Relationship is at the heart of teaching and learning: An effective learning environment places meaningful relationships—among teachers, students, families and other community members—at its center.

Family involvement is key to children’s academic success: Families play an essential role in their children’s education and should be invited to participate meaningfully in their children’s school lives.

Children learn by doing: Children learn by handling materials, exploring their environments, planning projects and conducting experiments. Effective teaching encourages learning through discovery.

Education is multi-dimensional: A well-rounded education should include not only mastery of information and skills, but opportunities for self-expression, artistic creation, personal reflection, critical thinking and the development of social, emotional and ethical competencies.