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A boy hugging his father after his performance in nursery school

Nursery School vs Daycare: What’s The Difference?

Terms like “daycare,” “nursery school,” and “preschool” are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same. While both provide care and supervision for young children, it’s important to understand the key differences when selecting the right option for your child. In this blog post, we will explore the similarities and differences between nursery school and daycare, as well as what you can typically expect from each type of program.

Nursery School vs. Daycare: Terminology

Child care center means any home or facility, by whatever name known, which is maintained for the care, development, or supervision of six or more children under 13 years of age who attend for less than 24 hours a day. 

– New Jersey’s Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers (N.J.A.C.3A:52)

According to state laws in NJ, both nursery school and daycares fall under the broader category of child care centers. However, different terminologies used to describe them indicate their different focus on education, age group, curriculum, and methodology, helping families understand what each program offers.

A nursery school, as its name suggests, refers to a schooling program for toddlers with a formal curriculum on early childhood education. In some regions, a nursery school may be considered as part of the preschool. It commonly serves younger children (around 2) compared to preschool programs, which generally accommodate children ages 3-5 as an introduction to kindergarten. The educational environment, likely led by highly-trained teachers, creates a dynamic and enriching environment that introduces children to a classroom setting and lays a foundation for building pre-academic skills. 

Daycares, on the other hand, commonly focus on care and nurturing for a wider age range from infants to young teenagers. While some daycare centers incorporate learning activities, their primary purpose is to provide a safe space for children like babysitting rather than structured educational instruction. Caregivers ensure children’s well-being but are not necessarily required to engage them in developmental or academic activities.

Nursery School vs. Daycare: What are the Similarities?

Both nursery schools and daycare programs must be licensed by state regulators and are usually subject to the same laws and regulations for child care centers. These regulations cover aspects such as director qualifications, safety protocols, staff-to-child ratios, and recordkeeping requirements. You can find all licensed child care centers in New Jersey here

Both preschools and daycares make safety a top concern, ensuring that children are well cared for while supporting their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

Nursery School vs. Daycare: What are the Differences?

Understanding that child care programs have different goals and areas of focus, let’s examine some key differences between nursery school and daycare. 

Educational Focus

As mentioned earlier, nursery schools tend to be more learning-oriented. Although daycares may provide opportunities for children to develop life skills through spontaneous, self-directed learning, nursery schools design stimulating learning experiences, such as group play and conflict resolutions, encouraging socio-emotional and intellectual growth under teachers’ guidance. 

Moreover, nursery schools prepare children for the next stage of learning by introducing foundational skills in math, language, music, and art through engaging, play-based activities. Teachers in nursery schools are more likely to be well-trained in early childhood education. There should be a set educational curriculum such as International Baccalaureate (IB), Montessori, or Bank Street, with a framework focused on different learning outcomes. 

For instance, the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) at Tessa International School’s nursery program offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework. It promotes play-based learning that fosters toddlers’ curiosity, creativity, and confidence, equipping them with the skills needed to thrive both now and in the future.

Little boy marvels as a volcano science activity

Nursery education paves the way for greater learning capabilities as early brain development brings rapid cognitive, emotional, and physical growth for a child.

Services

Nursery schools generally follow a daily schedule similar to that of a kindergarten classroom, helping children develop a sense of routine and reducing anxiety when transitioning to the next educational phase. Varied by school, options such as half day or full day programs, before and after school services, and summer programs may be available to accommodate working parents. 

Daycares, by contrast, often offer more flexible services, including drop-in child care. Some daycares operate year-round, including during the summer and on weekends. However, the flexible hours and less structured environment can sometimes lead to inconsistent interactions among children and a lack of continuous staff supervision, which may unfavourably impact young children’s social development.

While some daycares are home-based, nursery schools are mostly center-based, accommodating a larger size of students with school facilities. Nursery schools also tend to have lower teacher-to-child ratios to allow for more personalized learning experiences.

Age Requirements

Nursery schools typically serve children starting around age 2, while daycare centers may enroll children from infancy up to school age. Some daycare centers use a mixed-age model, where children of different ages interact with one another. While this model can foster social development, it may also lead to conflicts or challenges in addressing each child’s developmental needs. In contrast, nursery schools provide more age-appropriate learning opportunities tailored to their specific curriculum and methodology.

Nursery Program at Tessa International School

At Tessa, our nursery program provides students as young as 20 months with a unique introduction to the school experience, initiating toddlers to a second language, fostering creativity through play-based activities, and laying the foundation for lifelong learning. 

Unlike traditional daycare centers, our nursery program offers: 

  • A Bilingual Program: When it comes to bilingualism, the earlier the better. The majority of instruction is conducted in the target language–Spanish, French, or Mandarin–helping students build strong language foundations.You can learn more about the benefits and suggestions of raising a bilingual child here
  • A World-Class Education: Guided by the IB and the French, Spanish, and Chinese Curricula, our program provides a foundation for lifelong learning. Children are introduced to key concepts in literacy, math, the arts, and physical development. These early experiences are carefully designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and prepare them for deeper learning in the years ahead.
  • A Play-Based Curriculum: By balancing structured activities with free play, we encourage children to learn through exploration and discovery while having fun. Learn more about how we prioritizes happiness as a key pillar of the school mission here
Our Spanish Nursery teacher guides toddlers in language learning.

Learning a second language earlier and for a longer period is most likely to lead to proficiency.

 

Are you ready to discover Hoboken’s leading language immersion summer program? 

