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Skills we Celebrate at Keys

April 13, 2023

As a community, we value developing lifelong learners who explore learning opportunities, grow as independent individuals, and pursue their passion. Nurturing learners at Keys not only involves creating a supportive and engaging learning environment but also providing them with experiences that enable them to develop lifelong skills, and have a growth mindset. Below are some skills we support and strengthen to help our students achieve their personal and academic success.

Problem-Solving

Problem-solving is one of the essential skills that students need in order to thrive as a learner. When students practice and develop problem-solving, it allows them to work at their own pace and make decisions about the way they explore and face a problem. At Keys, different learning opportunities are provided to allow students to think of new ideas, come up with better ways of doing things, and become proactive thinkers.

How Keys supports this skill

Anchor Tasks- Anchor task activities allow students to explore topics and look into a variety of solutions to solve a problem.

Science Fair Projects- Building allows students to think of innovative solutions to real-life problems by applying what they learned in different subject areas.

Collaboration

Another skill celebrated at Keys is collaboration. Collaboration enables students to work together to achieve a defined and common learning goal. As the school values research-based principles and ideas, Keys believes that collaborative learning provides active, meaningful, and deeper learning.

How Keys supports this skill

Stations- Setting up different stations to unlock key ideas creates opportunities for students to work with different people, building on their communication skills as well as learning new ideas and strategies from others.

Flexibility and Adaptability

Flexibility and adaptability is another important skill we value in Keys. Since these skills allow students to adjust and respond to changing circumstances or situations, these are essential in both personal and professional growth. It enables students to stay agile, learn new skills, and remain productive in the face of uncertainty or change. Cultivating these traits can help students better navigate and overcome challenges, explore and embrace new opportunities, and thrive in dynamic and ever-changing environments.

How Keys supports this skill

Writing Process- In Writer’s Workshop, the writing process allows students to continuously improve their work by incorporating feedback both from peers and teachers through revising and editing.

Good Work Habits

Good work habits encourage a positive attitude toward learning. Not only does it help students manage their time and work, but it also promotes productivity and efficiency in accomplishing tasks. A sense of discipline, organization, and perseverance is also attained when students’ good work habits are reinforced and supported.

How Keys supports this skill

Graphic organizers and journals- Utilizing tools such as learning grids for planning, plus learner portfolios or journals allow students to document their learning experiences, ideas, and processes that are important for inquiry and reflection to grow and become efficient life-long learners.

Student-Led Conferences- Learners are given the opportunity to take pride in their learning through Student-led conferences which allows them to communicate their progress as a learner, their goals and highlights, as well as work habits that have been helpful throughout the semester.

As the school advocates developing life-long learners, varied learning opportunities are embedded in the routine to practice these essential skills. At Keys, we aim for students to embrace a lifelong learning mindset which can lead to a more enriched and fulfilling life.