A Glimpse Into ISKL’s Early Childhood ‘Provocations’ Program
At The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), in the Early Childhood (EC) program (Prep Reception, Prep Junior, and Prep Senior), learning is inspired by curiosity through play and creative skills are developed to encourage students to become lifelong learners.
The play based approach uses guided inquiry to nurture a child’s curiosity whilst providing learning opportunities to develop in all areas from social-emotional to cognitive to pre-academic skills. This approach builds foundational skills that will ensure success when the young learners transition into Elementary School.
It is crucial, then, to nurture our students’ creative abilities so that they can best express themselves, understand others, and navigate through the early years so that they can be confident and spirited young individuals in an ever-changing world.
This process is exemplified through ISKL’s EC program, Provocations, which describes a learning journey where students in Prep Junior (PJ) and Prep Reception (PR) explore, create, and build using different materials that are open-ended and hands-on to encourage the students to think and wonder and to discover all the possibilities.
While Provocations are based on developing the child by cultivating social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and creative skills, it is also guided by principles of ‘The Melawati Way,’ which encourages students to focus on ‘Taking care of yourself, Taking care of others, and Taking care of this place.’ISKL’s Director of Learning, Azra Pathan, explains that Provocations are designed to provide students with intentional experiences that inspire students to explore, wonder, talk to each other, and share different ideas.
Group Provocations start at the beginning of the academic year with introductory videos created to help evoke the students’ sense of wonder, with the intention to immerse them in a learning exploration.
“When our youngest learners explore the classroom, we watch them and begin to notice their interests and document them. With this information, we provide more Provocations during the second semester which are geared towards their interests,” says Azra.
Whole group Provocations and in-class engagements culminate with the young students voting on a particular interest that sparks each classroom’s creative spirit. “Allowing students to vote themselves promotes self-advocacy, develops effective communication, and heightens critical reasoning skills,” adds Azra.
The students’ efforts were culminated in a “Learning Celebration,” an exhibition that features each class’s interest projects, self-portraits created by each student, and two self-selected individual pieces of artwork made during the school year. Students reflected on what it was about their chosen topic that ignited their passion most. As a class, they then collaborated their ideas to deep dive into their particular interest topic.
She also expressed how ISKL’s faculty are there to guide the students throughout the entire process – from ideation to creation, and exhibition. “We want our students to know and understand that not only can they make a difference and positively impact the world but also how to take action in order to do so”.To read more about ISKL’s Early Childhood program, head over to www.iskl.edu.my
Since 1965, The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) has been a center of excellence in international education. ISKL is a co-educational, private, non-profit school responsible for the learning journey of over 1,700 students aged 3-18, representing more than 70 nationalities, at its campus in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.ISKL offers a robust international curriculum that combines leading North American educational frameworks and global best practices. This curriculum, which recognizes that students are on a lifelong learning journey, is driven by ISKL’s purpose to prepare our students for life itself. We believe in the importance of helping students shape their own paths, supporting them in discovering their passions, developing their competencies, and having an ethical impact on the world. At ISKL, every student’s journey is unique, and we are committed to nurturing their growth.ISKL is accredited internationally through the Council of International Schools (CIS) and in the United States through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Across its divisions, ISKL strongly focuses on service and sustainability and is a member of the Eco-Schools organization and the Green Schools Alliance.As ISKL celebrates its 60th anniversary, we reflect on six decades of nurturing passions and competencies, fostering a caring community, and striving to create a better world. Join us in honoring the legacy that has shaped us for 60 years, and find yourself at ISKL!