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

 

 

Our Spanish Nursery teacher guides toddlers in language learning.

Raising a Bilingual Toddler: FAQs and Expert Tips for Success

Can young children handle exposure to two languages? Absolutely! Research shows that bilingual infants – as young as 20 months – are capable of processing two languages efficiently. Bilingual acquisition is a natural and rewarding journey for our toddlers that not only enriches communication but also brings unique cognitive and developmental advantages. Below, we have addressed common concerns parents have about raising bilingual toddlers, backed by research and expert insights.

Commonly Asked Questions

1. Is it too early to start teaching my 2-year-old a second language?

No, starting early is highly advantageous. Early language acquisition is strongly supported by the way children’s brains develop. Toddlers naturally absorb languages without consciously realizing it. A study shows that even babies as young as 4 months can differentiate between language inputs, emphasizing the potential in cognitive development from dual language exposure. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education, children who begin learning second languages before the age of six will have an easier time:

For more insights, watch the last webinar by Kathleen Visconti, our Head of School, on the benefits of bilingualism. You can download the recording of the session here.

2. Will learning two languages confuse my child?

No. Research for decades has debunked this common misconception. In fact, children who have regular and rich exposure to both languages achieve the same milestones in language development at roughly the same pace as monolingual children. Additionally, evidence proves that bilingualism enhances children’s cognitive abilities, such as understanding others’ perspectives and improving problem-solving skills

 

Two French Track toddlers actively engage in bilingual learning.

Early exposure to another language ignites children’s learning.

3. How do I balance exposure to two languages?

The “One Parent, One Language” (OPOL) strategy offers a great way to ensure balanced exposure, where each parent consistently speaks only one language to the child. While popular, OPOL can be demanding to maintain. 

Alternatively, to ensure later bilingualism, many experts recommend providing more early input in a minority language and promoting children’s interaction with peers who speak the same language. In this light, a high-quality nursery school program is greatly beneficial, forming a supportive language-immersed environment. 

This is what Tessa International School’s Immersion Model is about. In our nursery program, toddlers start learning French, Spanish, or Mandarin with 80% of the communication and learning activities in the target language. The 80:20 immersion stage builds a strong foundation for bilingual fluency. 

4. What if I don’t speak the second language fluently?

That’s okay! There are still numerous ways to foster second language development. Books, songs, and other resources can be utilized to create an environment that encourages language exploration and learning. 

Don’t know where to start? We curate an array of language-promoting resources for you. For example, you can find French resources recommended by teachers from Tessa French track, accredited by the French Ministry of Education, on our school website. Learning another language with your child will be a unique parenting experience and strengthen your role in their educational journey. 

5. What are the long-term benefits of bilingualism for young children?

The advantages of mastering another language are crystal clear: around 60% of the world population knows more than one language as of 2018. Therefore, bilingualism broadens communication skills, fosters cultural awareness, and opens doors to academic and professional success. 

More importantly than a higher annual salary bracket, there are fascinating and meaningful findings that bilingualism appears to delay the onset of degenerative cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The cognitive stimulation for managing two languages activates multiple aspects of brain activity and compensates for cognitive decline, promoting our children a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life

6. What should I do if my child mixes languages?

Language mixing, or code-switching, is a natural phenomenon among non-monolingual learners. It signifies active usage of both languages and bilingual thinking rather than confusion. 

Some researchers suggest that code-switching reflects an intellectual advantage by demonstrating the comprehension of different cultures as well as an understanding of the fundamental structures and functions of language systems. Therefore, the key to supporting your child through language mixing is to encourage appropriate expression and celebrate their bilingual development.. With the right support, your child will learn to separate languages sooner than you can imagine. 

7. How can I make learning two languages fun for my toddler?

Toddlers thrive on playful interactions. There are numerous fun and engaging opportunities for language building through play, music, and books. You can learn more about play-based learning activities practical at home here

A parent feels proud for her twin boys' Mandarin Chinese development through Tessa Nursery Program.

At Tessa International School, we provide a bilingual education based on happiness.

8. How much exposure does my child need to become fluent?

There is no exact formula for fluency. Factors like the quality of exposure, age, and family background all play a role in children’s language development. 

“Finally, there is no good measure of ‘enough exposure.’ “

Dr. François Grosjean, a Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Language and Speech Processing Laboratory at the University of Neuchâtel.

Like any other skill, language learning takes practice and time. Evidence above shows that children who experience two languages from birth consistently have the potential to develop into native speakers of both languages. 

At Tessa International School, our nursery, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary programs provide children with everyday opportunities to practice both languages, fostering natural and lasting fluency.

9. Will my child eventually prefer one language over the other?

The notion of perfectly balanced bilingualism is ideological. In other words, bilingualism is not static, existing on a continuum in which one’s proficiency is constantly changing over time. Bilinguals often have a dominant and a minority language based on complex strands of social, cultural, and educational influences, so it is understandable for people to display language dominance

However, Tessa’s Immersion Progression Model is thoughtfully designed to help your child maintain a balance instead of losing these valuable language assets. 

  • 80:20 Immersion Stage: At Tessa, from Nursery through Kindergarten, the majority of instruction (80%) is conducted in the target language to ensure sufficient exposure of the minority language, allowing students to build strong, life-long foundations in the language.
  • 50:50 Dual Language Stage: Starting in Grade 1, students will receive instruction and absorb knowledge in English and the targeted language equally in order to gain proficiency in both. 

