Learning as Global Citizens
Language is a window into culture, and at TBC we use it as one. From their earliest days in our classrooms, children begin to understand that the world is much larger than their own daily experience, and that there is so much to discover in it. French opens the first door, but we don't stop there. Together, we explore cultures, customs, traditions, and places from all around the world.
A World Beyond Our Classroom
Our bilingual program naturally attracts families with an international outlook, whether they have roots abroad or simply value raising children with a broader view of the world. This gives our community a richness that we draw on deliberately. From the youngest classes, children are introduced to cultures beyond their own through a thoughtful exploration of global holidays and customs. As they grow, this deepens. In Moyen Jardin, children complete their first take-home project: a Heritage Bear, a drawing they decorate in the traditional dress and colors of their family's background, which they bring in to present and share with their classmates. Parents are also invited in throughout the year to share the traditions, foods, and stories of their home cultures. From the very beginning, children at TBC learn to move from an understanding of self to an understanding of other.
Passport to the World
In our Grand Jardin and Jardin Maternel classes, children begin to formally explore the world. We start close to home, spending time in September learning about our own communities and the United States, before setting off on our travels. Each month, the class journeys to a different country, marking each destination on their world map and collecting stamps in their TBC-issued passports along the way. We learn about geography, art, food, music, and the features that make each place distinct. Countries are chosen in part based on the backgrounds of the children in the class, so that students have the experience of seeing their own heritage celebrated and shared.
Being Good Citizens
Children who grow up curious about the world often develop something that is difficult to teach directly: an instinct for empathy.
At TBC, we believe that exposure to different cultures, languages, and ways of life helps children become open, respectful, and kind. They learn to say please and thank you, ask thoughtful questions, listen to others, and recognize that the world is full of people with different experiences and perspectives. These are qualities that will serve them well far beyond preschool.