Curriculum at our school: an overview
At Our School we strive to live our mission in all that we do:
We inspire all of our students to continuous inquiry, empowering them with the skills, courage, optimism, and integrity to pursue their dreams and enhance the lives of others.
As we are a mission-driven school we seek curriculum that enables learners to grow, learn, and pursue their dreams. We are intentional about the standards & benchmarks, programs, and resources we select to guide the teaching and learning that takes place everyday.
Continuous inquiry is at the core of our philosophy around curriculum and instruction. Thus, we have intentionally selected to implement the International Baccalaureate at Our School. The IB program is a framework that supports relevant, meaningful, and challenging inquiry into the world around us. In the elementary school, we utilize the Primary Years Programme, which acts as the initial foundation for the IB continuum. The Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Program follow the PYP- all of which are built upon transdisciplinary themes, learner profiles, and key concepts.
In addition to the Primary Years Programme, Our School has also adopted the AERO Standards & Benchmarks. AERO is a project supported by the U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools (A/OPR/OS) and the Overseas Schools Advisory Council to assist schools in developing and implementing standards-based curricula. They provide challenging, professionally-validated, voluntary academic standards for use as a foundation for curriculum in American-sponsored schools overseas (AERO, 2014). AERO stands for “American Education Reaches Out,” and also connects to the Common Core Standards which have been adopted in the United States; putting our students on the same page as their global peers.
We also work very hard to ensure that students’ experiences in math and literacy are based in inquiry and research around best practice. In Literacy, teachers utilize the AERO Standards and Benchmarks, along with the Continuum of Literacy Learning, based on the work of G. S. Fountas & I. C. Pinnell. Teachers incorporate the following areas of literacy into their daily practice:
Overall, curriculum at Our School is based on our commitment to provide exceptional learning opportunities for all of our students. We strive to live our mission and to implement a curriculum that fosters inquiry, passion, and a desire for lifelong learning. If you are interested in learning more about specific areas or curriculum, please see the: Math, Literacy or Primary Years Programme pages. Also, the Assessment page provides specific information regarding how we assess the taught curriculum. As you can see we care deeply about the curriculum in place at Our School, and we thank you for supporting your child’s growth and learning.
We inspire all of our students to continuous inquiry, empowering them with the skills, courage, optimism, and integrity to pursue their dreams and enhance the lives of others.
As we are a mission-driven school we seek curriculum that enables learners to grow, learn, and pursue their dreams. We are intentional about the standards & benchmarks, programs, and resources we select to guide the teaching and learning that takes place everyday.
Continuous inquiry is at the core of our philosophy around curriculum and instruction. Thus, we have intentionally selected to implement the International Baccalaureate at Our School. The IB program is a framework that supports relevant, meaningful, and challenging inquiry into the world around us. In the elementary school, we utilize the Primary Years Programme, which acts as the initial foundation for the IB continuum. The Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Program follow the PYP- all of which are built upon transdisciplinary themes, learner profiles, and key concepts.
In addition to the Primary Years Programme, Our School has also adopted the AERO Standards & Benchmarks. AERO is a project supported by the U.S. State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools (A/OPR/OS) and the Overseas Schools Advisory Council to assist schools in developing and implementing standards-based curricula. They provide challenging, professionally-validated, voluntary academic standards for use as a foundation for curriculum in American-sponsored schools overseas (AERO, 2014). AERO stands for “American Education Reaches Out,” and also connects to the Common Core Standards which have been adopted in the United States; putting our students on the same page as their global peers.
We also work very hard to ensure that students’ experiences in math and literacy are based in inquiry and research around best practice. In Literacy, teachers utilize the AERO Standards and Benchmarks, along with the Continuum of Literacy Learning, based on the work of G. S. Fountas & I. C. Pinnell. Teachers incorporate the following areas of literacy into their daily practice:
- Interactive Read Aloud: The teacher reads a book to students, while engaging the class through meaningful questions and discussions.
- Word Study: As opposed to more traditional spelling programs, Word Study focuses on applying patterns and making connections within groups of words
- Guided Reading: Small group reading instruction based on student readiness level, led by the teacher
- Writing Workshop: An approach to writing in which a teacher provides instruction and confers with students, while allowing young writers flexibility and individual choice in crafting their writing.
Overall, curriculum at Our School is based on our commitment to provide exceptional learning opportunities for all of our students. We strive to live our mission and to implement a curriculum that fosters inquiry, passion, and a desire for lifelong learning. If you are interested in learning more about specific areas or curriculum, please see the: Math, Literacy or Primary Years Programme pages. Also, the Assessment page provides specific information regarding how we assess the taught curriculum. As you can see we care deeply about the curriculum in place at Our School, and we thank you for supporting your child’s growth and learning.
References
Woolsey, N. (2013). AERO: Common Core Plus. Conneticutt: Office of Overseas Schools.