology. Some children may be slow learners and school should offer all the necessary support to cooperate with them. If your child is a prodigy, the school should provide creative outlet through challenging programmes to help the child reach their fullest potential. 

Infrastructure: A school with ample space for the child to develop their talent and skills is the ideal choice for growing kids. A large playground, well maintained sports facilities, tidy and spacious classroom and clean and hygienic bathrooms are must in a school.  

Pre School Chennai – Prominence Of Language

Indian youth has largest share in the demographics of the country and education makes a vital part. When it comes to a discussion on education one cannot help taking about the present state of primary education. Preschool education is the basic stage of formal education. It gives a basic understanding of various subjects. The rural areas lag behind when it comes to literacy. The Census figures reveals that the rural literacy rates stand at 69% much lower than the 86% of the global average. In the coming years the teaching and the learning process will become interesting and practical. With the right use of technology India is sure to improve the literacy rate. 

Technology in primary level

• Generation Z is experiencing a newer level of education with major focus on technology. Pre school Chennai are incorporating latest and innovative practices in education. Smart classes is in vogue especially in the cities. In Indian international schools Google Classroom has gaining popularity. 

• 3D printing is already taking learning to a whole new level. It helps to shape the imagination of the children giving them an opportunity to create real life models of their imagination.

• Virtual reality is another aspect that has given a new dimension to learning. With VR children are able to improve their classroom experience.

India is a land of diverse cultures and languages. Different sections of people speak different languages in India. A few centuries back Sanskrit was the medium of education, the British brought with them English and after they left Hindi has taken the center seat. 

Indian schools are competing at the international level and for this competency in English have become essential. In this race to conquer boundaries, Indian languages have been compromised. Yet at the preschool level Indian languages continue to play a pivotal role. 

Matric School Chennai – Setting Standards In Educational Policies

Every parent is not just concerned about the school they choose but also the curriculum their wards will embrace. Just like how a car cannot run without an engine, education system cannot go without a curriculum. Despite speaking about systematic issues like funding, accountability, assessments, school choice, etc, remember that none of them determines the polices that educate a child. This can be done only by selecting the right curriculum and teachers. Schools have to embrace career ready curriculum. The focus should be on the main idea or citing evidence. The knowledge itself changes and so should be content. 

Remember that not all curricula are designed the same way. There is no doubt that curriculum matters a lot whether it is international curriculum, CBSE; Matric school Chennai cater to matric syllabus or state board curriculum. The goal here is to shift from poor to best curriculum to increase the learning potential of the students. Only a good curriculum can improve the performance of the students. 

Many are of the false notion that chooses high quality curriculum is an expensive proposition. Experts are of the opinion that text books are inexpensive and are priced equally. The impact lies choosing the most effective textbook over less effective materials. The effectiveness of the curriculum depends on the teachers who bring about excellent results. Thereby making the choice of curriculum related to good teachers. 

Content is another aspect that gains importance. Content should not be just curricular but cultural as well. In large cities with mobile population content has to be varied as the child moves from one place to another. To avoid difficulty in migration, United states in the 1990 laid emphasis on academic content. The comprehensive curricular frameworks were aligned with the new standards. It helped to improve the teachers knowledge on the academic subjects and created the most demanding content with examinations for the prospective teachers. 

How Montessori School In Chennai Promotes Holistic Development Of Your Child?

Montessori is a great hit among parents and it is definitely a great way to go. A Montessori environment cultivates an independent and personal responsibility where children take ownership over learning. It encourages students to find many responses. Some of the benefits of enrolling a child in Montessori School Chennai are listed below:

• Following routines: Child entering a school has certain routines to follow. There are sequences of activities to follow in the classroom environment. Children always crave for routine and want to perform them. Any routine change can result in behavioral changes and anxiety.
• Independent and self motivated: The Montessori lessons are presented to individualize the content for each child. Here the child is encouraged to work at their own pace and master the skills and keep moving in the right direction.
• Curiosity about the world around: Montessori educators intervene and allow children to find their own answers. In early classroom, it is important to control errors in Montessori material is the key to providing independence to the child. The children find the solutions of their own and find confidence to learn from the material and about the world around them.
• Creative thinking: The independence to think out of the box, makes a child creative. A problem can have multiple solutions. The child is allowed to learn from the world around. They find out numerous solutions to a problem and they share this idea with adults. Sometimes they come up with solutions that even adults are unable to discover.
• Open minded and diverse approach: In Montessori classroom it is all about appreciating difference and living in diversity. The various cultural differences fosters respect to one another. 

Starting at a young age can benefit a child and have extensive effects on the rest of their life.

Top International School Chennai ideal destination for expats

International schools in Chennai are melting pots of diverse cultures and languages. It is here where various ingredients like social, political, cultural and economic divisions are brought to the boil and the international school creates an ambience to benefit the community in large. The international schools are bound by global sustainability and human rights supported by the curriculums like International baccalaureate, etc. For instance, IB curriculum is not just about offering qualifications. The program for the age group of 3-18 is devoted to the philosophy of education.

The IB program is based on scores and results. It is based on the process and outcomes. Overall there is no conflict between practices and set of values of the diverse communities. The 21st century is posing extraordinary challenges to the occupants and international school models are designed to equip students to meet these challenges. International schools live true to its name, they provide fascinating environments to learn and excel.

