Each day starts with a circle for students and teachers to check in, share updates, and review the schedule. After, students head to class or participate in school-wide activities, with schedules created based on student input.
Students work on core subjects and electives, with mini-lessons, group or individual Full Circle Learning (FCL) projects, focusing on topics they choose. There’s also time for outdoor activities, field trips, and community engagement.
Students work in small groups or independently on tasks like music, experiments, reading, or creative projects. Classrooms are flexible, open spaces filled with light and materials that cater to students’ needs.
After lunch, everyone pitches in to clean up, and then it’s D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything and Read) for 15-30 minutes. The afternoon includes more FCL sessions or spontaneous trips, while Fridays are for community time with group activities.
The day ends with a Closing Circle, where students and teachers reflect and share moments of gratitude.
At Clonlara School Idanha, bilingual learning is a natural part of our daily experience. Our team includes native Portuguese and English-speaking educators who collaborate to create a rich, immersive environment where both languages are valued and actively used.
Subjects are taught in either Portuguese or English, depending on the teacher and the learning goals, allowing students to develop academic fluency in both languages.
Reading, writing, and discussion activities are designed to build confidence and competence in both languages.
Our bilingual approach goes beyond language—it fosters cross-cultural understanding and global awareness.
For the 2026–27 school year, we will have two groups: Youngers 1 (grades 1 and 2) and Youngers 2 (grades 3 through 5).
Each group will have a maximum of 15 students and will be supported by a teacher and an assistant teacher.
For our Youngers groups (grades 1 through 5), learning happens through active play, exploration, and movement. We nurture both groups—pre-readers and independent readers—with multi-sensory experiences, using outdoor space whenever possible.
With a rich environment and supportive adults, children master essential skills in a meaningful way. We focus on relational skills, language development (Portuguese and English), and mathematical reasoning, practicing these through all FCL projects.
Science and social studies are explored through group FCLs, where students choose topics under teacher guidance. These projects last 2-4 weeks and develop language, math, and artistic skills.
Each student also works on individual FCLs for Portuguese, English, and math, promoting independence. Mini lessons introduce core concepts, followed by opportunities for real-life application and creative expression.
Arts, health, and wellness are woven throughout the week, with some activities for the whole school and others in smaller groups.
With a focus on hands-on, play-based learning, Youngers gradually become more independent learners, building from the concrete to the abstract.
Clonlara’s Full Circle Learning is a research-supported tool that encourages students to formulate questions about subjects that capture their attention. It then leads them through components of learning which serve to deepen their understanding, to compile their experience, to share it with others, and, finally, to reflect on the whole process, including content and approach. Full Circle Learning allows for critical thinking and problem solving. It is a tangible framework that empowers each learner to take charge of and personalize their own education.
To learn how this process is applicable at all age levels and for all students, regardless of learning style and differences, read more about Full Circle Learning.
Each group will have a maximum of 15 students and will be supported by a teacher and an assistant teacher.
Contact Us:
Associação Clonlara Portugal
Centro Empresarial de Zona Industrial
6060-182 Idanha-a-Nova
