Discovery International School

Discovery International School was established in 2010 in Nagakute City on the eastern border of Nagoya City. Our Director is a father of bi-cultural children and a qualified early childhood professional.

Discovery International School provides English-based, research-supported instruction to children of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds, with individualized attention to all areas of growth: personal, social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and linguistic.

We dedicate ourselves to respect for children’s rights and voices. We share with children the responsibility of determining paths to new knowledge and holistic growth.

We commit ourselves to continuous professional learning in the fields of early childhood and language development.

Our preschool curriculum provides ample time for indoor and outdoor play. Play experiences help teachers construct subject-integrated, developmentally-supportive learning projects with the children. Project development is documented as it occurs, with emphasis on children’s growth of understanding through their own words and actions. Parents are allowed and encouraged to join us at any time.

Initial weeks are dedicated to helping children become familiar with routines and our English-language environment. First language support is provided. Parents are welcome to attend with their children until they are emotionally settled.

Discovery International School provides your child with a modern, research-supported approach to children's learning--in English! Our teachers are licensed and experienced educators. Our curriculum and environment are carefully designed to maximize language development, along with all areas of learning.

At Discovery, your child's voice is of greatest importance. Your child's questions and wondering serve as the starting points for engaging in deep learning projects, where teachers assist your child in finding and sharing their own answers.

Academic subjects are combined to create real-life research and learning. As we delve into personally meaningful topics, English is acquired naturally and proficiently.

At Discovery, children are the speakers and thinkers; teachers are guides and mentors. We encourage children to share thinking through multiple languages: speaking, writing, painting, sculpture, drama, song, dance... the 'Hundred Languages of Children!' We provide children with the English they need to communicate these thoughts orally and in writing. Communication thrives as your child can feel at ease to share knowledge, opinions, and feelings in an environment free of pressure or judgement!

Literacy development is completely individualized in our literacy workshops. Teachers work with children one-to-one and in small groupings to develop the complete range of literacy skills: comprehension, prediction, inferencing, word and letter sound decoding, and much much more!

We customize the learning of skills so that every child gets just what they need to continue expanding their understandings of reading and writing!

Your child's pursuits are carefully documented through photographic and video journeys. Classroom documentation allows children and teachers to revisit the learning process, reflect on new understandings, and find new questions to pursue.

Our secure online documentation allows parents to view your child's doings at school.Parents are also welcome to join lessons at any time! Additionally, we host parent-teacher conferences twice a year to share our understandings of your child's interests and growth.Tuesdays ~ Saturdays, 3:00 ~ 6:30 (120 & 180 minute lessons).

At Discovery, children are the speakers and thinkers; teachers are guides and mentors. We encourage children to share thinking through multiple languages: speaking, writing, painting, sculpture, drama, song, dance... the 'Hundred Languages of Children!' We provide children with the English they need to communicate these thoughts orally and in writing. Communication thrives as your child can feel at ease to share knowledge, opinions, and feelings in an environment free of pressure or judgement.

At Discovery, children are encouraged to freely explore with art and music materials: paints, pastels, clay, fabrics, beads, instruments, microphones, and more. Teachers model techniques and usage of tools, encouraging children to use the arts to communicate ideas and emotions. Children learn to reflect on and revise artistic works in order to achieve clarity of expression.

Physical health affects brain development, emotions, the ability to concentrate, and many other areas of growth. At Discovery, time is regularly scheduled for outdoor play. Indoors, we provide plentiful free-choice play and pursue music and movement activities daily. Personal safety and health are always top priorities.

Positive experiences in early childhood are crucial to life-long success and happiness. Learning and development thrive when learning pursuits, rules, and meanings are open to experimentation and negotiation. Young children learn actively and socially, through play, debate, conflict, and clarification. In order to assist each child’s individual development, we strive to faithfully know and listen to each child. We focus on strengths rather than weaknesses, on "Yes!" rather than "No."

Discovery is a place where your child will positively develop her own voice, self-image, and life-long skills for success. It is a place where your child is assisted in finding answers to his own important questions, learning language and concepts along the way. It is a place where growth is carefully documented and joyfully celebrated, and where the whole family is welcome in a loving, home-like environment.

Discovery International School is a small, family-operated and family-oriented, not-for-profit learning community. We invite all of you--children and parents alike!--to join us in learning together in many strong and positive ways.