Founded more than 20 years ago as a research center in Sydney, Australia, MindChamps grew into an early education group designed to help children meet the ever-changing demands of the 21st century. By Patty Horansky
Making an Impact on U.S. Education
Founded more than 20 years ago as a research center in Sydney, Australia, MindChamps grew into an early education group designed to help children meet the ever-changing demands of the 21st century.
Founder CEO David Chiem opened MindChamps PreSchool in Singapore in 2008, with a unique focus not on what to learn but on how to learn.
MindChamps has since expanded into more than 80 centers throughout Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia, and is now ready to franchise in the U.S.
Its acclaimed preschool curriculum was developed by MindChamps’ Global Research, Advisory and Programme Development Team, comprised of award-winning, worldwide experts in education, psychology, neuroscience and theater.
Heralded globally as a leader in early-childhood education, MindChamps is built on a three-pronged approach:
- the Learning Mind, promoting academic achievement;
- the Champion Mind, instilling perseverance and excellence; and
- the Creative Mind, liberating the imagination.
“It is an approach that has become synonymous with the success of MindChamps in preparing young people from the preschool to tertiary levels, and it continues to underpin all that we do,’’ said Chiem.
With its introduction to the U.S., MindChamps brings its revolutionary, patent-pending MindChamps Music Program, headed by Boston-based Professor Larry Scripp, Ed.D., dean of MindChamps Music-in-Education.
A renowned educator, researcher and composer, Scripp is the former head of the New England Conservatory’s Music-in-Education program and has studied music in education for more than 40 years. MindChamps Music is the culmination of his lifelong work.
“The MindChamps Music curriculum was crafted to tap into the fun learning experience that music provides while aiding children’s cognitive development and maximizing retention of knowledge,” Scripp said.
The program combines a range of musical literacy skills with other areas of study, such as math and language. Research shows that students who go through the program perform better in international tests such as TOPEL, the Test of Preschool Early Literacy, clearly proving the program to be a breakthrough at the early learning level.
“It is unheard of for an educational program to be patented,’’ said Alvin Lewis Tham, director of MindChamps’ marketing for preschool. “In fact, to get to patent-pending status, we had to show substantial documentation that is unique and difficult to replicate.”
Most education programs submitted for patents are rejected before reaching pending status, he said. MindChamps Music anticipates full patent approval.
“All our teachers go through a standard training and accreditation by our MindChamps curriculum and training team for more than 100 hours, regardless of their previous experience or qualifications,’’ Tham said.
Scripp will personally train MindChamps Music’s instructors, and the program will be available to all MindChamps preschools in the U.S., making it an attractive venture for potential franchisees.
“In line with MindChamps DNA, where everything is underpinned by solid research, we are excited to take this revolutionary program from Singapore to the world,” Chiem said.
If you have a passion for working with children and a desire to make a positive difference in their futures, MindChamps Preschool provides a tested and proven business model, along with full support and training in the MindChamps culture and pedagogy.
Patty Horansky