As part of its mission to offer a truly university-preparatory education to its students, Wells began the process of acquiring authorization for the IB Diploma Programme (DP) nearly two years ago. Following an extremely positive visit by the authorization team earlier this spring, we’re delighted to announce that the IB has authorized us to offer the DP beginning this fall.

As described by the IB, “The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. It has been designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The programme, has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities.” In short, it provides students with the opportunity to challenge themselves through a rigorous curriculum that not only prepares them for university-level studies, but also fosters the development of real-life skills.

While over a dozen schools in Thailand offer the DP, virtually none provide students with other options. In an effort to meet the individual needs of every student, Wells has elected to implement the DP as a high-level option for all students. Thus, students at the high school level will continue to have the choice to enroll in standard-level courses that lead to the awarding of an American high school diploma. Alternatively, they may also join high-level Advanced Placement (AP) courses to earn college credit and pursue the , or enroll in the IB Diploma Programme. They may even choose to take single DP courses and earn IB certificates should they elect to not pursue the full diploma.

�ۿ۴�ý strongly believes in applying best practices that focus on the needs of students rather than a “one size fits all” approach. By working with individual learners to determine their strengths, interests and goals, the school is able to guide them in the selection of appropriate courses and extra-curricular pursuits that provide the best possible learning experiences. The inclusion of the IB Diploma Programme is the natural extension of this flexible approach, and will enable even more Wells graduates access to the best universities worldwide.

For more information about the IB Diploma Programme, visit . To inquire about enrollment at Wells, visit our .

The post Wells Receives IB Authorization first appeared on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

The post Wells Receives IB Authorization appeared first on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

Virtually no decision is as important for parents as the choice of a school for their children. Involving more than simple faith in the academic quality of an institution, it also requires them to place their trust in strangers to nurture, protect and care for each and every child. The choice becomes even more difficult at the kindergarten level, as parents face the prospect of leaving their children alone for the first time, unsure of whether they are making the right choice. Toddlers entering into nursery and kindergarten for the first time may also experience stress as they deal with new, unfamiliar faces and situations. It is thus essential that teachers and staff remain highly aware of children’s emotional, physical, social and intellectual needs in order to provide them with the best possible education. Parents at our kindergarten campuses recently had the opportunity to see the Wells teachers in action as they opened their classrooms for a teaching demonstration day.

When Wells was first established as EverClever International Kindergarten in 1998, it adopted the mantra of “Learning through play,” a belief that infused every aspect of the instructional model. (See a visual history of Wells on our .) From the introduction of the alphabet and numbers to yoga and sports, every aspect of the curriculum incorporated games and activities that drew young children out of their shells, encouraging them to explore and experiment with their surroundings. This approach has carried through to the present, as Wells International Kindergarten – Thong Lor and Wells International Kindergarten – Bang Na utilize the same models in the classrooms, maintaining a strong commitment to age-appropriate practices and an awareness of the children’s need for active engagement.

Wells’ kindergarten curriculum aligns itself with the child development stages identified by child psychologists. As toddlers begin to develop their physical, motor, social and language skills, the teachers blend their instruction into the many activities that take place on a daily basis, addressing multiple skill sets through each activity in order to ensure that the children remain active and attentive. To avoid overstimulating them, these activities are limited in time and scope, making them challenging without causing emotional or social withdrawal. This process aligns with current research into child psychology; as identified by in Social Intelligence, children who regularly encounter moderately stressful situations while being guided by a nurturing adult become better adjusted as they age and are better equipped to handle unfamiliar situations and tasks.

Many kindergartens now seek to incorporate more rigorous academic programs, focusing on preparation for later studies in primary school. However, as indicated by Dr. Robert Brooks in his article “The Play of Children: Lessening Stress and Increasing Self-Control,” this approach ultimately requires young learners to perform at levels they are emotionally and intellectually unprepared for, and thus overlooks an important stage in their growth. Simply put, playing in school allows children to develop creativity, social skills and emotional stability by placing them in situations in which they are challenged, but reassured by the presence of empathetic adults who guide and care for them. It is this approach that our parents had the opportunity to witness, and the philosophy by which our kindergartens operate.

If you would like to visit one of our kindergarten classrooms and speak to our staff regarding the Wells philosophy, feel free to contact us at wells51@wells.ac.th and wells62@wells.ac.th.

The post Fostering a Love of Learning through Play first appeared on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

The post Fostering a Love of Learning through Play appeared first on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

The post Learning Beyond the Classroom first appeared on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

The post Learning Beyond the Classroom appeared first on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

The workshop was arranged by the College Board as a follow-up to an AP workshop held in Honolulu, Hawaii this past summer, attended by Wells’ AP Biology teacher Mr. Brian Salter-Townshend and AP Chemistry teacher Mr. Dan Betts.

Conducting the workshop was Ms. Marian DeWayne who has been teaching AP Chemistry, honors chemistry, AP Environmental Science and AP Physics at Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho for over twenty years.

The post AP Workshop Challenges Wells Science Teachers first appeared on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

The post AP Workshop Challenges Wells Science Teachers appeared first on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

In addition to the World Religions course, several other high school electives emphasize the relevance of the subject to the students’ lives. Recognizing the lasting impact of the recent world economic crisis, the Personal Finance course provides students with practical knowledge with which to recognize the importance of fiscal responsibility. Environmental Science focuses on the manner in which human beings as a species have misused the world’s resources and, rather than endorse short-term “cleaning” solutions, seeks to find preventive measures that will raise environmental awareness and reduce resource exploitation. These, combined with other courses that will be detailed in future postings, ultimately provide the students at Wells On Nut with a conditioned consciousness and realism that are too often absent in educational settings.

The post Teaching a Practical, Global Perspective first appeared on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

The post Teaching a Practical, Global Perspective appeared first on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

Parents often wonder what kind of learning takes place in the classroom. They are eager to understand the personality of teachers, the philosophy behind teaching styles, and the rationale for covering certain types of contents. In short, parents appreciate it when the school opens its doors for them to come in, learn about, and understand how their children are educated.

Understanding this important need of parents, the school arranged for a different kind of parent orientation this year. After giving a brief update on new developments (WASC accreditation, emphasis on strengthening English language proficiency of students, commitment to “making Thailand our classroom,” etc.), parents were given ample time to interact with their homeroom teachers to gain insight into teaching and learning that go on in their children’s classes.

Teachers took this opportunity to share information (with parents) pertaining to what they teach, how they teach, how they assess learning, what classroom management techniques are used, etc. Both parties found the interaction to be valuable as they developed a better understanding of each other. It was also a good chance for teachers and parents to clarify expectations and bridge the gaps that exist in their definition/philosophy of education. It is hoped that this session would open more doors of opportunities for teachers and parents to work closely together  for children’s well-being and academic success.

The school is committed to continue working with parents to ensure the success of every student. As the headmaster reiterated in his speech to parents, “thinking is the highest form of learning…” and �ۿ۴�ý works toward equipping its students with creative and critical thinking skills for now and future.

Parent Orientation: Day 2 (August 21, 2009) – Thong Lor campus

The post Strengthening Home-School Ties first appeared on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.

The post Strengthening Home-School Ties appeared first on �ۿ۴�ý | American International School - Wells.