Our Methods
One of our main aims at the B.E.N. is for each child to fall in love with learning, so that the “channels of learning” stay open. To do this, we apply two methods: Generating Options™, which is designed to provide a variety of experiences for the children to learn through and Lump-Learning™ which involves immersion in a subject and engages all senses.
Generating Options™
Many experiences are provided for the child from sewing, crafts, various art activities to imaginative play, field trips, dance, theatre and music. Our methods of Generating Options™ enhance the child’s ability to make choices based on their ever growing foundation of knowledge, feelings and self considerations gained by having a variety of experiences to learn through and absorb. Our classes incorporate carefully chosen tools, specific activities and invite specialists that can help children enrich the magical process of learning about themselves and the world around them.
Lump-Learning™
Based on the understanding that for retention and comprehension, longer, slower, more continuous processes are best, subjects are studied in segments of two weeks or longer offering many opportunities for a full soaking in a territory through as many media as possible. This process creates in-depth understanding of what is being taught. Children are immersed in a subject, such as the study of water or learning about a country in 2-3 week concentrated segments. They experience as many aspects of the subject as possible through drama, literature, play, stories, math, science, pictures, the arts, practical life skills and field trips. Learning is enlivened and results stored in the child’s memory through rich experience, where the interconnections between things are naturally presented. Lessons are vibrant and practical, and cause connections of understanding that are deep-rooted.
As an example, a math lesson may be taught through story and active participation (such as preparing snack), where the children begin to actually experience numbers and quantities. In other activities, children ‘become’ letters for the day as they explore the alphabet, its sounds and its words. Working with stones, sticks, sand and snow, learning to spell is an adventure. Teachers help to stimulate the children’s natural desire to learn.
As an example, a math lesson may be taught through story and active participation (such as preparing snack), where the children begin to actually experience numbers and quantities. In other activities, children ‘become’ letters for the day as they explore the alphabet, its sounds and its words. Working with stones, sticks, sand and snow, learning to spell is an adventure. Teachers help to stimulate the children’s natural desire to learn.
