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At Nova Pioneer, we use the enquiry-based model, along with Reggio Emilia philosophies, to ensure our learning spaces are beautiful and interactive. While the Cambridge Curriculum is academically rigorous with 90 minutes of numeracy and literacy per day, the Nova Pioneer environment is highly stimulating. This is because we generally have two teachers in each classroom and we use blended learning centers to teach skills in different ways (on Chromebooks, through games, through individualized attention and much more). 

 

Students lead discussions, teachers navigate them 

Children come to school to experience the joy and wonder of learning. At Nova Pioneer, it’s important to us that our students feel appreciated, valued and are given the opportunity to express themselves in a safe space. Learning is fun, interactive  and caters for all learning styles.  Students are treated as leaders and we see them rise to meet these expectations.

Grade 4 is the beginning of the Intermediate Phase where we build onto Numeracy and Literacy concepts taught in Foundation Phase (Grades R-3). In addition to Numeracy and Literacy, we will also introduce new subjects, like Science and Humanities (History and Geography). 

 

 

Students Explore before we Explain 

Lessons are designed to deepen knowledge and understanding, with lesson activities differentiated to maximise student engagement and learning. All our lessons are enquiry-based and encourage critical thinking. We require students to explore before we explain. That way they are engaged in the identification of the problem and part of creating the solution which ensures that skills learned are retained.

In addition, in Grade 4, we focus on developing collaborative and metacognitive skills. We encourage awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes. We do this by having guided reflection time at the end of each day. 

 

 

Assessments

Assessments are both Formative and Summative and parents receive regular feedback on their child’s progress throughout the term. We ensure that our students excel in their exams, but we also ensure that skills are retained beyond exams. Nova Pioneer teachers don’t lecture, they lead discussions and facilitate projects that help students engage deeply and think critically about course material. Our students frequently apply their academic work outside the classroom to real world situations.

 

New Joiners

Children joining us in Grade 4 for the first time will adapt very quickly to our Nova Pioneer culture and classroom norms. We care as much about academic development as we do our students’ emotional and social development. Our culture principles and psychological awareness tools are discussed and reinforced daily in a fun and non-threatening way. We maintain a ‘responsive classroom’ which means we call out positive behaviour and encourage students to identify their own negative feelings and how they can best deal with them. 

 

 

Would you like to learn more?

We find that students thrive in this stimulating and thoughtful environment and the growth is visible through our continued MAP (intuitive, computer-based) testing. We’d love you to see what we’re about by coming through for a socially distanced tour. Please contact our admissions team using the details below

 

Get in touch

Want to know more about our school, fees and extracurricular? Send us your contact details and someone from our brand and admissions office will get in touch.