Every International school in Chennai provides international education in a global environment. Here you can either choose from global curriculums like International Baccalaureate or Cambridge A level examination or choose a curriculum that is different from the local curriculum. These schools promote cultural exchanges and a diverse environment where students from different cultures and nationalities merge together. Here cultural difference are celebrated and it inspires students to become global citizens. Overall it makes a positive impact on the child to succeed both in professional and personal life.

International schools encourage students to select from a broad range of courses. The curricula is based on the country of origin, the most common being British and American. International schools use curricula like International General Certificate of Secondary Education or IB programme. These are committed to internationalism and develop global citizens in an environment set for optimal learning. The setting fosters independence, coordination and interdependence.

Things to consider while selecting the Best boarding school

Best Boarding school caters to an academic environment introducing children into the various aspects of life. Students in the institution ensure that living with peers encourages them to work harder. Choosing the right private school is challenging; according to The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) director Annie Lundahl, it is important to look for boarding schools primarily based on the needs of the students. Some of the aspects to consider while selecting a boarding school include:

Reputation of the boarding school: Check for the reputation of the boarding school. A successful alumni is a motivating factor. The parents should believe that their children will receive the right educational value through their tuition. The school rankings also play a vital role in deciding on the boarding school.

Academic achievements: If you are looking for a specific discipline, the school should be able to provide specialization. The school also needs to provide assistance in competitive examinations. If your child needs assistance in English as a Second Language, necessary faculty assistance should be provided.

School philosophy: The mission and vision statement of the school showcases the stance of the school. Private schools have diverged from mainstream learning and have adopted new age learning. The school should identify with new approaches and encourage them to excel in their goal.

School size: The boarding school should have smaller student to teacher ratio to help them get personalized attention. 

Diverse culture: Boarding students get an opportunity to live and study with students from different cultural background. They engage in healthy interaction learning new ways of life. It helps them to adapt to new cultures and linguistic background with ease. Students from the boarding school often are successful in foreign universities as they are independent and have good adaptability skills.

Extracurricular activities: Boarding students excel in extracurricular activities. They are given a well rounded education and hence are success in their career.

Montessori School Chennai – Approach And Advantages

A discussion on education is not complete without the Montessori approach. She is considered the greatest minds that lived in the 20th century. She was responsible for revolutionizing education and her ideology had an impact in pedagogy across the globe. Montessori has been the key factor to change the history of humanity in a better direction. Mindfulness is a psychological process that brings the attention of an individual to experiences happening in the present moment. It can be developed through meditation practice and other training methodologies. 

Montessori education believes in evidence based education. Here is how Montessori School Chennai works? Montessori education benefits students as it comes with a wide range of learning styles, There are three major Montessori classroom practices:

• Uninterrupted work periods: Studies reveal that uninterrupted work periods can improve the focus and discipline of the students. It also improves social functions like regulation and self control. Deep concentration is the core of Montessori pedagogy. Similar to how meditation enable a person to be aware, self regulated and calm even when not meditation so does deep concentration on any purposeful work develops calm and self regulation individuals says Dr. Montessori.
• Concrete learning: It is embodied cognition learning through the bodies and minds. The cognitive skills are enacted by using the hands and working with objects. They learn faster and in an efficient manner. Children become focused and highly engaged. Research has proved that movement and cognition are interconnected. Individuals represent objects and space accurately and they remember information in a better way and also showcase social cognition. Traditional classrooms do not capitalize on relationship between movement and cognition. 
• Student to student teaching: This type of teaching gives big dividends. This approach is useful for students playing the role of learner. Children learn from peers through structured tutoring and are highly beneficial.

17 Fun First Day of School Activities to Try

Whether you’ve been teaching for years or it’s your first day as a full-time teacher, the first day of school is usually accompanied by some anxiety — no matter how prepared you might be. 

It’s the same for students. Uncertainty about friends, teachers, and schoolwork is enough to make the most extroverted students a bit nervous. Read more...

Best Boarding School – Providing Strong Academic And Non-Academic Opportunities

Best Boarding school comes with a host of benefits for students and parents. It is a big decision to make for parents to admit their children in boarding schools. But they are sure to reap the benefits as it pays off in long term. It is noteworthy to know that successful members of the society made a humble beginning at boarding schools. Boarding schools works with a host of activities and programs giving the child an opportunity to face challenges with confidence on a daily basis. It is here that student embrace opportunities to learning, exploration and personal growth. The activities at the school are abundant and making friends is primary.

Independence and priorities
Students at boarding school are independent as they learn to do things at by themselves without any interference from parents as is the case of day scholars. Modern days parents are extra vigilant questioning every activity of the child, in this connection boarding school is the perfect antidote.

Great leaders
At boarding school children get up early in the morning and take up exercise and studies. They do their daily chores like housekeeping, laundry, etc giving them an opportunity to learn. Boarding students come prepared to succeed as they have been adaptability to new environment and people. They become strong individuals and great leaders. The state of affairs at home makes it hard for the child to cultivate those traits. It is important to nurture those qualities over a period of time for the success of the child.

Remembering dorm life
Students in the boarding school have a community sense. Students remember their time together even after they pass out of the school. Dorm life leaves an impeccable mark on the memories of the child. Boarding school students build an intense connection with their teachers and they are remembered even years after they pass out from the school. These teachers become their role models for the future.