After chatting with Bay Area parents, Amei dug up the Nueva School’s key learning focuses

Many parents are no strangers to the Nueva school, but what else is good about this top Bay Area academic institution besides the title of “School of Geniuses?” In this article, we will provide an in-depth description of the Nueva School’s key learning focuses and why these focuses make the school curriculum so special. 

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Nueva School at a glance:

• High threshold: Only accepts children with an IQ of over 130
• Very flexible: Unlimited textbooks and progress
• No ranking or exam timetable
• Playful classes: 72% of the lab courses are fun
• Emphasis on emotions: Unique emotion-focused classes help children relieve stress

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Diverse teaching materials and flexible progress

Amei tried to find their materials on the official website, but they were not provided. It was only after chatting with parents that she found out that there is no unified teaching material for gifted children!

Nueva’s courses, whether in mathematics or other subjects, actually have no textbooks. Even if there are teaching books, they are designed by teachers and solely for gifted children. Students can read books anywhere in the school with teaching aids provided for children in order to develop their imagination.

“The learning progress will be adjusted according to the progress of the entire class. If it is fast, the teacher will be fast. However, if there is a problem, the teacher will take more time.”

“If your child is particularly excellent, the teaching content is also different from other children, as there will be separate plans.”

“Teachers will use different methods to strengthen teaching from different angles. They focus on interest, which is more important than whether children know the knowledge. Furthermore, they also pay attention to math learning habits.”

Nueva has a flexible academic atmosphere. Since all of the students in the class are gifted children, learning progression is not strictly based on the unit.

Nueva pays more attention to the correct and effective thinking method rather than blindly pursuing a speedy curriculum and pushing students for standardized results. They hope to cultivate children who are interested in learning and have a passion to study.

At the same time, Nueva pays a lot of attention to cultivating children’s diversity through respecting and supporting children’s all-around interests.

As shown in the picture above, this child especially loves to study rocks. Nueva provides children with a lot of books and equipment so that they can explore the mysteries of rocks.

No exams, no rankings, and a unique timetable

Nueva students do not have a GPA until grade 10. Children usually do not take exams. Instead, Nueva’s projects replace final exams. Although it is not ranked, the teacher will promptly communicate with the parents about the child’s learning progress every week.

During the pandemic, each child has a separate timetable with the reduction of required courses. Only math, SEL, SWI, and literacy are still open.

SEL (Social-emotional learning): The special and compulsory course for emotional management.

SWI (Structured word inquiry): Helping children learn English through word formation with root affixes.

During the pandemic, there are only three classes per day, but everyone can DIY their own timetable to choose the suitable time and combine the courses they are interested in. Now children are able to come back to school!

The one-hour after school sessions are still open for children. Chess and painting activities can be freely chosen.

Learning through playing: Focus on practice with a lot of lab classes

Nueva is especially proud to highlight the fact that 72% of children’s study time is on the I-Lab course. They attach great importance to acquiring knowledge through practice and developing learning skills through play.

Nueva’s I-Lab course starts from Pre-K and accompanies children’s long-term growth and development throughout their childhood and adolescence. In addition, design thinking has always been an important part of Nueva’s Teaching.

It has brainstorming, research, cooperation, focus, decision making, and forming as the six research loops. Furthermore, it helps children experience the fun of academics and research. It also gradually builds up challenging information on topics of interest.

At the same time, this is also a very efficient way of thinking which can help children in both their studies and future life.

However, Nueva’s I-Lab course has been cancelled since the pandemic.

Focus on emotional management: Unique SEL course

Nueva attaches great importance to cultivating children’s social skills. They even set up a course named SEL (Social-emotional learning). It provides a classroom for children to complain, relieve stress, solve problems, and improve communication.

Instructors teach methods of self-decompression and self-regulation, as well as how to communicate effectively with people through recognizing their emotions, dealing with them, and not becoming trapped by them. 

Children with high IQs are likely to have low EQ problems. For example, a habit of children with academic intelligence is that they always feel they are right.

Nueva teaches children how to recognize both sides of situations and how to express themselves better. Teachers will encourage children to refrain from saying “you are wrong” and instead say “you have a great point, while I have a different take on this, I think…”

In addition, Nueva attaches great importance to children’s emotional management through making SEL a compulsory course and running SEL throughout all classrooms. 

Parents share

“The IQ test was held at Nueva, and the teachers were very good. My child’s English is not very well, so I told them in advance. We didn’t prepare the test content specifically, because I wanted to see what level my child was actually.”

“My child’s language test score is also very low. The teacher arranged by Nueva took the test to the Nueva Admissions Office. Other scores were all around 150, but the language score is 120. I think the teacher for the IQ test was taking into account children’s language problems, for they will not use professional vocabulary to test children. The actual test is similar to a form of playing games, and some teaching aids are able to be used to make gestures with hands.”

“Nueva can test it, and the price is more conscientious: The price of WPPSI-IV is $275, which takes about one hour. The price of WISC-V is $450, which takes about two hours.”

If you have any other questions regarding the Nueva School’s key learning focuses. Feel free to contact their Admissions Department here.