Educational Philosophy in Primary School and Gymnasium

Primary School

The fundamental ideas of the Montessori philosophy are implemented in the pedagogical methods of the Kindergarten and are continued in the Primary School and the Gymnasium.

There, the same principles of individual mentoring and support of autonomous, self-organized learning and individual responsibility for the learning process are regarded as deeply important.

To some extent the activities in the various subjects are project work. In our Primary School there is at least one topic in "Sachkunde" (Social Studies) per school year and grade level that is covered as a project.

Thus, the students learn how to work in groups, come to agreements, organize themselves, arrange duties, structure a topic and do research work by using books and the internet.

Every project culminates in a written report, poster and oral presentation.
These presentations are held in front of varying audiences. This may include classmates, students from other classes or even parents. In this way the students practice and enhance their abilities to create vivid illustrated oral presentations.

Gymnasium

In the Gymnasium project work is continued. Subjects like geography, biology and the open teaching method (see Educational Philosophy) in classes 5 and 6 give students the opportunity to choose topics they have to work on in groups. These projects are organized as "project weeks".

At the end of such a week a school-wide presentation is held. When “Egypt” was chosen as a general topic, a number of related topics like deserts, pyramids and famous pharaohs were covered. In addition to this, Egyptian dances were performed and local food was offered all of which was prepared by the students.

Besides the project work the open-teaching method is used in classes 1 to 6, totalling 3 to 4 hours per week. The students have to cover given topics and tasks working individually, with a partner or in groups.

In subjects like German, Mathematics, Social Studies and others a lot of learning material is supplied by the school. These materials are especially designed to enable the students to cope with their assignments in a quiet and focused working environment without help from others. The teacher’s job is not to teach in a traditional way but, rather, to accompany the students individually and to counsel them in terms of problems, questions and while choosing and using the materials.

Every student decides on his individual working speed. Nobody will reduce or enforce this speed when he is trying to deal with certain tasks. In class 3, for example, one student has to work individually and intensively on the basics of mathematical calculations, whereas another one works on the German material related to direct /reported speech. Personal weakness and strengths can thus be balanced and taken into account.

There are, of course, not only the regular subjets, project-work and open-teaching, but also IT lessons in small learning groups and possibilities to use our library for extended periods.

Additionally, there are remedial German "Förderunterricht" lessons for students with gaps and problems in speaking or understanding. These extra lessons are exclusively held during the morning and aim to support and reintegrate students into the normal lessons.

Our target is to use different methods to generate and sustain not only a solid knowledge and competency in the different subjects, but in social and personal development as well. This is achieved by using tools like the above mentioned project work and open-teaching.

Our world is characterized to a large extent by an enormous increase of knowledge and rapid change, and we regard it as crucial to give our students a solid self-confidence, independence and sense of individual responsibility. It is our conviction, not only to teach pure knowledge, but the methods to gain this knowledge.

We will prepare the students for the future. At the end of their school career they should be able to cope with the various difficult influences that affect modern life and with the increasingly complex challenges that require more and more flexibility.

Educational Philosophy in Primary School and Gymnasium

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