Many of us have become used to the uncertainty, but the current state of the world continues to take its toll on our health and well being. So what can we do to help ourselves feel a little better? I emphasize the ‘little’ here, because there is no one thing that can fix things, but rather a collection of little changes that can amount to a noticeable difference in how we feel. Positive Psychology research has demonstrated that focusing our attention on things that we are thankful for – expressing gratitude – leads to greater overall happiness. Gratitude is appreciating what we have and not continually wishing for more or focusing on what we lack. Better yet, it is expressing that gratitude in an intentional way….
With Inquiry-Based Learning Students Do the Heavy Lifting
The approach to learning at AAS is characterized by inquiry, but what does that mean? Inquiry is all about students taking charge of their learning through discovery – they are the ones who do the heavy lifting. To better understand the inquiry approach to learning at AAS, it’s helpful to “see” an example from a recent lesson in upper-elementary: to launch the beginning of a math lesson, students were presented with a picture of goats in a pen on a farm. The teacher explained that a single goat needs a certain amount of space in order to be healthy and that pens could be built to allow for more or less goats, but of course, fencing materials cost money. From there, students worked collaboratively, both with the teacher and with their peers to explore all the different configurations they could think of and how each affected the space allowed for the goats….
A Message from HS Student Council
With the return to on-campus learning, the student council has been able to resume regular meetings and we are working hard to improve the lives of all students. Despite the obstacles that the pandemic has placed in front of us, we have still been able to make effective changes and look forward to the year ahead. One of the first major but necessary changes was the implementation of new roles within the student council. For those unaware, the positions of Prefect, Chief Executive, and DIBE coordinator have all been added in place of the Treasurer and Secretary. The Prefect’s focus is to provide an objective and more direct line of communication between the teachers and student council….
Achieving State of ‘Flow’
I was fortunate to have a college roommate whose family owned a house right under the main gondola in Vail, Colorado, one of the premier mountain resorts in the United States. We spent our summers there, working in restaurants and laying bricks in order to make money for the upcoming school year, and enjoying the spectacular alpine beauty of the area. A fellow our age who we got to know — let’s call him Chris C., so as not to give away too much — was from Chicago but spent his summers in Vail, too, where his father put on a workshop. I went to their condo a couple of times, and the environment within ran counter to the sun-and-fun vibe elsewhere in the valley. Curtains were drawn to block the sunlight and mountain views, and desks and tables were piled high with books and untidy stacks of papers. It was quiet….
Teacher Spotlight: Gary Foster
In this new series we will be introducing AAS teachers with a short interview and some photos. First in line is Mr. Gary, who is currently teaching Kindergarten and has been in Sofia for 9 years….
Students Stepping Out of Comfort Zones
Change happens all the time, whether we notice it or not. It can be challenging to move to another country, take classes in subjects that are new for us, or sort out the ever-unfolding situation with COVID. International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB/DP) students are ready for the world of today and tomorrow because they are experts in change and adapting. They learn to adapt by stepping out of their comfort zones, updating their thinking, and developing their resilience. IB/DP students step out of their comfort zones when they plan and lead Friday Features programs as part of their CAS (Community-Activity-Service) requirements. …
Celebrating Life Every Day
Little kids are the best at saying simple truths. Earlier this week, AAS kindergarten student, Helena, was kind enough to point out the simple truth in the quote above. I have worked in schools for a long time (hence the being very old quotation), and I have enjoyed countless funny comments from kids. Parents, you may not know this, but your kids often say funny things about you at school. For example, most of the teachers in the ES have a pretty good sense of which dads snore. Helena’s comment got me thinking. I don’t feel old. However, I am obviously very old, and I have a birthday coming up, so I’m just getting older. I don’t mind birthdays and getting older: it is a lot better than the alternative. …
Staying Active During Distance Learning
Entering another period of online learning brings back the challenges that go hand in hand with it – more screen time, more time spent sitting, less physical activity, less time spent outdoors, more stress and less opportunities for fun and leisure activities. So what better time than now to remind ourselves of some of the benefits of physical activity. Physical activity is not only essential for healthy growth and development, but also important to learning. Research shows that physical activity of any kind – team sport, biking, hiking, swimming or playground games – has positive effects on the brain and on school performance….
Overcoming Anxieties
“Are you nervous about having the baby, Ms. Lindsey?” This was one of the first questions I was asked this week by one of our fourth graders while I visited classrooms to introduce Mr. Kevin, who will be filling in for me while I am on maternity leave. I found myself pausing for a moment and then emphatically agreeing. Even though I have been a school counselor for thirteen years and know a lot about parenting strategies and child development from a professional angle, my husband and I have never been parents ourselves and will be in a few short weeks. I feel the anxiety in me along with all of my other feelings about impending parenthood. Anxiety is a common struggle we face for many different reasons. Things that may seem easy to one person may cause huge anxiety in someone else….
Learning in Uncertain Times: How Worried Should We Be?
We, as a generation, have struggled through the most difficult times in education. As a parent and an educator, I have painfully watched my son, Kenshin, struggle through remote learning, social distancing, loss of school activities, and a host of other irregularities. I often find myself wondering how the pandemic will affect my son. Will my son’s math, for example, be on par? I’m not alone in worrying. The Pew Research Centre, for example, identified that 65% of the parents they surveyed were concerned about their children falling behind. Other polls report even higher levels of concern, citing 9 out of 10 parents worried about their children’s academics. While some caveats come with this data (it was based on US public schools) it’s fairly safe to say this is a global concern. Like other parents, my worry has also led me to attempt to “fill the gap” with extra studying and more work outside of school hours….
When Life Gives Us Lemons, We Make Lemonade
Yesterday we had the first PTO Book Club meeting of the school year, a very special one. In June the book was chosen, orders were taken, everything was under control as it should be. Back to school in August, orders were placed with our local vendor only to learn that the title was unavailable. Second choice also unavailable. Third choice, same. Last resort had to be Amazon and several orders were placed only to be cancelled afterwards followed by all kinds of excuses. Time was passing by and still no book for our September encounter. Andrea, our PageTurners Coordinator, then goes to the library and checks out the first book with as many copies available as we needed: Life of Pi, a beautifully written tale of hope and the innate human ability to overcome adversities. And it couldn’t have been better and more appropriate. The discussion was meaningful, deep and full of different colours, coming together from such a diverse group of people. With our tummies full and souls replenished, we left our encounter longing for more….
Education of the Heart
Starting in 1st grade and until I finished my studies at the Russian Embassy School in 2017, one of my favorite activities around the Christmas holidays was the Christmas Charity Bazaar we organized at school. During that one Friday during the year, all of the students would bring baked goods and interesting things for their grades to sell, the parents would organize challenges and games, and the teachers would teach us – the young salesmen – how to work with money and customers. The Charity Bazaar was the administration’s way to not only unite the school community and bring joy to the student body, but to also allow some of the sick children in Sofia to experience the magic of Christmas. Just in one day, we would raise money to support the children at the emergency department at Pirogov and would turn toys into the joyful laughter and smiles of the patients. …
