Teaching and Learning that Adapts to the Child, Not the Other Way Around.

Think back to the last time you tried to learn something new. Whether it was how to cook, learn a new language, try a different sport, or even hone a skill for your job.  There is excitement and nervousness as we embark on a new journey, and having the appropriate support for our growth is often what decides if we continue on with our pursuits or move on to something else. If we have the right amount of challenge, encouragement, and structure, we are in a position to push ourselves further and learn.

At school, this is no different. Teaching is a complex job and fulfilling job. At TIS, we understand that each student comes with their own unique set of interests, strengths, and backgrounds. We value the diversity of our community and strive to adapt our teaching strategies to meet the distinct needs of each child and family we serve.

TIS does this through multiple pathways:

Relationship Building

Teaching, like many professions, is built on a foundation of relationships. The more we know about our students and families, the more we are able to support them in their learning journeys. Consider your most memorable teacher or coach. It is often the one who connected with you, challenged you, and created a sense of belonging. From the first moment our teachers meet their students, they build relationships through discussion, activities, and engaging in the learning process together. By learning about a student's experiences, interests, strengths, and worries, they can tailor their approach to make students both feel and be confident, capable and successful in their learning.

Data-Informed Decision-Making

Teaching is both an art and a science. It combines creativity and intuition with research-based practices and an understanding of child development. At TIS, we use various assessments like MAP and Acadience benchmarking, alongside writing samples, to inform our teaching. This data helps us understand what each child needs to thrive. We know that every child grows at their own pace, and our educators use this information to provide the right support and challenges for each individual. Each child’s growth is unique, and our teachers use this information to ensure the right challenges and supports are in place to meet the needs of each child.

Instruction

Instruction is at the heart of teaching. Providing engaging, impactful and targeted lessons is key for student success. At TIS, teams collaborate together to refine and differentiate instruction, ensuring it resonates with every learner. We connect units of study to both local and global contexts, helping students see how what they learn in class is relevant to their lives. Instruction is dynamic and as learning unfolds, teachers often need to modify or adjust their instruction in real time as students present their learning. Instruction is varied, to provide the whole class, small group and individual learning opportunities. Through instruction, teachers at TIS support the development of students' Approaches to Learning and the IB Learner attributes. 

Reflection

Reflection is a crucial tool in our teaching practice at TIS. After lessons, teachers reflect upon students' understanding of the concepts being taught and adjust their planning and instruction based on student learning. Teachers decide if learning needs to be revisited, enriched, or adjusted based on how their students engaged in the lesson. As teams, they reflect on student progress, approaches that have been effective, and the next steps in improving our practice and instruction. From the data and what is observed in the class, other specialists may be brought in to support our teaching and learning for students. As with anything in life, without reflection and change, we cannot grow both as learners and as teachers.

While many schools may have strong instruction, at TIS we believe that the magic happens when we combine it with meaningful relationships, instruction based on data informed decisions, and thoughtful reflection. This holistic approach provides the optimal learning environment for each unique child in our community.