Education is at its best when it comes as a two-way street, rather than a monologue. Traditional classrooms often rely on passive listening, with students absorbing knowledge in silence as a result of overcrowded classrooms. Today, however, educational research across Europe shows that learning starts at the interaction between students and teachers.  

Teacher-Student Interaction Builds Greater Motivation 

A study published in European Academic Research reveals that positive teacher-student interactions significantly enhance student motivation and achievement. When students feel supported, listened to, and encouraged, they become more attentive and engaged in their learning tasks. Where being a passive recipient for information leads to low retention rates, students taking ownership of their learning journeys enable long-lasting and meaningful education. 

Teacher-Student Interaction for Classroom Responsiveness 

Research in Learning and Instruction highlights another capital benefit to greater interaction between educators and their pupils. Teachers who visually monitor their students and respond to their needs boost academic skills more effectively. Active observation helps teachers spot when students are struggling or disengaged, allowing them to adjust their approach in real time. This kind of attentiveness both maintains focus and empowers students to stay connected and succeed. 

Teacher-Student Interaction for Heightened Pedagogy 

Pedagogical training, as discussed in Teaching in Higher Education, also plays a vital role. Teachers who are trained to observe, interpret, and adapt to student behaviours can create classrooms that are truly student-centred. By reading the room and being flexible in their methods, these educators maintain higher levels of student attention and foster a learning environment where curiosity and participation thrive. 

A Word on Classroom Well-being 

Finally, research from European PMC underlines the impact of positive teacher-student relationships on classroom well-being. A supportive classroom atmosphere, built on trust and mutual respect, significantly increases students’ willingness to engage and participate. In such environments, learning becomes a collaborative and joyful process, not a chore. 

What Does This Mean for Your Children at BEPS? 

At BEPS International School, we take all the above to heart. Teacher-student connections take centre stage in building effective education. Our small class sizes allow every student to be seen, heard, and supported. Teachers are not just instructors, but partners, mentors, and guides on each child’s learning journey. Through active engagement, attentive teaching, and personal connection, we create a classroom environment where students learn in a way that will last them a lifetime. 

Learning comes in many shapes, and every student has their own affinity. That’s a strength, not a setback. While some children clock with reading or listening, others learn best by doing. Kinaesthetic learning is a hands-on approach through movement, action, and physical experience, central to how students understand and retain information. For these learners, knowledge is an experience more so than information to be absorbed.

Does It Work Though?

Research has shown that kinaesthetic learning can improve memory, engagement, and even abstract thinking. According to recent European studies, physically interacting with learning material, through role-play, building, experimentation, or movement, helps solidify complex concepts and keeps students more actively involved. It’s a method particularly well suited to younger learners, whose natural energy and curiosity often find their best outlet in activity-based learning.

Nature Has a Valuable Part to Play!

When this learning style is taken outdoors, its benefits are amplified. Nature becomes both a classroom and a canvas. Be it through gardening, outdoor science experiments, or Forest School-inspired activities, students can explore concepts like ecosystems, mathematics, or teamwork in a living, breathing context. As highlighted by initiatives like the Edinburgh Earth Initiative and the European School Education Platform, outdoor, nature-based learning strengthens not only academic skills but also emotional well-being, resilience, and a connection to the environment.

What About Your Children at BEPS?

At BEPS International School, we recognise the value of learning that moves, in the most literal sense. We are ideally positioned in Brussels, nestled in the “Bois de la Cambre”, to integrate kinaesthetic learning in the program. From interactive outdoor lessons to school garden projects and inquiry-led exploration, we offer our students opportunities to learn through action, movement, and real-world engagement. Because for many children, especially those who think best on their feet, learning doesn’t happen at a desk—it happens in motion.

In a world where information is abundant, sometimes unreliable and constantly shifting, students must be equipped with the right tools to parse truth from falsehood. Today’s learners are tomorrow’s problem-solvers, innovators, and decision-makers after all. To thrive in their personal and professional lives, they need the ability to analyse, evaluate, and make informed choices in complex situations.

So, What Is Critical Thinking Exactly? 

Although, critical thinking can be summarised as the ability to question assumptions and assess evidence, it’s important to note that educators, psychologists and philosophers don’t always agree on a common theoretical definition. Thus, Critical thinking is a complex matter. For the sake of your children, however, it empowers them to engage deeply with content and become active participants in their own education.

How to Best Approach Its Development? 

According to the European School Education Platform, the most effective way to teach critical thinking is to integrate it across the curriculum rather than treating it as a separate subject. This includes encouraging students to engage in inquiry-based learning, class discussions, group projects, and real-world problem-solving tasks. Through these activities, students not only develop their analytical skills but also learn to communicate and collaborate effectively.

A Variety of Method Across Europe

Other successful approaches include media literacy programs like Italy’s “Il Quotidiano in Classe,” which teach students to analyse news sources and develop informed opinions. Similarly, Finland’s education system and Scotland’s Storyline method foster environments where questioning and exploration are at the heart of learning. These methods show that when students are given the tools to think critically, they become more independent, adaptable, and engaged learners.

What About Your Children at BEPS?

At BEPS International School, we believe in preparing our students for life. That’s why critical thinking is an integral part of everything we do—from inquiry-led projects and interdisciplinary learning to fostering open dialogue in the classroom. Our goal is to give every student the confidence and capacity to think independently, solve problems creatively, and navigate the world with greater confidence.