ICS Parents Get Up-close Look at Innovations in Elementary Education

They don’t look like the classrooms most parents remember.

In the ICS Addis Elementary School, classrooms have been designed with the future in mind.

Built with a focus on collaboration, communication, and flexibility, our Elementary School learning spaces are large, connected areas that allow for student movement, varied groupings, and multiple functions. At ICS, we call them hubs, and they are a signature feature of our purpose-built Elementary School building and a symbol of our commitment to innovation.

In each elementary grade level, students share a large open-plan space as well as smaller breakout rooms for small group collaboration. Approximately three sections of students work with three advisory teachers, one learning support teacher, and three qualified educational assistants in each hub. The classroom furniture allows teachers to arrange the learning spaces purposefully, combining or separating groups based on their learning needs or students' choices. Each learner builds relationships with multiple educators in the hub, and teachers who are specialized in certain areas can work with individuals or groups of students with diverse needs.

Last week, the ICS elementary leadership invited parents and families into the spaces during learning times to develop their understanding how the hubs function. The parents watched lessons in progress, made observations about learning and the physical spaces, and asked questions about the effectiveness of this future-focused approach.

“At ICS, we are pioneers in international education, using the best research and trying the newest strategies to help our students learn and prepare them to be successful in the future,” Principal Calley Connelly said. “We also deeply value the home-school partnership, so it is essential that ICS parents feel connected to and understand our learning and teaching.”

Have a look at the video above to see the ICS Elementary Hubs. ICS parents can click here to see a photo album of our recent hub visit. Keep an eye on the ICS Weekly for information about the next Parent Education Session.