Acorn International school first opened it’s doors in July 2005, in Moto-Azabu Tokyo.
The oak tree and acorns school logo, emphasize the core of Acorn’s style of education. Strength, warmth, harmonious, confidence, love, independence, safe, individual care, group care, responsibility, guidance, explore, acceptance, nature, difference, co-operate, learn, culture, attention, happiness, fun, families and teachers.
For most children, it will be their first time to separate from their parents, and they may experience some separation anxiety. We believe the small classroom settings, and homely environment makes it easy, for any child to enter the classroom, and get adjusted to the environment fast. We are able to give more individual attention to each child when it is needed, without forgetting group attention, so children will learn to share, co-operate, initiate play, wait, develop social skills, take turns, and be responsible.
Our style of teaching is unique as to most other international schools here in Tokyo.
We value the different cultures and traditions of our students and families. We believe a child’s early schooling experience should be fun.
Children are encouraged to explore, create, share, give, respect of self, and others, individual, difference, and social responsibility. Co-operate, and work together or individually in a positive accepting and harmonious environment.
The children are taught responsibilities, and given tasks that build their confidence.
Children are constantly praised, or thanked for helping. Teachers also play an important role, by being a good role model, which helps children to copy and be the same.
Children should come to school happy, and also enjoy coming to school. As mentioned in our school philosophy, children are encouraged to share, co- operate, explore, and work together or individually in a positive accepting and harmonious environment.
We encourage children to use their words, sometimes it is hard for a child to express themselves, so teachers will plan activities, such as arts and crafts, reading time, role play, daily chores, of setting the tables for snack, help set cups for drinking water, do “show and tell”, listening and speaking activities, songs and games, that will build the child’s confidence. Social play also plays an important role in a child’s emotional development.
Gross Motor
Many schools in Tokyo find the opportunity to explore the parks in the local community. We are very fortunate to be able to explore several different parks, such as kogai Park, Arisawa Park, Hiroo Park etc.
Our daily walks build the child’s gross motor muscles, eye hand coordination, and children learn about rules, to walk straight and in lines, to stop at a traffic light, The swings, slides and sand play allow free choices for the children. Some times games are played, and we make sure children have the time to run around at the parks.
Fine motor
Activities to help promote fine motor skills are finger painting, threading, cubes building, manipulative toys, practice buttoning, pattern lacing, using chopsticks, origami, using different utensils, colouring, tracing, drawing, and painting. Activities selected are age appropriate for the class. Using crayons, pencils.
The program and curriculum play a major role in the child’s cognitive development.
Fun, stimulating, and challenging activities, that are age appropriate, such as counting, classifying, sorting, building, sharing, manipulative games, shapes, measuring, pouring, science, cooking, songs, listening games. They are some examples of what activities the teachers do at Acorn International School.
Reading to children will develop a child’s language. We make sure several books are read out during a circle time, or even when it is free choice activity time. Some children would ask a teacher to read a book quietly in the book corner. Children will absorb information and talk about the story. It builds their vocabulary, promotes language, to have a conversation with a teacher, or even with friends. Children will imagine play from the story, and will talk to an imaginary friend. They will also engage in role - play with their friends in their class.
We also encourage language with art activities, and other centered activities.
Children will engage in a conversation, through play with their friends, once they pick up new words or sentences.
