AISA Elementary in a nutshell Approximately 710 students from 3- year-olds to 12- year-olds 2 classes 0f K (3- year-olds 4 classes each of K1 and K2 (4 and 5-year olds) 5 classes in each grade from 1-5 To follow... -The PYP and our program of inquiry -Literacy -Arts. Technology, P.E. -After School Academy -AISA Elementary Sports -Services from the Student Support Team AISA was established in 1995 to provide a high-quality American education to both expatriate and U.A.E. students. It is accredited by both the Council of International Schools and the U.S. Middle States Association of Schools. In 2004 it was authorized by the International Baccalaureate to provide the Primary Years Program, the first school authorized in Abu Dhabi. Our curriculum is aligned with the U.S. Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Everyday Math is the math program; our literacy blocks follow the Lucy Calkins’ Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop from Columbia University’s Teachers College. All curricular subjects are connected as much as possible to the PYP’s six transdisciplinary themes in our units of inquiry. Homeroom teachers are responsible for teaching all of the units of inquiry as well as the math and English language arts. Specialist teachers are hired to complete our program. Children attend Arabic daily. Muslim children also receive instruction in Islamic Studies and Arabic Social Studies. Each grade has P.E., Technology and the Arts weekly. Established in 1995—one of 8 schools owned and managed by the Educational Services Overseas Ltd. AISA’s Mission: Creating internationally-minded students who are independent learners... American International School in Abu Dhabi 2013-14 Elementary Little Lions Principal Mary Pittman-Jones
19
Embed
Elementary Little Lions · The Primary Years Program is an inquiry based, transdisciplinary learning program designed by the International Baccalaureate . Organization for 3-12 year
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
AISA Elementary in a
nutshell
Approximately 710
students from 3-
year-olds to 12-
year-olds
2 classes 0f K (3-
year-olds
4 classes each of
K1 and K2 (4 and
5-year olds)
5 classes in each
grade from 1-5
To follow...
-The PYP and our
program of inquiry
-Literacy
-Arts. Technology,
P.E.
-After School
Academy
-AISA Elementary
Sports
-Services from the
Student Support
Team
AISA was established in 1995 to
provide a high-quality American
education to both expatriate and U.A.E.
students. It is accredited by both the
Council of International Schools and the
U.S. Middle States Association of
Schools. In 2004 it was authorized by
the International Baccalaureate to
provide the Primary Years Program,
the first school authorized in Abu Dhabi.
Our curriculum is aligned with
the U.S. Common Core Standards in
English Language Arts and
Mathematics. Everyday Math is the
math program; our literacy blocks
follow the Lucy Calkins’ Reader’s and
Writer’s Workshop from Columbia
University’s Teachers College. All curricular subjects are connected as
much as possible to the PYP’s six transdisciplinary themes in our units of
inquiry.
Homeroom teachers are responsible for teaching
all of the units of inquiry as well as the math and
English language arts. Specialist teachers are hired to
complete our program. Children attend Arabic daily.
Muslim children also receive instruction in Islamic
Studies and Arabic Social Studies. Each grade has
P.E., Technology and the Arts weekly.
Established in 1995—one of 8 schools owned and
managed by the Educational Services Overseas Ltd.
AISA ’ s M i s s i on : C r ea t i ng
i n t e rna t i ona l l y -m inded s t udent s who
a r e i ndependent l e a rne r s . . .
American International School in Abu Dhabi
2013-14
Elementary Little Lions
Principal Mary Pittman-Jones
Appreciation being thankful for something
and showing it
Commitment finishing what you start and
not giving up
Confidence feeling confident in your
ability as a learner, having
the courage to take risks,
applying what you have
learned, and making
appropriate decisions and
choices
Cooperation working together; sharing
and helping
Creativity using ideas in different ways
Curiosity being curious about the
nature of learning, about the
world, its people and
cultures
Empathy imagining yourself in
another’s situation in order
to understand his or her
reasoning and emotions
Enthusiasm enjoying learning and
willingly putting effort into
the process Independence thinking and acting
independently, making your
own judgements and
being able to defend them
Integrity being honest, always telling
the truth
Respect being polite and kind to
yourself and others by being
considerate and courteous
Tolerance being sensitive about
differences and diversity in
the world and being
responsive to the
needs of others
ATTITUDES
The Primary Years Program is an inquiry based, transdisciplinary
learning program designed by the International Baccalaureate
Organization for 3-12 year olds. The foundation of IB programs is the
Learner Profile, a list of attributes that are deemed essential for
becoming international minded lifelong learners. Along with the
Learner Profile there are 5 essential elements of the PYP: Knowledge,
Concepts, Skills, Attitudes, and Action. Below is a brief description of
each of these essential elements.
Balanced understanding how important it is
to balance learning time, playing
time and feelings
Caring caring about and respecting the
needs and feeling of others
Communicator understanding and expressing ideas
and information; working in a group
Inquirer being curious and finding out about
all kinds of things
Knowledgeable exploring ideas and develop
understandings in many subjects
Open-Minded understanding and appreciating your
own culture and the culture of others
Principled being fair and honest with
myself and others Reflective
thinking back to what was
learned and how you could do
better next time
Risk-taker being brave and independent and
exploring new things
Thinker using a ‘thinking cap’ and solve
problems creatively
LEARNER
PROFILE
AISA Elementary Primary Years Program
ACTION How can you use
your learning?
