The children sitting in classrooms today will one day enter professions that may not even exist yet. Their world will be shaped by artificial intelligence, global collaboration, and entirely new industries. Preparing them for such a future requires much more than simply transferring knowledge. It means developing their creativity, adaptability, critical thinking skills, and confidence to face new challenges.
This vision lies at the heart of Maple Bear’s new global educational program, introduced in 2025.
To learn more about the philosophy behind this important update, how it was developed, and how it helps prepare students for life in a rapidly changing world, we spoke with Justine O’Grady, Director of Education Programs at Maple Bear Global Schools.
Maple Bear recently introduced a new global curriculum. What inspired its creation?
Justine O’Grady: Education is constantly evolving, just like the world our children are growing up in. Maple Bear now serves more than 72,000 students across 500 schools in 39 countries, and with such a diverse global community, it is essential that our curriculum reflects not only strong academic standards but also the realities of multilingual and multicultural learning environments.
The updated curriculum builds on decades of proven Canadian educational practices alongside the latest pedagogical research. Our goal was to strengthen academic excellence while also developing the competencies students will need in the future – curiosity, adaptability, collaboration, and critical thinking.
It was equally important for us to create a curriculum that remains flexible enough to support students with different levels of English proficiency, as well as educators with diverse professional backgrounds across the Maple Bear network. This ensures that high-quality learning can take place in every Maple Bear school around the world.
How was the updated curriculum developed and what principles guided its design?
Justine O’Grady: The entire process was highly intentional and research-driven. The curriculum was developed by a team of more than 30 specialists who drew on Canadian educational frameworks, international educational research, and decades of classroom experience from Canadian educators working within the Maple Bear network.
One of the most important principles was finding the right balance between two complementary approaches to teaching – direct instruction and Inquiry-Based Learning.
Research consistently shows that combining these approaches leads to the strongest learning outcomes, especially in international and multilingual environments. Different subjects require different instructional strategies, and our curriculum reflects this reality.
Mathematics and Science, for example, integrate Inquiry-Based Learning throughout the program. Students explore concepts, discover connections, test their ideas, and develop problem-solving skills through questioning and investigation.
English Language Arts, especially in the early years, places greater emphasis on direct instruction to build strong literacy foundations – including vocabulary development, reading fluency, and writing skills. However, this does not mean that exploration is absent. Inquiry-based activities are introduced gradually, ensuring that students have the necessary language and cognitive skills to engage successfully.
What does Inquiry-Based Learning look like in practice?
Justine O’Grady: Inquiry-Based Learning is one of the core elements of the Maple Bear educational philosophy. However, it can take many different forms. On one end of the spectrum is structured inquiry, where teachers guide students throughout the learning process. On the other end is open inquiry, where students independently develop questions and explore possible answers.
At Maple Bear, particularly in Grades 1 to 3, we primarily use structured inquiry. Teachers carefully design learning experiences where students ask questions, discover new knowledge, and test their thinking, while still receiving appropriate guidance and support.
As students develop stronger language and cognitive skills, they gradually gain more independence and move toward more open forms of inquiry.
Mathematics is often taught in a very traditional way in many schools. What makes the Maple Bear approach different?
Justine O’Grady: In many traditional mathematics programs, students are often taught procedures and formulas without always developing a deeper understanding of the concepts behind them. At Maple Bear, our approach is different.
Our goal is not only to teach students how to solve a mathematical problem correctly, but to help them develop mathematical thinking and a deep understanding of mathematical concepts.
Students explore mathematical ideas through discussions, problem-solving activities, hands-on learning, and connections to the real world. They learn to explain their reasoning, compare different strategies, and reflect on their own thinking.
We also place strong emphasis on representing mathematical ideas in different ways – through models, visual representations, symbols, and words. This approach supports deeper understanding and helps students develop flexible problem-solving skills.
Ultimately, our goal is not only to teach mathematics, but to teach students how to think mathematically – approaching challenges with curiosity, persistence, and confidence that they can find solutions.
What does learning through the Maple Bear educational model look like in practice?
Justine O’Grady: A typical day at Maple Bear combines storytelling, discussion, collaboration, movement, and hands-on exploration. Students are not passive recipients of information; they are active participants in their own learning journey.
This approach supports not only academic development but also confidence, creativity, communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with others.
An important part of our students’ learning journey is the MYMapleBear platform, which provides both digital and printed learning resources used in the classroom and at home.
Regular reading in English plays a crucial role in language acquisition. Even a few minutes of reading each day can significantly support vocabulary development, reading comprehension, and children’s confidence in a bilingual environment. MYMapleBear also helps strengthen the connection between school and home and encourages parents to actively participate in their child’s learning journey.
What does it mean to be “future-ready”?
Justine O’Grady: Being future-ready does not mean accelerating academic content or placing unrealistic expectations on children. It means developing the skills that will help students succeed in a world that is constantly changing.
These skills include curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, adaptability, and resilience. We encourage students to think independently, express their ideas, and reflect on their own learning process.
These abilities begin developing in early childhood and continue to grow throughout the school years. Our goal is not only students’ academic success, but also their readiness to face new challenges and opportunities throughout their lives.
What message would you like to share with families and schools planning to become part of the Maple Bear community?
Justine O’Grady: For families, Maple Bear provides the reassurance that their children are part of a global education network built on proven Canadian educational principles. Parents can feel confident that their children are receiving a balanced education that combines strong academic foundations with the development of essential life skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and resilience.
At Maple Bear, our main goal is the success and well-being of every student. We work closely with school leaders and teachers, supporting them through professional training, mentoring, and regular visits from our academic coaches and trainers around the world.
Our mission is simple – we want every student to leave a Maple Bear classroom as a confident, curious, and knowledgeable individual, ready to actively engage with the world around them.
Because preparing children for the future begins with supporting their growth today.