You can learn more about the Model here

10. Are there specific programs or schools that support bilingualism for toddlers?

Yes! At Tessa International School, we offer world-class bilingual education for ages 2-10. Differing from other schooling programs, our nursery program provides a special introduction to initiate your child to a second language, develops their creativity through various play-based activities, and prepares them to become lifelong learners.

  • A Bilingual Program: When it comes to bilingualism, the earlier the better. Daily exposure to dual languages builds children’s confidence and communication skills, preparing them to become bilingual, adaptable, and active citizens.
  • A World-Class Education: Guided by the International Baccalaureate, our nursery program provides a “roadmap” for toddlers to travel, with options for detours when their curiosity is peaked or the need for student-initiated action occurs. 
  • A Play-Based Curriculum: Balancing structured activities and free play, we encourage children to learn while having fun, inquire and make discoveries for themselves, aligned with one of the three educational pillars of our school mission – Happiness. 

You can download our Nursery Curriculum here

 

Are you ready to discover Hoboken’s leading international private school?

Contact Tessa International School to learn more! 

 

Two happy French track Kindergarteners at Tessa International School

Why Kindergarten is Important

Does a good Kindergarten experience matter? The answer is yes. A 2010 study conducted by Harvard University economist John Friedman found that a strong Kindergarten education significantly impacts an individual’s academic success and overall life achievements. Typically, children begin Kindergarten between the ages of 4 and 6. Regardless of whether they have prior preschool experience or not, this crucial transitional year sets the foundation for learning and development, establishing skills and habits necessary for early school success, academic achievement, and overall development. 

Three French Track Kindergarteners at Tessa International School are developing their bilingual skills with the teacher.

A year in kindergarten can nurture well-rounded individuals ready for lifelong learning.

Benefits of Kindergarten

Kindergarten offers a range of age-appropriate and engaging experiences often unavailable at home or in daycare centers, exposing students to developmentally beneficial opportunities. 

Social and Emotional Learning

Kindergarten acts as a bridge between the secure home environment and the outside world. It encourages young learners to interact with peers and teachers while practicing essential social and emotional intelligence skills. These foundational skills continue to be critical as children grow and navigate later stages of life positively and confidently.

Language Learning and Communication Skills

Kindergarten immerses children to a more language-rich environment that enhances their vocabulary and conversation abilities. Children expand their language skills naturally through regular verbal interactions, learning new songs, and everyday story time. 

At Tessa International School, all students from PK2 to Grade 5 thrive in a bilingual environment, learning English alongside their target language (Spanish, French, or Mandarin). This bilingual approach provides additional resources and opportunities for Tessa Kindergarteners’ language development. You can learn more about the benefits of early bilingual education here.  

Physical Development and Motor Skills

Numerous physical educational activities are involved in a high-quality Kindergarten experience to support a child’s general physical growth. Structured and unstructured play, along with different kinds of sports, help children improve their balance, coordination, and general fitness. Additionally, creative projects like painting, drawing, and crafting also help kids develop their fine motor skills, essential for complex tasks such as writing and detailed drawing.

Academic Performance

Longitudinal data show that children in full-day Kindergarten demonstrate greater gains in reading and Math achievement. These students are better prepared to excel academically, gaining an advantage over peers with less exposure to structured learning environments.  

Learning Independence

Kindergarten provides an excellent opportunity for children to learn responsibility and self-care. School routines, such as organizing personal belongings and completing teacher-devised tasks, help students build independence. At Tessa International School, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) nurtures this individual agency even further, empowering students to become active and self-directed learners from an early age.

Kindergarten at Tessa International School

Tessa International School offers a comprehensive educational journey from PK2 to Grade 5. Our Kindergarten program represents a significant shift in a child’s educational experience, emphasizing the three pillars of our School Mission: Bilingualism, Excellence, and Happiness.

Tessa’s KG program balances the more structured environment of Primary School with the play-based learning of Preschool. Through a curriculum integrating world-renowned educational practices, Kindergarteners build foundational literacy and numeracy skills while fostering individual development in a collaborative and multicultural environment.

  • Bilingual Program: With 80% immersion in the target language, students are not merely taught Spanish, French, or Mandarin—they also learn in these languages, integrating biliteracy into their daily interactions and studies. 
  • Social & Emotional Development: Ensuring the well-being and happiness of our students is at the heart of Tessa education. We provide robust psychological, physical, and interpersonal support for students to cultivate a lifelong passion of learning. Our personalized engaging learning approach also fosters optimism and compassion, shaping kindergarteners into caring and engaged global citizens. 
  • World-Class Education: Rooted in the inquiry-based IB framework, our KG program not only teaches knowledge but also cultivates critical hard and soft skills. Incorporating the international and local curricula, it lays a strong foundation for academic success.
  • Academic Challenge: Our program is thoughtfully structured for students to reach their full potential. Children are constantly and positively challenged in creative and critical thinking, inquiry, problem-solving, getting used to and enjoying striving for their best.
A Tessa kindergartener at his graduation ceremony with the proud teacher

At Tessa KG program, our mission is to foster bilingualism, excellence, and happiness in children.

 

FAQs

Q: What will my child do in Kindergarten? 

A: What kids learn in Kindergarten differs by school, but key subjects typically include basic concepts of reading, writing, Math, science, arts, and social studies. Extracurricular activities also play an important role in providing a well-rounded learning experience. You can discover Tessa International School’s Kindergarten Curriculum here

Q: What makes a good Kindergarten?  

