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kids &
education
PromotIng learnIng
In young ChIlDren
Parents and Early Childhood
Educators have a common
goal: making sure that
they do their utmost
to ensure each child’s success
in the world. Naturally, both
parents and teachers emphasize
the fundamental skills children
need to excel in primary school:
reading, writing and mathematics
(the 3 R’s). Unfortunately, it is not
uncommon for many schools to
give very young children repetitive
“rote” learning tasks that simply
keep the children busy but do not
allow much of a creative process
on the part of the child.
Tutor Time International Preschool
& Kindergarten, now celebrating its
fifteenth year of operations in Indonesia,
understands the importance of helping
children become active, inquisitive and
creative problem-solvers with the overall
aim of encouraging “life-long learning”.
Tutor Time schools give children the ability
to acquire the skills necessary for entrance
into international and local primary school
programs; and at the same time helps them
develop “multiple intelligence” in areas
that are often overlooked by traditional
learning curriculums. The StartSmart TM
and LifeSmart TM curriculum at Tutor Time
encompasses the eight areas of multiple
intelligence cited by Dr Howard Gardner.
The aim is to encourage children to learn
about the things for which they have a
natural curiosity or are most passionate
about. Tutor Time children can thus
build on individual problem-solving skills
independently and progress more rapidly
than children confined to traditional
classroom settings.
An example is Jessica, four
years old, who has a natural
instinct for discovering “how
things work.” She can spend
her time freely stacking and
restacking wooden blocks
as she builds a “house” in
Tutor Time’s Design Center.
An experienced staff member
carefully observes and records
her activities while encouraging
and asking questions that permit
Jessica to build her vocabulary
through self-expression; the staff
member also determines her math skills by
asking Jessica to figure out how many blocks
she may need to complete her imaginary
building. This type of activity is markedly
different than children sitting in rows of
desks repeatedly tracing the same number
symbols on photocopied worksheets.
Meanwhile, other children interact
together in the school’s Pretend Center.
Here, the teacher can help to instill social
skills and foster character building among
the children. Children learn to recognize
acceptable behaviors, the importance
of sharing and develop self-control and
self-discipline. These crucial life skills help
children make sense of the world and
build positive relationships with others.
Interpersonal intelligence is an integral
fabric in our society, and at Tutor Time,
children learn how to solve problems and
work together on a daily basis.
This comprehensive approach to
teaching and learning is representative of
Tutor Time’s continued dedication to being
the leading Early Childhood Education
organization of choice for parents around
the world. The innovative curriculum, safe,
secure and clean learning environments,
caring and enthusiastic instructors
all assure parents that their children
are receiving the highest standards of
education available in Indonesia today.
Over the summer period, Tutor Time
provides exciting and challenging learning
opportunities for children at several of
its campuses. These weeklong “themed
activities” offer children the chance to
enjoy fun activities such as cooking, arts
and crafts, sports and science projects with
their friends and our qualified Tutor Time
teachers. Parents can rest assured knowing
that their children are engaged in exciting
and stimulating learning activities in a safe
and secure professional environment while
their children take part in Tutor Time’s world
of “Summer Explorers.”
BY: TUTOR TIME INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL.
114 | MAY 2011 www.nowjakarta.co.id www.nowjakarta.co.id MAY 2011 | 115