Exploring Education in Sweden: A Transformative Experience with IEI

My recent trip to Sweden was remarkable, and I was fortunate to share the experience with some of the #IEIfamily. Over three days, we immersed ourselves in Sweden's education system, exchanging insights with Swedish educational leaders and exploring schools that inspired us.

Our first day was packed with conversations and learning opportunities. We met with current and former district leaders from Sweden, discussing both the similarities and key differences between our education systems. We also explored various educational frameworks used nationwide, learning how Swedish schools prioritize student-centered approaches. One was the Spiral of Inquiry Framework which you can see below. This framework is used in schools to improve learning outcomes through inquiry, learning, and action.

A great quote from this first day from one of the presentations about trust-based management is, “There is an important distinction between ‘having control’ and ‘controlling’, as the latter can lead to losing control in significant ways.” Our district leaders discussed what this could look like in their districts. 

The second day took us into the heart of Swedish schools. We visited two schools, and the following ideas stood out:

• Focus on the student, not the subject: Teachers follow their class for three years, building deep relationships with students.
• Preschool starts at age 1: Parents pay no costs for daycare, and parental leave is generous—lasting a year and a half, shared between both parents.
• Teachers receive extensive planning time during the day, supporting their ability to focus on personalized instruction.
• Flexible school hours: The start and end times of the school day vary depending on grade level and the individual school.

In both schools, we were able to see Magma Math in action. You could see the students' excitement when Henrik and his team entered the room (many asking for a Magma Math t-shirt), and they were especially excited to show them their Math skills. As a former teacher myself, I saw the incredible benefits Magma had for students and teachers. It is user-friendly, and one benefit I saw is that the teachers can see all students' answers at one time on the screen to monitor progress in real-time. 

Safety was another notable difference. School safety concerns, common in many other countries, are virtually non-existent in Sweden. Teachers leave classroom doors open, outdoor areas aren’t fenced in, and safety officers are not needed. One classroom we visited even had students carving with knives as part of an art project!

The second school, in particular, took a social approach to learning. Its enormous classrooms were furnished with lofts, meeting spaces, outdoor learning areas, and “caves” for quieter study—all centered around creating a collaborative and student-driven environment. There were no teacher desks in sight, which I found to be a testament to its student-first approach to learning.

On our final day, we visited the Swedish parliament, learning about the government structure and current debates on education policy. One hot topic? Whether students should go completely screen-free in schools—a proposal that has sparked significant debate. 

To wrap up our trip, we enjoyed a boat tour that took us to the Baltic Sea. Fun fact: the boat was once owned by Grace Kelly! We had a few lighter moments, too—a local boy came up to us, correctly guessing we were American because, in his words, “you’re loud!” And, of course, no trip to Sweden would be complete without tasting the real deal—Swedish meatballs!

I am grateful to IEI and Magma Math for the opportunity to experience Sweden’s education system firsthand, learn from the brilliant minds behind it, and reflect on what we can take back to our own schools. It was an incredible gift. Thank you to IEI and the Magma Math team for making this journey possible!