A: A high-quality Kindergarten experience sets the tone for lifelong learning. It will enable your child to learn and practice the essential skills that they will need to be active learners even beyond the classroom over the time. At the core of a good KG program is a safe and nurturing environment, promoting the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of young children. Key components may include inclusivity, qualified teachers, supportive parents, and a mix of structured and spontaneous learning opportunities. At Tessa, we emphasize these components to create an enriching experience for every child. 

Q: What differs Tessa’s KG Program from other schools? 

A: Tessa International School’s Kindergarten program stands out due to its bilingual immersion, where students learn in Spanish, French, or Mandarin, rather than merely learning the language. It intentionally blends the structured approach of Elementary School with the play-based learning of Preschool, ensuring a balanced development of both academic and social-emotional skills and preparing children for next education levels. Rooted in the IB PYP framework and enriched by practices from rigorous international and local curricula, Tessa’s program fosters a global perspective in students. The emphasis on independent inquiry and multiculturalism ensures students are prepared for future academic and life challenges. You can learn more about our KG program here

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken?

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

 

A preschooler concentrates on his Math Assessment, monitored by his teacher at Tessa International School.

Assessment in The IB PYP

Although it is often perceived as a straightforward measurement of what students have learned, assessment in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Year Programmes (PYP) extends beyond simple metrics. Rather, it is the feedback on the learning process. Effective PYP assessment is holistic, integrating a variety of purposeful strategies throughout the learning journey. It is also a collaborative process that involves students, teachers, families, and our community in meaningful ways. 

Grade 1 students in focus on their French Assessment aligned with the French School curriculum.

The prime objective of assessment in the PYP is to provide feedback on the learning process.

Why We Assess in IB PYP

From informal check-ins to school-required tests or projects, each assessment contributes differently to the ecosystem of a PYP classroom. At its core, PYP assessment aims to inform teaching and learning

  • For students, assessments allow them to reflect on their progress and therefore adjust their learning pathway to meet their goal. This is also part of their wider development of critical thinking and self-management
  • For teachers, assessments provide valuable insights that inform lesson planning and teaching strategies, enabling them to create an uplifting learning path forward. 
  • For families, assessment empowers parents with the knowledge of their child’s understanding and needs, supporting them to become active partners in children’s PYP journey and strengthening the school-home connection. 
  • For school, assessments guide school-wide decisions surrounding resources and curriculum, enhancing teachers and administrators’ collaboration to improve the learning environments

Understanding the prime objective of assessment brings clarity to teaching and learning, leading to the more actionable strategies as follows. 

What and How To Assess in IB PYP

The assessment approach (e.g. policy, processes, and practices) in the PYP is aligned with the program philosophy that inquiry-based learning is central to the curriculum framework. Therefore, the assessment evaluates both the process and products of inquiry, highlighting the Programme’s goal of continuing improvements for learners. In other words, when discussing “assessment,” we are telling the story of learning – where it began, how it evolved, how thinking shifted, and what understandings emerged.

Nevertheless, the question remains: How do we check for student understanding while they are still in the process of learning? 

To address this question, the latest PYP report, “PYP: From Principles into Practice (2018),” divides assessment into four dimensions: monitoring, documenting, measuring, and reporting on learning. Rather than being viewed as separate elements, these dimensions are integrated and flow together, reflecting learners’ process and progress in a whole image. 

4 dimensions of IB PYP Assessment weight differently, with a highlight on monitoring to collect students' learning evidence.

Each dimension has their own importance and value, providing a comprehensive view of students’ learning together.

This outline does not imply that summative assessments – more product-oriented evaluations such as End-of-Unit projects or single test grades – are entirely unimportant. Rather, these assessments are still relevant to students’ learning; they should be seen more as one of the opportunities to assess learning rather than the sole evidence. 

Assessment at Tessa

At Tessa International School, we believe in holistically-designed, developmentally appropriate assessments. Our assessments are thoughtfully designed to align with international and local curricula, including the U.S. Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the French, Spanish, and Chinese National Curricula.

Our assessments are designed to serve diverse purposes in relation to learningnamely, assessment of, for, and as learning. In other words, assessment is integral to students’ learning journeys, occurring throughout their educational experience in various forms and practices. Teachers employ a rich array of activities, strategies, and assessment artifacts to collect and record evidence on students’ learning.  Alongside teacher-devised assessment strategies, standardized tests are selectively incorporated based on subject area and grade level, forming a rich and balanced assessing approach that reflects validity and reliability.

Every trimester, report cards are issued to students from Nursery (PK2) to Elementary School Program (Grade 1 to Grade 5), tailored to document a detailed analysis and feedback of a student’s developmental performance.

“The reports reflect not only academic performance but also personal growth, such as collaboration, creativity, and responsibility, providing a comprehensive picture of each child’s development.  ”

– Our Assessment Policy: Report Cards. 

Our Grade 2 students collaborate on the peer assessment to develop their self evaluation and reflection skills.

Tessa incorporates a combination of teacher-devised evaluations as well as standardized tests for a valid and balanced assessment approach.

 

FAQs

Q: What is assessment in IB PYP? 

A: According to IBO, the PYP does not offer formal assessment. The prime objective of assessment in the PYP is to provide feedback on the learning process. Additionally, the PYP stresses the importance of students’ self-assessment and reflection. 

Q: How does the IB PYP assess students progress and development? 

