Nexus is known for its fun lessons in its open learning spaces – here’s how open classrooms make intellectual play possible for teens.
As parents, we know teenagers are a tough crowd to please. When what’s considered to be ‘cool’ changes every five minutes, trying to keep up and keep teens interested can almost feel as frustrating as the terrible twos. To stay ahead of the curve, cool school Nexus International School (Singapore) has come up with a way to keep students focused and engaged in their classes: intellectual play. HoneyKids recently popped over to Nexus for a chat with its school counsellor, Bianca Kelly, to get all the deets on how this approach takes learning to the next level. Check out our video below to see what went down:
How teens benefit from intellectual play
Teens are in an important transitional stage – feelings, emotions, relationships, pressures – so many changes! And because of all these, it’s easy to forget that teens need to have fun in school too. Through intellectual play, they gain so much more than engaged learning. It addresses teens’ developmental needs for independence while giving them the opportunity to build bonds with their peers, direct their own learning, engage their imaginations, and express their emotions better. This undoubtedly motivates them, making learning a positive experience – something we all want for our teenage kids!
Intellectual play at Nexus
If there’s anything we know about Nexus, it’s that it always aims to make learning as fun as possible. Teachers go the extra mile to make sure their lessons are innovative and creative, transforming them into ‘intellectual play’. According to school counsellor Bianca Kelly, this makes learners – and yes, even teens – excited about going to school. Through this approach, even the most self-conscious teen will eventually drop their guard and engage with the learning and with their classmates. And when this happens, they learn to listen and support each other, which improves their social skills and helps them regulate their emotions.
Why open classrooms work
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Nexus’s open classrooms. You won’t find walls or doors in these spaces – just teens collaborating with each other, being their most creative selves and learning, learning, learning! This is all because students get to pick their own learning environment, which helps build their confidence. Unlike your traditional classrooms where the teachers are at the front and giving instructions, they work with the students, at their level and are able to foster stronger teacher-student relationships.
Want to learn more about Nexus International School (Singapore)’s innovative approaches to education? Head over to its website to get the full lowdown.
This post is in partnership with Nexus International School (Singapore).