Kg 1 & Kg 2
In Kindergarten 1 and 2, emphasis is placed on the development of a positive self-concept, appropriate socialization and readiness skills. Students are given opportunities to build the foundations for a happy and successful school experience. Fundamental skills in reading, writing and math are taught in an active and stimulating environment that is both fun and engaging.
Grades 1 - 6
Curriculum for students in grades 1 through 6 emphasizes skills in all subject areas and introduces higher level skills to challenge students and stimulate their interests. The curriculum fosters the concept that learning will be enjoyable and rewarding throughout the students' lives. Language Arts (reading and writing), math, social studies and science form the basis of study for the classroom.
In the early years, phonics and phonemic awareness (sound/symbol relationships) are the foundation upon which reading is built. Once children grasp the concept and connection between symbols and meaning, sight words are introduced and eventually easy readers. The Scholastic guided reading program then incrementally increases the difficulty of books in order to challenge students at all levels. The Harcourt program serves as a basis for writing development through the exploration of skills and a wide variety of writing prompts. In the upper elementary, literature circles replace the guided reading program for readers who are independent as students work in small groups on a common book to explore what good writing is.
In math, the Everyday Math program is our base. Developed at the University of Chicago, Everyday Math teaches students to “think math” and see it in the world around them as opposed to seeing math as a series of calculations and problems. This program promotes mathematical reasoning by introducing math as a language through games and projects that can often be played at home. Although this may be very different from a more traditional approach that parents are familiar with, constant communication between home and school will keep parents apprised of how they can help their children think like a mathematician.
Science and social studies round out the core curriculum by exposing students to content important to their understanding of the natural and human world. The science curriculum spirals content by exposing students to an idea once in a lower grade before drawing on it again for mastery in a higher grade. The social studies program has a modified American focus as we draw on our multi-cultural make up as we progressively expand our view of the world from the child and their family to concepts of democracy and politics.
In addition to the core subjects, students also receive instruction in physical education and health, music, art, Arabic Studies, library science and computer education. Our curriculum is essentially traditional, but a school-wide focus on differentiated instructional allows each student to be pushed according to their own ability and readiness within the limits of the program and curricular standards in each area.
Simply put, our program aims to have each child be able to speak the language of English, math, music, art, PE and beyond, giving them an opportunity to be confident enough in each so that they may choose their own area for further exploration and success.
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