A: PYP assessment focuses on continuous feedback through four dimensions: monitoring, documenting, measuring, and reporting on learning. This underpinned constructivist approach allows students to reflect on their learning and set goals for improvements. A variety of assessment methods can be employed, including formative and summative assessments, to gauge students progress in relation to their learning goals. 

Q: What is Tessa’s Assessment Policy? 

A: At Tessa International School, we believe in holistically-designed, developmentally appropriate assessments. Our assessment approach aligns with our integrated curriculum, involving the U.S. Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the French, Spanish, and Chinese National Curricula. With a consideration of valid, balanced, and reliable assessment evidence to best reflect students’ process and progress, we incorporate a combination of teacher-devised evaluations as well as standardized tests in our assessment practices. You can find more information here

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken?

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

 

A student learns additions and subtractions with counting cubes.

Fostering Conceptual Understanding in Tessa International School’s Math Curriculum

We are living in an era of extraordinarily rapid change, where technological advances and global events unfold at an exponential pace every day. Amidst these transformations, we see incredible opportunities for growth and progress in our teaching-and-learning approach, aligned with our mission to prepare students as future leaders who are always ready to move forward.

This is where conceptual understanding comes in. Instead of relying on rote memorization, conceptual understanding engages our students in meaningful Math learning experiences built around consistent concepts, helping them build solid knowledge with deeper comprehension.

Students at Tessa International School actively learn with encouragement from our Math Teacher.

Conceptual understanding helps students learn more flexibly and retain knowledge better.

What Conceptual Understanding Is

Conceptual understanding refers to the process of organizing and connecting seemingly isolated facts in a meaningful way throughout the learning process. This ability to arrange, structure, and integrate knowledge builds cognitive competence, facilitating appropriate retrieval and application across various contexts and disciplines.

In the field of Math, conceptual understanding involves comprehending mathematical concepts, operations, and relationships. When students grasp a math concept, they perceive their knowledge as part of a larger, connected whole, rather than as isolated facts or single approaches. Consequently, conceptual understanding often leads to students finding that there is less to learn, as they can identify underlying similarities in superficially different situations. 

Examples of Conceptual Understanding in Math

According to Adding It Up: Helping Students Learn Math (National Academies Press, 2001), in addition to fluently verbalizing relationships among concepts, another significant indicator of conceptual understanding is the ability to represent Math situations differently and recognizing how they can be useful for different purposes. 

Take adding and subtracting fractions as an example. Students demonstrate conceptual understanding when they are able to use real-life examples, visual models (such as number bars), and the common denominator method to arrive at the same answer. Using different representations shows how students progress from understanding part-to-whole concepts to applying algorithmic steps, which also can support them to draw connections with integration in calculus at higher levels in the future. 

A student learns additions and subtractions with counting cubes.

The degree of conceptual understanding is related to the richness and extent of the connections students have made.

Math Education at Tessa

At Tessa International School, we believe Math is more than just memorizing formulas. We ensure our students truly understand the “why” behind every concept and how it applies to their interactions with the world through an integrated curriculum of IB PYP Math and Singapore Math. 

IB PYP Math

Concept-driven learning is at the heart of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), and Math, rather than being seen as a series of equations and theorems to be memorized, is viewed as a way of thinking that helps learners make sense of the world.

In this philosophy, the development of conceptual understanding can start much earlier than we might imagine, as IB PYP emphasizes the importance of the realistic, relevant conditions in which students live. Students acquire knowledge and skills by abstracting from their real-life experiences into symbolic notations and validating their understanding through problem-solving, where conceptual understanding shines.

Singapore Math

To fulfill the above idea that Math is a way of thinking, we implement the Singapore Math approach from Preschool to Primary School at Tessa, which is known for its intentional sequencing of concepts. This approach purposefully and efficiently organizes the Math terrain for students, breaking down complex concepts into simpler parts to build a strong foundation for advanced study. 

One of the key features of Singapore Math methodology is the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) progression, based on the work of American psychologist Jerome Bruner. The three-step learning method introduces Math concepts in a tangible way and progresses through increasing levels of abstraction. As the name suggests, students gradually gain a deeper understanding of a concept at hand through three modes of representations:

  • Physical objects (Concrete), 
  • Visual diagrams (Pictorial), 
  • Math symbols and numbers (Abstract).

A core principle of this method is that learning is not linear but should be revisited and built upon, with a strong sense of connectivity and increasing complexity. While the Singapore Math approach refers to this as a strategy of mental Math, the CPA method indicates the reasoning, arranging, and communicating of understanding at a conceptual level. 

 

There are multiple reasons why we love Math – we admire its intrinsic logic and beauty, and we value the passions and curiosity it inspires. More importantly, learning Math not only helps our students become more academically successful problem solvers, but its insistence on conceptual depth also develops a sense of resourcefulness and confidence, preparing them to excel in more complicated adventures, both within and beyond the classroom. 

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken?

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

 

A parent engages in his son's sharing of his learning in IB PYP.

How to Support Your Child as An IB PYP Parent

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous educational curricula worldwide, designed to develop “inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect” (International Baccalaureate Organization, or IBO). While it offers significant benefits, it’s natural for parents to feel uncertain about what it involves and how to best support their child, especially in the early stages of the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), when children are just starting to explore how they learn. So, how can caregivers support their child’s exciting and rewarding educational journey?

A parent engages in his son's sharing of his learning in IB PYP.

As a PYP parent, there are multiple specific ways you can support your child.

IB PYP at A Glance

IB PYP nurtures and develops young students, aged 3-12, as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning. This Programme focuses a student-centered approach, with its framework emphasizing the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life:

  • the learner
  • learning and teaching
  • the learning community.

