“No, this cannot be changed.”
All parents have heard some version of this sentence when they ask school teachers to try something different to improve student learning. After all, when you are one parent out of thousands of others in the school, you can easily be ignored. So they stick to their cookie cutter pattern, year after year, without much thought about an individual child’s capabilities and desires,
Alternative Learning is a movement that returns back to the original intentions of getting an education – to be prepared for life. It transfers the power of learning from the school back to the student by creating an environment that encourages each child to explore and strive to achieve based on her own capabilities.
What Does Sandbox Do?
At Sandbox Academy of Alternative Learning, we believe that the magic of learning happens at the intersection of domains & disciplines. To nurture curious minds, we explain fundamental concepts to children through an open ended curriculum that has no text book boundaries.
Our Founder Director, Sulbha Shantwan, created Sandbox when she began looking for alternative education options for her son. Based on her deep understanding of life sciences and a post-graduation in education, she designed a curriculum that would impart education with the student at its center, instead of a top down approach. The Academy started with 3 students 10 years ago. Currently we have 100 students enrolled across India, Middle East & Europe.
Our Core Philosophy
There is no single mold into which all children can fit.
We believe in uncovering & strengthening the core strengths of students in a fluid & flexible system. We understand the foundation of every child so that they can build on it with their own hands. For us, studies (just like life) cannot be compartmentalized into language, math or science.
Why Makes Sandbox Unique
- Peer Learning in Blocks not Classrooms
Our students study in multi age classrooms where pure learning takes place from an older child. Our blocks are made up of students of 2 or more grades learning together. This is because children are more receptive to understanding from those of a similar age group instead of from adults.
- “Don’t you even know this much!”
That’s something you won’t ever hear from us. Our learning happens in a non judgemental environment. Children not judged for knowing or not knowing something. They feel confident enough to say, “I don’t know something. Please teach me.”
- Quality over Quantity
Our students have study sessions for just 2 hours a day. This way they get the rest of the day to explore their strengths & weaknesses & other activities that they want to pursue further. This avoids the fatigue, loss of creativity and concentration that the child may experience in regular school classes.
- No Textbooks
We believe textbooks are a limiting factor that limit children from exploring concepts beyond the set syllabus. Our open ended curriculum has no subject boundaries. So pollination of flowers can be studied from the Biology, Maths (Fibonacci Sequence) or a Sustainability angle giving students a 360 degree view of the world.
- Children of Technology
We hardly use pen and paper in our daily life so why should children be limited to using them? Our learners engage in an immersive experiential learning through the metaverse of experiential learning. The live classes, assignments & submissions create an outcome based education with technology as the foundation.
- Concrete, Pictorial & Abstract (CPA) Concept of Learning
Our teaching covers all the 3 aspects while learning a new topic. So if students are learning about adding of fruits, first they handle the actual pieces of fruit. Then they move to abstract counters or cubes that represent the fruits. The physical & visual aids help in better understanding of abstract topics like fractions.
How do we Enroll New Learners
Enrollment is a 3 step process that focuses on the child to ensure a smooth transition.
- Talk to the child & parent
Every child learns differently & we try to understand the best method that works for yours – exploring, experimenting, observing & questioning. We mold our communication based on the child’s personality & behavioral style.
2. Understand their requirements
This conversation helps us understand the individual needs of your child. They may vary from studying at your own pace, building on existing skills to learning with exploration & balancing learning with fun.
3. Is Homeschooling Right for Your Child
We want you to select what is the best option for your child. Our admissions team checks to see if your child is a good fit for homeschooling & our offerings.
At the end of this we start the homeschooling journey for your child.