Reviving IA Classrooms

Making learning at school easier, more effective and more inviting for our children

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES DIFFER significantly from the high school lecture and desk-work of the 1970’s - 1980’s.

Step into today’s IA classroom and you often hear multiple voices at once. You will also see the general arrangement of the room change frequently to vary social interactions and dynamics.

TO EQUIP CLASSES for quick and quiet transitions, many schools across the country— nearby high schools among them—are trading in their old desks for tables, chairs and other furniture all designed specifically for active learning.

Tax dollars provide funds for the classroom upgrades at most schools. But, because we are a consortium school, the IA community must raise money from private sources if it wants to give our students similar flexible spaces for learning.

Visit the IAF website for case histories— www.InternationalAcademyFoundation.org

Even if your family can only afford to give as little as $10 right now,

please help us achieve our 100% participation goal.

Then...

and now

Foundation

Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.

—Albert Einstein

International Academy, with its 100% dedication to the IB curriculum, continuously strives to improve student engagement and learning.

With the generous help of all IA families, alumni and communities, our school can revitalize its classrooms, modernizing the furniture and facilitating new teaching methods.

Any donation you make, large or small, will make a difference. All are tax-deductible and immensely appreciated. Please send yours today.

Supporting IA’s World of Learning

International Academy Foundation1020 E. Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

248.341.5900 www.InternationalAcademyFoundation.org

T L C F U R N I T U R E P R O J E C T

Foundation

T WO BIG ADVANCEMENTS in education have significantly changed the classroom experience for high school students:

1. New understandings of how people best learn

2. Recognition of the need to master “higher order” cognitive and communication skills, in addition to course material.

International Academy’s IB Programs have long emphasized higher-order skills. And IA instructors conscientiously fine-tune the way they teach them.

Likewise, IA teachers maintain a steady focus on differentiated instruction methods to ensure that each student’s learning styles are addressed.

BUT A ROADBLOCK HAS EMERGED: IA’s yester-decade classrooms hinder these new methods. Our rooms are spatially constrained and do a poor job of facilitating the varied activities our children need to experience and practice.

Even though we occupy a rented facility and have seriously challenged budgets, improvements can be made to continue improving our children’s educations.

Furniture options designed for 21st-century high school students and their classrooms

Classroom

today’s tasks

Some “higher-order” skills

• solve complex problems in groups

• reason effectively with others

• persuade others with different learning styles

• work creatively with others

• adapt to change and be flexible

• manage projects and produce results

Photos courtesy of NBS Commercial

Interiors and Steelcase. No specific design/

product selections have been made.

New classroom furniture design options to

• maximize use of constrained space

• facilitate varied activity needs for practicing higher-order skills and differentiating learning styles

• accommodate tools / items students use daily

• demonstrate that we care about our children’s learning environment

   

T WO BIG ADVANCEMENTS in education have significantly changed the classroom experience for high school students:

1. New understandings of how people best learn

2. Recognition of the need to master “higher order” cognitive and communication skills, in addition to course material.

International Academy’s IB Programs have long emphasized higher-order skills. And IA instructors conscientiously fine-tune the way they teach them.

Likewise, IA teachers maintain a steady focus on differentiated instruction methods to ensure that each student’s learning styles are addressed.

BUT A ROADBLOCK HAS EMERGED: IA’s yester-decade classrooms hinder these new methods. Our rooms are spatially constrained and do a poor job of facilitating the varied activities our children need to experience and practice.

Even though we occupy a rented facility and have seriously challenged budgets, improvements can be made to continue improving our children’s educations.

Furniture options designed for 21st-century high school students and their classrooms

Classroom

today’s tasks

Some “higher-order” skills

• solve complex problems in groups

• reason effectively with others

• persuade others with different learning styles

• work creatively with others

• adapt to change and be flexible

• manage projects and produce results

Photos courtesy of NBS Commercial

Interiors and Steelcase. No specific design/

product selections have been made.

New classroom furniture design options to

• maximize use of constrained space

• facilitate varied activity needs for practicing higher-order skills and differentiating learning styles

• accommodate tools / items students use daily

• demonstrate that we care about our children’s learning environment

 

 

 

 

T WO BIG ADVANCEMENTS in education have significantly changed the classroom experience for high school students:

1. New understandings of how people best learn

2. Recognition of the need to master “higher order” cognitive and communication skills, in addition to course material.

International Academy’s IB Programs have long emphasized higher-order skills. And IA instructors conscientiously fine-tune the way they teach them.

Likewise, IA teachers maintain a steady focus on differentiated instruction methods to ensure that each student’s learning styles are addressed.

BUT A ROADBLOCK HAS EMERGED: IA’s yester-decade classrooms hinder these new methods. Our rooms are spatially constrained and do a poor job of facilitating the varied activities our children need to experience and practice.

Even though we occupy a rented facility and have seriously challenged budgets, improvements can be made to continue improving our children’s educations.

Furniture options designed for 21st-century high school students and their classrooms

Classroom

today’s tasks

Some “higher-order” skills

• solve complex problems in groups

• reason effectively with others

• persuade others with different learning styles

• work creatively with others

• adapt to change and be flexible

• manage projects and produce results

Photos courtesy of NBS Commercial

Interiors and Steelcase. No specific design/

product selections have been made.

New classroom furniture design options to

• maximize use of constrained space

• facilitate varied activity needs for practicing higher-order skills and differentiating learning styles

• accommodate tools / items students use daily

• demonstrate that we care about our children’s learning environment

Reviving IA Classrooms

Making learning at school easier, more effective and more inviting for our children

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES DIFFER significantly from the high school lecture and desk-work of the 1970’s - 1980’s.

Step into today’s IA classroom and you often hear multiple voices at once. You will also see the general arrangement of the room change frequently to vary social interactions and dynamics.

TO EQUIP CLASSES for quick and quiet transitions, many schools across the country— nearby high schools among them—are trading in their old desks for tables, chairs and other furniture all designed specifically for active learning.

Tax dollars provide funds for the classroom upgrades at most schools. But, because we are a consortium school, the IA community must raise money from private sources if it wants to give our students similar flexible spaces for learning.

Visit the IAF website for case histories— www.InternationalAcademyFoundation.org

Even if your family can only afford to give as little as $10 right now,

please help us achieve our 100% participation goal.

Then...

and now

Foundation

Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.

—Albert Einstein

International Academy, with its 100% dedication to the IB curriculum, continuously strives to improve student engagement and learning.

With the generous help of all IA families, alumni and communities, our school can revitalize its classrooms, modernizing the furniture and facilitating new teaching methods.

Any donation you make, large or small, will make a difference. All are tax-deductible and immensely appreciated. Please send yours today.

Supporting IA’s World of Learning

International Academy Foundation1020 E. Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

248.341.5900 www.InternationalAcademyFoundation.org

T L C F U R N I T U R E P R O J E C T

Foundation