Embedded within this framework is the recognition of the importance of fostering an individual’s self-efficacy. Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy are active participants in their own learning and take meaningful action within their learning community.

5 Tips to Support Your Child as A Learning Partner

As essential members of their child’s learning community, IB PYP parents play a key role in helping them deepen their learning. Here are five accessible ways, shared by the IBO, for parents to support their child’s learning at home. If you’re wondering how to better assist your child, these strategies will help you guide them in becoming lifelong learners, whether through formal learning connected to school or through incidental, unplanned learning from play, exploration, and life experiences.

  1. Take an inquiry stance. Parents are primary role models of their children, so your attitudes and positions can radically transform how children engage with the world. Instead of providing immediate answers to your child’s questions, encourage curiosity by responding with open-ended questions like, “What do you notice?” or “How might we explore that further?” This approach not only fosters critical thinking but also reinforces the value of inquiry-based learning through shared discovery. 
  2. Support your child’s agency. Empower your child by involving them in decision-making and encouraging their self-expression. Create time and space for their independent discoveries, and hold back from giving too many suggestions. By supporting their choices and emphasizing personal responsibility in their learning, you nurture children’s independence and self-confidence. 
  3. Support conceptual understanding. This notion is at the heart of IB PYP, where learning occurs through concept-driven Units of Inquiry within a transdisciplinary framework. During the Inquiry Learning Cycle, consider asking questions such as “What strategy did you use?” and “How and why did you do that?” These questions value their approach to the answers, encouraging children to articulate their reasoning and remain actively engaged in learning. More importantly, this process promotes them to connect ideas across disciplines and subjects, fostering a richer and more meaningful understanding of abstract concepts. 
  4. Prioritize reflection. Being reflective is one of the core attributes of the IB Learner Profiles, helping individuals become responsible members of communities. By encouraging children to think about their own thinking, you can help them develop metacognitive abilities and facilitate higher order thinking, including application, analysis, evaluation, and creation.
  5. Give feedback that goes beyond the moment. Comparing questions like “How are you doing?” with “What might come next? ”, you will find that the former may result in less thoughtful and forward-looking responses, while the latter shifts the focus from immediate, isolated outcomes to continuous learning. Whether during Student-Led Conferences or everyday learning moments, it is beneficial for parents to guide their children toward long-term growth and future inquiry.

IB PYP at Tessa International School

Tessa is proud to be an IB World School offering the PYP to students aged 2 to 10. Following its transdisciplinary framework, excellence spans across Science, Social Studies, Language and Literacy, Math, Arts, Social-Emotional Learning, and Physical Education, all while nurturing a lifelong love of learning in our students. 

As an international school offering bilingual education, the robust French National, Spanish, and Chinese Curricula as well as the US Standards are seamlessly integrated into our IB PYP Framework, formulating our distinctive educational approach. Students actively engage with dynamic unit topics through an immersive language experience grounded in real-life situations.

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken? 

Contact Tessa International School to learn more! 

A teacher and her student on Graduation Day

Excellence in Education at Tessa International School

Excellence, by definition, is the unwavering commitment to do anything to the best of our ability. At Tessa International School, it is not an abstract ideal. Excellence is one of the three pillars of our fundamental philosophy that underpins everything we do. 

Cultivating excellence in our students goes beyond academic achievement. It encompasses developing positive character traits, fostering global visions, and instilling a lifelong passion for learning. We are committed to helping students internally embrace the notion of excellence and strive towards it. 

Excellent Educational Practices: Our Global Accreditations

Tessa’s program has been built on the principle of incorporating the world’s best practices in education. Our school holds three premier global accreditations, which highlight the high standards we maintain and our commitment to academic excellence. 

These renowned accreditations ensure a seamless transition for students into similar institutions in the US and around the world, facilitating their global mobility and fostering their continued success.

Excellent Teachers: Our Foundation and Support

Central to our pursuit of excellence is our team of passionate and experienced teachers, who dedicate themselves to the educational experience at Tessa. Our teachers are highly credentialed professionals, mostly holding advanced degrees and specialized training in their subject areas. 

The group photo of teachers

Our teachers create a supportive community that inspires students to reach their full potential.

We provide a child-centered approach tailored to each student’s unique needs and interests. With a low teacher-to-student ratio, we prioritize personalized attention, ensuring that each student receives the support and guidance they need to thrive academically and emotionally. Simultaneously, language immersion, project-based learning, and an international perspective are integral to our curriculum. 

Each member of our team is a native speaker. With their diverse backgrounds, our educators bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom, enriching the learning environment and fostering multicultural exchange. At Tessa, we celebrate our differences. It is through understanding and respect that we cultivate knowledgeable, caring, and excellent individuals who are equipped to navigate an increasingly interconnected world. Our teachers may have different origins, but they all share the same love of language and culture, and the common goal of empowering students in a warm and supportive environment. 

 

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

– Will Durant, paraphrasing Aristotle.

 

By all means, we aim to motivate our students to pursue excellence intrinsically. It is not just a destination but a journey we embark on. Through the incorporation of world’s best educational practices and a team of highly credentialed native-speaking teachers, we strive to provide a world-class education that promotes students for excellence in an ever-changing global landscape. 

 

Are you ready to explore the only international leading private school in Hoboken? 

Contact Tessa International School to learn more!

