The ISP Way
At ISP, learning is iterative, exciting, meaningful, social and a journey of authentic discovery to develop understanding, skills and character.
Our goal is to have expert learners who are purposeful & motivated, resourceful & knowledgeable, and strategic & goal-directed.
The ISP Way is who we are
We are a community
of professionals
Our Core Values
At ISP we commit to excellence. This means we are a school of professionals who treat each other with compassion and integrity, understanding that our strength comes from our diversity and our innovative spirit. These values drive how we collaborate, communicate and make decisions for a lasting impact.
How does this translate to our day-to-day?
Mindset
We are dedicated to high levels of deep learning and are solution-oriented , always reflecting, asking questions, and seeking help when needed. We view all students as our responsibility and value intercultural competency.
Communication
We communicate with respect, kindness, and empathy, using clear and objective language. We listen with an open mind to understand all perspectives, assume the best intentions in others, and address concerns constructively and directly.
Proactive and progressive practices
We are learner-centered educators using a UDL approach, embracing variability as the rule and adapting to diverse learning requirements while working towards firm goals and standards. We believe all learners will become expert learners if barriers are removed.
We tackle challenges collaboratively with curiosity and open-mindedness, and we try new approaches and connect ideas across disciplines.
Collaboration & Sustainability
We learn together, advocate courageously for ourselves and others, and ensure a safe, inclusive space for all. We are committed to sustainability as a community, sharing resources responsibly, and making decisions that minimize our environmental impact, for the benefit of our planet.
We ensure inclusion and belonging
Strong teaching and learning begin with an inclusive environment where all learners feel welcome. Teachers work to build relationships, establish predictable routines and structures, and create a classroom environment that removes learning barriers.
How does this translate to our day-to-day?
Routines and structures
We co-establish, teach, and reinforce classroom expectations, practicing structured routines with warm welcomes, engaging middles, optimistic endings and effective transitions.
Clear expectations for learning and behavior guide each lesson.
Inclusive environment
We create a consistent, organized, and respectful learning environment, preparing students to be learning ready and creating flexible learning spaces.
Student relationships
We learn about our students through various methods to understand their strengths, needs, interests, and backgrounds.
We create an inclusive environment by promoting student voice, peer collaboration, and regularly acknowledging positive behaviors.
Optimized relevance, value, and authenticity
We design units, lessons, and assessments that are socially and culturally relevant and responsive, age and ability appropriate, and suited for a multicultural setting while personalizing and contextualizing learning experiences to students’ lives.
We are an effective teaching and learning community
Our Learning Principles
How does this translate to our day-to-day?
Backwards design process
- We set clear learning objectives, design authentic assessments, and use Universal Design for Learning to ensure flexibility and accessibility.
- Our lessons include explicit instructional practices, inquiry-based learning experiences, and support for transfer of learning.
Engaging lessons
We provide frequent interaction opportunities, engaging learners at least 90% of the time through inquiry, choice, relevance, and authentic experiences:
- We guide learners to make connections and transfer skills across concepts.
- We provide multiple entry points and pathways through content, like arts, literature, and media.
- We use scaffolding, differentiation, flexible grouping, and collaborative structures, offering opportunities for students to process and visualize information to enhance transfer and generalization.
Data and Feedback
We use data to inform teaching and personalize learning, help students set goals and track their progress, and offer multiple chances to apply feedback, reflect, and put learning into practice.
Content and Language Integration
We promote understanding across languages and content areas by providing tools for communication, construction, and composition, along with graduated practice and performance opportunities:
- We offer opportunities to read, write, speak, and listen across all content areas.
- We activate and build on background knowledge.
- We explicitly teach vocabulary and sentence structures.
- We provide multiple ways for learners to access information, including visual, written, and auditory formats.
