Learning the CIS Way
Learning at CIS is a transformative process that leads to conceptual understanding, demonstration of competencies through application, and character development as seen through the CIS Core Values.
To make our language of learning accessible to everyone, we connect our 3Cs of learning, Conceptual Understanding, Competency and Character, with three simple sentence stems, one for each of our 3Cs.
CONCEPT
I understand that…
Experts in any field have a deep conceptual understanding for what they do. By focusing on concepts as points of learning, we are able to transfer big ideas from one discipline to another. Learners connect to new, possibly disruptive ideas, construct and reconstruct meaning to form new theories, and check their learning in new contexts to think and rethink big conceptual ideas.
COMPETENCIES
I am able to…
Experts in any field have well-developed competencies to bring their ideas to life. CIS learners continue to develop competencies through deconstructing expert performances and comparing to their own, identifying adjustments they need to make, and practicing skills to make them second nature.
CHARACTER
I am becoming (more)…
Experts have a deep sense of compassion for what they do and for the people they share their expertise with. CIS learners consider how their values may be applied in specific situations, acting as a result of these considerations, and reflect on the effects of their actions. At CIS our Core Values of Respect, Integrity, Caring, Inspiration, and Joy form the foundation of our character development.
WE LEARN BEST WHEN WE LEARN TOGETHER!
How we learn is as important as what we learn because learning is a process; when children create strong habits for how they learn, anything they encounter in life becomes an opportunity for growth and discovery.
Learning at CIS starts with good questions that spark imagination. These questions are rooted in real world issues that connect learners to what they discover. Through direct experience, trial and failure, our students develop resilience and a growth mindset approach to learning that sustains them through setbacks to be continually successful in what they set out to achieve.