Black History Month Celebration at Tessa

For nearly 50 years, Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States to honor and recognize the significant achievements and contributions of the African American community. At Tessa International School, we celebrate this meaningful month every school year with a series of educational activities, inspiring stories, and engaging events. 

Learning About Important African American Figures

Our primary students explored the lives and contributions of African Americans who fought against slavery, segregation, and discrimination. They discussed the significance of these historical changes and their lasting impact on individuals and society.

The celebration of Black History Month allows our students to recognize the accomplishments and resilience of many historical figures.

  • One group of students admired how Frederick Douglass secretly learned to read and later taught other African Americans, recognizing his intelligence and compassion.
  • Another group focused on Sojourner Truth, a dedicated advocate who worked tirelessly to help freed slaves find employment.
  • A third group studied Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial couple who successfully challenged Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage in the 1960s. The students were inspired by their love story, perseverance, and open-mindedness.
  • A fourth group chose Harriet Tubman, the courageous risk-taker who led enslaved individuals to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
  • The final group explored the contributions of Viola Desmond, a Canadian anti-segregation activist, and Nelson Mandela, the late South African leader and activist.

Integrating Black History Month into Learning

As part of their Unit of Inquiry, our students studied the achievements of African American pioneers, applying their knowledge in real-life contexts. For example, Grade 1 students, in their unit “Where We Are in Place and Time,” created timelines of African American heroes, including Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Rosa Parks. This deepened their understanding of historical chronology and shared in presentations with their younger peers in Pre-K4. In addition, our Kindergartners also read Black history-themed stories to Pre-K3 students and prepared themed coloring activities for them.

Our buddy program pairs upper-grade students with younger children for reading sessions, activities, and collaborative projects. These experiences foster meaningful learning, skill development, and a sense of community, making Black History Month an inclusive and engaging celebration for all students.

A kindergarteners is sharing a picture book on African American History with a PK3 student.

We bolster a connected school community through the buddy program.

Exploring African American History with Parents

We are delighted to welcome many parents into our classrooms to share learning moments with students through storytelling, collaborative projects, and group discussions. Their visits provided valuable perspectives on how African American history has shaped our country—impacting society, science, literature, music, sports, and culture.

It was heartwarming to witness intergenerational learning in action, as parents shared their experiences and insights, enriching our students’ understanding of diversity and inclusion. These meaningful interactions help ensure that African American history continues to be honored and celebrated.

A parent reader share a story of Nina Simone to celebrate Black History Month with our kindergarteners.

Reading books is a great way to bring the histories of African American pioneers to life for children.

Preschoolers at Tessa International School work on their themed coloring project to celebrate Black History Month.

It is never too early to inspire our children with the African American History.

Engaging with African American Storytelling and Music

Additionally, our students participated in an engaging educational program led by storyteller April Armstrong and musician Ayodele Maakheru. Through folktales of perseverance, such as the story of John Henry, and the vibrant rhythms of West African drumming, students gained a deeper appreciation of the struggles and triumphs of great African Americans throughout history.

As we reflect on the past and celebrate the present, we continue taking steps toward a more inclusive and equitable future for all.

storyteller April Armstrong and musician Ayodele Maakheru engaged our students in African American history and music.

Interacting with African American artists encourages students to think critically about past, present, and their roles in positively shaping this world. 

Utilizing Technology in Inquiry-Based Education

Utilizing Technology in Inquiry-Based Education

Inquiry-based education, or IB education for short, is the natural process of learning through inquisitive behavior and deep curiosity. It is, essentially, learning by finding topics that pique children’s’ interests enough that they take the driver’s seat and discover new information through research and questions on their own.

IB Education in the Classroom

When utilizing inquiry-based education in the classroom, the first step is always to find the right topic to spark enough interest in students. Since motivation is the prime factor that drives their desire to initiate learning through IB means, it’s imperative to find the right angle for your lessons to keep them truly engaged.

Not only do educators need to have an exciting and relatable subject, but they also need to include innovative ways to continue beyond the piqued interest phase. Since the process of IB learning includes both exciting topics and continued questioning and research, it only makes sense to incorporate technology into your lessons.

Utilizing Technology for IB Education

With a growing number of educational programs and apps available every day, utilizing technology in the classroom is easier now than ever before. There are hundreds of tech choices available that will enhance an IB education experience and give children the tools they’ll need to problem solve and research.

“Children naturally explore and learn about their environments through inquiry, and computer technologies offer an accessible vehicle for extending the domain and range of this inquiry,” explain researchers from Mount Saint Mary College in the Early Childhood Education Journal article, March 2010.

How to Use Technology

Since the IB educational technique is a process for learning, not traditional information regurgitation, it will help children throughout their educational careers and beyond. The process involves noticing scenarios in detail, learning to ask imperative questions, researching those questions for solutions, and presenting the information to others in a way that is clear and concise.

Knowing this, it’s easy to understand how technology could aid students during this process. Depending upon which media outlet is chosen, technology can be used in practically every aspect of IB education. It can be used to supply intriguing scenarios for analysis through videos or puzzles, as well as provide unlimited research materials to help students find solutions to the problem areas they outlined in the earliest steps. Technology can even be used in the final steps – or the presentation portion of IB learning – which encourages students to explain their findings to others.

Technology and the IB Advantage

“Inquiry-based learning is a process where students become involved in their own learning. Inquiry-based learning builds on student passion and results in increased student agency,” explains professors at the University of New Hampshire.

