Elementary School

Jessica Schmidt expected to work in medicine. Three years into medical school she met with an advisor who helped reframe her struggle with academic life. For Ms. Schmidt, an ADHD diagnosis explained so much – and understanding how her own brain worked inspired a totally new professional direction. Ms. Schmidt reflected on her earliest school experiences and realized she wanted to create a classroom environment that supports all students.

Ms. Schmidt’s first grade classroom is communal with shared daily routines that provide structure. Even as students are self directed in a rotation of classroom jobs, they recognize how their participation adds to the community. As a class they take time to talk about why they do things the way they do – with an emphasis on care and growth.

Academic learning is infused with wonder. What do you notice? What do you wonder? Ms. Schmidt engages in conversation about thinking. Critical thinking, thinking outside the box, thinking about thinking. She believes feedback and adaptability are important to the learning process too. Reflecting on your own learning is helpful – Ms. Schmidt does this out loud to show students that adults keep learning too.

First graders learn so much in a short time but what stays for years after is how they felt with their teacher and classmates. “The kids build good relationships and you see that throughout the day,” Ms. Schmidt says. “These kids enjoy each other, enjoy being at school.” Ms. Schmidt wants her students to have confidence in their ability to learn. She wants them to know they are seen, appreciated, and capable of incredible things – as individuals and in community.

Vishaan asks a lot of questions, some out loud. If you know an elementary student you know the gift of curiosity. Vishaan is a fourth grader who is as interested in solving a challenging math problem as finding the perfect word or phrase to express himself in writing. He describes learning at KIS as using your brain every day. “You have to think deeply,” he says. He believes deep thinking requires precision and patience.

This is Vishaan’s third year at KIS. He was born in the US, moved to Korea from New Jersey, and has visited his family in India and Malaysia more now that he lives in East Asia. Every new student has a strategy for making friends. Vishaan decided persistence was essential. At recess, you introduce yourself and play together and the next day you do the same, play and talk, argue and compromise, practice kindness – and then one day, you have friends. Now Vishaan is the kid ready to welcome someone new.

Joining afterschool activities is a good way to make discoveries too. You’ll meet friends who are also into Rube Goldberg machines and physics. Vishaan just goes for it, tries something new each season. He’s played basketball and soccer, learned origami and taekwondo, and given ice skating a chance.

Vishaan’s mind makes connections all day. He thinks about all the hows and whys of things that happen in the world and he understands some questions cannot be answered – yet. But he keeps asking and thinking deeply. And that is a gift.