Primary
Pre-Primary Curriculum:
The Birla Open Minds Preschools (BOMPS) are conceptualized to accentuate the ‘early development stages’ learning requirements of the children. Activity, entertainment, student centric learning methodologies is the hallmark of BOMPS. Child Safety, hygiene, nutrition and individual care are prioritized with standardized systems and processes. BOMPS curriculum is designed to enhance appropriate social behaviour, increase sensory perception, build effective learning habits and drive individual personality attributes in the children.
Developmentally Appropriate:
Birla Open Minds Pre-School understands the need for focused learning plans for children in the pre primary school phase. The ‘early developmental stages’ learning needs are quite different than any other stage of learning in a child’s life. Our approach in facilitating, learning is sensitive, empathetic and progressive. Instead of rushing through a ‘push’ method, we adopt a ‘seeking’ method to trigger enquiry from the child.
Integrated
The integrated approach of learning at BOMPS is driven by the knowledge of multiple intelligence and multi sensory learning process. We design the classroom sessions keeping in mind an integrated approach of learning and incorporate both multiple intelligence and multi sensory processes. For extended integrated learning, we adapt best practices of Pre-School teaching pedagogy. This is to accomplish ease of learning and positive learning outcomes.
Creative:
We at BOMPS believe ‘creativity’ is central to all learning. Especially for a child, in the ‘early developmental stages’ need to enhance this critical competence is important. Developing creativity, experiencing it and learning through it are both essential for the child’s next level of growth phase. BOMPS in-class and off-class session plans are necessarily created to encourage quick learning and to inspire creative spirit among its learners.
Care for Self, others and the environment:
At BOMPS, we consider it necessary for a child to be accountable for himself/herself, others and the environment. Developing this skill-set requires focused nurturing by facilitators at regular intervals. Knowing that one is unique and have self esteem, self efficacy is the core of growing up as a strong individual.
At BOMPS we sow the seeds for a strong plant to grow into a tree. While being a unique individual, having empathy, caring for others, co-existing with the nature are some of the personal attributes a child needs to learn at early stages. We wish to shape a child by nurturing the emotional and intellectual dimensions through empathy, environmental consciousness and respectful co-existence.
Features of Birla Open Minds Primary Years Curriculum
- Thematic and integrated approach
- Value individuality
- Learn through varied mediums
- Nurture divergent thinking to foster creativity
- Making new connections leading to innovation
Scholastic and Co-scholastic Approach
Our Primary Years curriculum is age appropriate.It is based on learning outcomes and progressive teaching, integrating the concepts,processes and ways of thinking drawn from the diverse disciplines of subject areas. We begin the journey with the following subjects
Scholastic:
- English Language Arts
- Hindi
- Environmental Studies
- Mathematics
- Information and Communication Technology
Co-scholastic:
- Performing Arts (Dance, Music & Theater)
- Visual Arts
- Physical Education,Yoga & Sports(SPEED)
For Grades 1 to 4, the curriculum is planned to initiate the student into formal learning process. At Birla Open Minds International School, we understand that students at this phase of learning require professional facilitation by well trained and specialized educators.
Multimedia enabled learning methodology, integrated curriculum flow, in-class and off-class activities are designed to create curiosity and enquiry towards an array of subjects. The theme based approach to the classroom modules, encourages students to be engaged and participative.
The need to lay a strong foundation with the help of rigorous Scholastic and Co-scholastic activities have been provided in a neatly inter-twined symmetry. Best practices of different curriculum have been customized to the local and international context to give a wider platform of learning to the students.
Imbibing the 21st Century skills, is also an integral part of teaching pedagogy. The assessment is an on-going process. It guides the learner in their pursuit of learning. Theme end and Term end assessments ensure timely feedback on degree of achievement of individual as well as grade level outcomes. The assessment methodology is primarily designed to encourage and inspire a student to further his/her knowledge rather than to categorize his/her competence.
Middle/Secondary:
Birla Open Minds International School offers the Secondary Learning Programme designed to suit the demands of students in Grades 5 to 10. The school initiates to teach separate subjects, but integration and inter-disciplinary teaching approach continues to take place wherever appropriate.
The approach is student centric where the onus of learning shifts from the teacher to the student. The methodology is constructive taking the child from known to unknown, concrete to abstract and from local to gobal.
We understand this phase of learning requires broader theoretical input, practical interventions and personality enhancement. All the above factors are considered in designing the curriculum for the Middle & Secondary Learning Programme.
