How Holistic Learning Boosts your Child's Overall Performance

A holistic approach to education, in its broadest sense, refers to paying attention to every element, including the spiritual, emotional, psychological, social, and physical components of education, rather than focusing on a single area. The process of holistic learning integrates the student's intellect, body, and soul. Students can establish a connection to the subject of study through holistic learning. Along with improving the learner's cognitive abilities, it aids in their emotional, psychological, and social development. In this article, let's explore how holistic learning plays a role in boosting a child's overall performance.

Also Read | The Definitive Guide to Spiritual Development in Children

A report by the American Psychological Association shows that students who receive a well-rounded education, including instruction in social-emotional learning, have better mental health and well-being. Many organizations are becoming aware that kids require more from their education than simply a solid grounding in the fundamental subjects; they also require community support and the opportunity to grow in their capacity for compassion for others. 

In an integrated learning environment, educators who practice holistic education work to meet students' emotional, social, ethical, and academic requirements. Positive school climate and offering children whole-child support also referred to as wraparound support—that address both academic and non-academic needs—are prioritized. Students are taught to think critically about their choices, how they affect the local and global community, and how to draw lessons from those around them. Teachers frequently assign students projects that require them to use their critical thinking abilities to address challenges in the real world.  

Holistic Learning Methods 

Teachers must be equipped to support students with a range of educational backgrounds and cognitive capacities. While a single overall principle informs holistic education, teachers may use a variety of techniques to foster a culture of holistic learning. 

• Experiential Learning: Schools that emphasize experiential learning offer practical learning opportunities. For instance, students might examine several learning methods in groups to see which ones work best for them. Exercises in problem-solving are frequently used in holistic, experiential methods to solve societal issues or develop novel goods. A meta-analysis by the American Institutes for Research found that students who engage in project-based learning have higher academic achievement, better problem-solving skills, and greater motivation to learn
• Self-guided Learning: Teachers provide students with the freedom to learn at their own pace and in the manner that best suits them in self-guided learning environments. Personalization is possible in the self-guided culture, which helps to address the shortcomings of one-size-fits-all learning approaches. The pace and substance of the program are modified via low-stakes tests. Students of various ages and academic levels may be found in smaller classrooms. 
• Community Schools: The foundation of community schools is the notion that ties with one's community help one find meaning in life. Teachers collaborate with community members to offer integrated support and expanded learning opportunities, such as after-school and summer programs. Community members include families, residents, organizations, and officials. Schools serve as a community hub where academic, social, developmental, and engagement activities are brought together. 
• Interdisciplinary Coursework: The notion that pupils' cognitive development is enhanced when several subjects are addressed simultaneously is one component of holistic education. Some schools are developing integrated programs where instructors from many fields collaborate to deliver courses that are topical and examine problems from a variety of angles. Other possible course requirements include independent study, travel, fieldwork, and internships.

Benefits of Holistic Education  

The foundation of holistic education is a learning concept that benefits students, teachers, schools, and communities in various ways. Students are given the power to enhance their academic performance and acquire the life skills required to embark on a prosperous professional career.  

• Improved Academic Achievement: By adapting to various learning styles and offering a supportive learning environment, holistic education can raise academic achievement for all children, regardless of background or circumstances. According to the Learning Policy Institute, children's brain development is enhanced when they feel both physically and emotionally safe and linked to others. A study by the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector found that students in Montessori schools have higher academic achievement, better social skills, and greater motivation to learn through methods associated with holistic learning. 
• Enhanced Mental and Emotional Well-Being: Students have a better chance of graduating with self-awareness, confidence, and a sense of social duty in a supportive setting where social and emotional development is prioritized alongside academics. 
• Increased Problem-Solving Ability: When given real-world challenges to solve in their communities, students develop great critical-thinking abilities. These practical assignments teach students abilities that they might use in their adult employment, like how to collect, evaluate, and report data and how to work with others. 
• Reduced Impact of Inequities: According to the Learning Policy Institute, the whole-child approach to education has been demonstrated to lessen the psychological impact of problems like violence, abuse, or poverty on academic achievement by stressing integrated learning principles. 

The process of holistic learning integrates the student's intellect, body, and soul. The activation of the learner's emotion, intelligence, creativity, imagination, and body results in a thorough and effective degree of educational experience. 

Considering all the above factors it becomes important to expose your child to the holistic approach to learning. Choosing a school like Empros International School thus becomes a cruciality in ensuring the best possible education for your child. Empros International School believes in nurturing academic excellence and children's physical, emotional, intellectual, creative, spiritual, and social well-being.

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The approach to learning here is not only instructional but also experiential, exploratory, and collaborative, for the all-around development of children. The staff also periodically organizes activities like archery, theatre, martial arts, Western and Folk dance, etc. The teachers are trained in various teaching and learning methodologies that constantly challenge students and keep them motivated and engaged. Inquiry-based and application-oriented approaches are employed and children are encouraged to learn independently and collaboratively.

EIS aims to instill a lifelong love for learning among its students so that they keep growing into self-confident and responsible citizens of society. Students can establish a connection to the subject of study through holistic learning. It makes it possible for students to succeed more frequently, which promotes the general growth of a varied class. Through creative administration, the classroom should be able to accommodate new concepts and viewpoints. Success for students should not be determined by their grades or degrees, but rather by a more all-encompassing feeling of accomplishment that makes them feel comfortable and joyful. It serves as a form of inspiration as well. 

Check Out: Integrating Arts with Education: Guiding Principles of Curriculum Development