ISB’s Balanced, Personalised, and Intentional Approach to Developing Independent Learners in Kindergarten to Grade 2
WhyanEarlyChildhood -PreschooltoGrade2 Environment?
OurLearning Philosophy
WhatDoesaTypical DayLookLike?
LanguageLearningPathwaysto Multilingualism
WhatMattersMost intheEarlyYearsof Learning?
Personalisation intheECC
Purposeful Learningin Action
OurCurriculum
VoicesFromOur Community
NextSteps
Together with the children, we co-create short-term learning goals that guide their progress Studentsregularlyreflectonthesegoals,withteachersprovidingongoingfeedbackandcelebrating growthalongtheway Thiscycleofreflectionandgoal-settinghelpschildrentakeownershipoftheir learningandbuildsconfidenceintheirabilitytosucceed
WeuseSeesawtoshareexamplesofthisprocessinaction–showcasingchildren’slearningjourneys, theirreflections,andthenextstepstheyareworkingtoward Thisplatformalsoinvitesfamiliestostay connectedandcelebrateeachchild’sprogressasitunfolds
Throughouttheyearweengagewithfamiliesin Learning Conferences that provide a valuable opportunity to share this personalised learning journey with families. During these conversations, teachers, students, and parents come together to discuss each child’s goals, celebrate growth, and plan next steps These conferences strengthen the home-school connection and ensure that every child’s learning is supported in a consistent and collaborativeway
Through this personalised approach, we ensure everylearnerisseen,supported,andinspiredto reachtheirfullpotential
RootedintheISBEarlyYearspillars,theKindergartentoGrade2programmecontinuestobe:
1 DevelopmentallyAppropriate
Advancingemergingliteracy,numeracy,and social–emotional understanding through carefully structured, age-appropriate challenges that promote depth of thinking andskillmastery
2 RootedinaContinuum ofLearning
Purposefully aligned with Preschool foundations and progressively designed to ensure readiness for the intellectual and socialdemandsofGrades3–5.
3 InvestigativeandExplorative
Students engage as active investigators, deepening understanding through purposeful exploration, questioning, and discovery that build conceptual knowledge andcognitiveflexibility
4 PersonalisedandResponsive
Instruction is differentiated and adaptive, using observation and assessment to tailor learning pathways that extend each child’s interests,strengths,andgrowthareas
5 IntentionalandReflective
Learning experiences are deliberately designed and continuously refined through reflective practice, data-informed insights, andevidence-basedpedagogy
6 Future-Focused
Foundational competencies are cultivated as the building blocks for lifelong learningdeveloping critical thinking, effective communication, collaboration, and personal wellbeing
Children transition from developing early communication skills, storytelling, and phonicsskillstobecomingconfidentreaders and writers. Guided reading and in-depth genre studies help children develop voice andcomprehension.
Children progress from early counting and pattern recognition to advanced reasoning, problem-solving, and application across number, geometry, measurement, and data, building deep mathematical understanding andskills.
Units of learning integrate science, social studies, and the arts, encouraging curiosity about the world Children pose questions, gather information, and share discoveries withpeers
Students develop the capacity for selfmanagement, compassion, integrity, and fairness as they learn to make responsible choices, collaborate respectfully, and act withempathyandpurpose
Music, art, drama, and movement inspire imagination and self-expression while building creative and critical thinking and strengtheningfinemotorskills.
Ourdailyrhythmprovidesbothstructureandflexibility,encouragingchildrentofeelsecurewhile pursuingtheirinterests
SampleKindergartenTimetable
SampleGrade2Timetable
The curriculum is designed to provide children with a comprehensive and sequential set of content, understanding, and skill progressions across all subject areas. Clear benchmarks at each grade level, closely aligned with leading curricula from around the world, guideinstructionandensureconsistentdevelopment
Teachers differentiate learning to support students who are working below the benchmark and extend opportunities for those ready to move beyond. The curriculum encompasses all traditional elements, including core literacies, mathematics, science, social studies,art,music,physicaleducation,anddrama,while alsointegratingprogressivecomponentssuchasSTEM
This balanced approach ensures that every child receives a well-rounded education that fosters both foundational knowledge and innovative thinking, preparingthemforsuccessinaglobalcontext
While English is the primary language of instruction, ISB places great value on fostering multilingualismthroughFrenchandhome-languagelearning.
Students participate in two lessons per week in Preschool and PreKindergarten,increasingtothreelongerlessonsperweekfromKindergarten to Grade 2. The French programme follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) to ensure developmentally appropriateandinternationallyalignedprogression.
ISB supports six mother-tongue classes - Japanese, Dutch, Korean, Swedish,Hebrew,andSpanish-taughtonceaweekbyqualifiedteachers These classes strengthen language skills, cultural identity, and pride in multilingualism, reflecting ISB’s belief that every language a child speaks is anessentialpartofwhotheyareandhowtheylearn
Mychild'steacherandlearning supportteacherlistenedtous parents,valuedourinput,and mostimportantly,they demonstratedtohaveagood understandingofhimandhis needs.Ifeltoptimisticabouthis educationaljourneyandIlook forwardtoit.
-CurrentGrade2Parent
Wefeelveryconfidentinhislearning programmeandthatheisseenfirst andforemostasanindividualbutalso forwhereheisinhislearningjourney andthenexttangiblestepstomove forward.
-CurrentGrade1Parent
AschildrenprogressfromKindergartentoGrade2,we continuetohonourwhatfamiliesvaluemost:
Asafe,welcomingcommunitywhere childrenfeelseenandsupported.
Abalanceofstructureandcreativitythat fostersindependence.
Acommitmenttoexcellencethrough research-informedteaching.
AconnectedjourneyfromtheEarly ChildhoodCentretothewiderISBpathway.
Wehonoureachchild’sunique journey,usingdatatopersonalise learningthatnurturesacademic, social,andemotionalgrowth.Our goalistosupport,challenge,and inspireeverylearnertoreachtheir fullpotentialwithconfidenceand curiosity.
-Grade1 Learning SupportTeacher
At ISB, every child’s story begins with connection We invite you to meet our team, explore our learning spaces, and experience the purposeful energy of our Kindergarten to Grade 2 at the EarlyChildhoodCentre.
Ourteamisreadytoconnectwithyourfamilyandintroduceyouto ourEarlyChildhoodProgrammes
SeeISBinAction:You’reinvitedtovisit,observe,andexperience ourvibrant,intentionallearningenvironments.
StayinTouch: Callus: +3226614211 Email: admissions@isb.be
LearnMore:Visitourwebsiteatwww.isb.be
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