Social - accepting responsibility,
respecting others, cooperation,
conflict resolution, group decision
making, adopting a variety of roles
Communication - listening,
speaking, reading, writing, viewing,
Presenting, non-verbal communication
Thinking - acquiring knowledge,
comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis,
evaluation, dialectical thought, metacognition
Research - questions, observing, planning,
collecting data, recording data, organizing
data, interpreting data, presenting research
Self-management - gross and fine motor skills, spatial awareness,
It’s not surprising that Everyday Mathematics lessons look different than the elementary math lessons you remember. They are different because they are better.
Think back to your elementary math lessons. You probably remember laboring over the memorization of multiplication tables and filling out endless worksheets. Everyday Mathematics was designed specifically to help children understand mathematics and learn to apply it, so they can be successful in our competitive workplace in careers rich in technology, problem solving and math knowledge
Here are some frequently asked questions that parents like you may have about why Everyday Mathematics is different from the math lessons of the past … and why that difference is good news.
Why does my child have to learn more than one way to solve a problem? Isn’t there only one right way?Many of us are surprised to learn that there are often several ways to arrive at the same answer. The methods for solving a problem are called algorithms. Everyday Mathematics teaches children alternative algorithms, or different ways to add, subtract, multiply and divide.
Why? Based on research from Everyday Mathematics’ authors, we know that giving students different options for performing math allows them to choose which works best for them. This is helpful for children at all levels, from gifted to struggling math students. The high achiever comes to understand math more deeply and learns problem-solving skills important for the workplace. Struggling students may find an alternative method that allows them to solve problems that they could not solve before.
Everyday Mathematics is based on convergent thinking. While traditional math classes only give students a surface understanding of concepts, Everyday Mathematics students are encouraged to combine approaches to get a better overall understanding.
How will my child learn math without spending a lot of time memorizing math facts? Students must know basic math facts, and Everyday Mathematics teaches them. But the process is different than the dull rote memorization from the past. Everyday Mathematics students master math by getting an understanding of basic facts and math skills, rather than simply memorizing numbers.
Understanding a math concept is much more powerful than simple memorization. Students learn the patterns of numbers, using number grids, number lines and other charts. They discover the relationships between addition and multiplication, between division and subtraction. Once they learn why steps are taken, rather than just memorizing those steps, they can extend their knowledge to much more involved problems.
Unlike traditional methods, Everyday Mathematics does not rely on “drill and kill” activities. Everyday Mathematics provides numerous alternatives to the rote recitation of basic facts, allowing students to not only memorize facts, but also to internalize what is being done. We don’t want children to just recite facts. We want them to be able to explain their reasons for their math work.
My child seems to be spending a lot of time playing games instead of learning from a book. Why is that? In Everyday Mathematics, short homework assignments and interactive games are an additional form of individual practice assignments. The time spent playing games very productive. The children are actively engaged, learning cooperatively and developing higher-order thinking skills, all while they think they are playing!
Be Confident with Everyday Mathematics: A Parent’s Guide
®
SETTING THE STANDARD
Everyday Mathematics was written for the teacher to guide students through math rather than for children to learn by reading a student text. Student materials were designed as supplements to increase their knowledge.
The pace seems too fast for my child to fully learn the lesson. Why does Everyday Mathematics move so fast?Everyday Mathematics was carefully paced to align with the latest research about how children learn. The approach is much more successful than the traditional method of teaching, re-teaching, and re-re-teaching until the entire class has mastered a topic before moving on. Concepts are revisited in new formats so the level of understanding grows over time.
Beyond improved understanding, this method helps students be more fully prepared for state testing. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics breaks math content into five categories: 1) numbers and operations, 2) algebra, 3) geometry, 4) measurement, and 5) data analysis and probability. The pacing of Everyday Mathematics allows teachers to touch on each of these repeatedly, so students are exposed to all of them throughout the year.
Who created Everyday Mathematics? The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP) developed Everyday Mathematics as a result of collaborative efforts by researchers, mathematics educators, administrators and classroom teachers. The program has been in development for 20 years as these experts sought ways to help American children become more skilled in math.
Every grade of the program was developed, field tested in actual classrooms around the country for a year and then revised before it was published. The program has proven effective in school districts from New York City to Anchorage, Alaska. Because it’s based on research and field-testing, you can trust Everyday Mathematics to prepare your child for the future.