IB education is a highly engaging teaching process because it is focused on areas that are highly interesting to students and hands them the keys to begin learning on their own. Adding technology to the mix only serves to strengthen this desire to learn. If you want to learn more about how Tessa incorporates IB learning in their early education classrooms, check out the Program of Inquiry here.

What Is Inquiry-Based Education?

What Is Inquiry-Based Education?

As an educator or parent, few things are questioned more than how to spark learning interest in our children.  Trying to find what motivates our children to learn and avoid the dreaded “I don’t know” answers can be a daunting task. Because of this, many are turning to a technique known as inquiry-based education. So just what is inquiry-based education?

What Is Inquiry-Based Education

Inquiry-based (IB) education “is more than asking a student what he or she wants to know… it’s about triggering curiosity,” explains the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Essentially, IB learning places the responsibility of learning on the shoulders of the students rather than emphasizing teaching by the educators. In other words, it is finding a way to pique children’s natural interest to learn and using that as fuel to continue learning further.

By utilizing tactics that shift the learning process from the responsibility of the teacher to being led by individual students, IB education creates a more engaging educational experience. It is a strategy that goes beyond the books and encourages children to think freely and deeply to form their own understanding of various subjects.

Piquing Curiosity

The most important aspect of IB education is piquing the curiosity of students. Finding out what motivates them and getting children to take the reins of their own education is at the root of this learning process. So how do you go about triggering their drive to learn?

This is, perhaps, the most difficult aspect of IB learning, and not one that has a direct answer. For some, motivation can be as simple as keeping it relatable (scenarios about Christmas gifts or Halloween candy for example), while others have better luck using things that spark creativity or imagination (artwork, videos, puzzles).

“You have to model your own curiosity quotient – that hunger to learn that defines how we advance our knowledge of the world… think about your content area… What new piece of information might help you trigger your own enthusiasm that can then trigger your students’ curiosity?” writes Edutopia.org.

The Scientific Method

Once you have discovered what interests them, the next step in IB learning is to switch the focus from teaching to learning. How? Students are urged to come up with their most burning questions about the topic.

Think of the IB learning process in terms of the Scientific Method. First, ask students to observe the topic you presented to them and ask them to give it some thought. Once they familiarize themselves with the topic, have them form questions and think of possible answers to their questions. Ask them to come up with potential solutions or experiment with different outcomes of the scenario before taking another look at their progress and concluding what they’ve learned.

Step 1: Look at the Topic

If utilizing a method similar to the scientific method, once your students’ curiosity is piqued, ask them to take note of what they see. Have them document scenarios, write or discuss down details, and simply describe what it is that is in front of them.

This process will help them to better identify a topic and give them additional information for the next few steps. Encourage children to be as detailed as possible in their descriptions. This step is one of the greatest benefits of IB learning: noticing what’s around them and deciphering what aspects are most important to their scenarios.

Step 2: Question, Question, Question

After students have had ample time to note what is in front of them, the next step is to heavily emphasize their curiosity. This is done by getting them to begin questioning what they see. IB learning focuses on inquiry, or the desire to learn more, which begins by asking questions.

In this step, students are encouraged to think critically about the scenario in front of them and document any questions they may have. No question is off the table, and the more they question, the deeper their understanding will be so encouragement is the key. The most effective questions are the ones that drive students to have even more questions, so the focus of an educator in IB learning is more on sparking interest and less on giving answers.

Step 3: Research Their Questions

Once students have come up with their most intriguing questions, it’s time to find the answers. With IB learning, however, the students are in charge of finding their own answers. Dedicating class time and resources for children to conduct their own research is crucial to the process. This gives kids the means and the time to find answers to their own questions in a (somewhat) guided space.

The deeper the curiosity for their questions, the deeper the student’s drive to research and find answers. It is this drive and curiosity that will fuel their desire to truly learn a topic by their own inquiries rather than by traditional teaching methods.

Step 4: Hypothesize and Present

After students have used critical thinking to develop questions and research solutions to potential problems, it’s time to guide them into the hypothesis presentation stage. This is the part of the process that has students focusing on what they’ve learned and are tasked with organizing their findings to present them to others in the classroom.

Since learning is not only about discovery and critical thinking, but also about successful communication and understanding, it’s important that students be able to present what they’ve learned to others. This step forces children to understand the scenario even further, in order to find ways to share it and make sense of it to other students.

Step 5: Reflection and Critique

Perhaps the most important step of IB learning is the final phase – the reflection portion. It’s in this stage that students are asked to evaluate what they learned and to make note of any issues they came across in their research and presentations.

This step gets children to think more on what type of questions got them the furthest in their studies and which theories worked best as well. It can also help them to highlight areas that weren’t so helpful, giving them insight on what to try (or avoid) next time.

The IB Learning Experience

Overall, IB learning is simply learning that is driven by students’ own curiosity. It is highly effective because it gives students a sense of thoroughly understanding topics – or becoming experts, per se – and teaches them the art of deeper learning.

While there are no set formats for IB learning, the key is to find what motivates children and get them to think freely to develop a deeper understanding. The best way to do this? Get them asking questions and give them the resources to find their own answers. This is IB learning.

Join us at Tessa International School

Discover why our bilingual curriculum is recognized as one of the best. Learn how we combine academic excellence with engaging, interactive experiences that foster global awareness.

Join us at Tessa International School

Discover why our bilingual curriculum is recognized as one of the best. Learn how we combine academic excellence with engaging, interactive experiences that foster global awareness.

Office: (201) 755-5585 | Location: 720 Monroe St. Hoboken, NJ 07030