The Thomas Jefferson Institute has distinguished itself as one of the best private schools in the State of Mexico, a benchmark for innovation. This presents a significant challenge: to remain at the forefront and constantly seek the best programs that align with, guide, and strengthen our institute's vision and approach.Our alliance with the International School Partnership has opened a new horizon and deepened our commitment to providing the best education for our students. We no longer see ourselves solely as a private elementary school; we are now working towards internationalization. This premise led to our collaboration with Tekman, a company specializing in mathematics education. We began working with EMAT, whose acronym describes it as an Exciting, Manipulative, Adaptive, and Cross-Curricular program. Its curriculum is based on the knowledge and skills that every global citizen should possess, and this is what motivated us to embark on this path, which entailed a significant shift in how we think, learn, and teach.Throughout the time we've been working with this program, we've witnessed the progress of our students. They've developed a different way of thinking, their logical reasoning and analytical skills have increased, they've learned to use their knowledge to solve everyday problems, and equally important, we see how much they enjoy and are excited about all the learning activities. This is thanks to the active methodologies that make for dynamic and varied classes every day. In a math session, students manipulate learning materials, perform mental calculations, listen, analyze, and solve problems, while learning from each other. And if necessary, we have the opportunity to coach those who need it most in a natural and friendly way so they can gain confidence in their learning.As time has passed and we've reviewed the results, we've discovered that our students have surpassed their own limits. We've seen remarkable achievements. For example, while first-grade students might have reached their maximum level in learning addition and subtraction, today they not only achieve that but also understand multiplication, grasp the concept of fractions, measurement, and geometry through practical applications. And although we might think it's too early for students to learn about these topics, it's important to know that by introducing them, we're planting a seed of curiosity, excitement, and a sense of accomplishment. This will help them when they formally learn these subjects in higher grades, drawing on their emotional memory and making learning easier.Furthermore, a more concrete and objective view of this progress is reflected in the international assessments we've been conducting for the past two school years: the MAP and TIMSS tests. These results indicate that students exposed to this methodology are ranking highly compared to students in Mexico, other private elementary schools, and other parts of the world.And finally, let's talk about interdisciplinarity. Mathematics influences all areas of our lives and helps us solve problems in our immediate environment and globally. This is why ITJ Santa Monica is positioned as one of the best private schools, as we develop and strengthen mathematics learning through other subjects, such as STEAM, Technology, Robotics, Lego Education After School, and Programming. In these programs, students discover the applications of mathematics while we foster their interest in learning.In this way, we continue to innovate and make a difference by involving our families to achieve an understanding of new ways of learning and teaching. We strive to change how we experience the world and equip students with skills that allow them to exist and transform their world, which is already changing at a rapid pace.