Here’s what other parents have to say about Everyday Mathematics:“My oldest son had Everyday Mathematics in Grade 6 and my younger daughter had it in Grades K-1. When the Home Connections assignments started coming home, I was pleasantly surprised that my kids were being asked to think about things in a different way. The Home Connections are clear, concise and easy for me to understand. And, it got our family talking about topics where normally wouldn’t. It’s important to set aside one-on-one time in the evening to do the Home Connections together. It’s a wonderful way to understand what my kids are learning at school.” -Ann Boeckman, Bexley, Ohio
“Everyday Mathematics makes so much sense! I support its interactive, relevant approach to learning math. Math is more than numbers. You have to relate it to daily life and the real world. It doesn’t come alive until children see those connections.” -Ida Lo, Bexley, Ohio
For more information, visit www.WrightGroup.com or call 1-800-382-7670
R80001925
AISA ELEMENTARY
ARTS at AISA
Here at AISA, we value the arts. In ARTS class, students will
be able to experience many different kinds of art forms
from all over the world. Students will practice visual arts,
Students in Kindergarten are introduced to computers and they learn to be independent and confident users who are knowledgeable about safety & care of the computers in the lab.
They learn the name and purpose of the parts of the iMac computer (Monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer and headphones). They also learn how to use the mouse: controlling the cursor, clicking accurately, double clicking, dragging & dropping, as well as following instructions within a program. Students in K 2 also learn to use the keyboard and the basic keys (enter, space bar, delete), and to open, save and close a word file.
Library for Kindergarten:
The kindergarten library holds more than 1,200 books and is connected with the main library. Students are introduced to how a library works. This includes: following the rules inside the library, handling books carefully, and eventually learning to love reading. During story time, students
share their experiences and talk about the book that has been read to them. The students will take home a book every other week. Music in Kindergarten In addition to computer lab and library, Pre K & K1 also have music class, in which they have the opportunity to sing and explore their musical abilities. They are introduced to percussion instruments like bells, tambourines, maracas, cymbals, castanets and others. Students also learn basic musical terms: sound, silence, rhythm, beat, and tempo.
AISA’s little lions have plenty of fun in this exploratory environment! Archie Subra [email protected]
Being a successful person requires effort on the part of many people. The school and the teachers must provide certain essential elements; the child must be willing and able to learn, and the parents must provide certain kinds of support both in the home environment and of the efforts of the school. To make this explicit, we are providing a contract of the requirements necessary at each level to promote successful learning.
The school and teachers will… Be Thinkers by providing a high standard of education, keeping in line with IBO PYP requirements and the Common Core Standards, within a balanced curriculum, and by taking appropriate action with students who are not succeeding.
Be Communicators by providing home-school communication.
Be Respectful by promoting a positive attitude towards everyone regardless of difference in gender, race, culture, belief, values, age, and need in order to produce internationally-minded adults.
Be Caring by applying positive behavior management strategies.
Be Safe by caring for each child’s safety and well-being.
The student will…
Be a Thinker by inquiring to learn, that’s my job!
Be a Communicator by speaking kindly and respectfully to others, and by sharing school communication with my parents/caregivers.
Be Respectful by valuing people’s differences.
Be Caring by being aware of the needs and feelings of others.
Be Principled with Property by respecting the school and other’s property.
Be Safe by working, learning, and playing in a safe manner.
The parents/caregivers will…
Be Thinkers by valuing, encouraging, and supporting your child’s learning, and providing many opportunities for them to share their knowledge, skills, and understanding. Be Communicators by responding to important home-school communication and by informing the school of information that may impact upon your child’s learning or safety. Be Respectful by valuing all members of the AISA community. Be Caring by showing sensitivity towards the needs and feelings of others. Be Safe by provide and promoting safe routines, procedures and standards that supports the school’s values and
beliefs.
Together we will…
Value one another as partners in the educational and social-emotional growth of children.
As the early childhood support specialist I work with the Pre K, K1, K2 and Grade 1 classes to ensure that social and motor skills are developed consistently. I monitor the academic progress of students in early childhood classes and implement appropriate interventions.
As the counselor I am responsible for addressing issues in which learning is affected by behavioral concerns.
I am a resource for students, parents and teachers.
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program: http://www.ibo.org/informationfor/parents/ The IB World publications: http://www.ibo.org/ibworld/index.cfm The IB Learner Profile: http://www.ibo.org/programmes/profile/ What is the Primary Years Program? http://www.ibo.org/pyp/ Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Reading http://www.fountasandpinnellleveledbooks.com/aboutLeveledTexts.aspx Reading A-Z and RazKids Subscription Website: http://www.raz-kids.com/ Everyday Math: http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/
IXL Math Subscription Website : h http://www.ixl.com/ Khan Academy: http://www.khanacademy.org/ Inquiry-based Learning from Thirteen Ed Online http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/inquiry/index.html The Keys to Inquiry: Harvard University http://hea-www.harvard.edu/ECT/Inquiry/inquiry1.html Visible Thinking Routines from Harvard’s Project Zero http://pzweb.harvard.edu/vt/VisibleThinking_html_files/03_ThinkingRoutines/03a_ThinkingRoutines.html Many sites have parent sections. Be sure to look for … BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/ Sesame Street: http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents National Geographic: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/siteindex/parents.html National Science Teachers’ Association: http://www.nsta.org/portals/parents/ National Council of Teachers of Math: http://www.nctm.org/resources/families.aspx
We hope that you enjoy your time at AISA! Stay in touch with us! A strong home-school connection helps children!