Our primary work is to teach children how to teach themselves

Our primary work is to teach children how to teach themselves; to teach them how to learn and think and do without us; how to reflect on themselves as learners, as individuals, and as members of multiple, interconnected communities. And so, at our Beirut elementary school, learning is very practical, applicable and enjoyable. The primary years engage the student in the following ways, which are considered modern in thought, practice and focus when compared to traditional teaching goals:

Self-directed learning
Our primary years program based on the American curriculum encourages self-directed learning, based on student interests, in collaboration with the teacher. We recognize that each child comes with a unique set of hopes, dreams, passions, backgrounds, talents, needs, knowledge, and experiences. Their entire makeup can contribute to their individual advancements, without having to wait for others to catch up to them, or vise versa. In other words, the child is seen as competent and capable of investigation and problem solving, as long as they are driven and motivated to do so. In our curriculum, students are thus often the creators of their own projects, and not the executors on a task that is given to them. Teachers and students construct their studies together, then reflect on the process and direction of their learning along the way. This fosters independence, and a sense of taking responsibility for their own work.