The School equips its students of the Middle & Secondary Years to face higher degree of assessment not only for the boards but also for other external competitive exams. The ongoing assessments occur regularly through-out the instructional process. The assessments includes Periodic tests, Multiple assessments, Portfolio and Subject enrichment activities.
Term-End assessment is a test given at the end of each term. These are part of paper-pencil, including questions which need comprehension, analysis and critical thinking.
Senior Secondary
Birla Open Minds International School offers Senior Secondary programme for Grades 11 & 12. The school offers all the three streams Science, Commerce and Humanities with a variety of subject options to ensure students have enough choices to pursue their stream of academic focus.
At this stage of learning, specialized inputs in selected subjects, professional training, summer internship and laboratory experimentation are critical for student empowerment.
This phase of education is considered as a crossroad for a student both in academic excellence and personal effectiveness, thus the need of precision guidance arises. The School, through individual counseling sessions, career planning modules and personality development programmes ensure that the students are ready for a highly competitive world outside.
Cambridge Assessment International Education
Cambridge Assessment International Education is a part of University of Cambridge. More than 10,000 schools are part of the Cambridge learning community and have presence in 160 countries across 9 regions: North America, Latin America, UK & Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia & Pacific. Cambridge programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. The curriculum is designed by subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research.
The Cambridge curriculum at Birla Open Minds International School prepares students for Cambridge Primary in Grade 5 and Cambridge Lower Secondary at Grades 6 to 8 and then the students will move to Cambridge Upper Secondary Programme in Grades 9 and 10. Cambridge Assessment International Education(CAIE) is the world’s largest provider of international education programmes and offers a broad range of subjects tailored to the needs of developing international adaptability.
Cambridge education makes the learners confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged; they develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning and hence Cambridge learners become future ready with the skills they need for life facilitating enhanced performance at school, university and work.
Learner Attributes Of Cambridge Assessment International Education
Knowledge, Understanding and Higher Order Thinking Skills
Cambridge programmes combine an emphasis on mastering subjects in depth with the development skills for study and work in the future. A deep subject knowledge as well as the conceptual understanding that helps students make links between different aspects of a subject. Cambridge learners are encouraged to develop higher order thinking skills - problem solving, critical thinking, independent research, collaboration and presenting arguments. These fundamental skills make learning enjoyable and rewarding.
Cambridge Global Perspectives
Global Citizens must have global awareness. Cambridge Global Perspectives is a unique, transformational programme that helps students at every stage of school education to develop outstanding transferable skills, including lateral thinking, research and collaboration.
Learning to Learn
Cambridge students develop good learning habits as they are encouraged to reflect on their learning, making them competent to build on experience and plan ahead. In this learning process, they become innovative and resourceful, secure in their knowledge yet open to new ideas and opinions. They will also be responsible – to themselves, and to others. These habits lay the foundations for having a future fit mind.
Assessment
The Cambridge Assessments are designed to map what a student has learnt and areas of improvement in student’s understanding and skills. The assessments give students focus, motivation and a challenge. The assessments are based on deep subject knowledge, conceptual understanding and higher order thinking skills.
Supporting Teacher Development
Good teaching is the key to improving students’ performance, and at Birla Open Minds International School the Cambridge Teachers get an opportunity to enhance existing skills and develop new approaches through ongoing professional development programmes conducted by CAIE.
Stepping it up the Birla Open Minds way:
The School has adopted Six Sigma and LEAN techniques and employed them in the curriculum. Research-oriented topics are taught as well as internal evaluation of student’s work is done by methodologies of Six Sigma This enables the teacher to have a precise picture of the Student’s learning curve and plan accordingly to enhance their learning experience. Projects are undertaken under LEAN. Dedicated classes for nurturing Multiple Intelligence skills by undertaking projects that combine application learning of all subjects have been very successful . The most sought after among the students are Linguistic Skill Enhancement classes dedicated exclusively to explore Figures of Speech to create awe-inspiring figurative linguists
Celebrating Academics
Academics are celebrated as a culmination of all the learning that happens through the theme based approach. These celebrations go hand in hand seamlessly with the curriculum to bring fun element, student learning, parent interaction and teacher intervention through integrating different concepts taught in every subject, encouraging application based learning.
Celebrating Academics Through:
- Literary Fest
- Math-A-Ron
- Alpha to Omega
- Theme Culmination
- Student Led Conference
