GHK LAB SCHOOL
School, not a factory!
Approach
To reinvent education and to empower our children, we need to shift from the status-quo of eduaction. At GHK Lab School, we use multiple approaches to ensure children develop in all possible domains.
Mastery Based
We expect students to demonstrate mastery in all competencies and skills outlined in our curricullum before going to the next levels. The goal of this approach is to minimize the gaps in the students' learning. Time taken by students to complete the course can vary, but the depth of mastery acquired in each competency will remain constant. For example, to proceed to grade 3 mathematics, child must acquire 100% mastery in grade 2 mathematics.
Interdisciplinary Approach
Yellow. 8. Tree. Brown. Legs. Insect. - This does not make much sense to us. But, 'Yellow insect with 8 brown legs was sitting on tree.' is easier to comprehend. Similarly, education broken into silos of subject is less meaningful compared to in interdiscipliary approach. At GHK LABS, all projects and lessons are designed with an interdisciplinary approach in mind. For example, growing vegetables would also include learning maths, science, language, art, community service, weather, etc.
Mixed Cohorts
At GHK LABS, we curate cohorts where children from mixed age and mixed socio-economic background learn together. This fosters collaboration and authentic relationships among children rather than toxic competition. Students are grouped in these learning cohorts based on a holistic review of the student..
Blended Learning
Medium and mode of instruction are not rigid. What matters to us is learning and mastery. To achieve this, we blend bilingual approach with focus on native language and English; and using print media, manipulatives, and technology as needed.
Learning Experience at GHK LABS
What does a student day look like? Students excitedly come to school and play freely for 30 minuntes and work on phsycial strength. This is followed by meditation and community challenge in morning cirlce. Then they engage in multiple learning experiences of academic mastery, social enterprise, interaction with nature, and end the day with reflection in their photo, video, or written journal. During the day, child has ample opportunities to get advising from adult facilitators and support each other.
What Children Learn at GHK LABS
Our curricullum caters to 8 different domains where children are expected to develop equally in all of them. These are Social & Emotional, Physical & Motor, Language & Literacy, Math & Reasoning, Science, Social Studies, and Creative Art. These domains are further divided into total 35 skills.
Assessment at GHK LABS
We use linked assessment system. This means that assessment and curriculum planning are aligned. Ourlesson plans clearly identify which skills are integrated within a given learning activity. As children participate in the activity, educators observe the child’s use of the identified skills and document their observations with anecdotes, work samples and progress monitoring reports. There are other modes of assessment like worksheets and timed assessments, however without the stress and toxic competition. Following is an example of a visual representation of assessment of a child's development across 35 skills over the course of a year:
