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Holistic Education and its importance for a child’s overall growth

December 14, 2024

Holistic education is a comprehensive approach to teaching where educators seek to address the emotional, social, ethical, and academic needs of students in an integrated learning format. Emphasis is placed on positive school environments and providing whole-child supports (services that support academic and nonacademic needs, also known as wraparound supports) to students.

Students are taught to reflect on their actions and how they impact the global and local community, as well as how to learn from the community around them. GAIS Teachers often engage students in projects that apply critical-thinking skills toward solving real-world problems.

Understanding Holistic Development in School

Holistic development refers to the overall growth of an individual in multiple dimensions – cognitive, emotional, physical, and social. It acknowledges that a person is more than just their academic achievements and that personal and emotional development plays an equally significant role in shaping one’s future.

Cognitive Development: Beyond Memorization

In the pursuit of academic excellence, the cognitive development of children often takes precedence. However, it’s essential to move beyond rote memorization and encourage critical thinking, problem- solving, and creativity. Gems Akademia International school (GAIS), known for its quality education, have started adopting innovative teaching methods to stimulate cognitive development.

Activities that promote cognitive development include project-based learning, group discussions, and exposure to diverse subjects. This approach helps students develop a love for learning, enabling them to apply knowledge to real-world situations

Emotional Intelligence: The Heart of Holistic Development

Emotional intelligence (EI) is a key component of holistic development. It involves recognizing and managing one’s emotions while understanding and empathizing with others’ feelings. Our School plays a pivotal role in nurturing emotional intelligence among students.

A nurturing environment in Gems Akademia International school, where students feel safe expressing their emotions, can significantly enhance their emotional intelligence. Activities such as peer support groups, mindfulness practices, and open dialogues with teachers can contribute to the development of emotional awareness and empathy.

Mind-Body Connection: Nurturing Learning Environment

The mind-body connection is an essential aspect of holistic development by nurturing the learning environment. It underscores the interdependence of mental and physical well-being. Our School that prioritize the mind-body connection acknowledge that a healthy body supports a healthy mind, and vice versa.

Physical education programs, yoga, and mindfulness sessions are increasingly integrated into the curriculum of ICSE, ISC and CAIE. These activities not only promote physical fitness but also teach students to manage stress, improve concentration, and enhance self-awareness.

Self-Awareness: The Foundation of Holistic Growth

Self-awareness is at the core of holistic development. It involves understanding one’s strengths, weaknesses, and values. Self-aware individuals make better life choices and are more equipped to handle challenges. Our school foster self-awareness by providing opportunities for students to explore their interests and passions.

Our school provides career guidance programs and extracurricular activities that encourage self- discovery. Encouraging students to reflect on their experiences and set personal goals also contribute to their self-awareness.

Benefits:

Holistic education is based on a learning philosophy that brings a number of benefits to students, teachers, schools, and communities. Students are empowered to improve their educational outcomes and gain the life skills necessary to take on a successful professional career.

Improved Academic Achievement: Holistic education can improve the academic achievements of all children, regardless of background and circumstances, by catering to individual learning styles and providing a supportive learning environment. Children’s brain capacities are increased when they feel physically and emotionally safe and connected to others, according to the Learning Policy Institute.

Enhanced Mental and Emotional Well-Being: In a supportive environment, where social and emotional learning is emphasized along with academics, students have a better chance of emerging with self-awareness, confidence, and a sense of social responsibility.

Increased Problem-Solving Ability: Students who are tasked with solving real-world problems that exist in their communities emerge with strong critical-thinking skills. These hands-on projects give students skills that will apply to their adult careers, such as how to gather, analyze, and report data and how to collaborate with others.

Role of GAIS teachers in providing the holistic education

Strong Student-Teacher Relationships: When teachers are able to form strong bonds with students, performance and engagement is positively impacted. At-risk students have a higher chance of success when they feel safe and nurtured. Teachers can foster strong relationships by responding to students’ strengths and needs and by acting in a culturally sensitive manner. Allowing students to help develop classroom rules and take on leadership roles helps encourage trust and communication among students and enhances their motivation to succeed.

Encouraging Self-Confidence: Students need to believe that they belong at school and have the ability to succeed. Teachers can help build self-confidence by providing multiple opportunities for students to digest structured information and communicate their understanding in a variety of ways. Teachers must recognize students’ unique strengths and treat all students equally. Student motivation can be enhanced by making sure that lessons are relevant to students’ lives and focus on realistic issues.

Incorporating Emotional Reflection: As a teacher, it’s not always easy to look beyond academic performance to nurture the mental and emotional well-being of a child. To encourage emotional reflection in daily routines, GAIS teachers provide moments for students to reflect, contemplate, or meditate. Lessons to teach empathy could focus on effective listening and observation techniques or literature that presents varying perspectives on social issues.

Holistic educational model of the School:

Experiential Learning: We focus on experiential learning provide hands-on educational experiences. For instance, students work in groups exploring different learning styles to determine which styles are most effective for them. Holistic, experiential techniques often include problem-solving exercises to address community problems or create innovative products.

Self-Guided Learning: In self-guided educational environments, teachers allow students to learn at their own pace in the style that best suits them. The self-guided culture allows for personalization to mitigate the inadequacies of one-size-fits-all learning models. Weekly assessments, Unit Test, Test-on-Demand , Summative Assessment are used to adjust the curriculum’s content and pace.

Community Schools: Community schools are based on the idea that people find meaning through connections with their community. Teachers partner with community members, including families, residents, organizations, and officials, to provide integrated support and expanded learning opportunities, including after-school and summer programs. Schools are a hub of the community bringing together academic, social, development, and engagement activities.

Interdisciplinary Coursework: Part of what makes up holistic education is the idea that students’ cognitive growth is improved when multiple subjects are addressed together. GAIS is creating integrated programs where teachers from different disciplines come together to teach thematic courses that address issues from multiple perspectives. Coursework also include independent research, travel, fieldwork, and internships.

Gems Akademia International School, which is known for its academic excellence, is increasingly recognizing the importance of holistic development. School is adopting a more balanced approach to education that encompasses cognitive, emotional, and physical growth.

GAIS is investing in teacher training programs that focus on understanding and nurturing students’ emotional needs. We are also designing curricula that include a broader range of subjects, allowing students to explore their interests beyond the traditional academic disciplines.

Gems Akademia International School – The best School in Kolkata:

Gems Akademia International School has been awarded the 'Best School in Teaching Learning Practices, 2017' by ASSOCHAM. Gems Akademia International School has been awarded the 'Rank 1 Day-Cum-Boarding Schools' in Kolkata and 'Rank 3 Day-Cum-Boarding Schools' in West Bengal, 2018 by Education World. Ranked 1st in Kolkata, 1st in West Bengal and 7th in India, in the category of India's Top 10 International – Day Cum Schools by Education Today (India's School Merit Awards 2016- 17).

Being a part of Kolkata's future heritage, Gems Akamedia International School is not just a school but a growing culture. With the best boarding school facilities, it just does not cater to the needs of its students but also stays available for them like one’s own extended family. In the league of education its achievement are unparallel as most of the students are toppers under these roofs. This year the ISC,icse, and the CAIE boards marks reached to moon by our students.