ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS
The Common Core academic standards provide the foundation for learning English/Language Arts at IAS. The Common Core was developed by scholars and educators taking the best state standards of the United States, examining the expectations of other high performing countries around the world, and carefully studying research and literature available on what students need to know and be able to do to be successful in university, career, and life.
- Reading Comprehension
- Developing Language Skills
- Speaking and Listening
Reading Comprehension :
Students are exposed to a variety of literature and informational texts and learn how different types of books have different structures. Their exposure to a wide range of books is supported by teachers reading books aloud and asking questions about the text. Our hope is that students will embrace a love for reading, talking and expressing opinions about all kinds of books and experiences in their world. In pre-kindergarten through grade two, students are learning how to read, or its foundational skills. These skills include developing print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, and increasing reading fluency. Classrooms are engaging, allowing children to move and explore, participate in hands-on activities, and learn how to interact with teachers and classmates.
Developing Language Skills :
To support their reading, writing, and speaking, students are exposed to grammar and word usage through the Language Standards. Grammar and word usage is taught explicitly but also as a native speaker would learn by listening to the language. Spelling and vocabulary acquisition are areas of major growth in the early grades.
In PK, students learn to write their name and recognize and name most letters of the alphabet.
In Kindergarten students learn to write letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds and spell simple words phonetically (e.g., cat, pan), drawing on knowledge or sound–letter relationships (Kindergarten).
In First Grade, students use conventional spelling for words with common spelling patterns (e.g., -ack, -ate, – ight, -ot) and for frequently occurring irregular words and spell untaught words phonetically, drawing on phonemic awareness and spelling conventions (e.g., connecting the sounds of different letters)
Second Grade students generalize learned spelling patterns when writing words (e.g., cage and badge; boy and boil).
Speaking and Listening :
Speaking and listening skills are important for communication. Students participate in collaborative conversations on grade-level topics, in small and large groups, with classroom friends and adults, becoming more skilled in asking and responding to questions.
MATHEMATICS
As with English/Language Arts, the Common Core academic standards provide the foundation for learning Mathematics at IAS. The mathematics standards include content standards, what students will learn, and standards for mathematical practices, how students learn. Emphasis in teaching elementary mathematics is on students understanding mathematical concepts and achieving deeper learning.
In kindergarten through grade two, student learning focuses on the concepts and skills for addition and subtraction with a special emphasis on place value. They will learn different strategies for addition and subtraction and apply them to solving a variety of problems. Students will develop conceptual understandings about addition and subtraction that form the building blocks for later grades. They will be able to explain why a procedure works and why an answer is correct.
SCIENCES
At the International Academy of Sfax we teach science based on the Next Generation Science Standards. The Next Generation Science Standards were created in the United States in a two-step process by The National Research Council (NRC), the National Science Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Achieve.
Thus, in grade K-2 students will study: Motion and properties of matter; Relationship between sound and vibrating materials; Factors that impact what plants and animals need to survive; and How objects can be changed or improved through engineering.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Our Social Studies curriculum takes a global approach as we learn about the culture of different countries. In 4th grade, there is a special emphasis on learning about the culture, history and geography of Tunisia.
LANGUAGE STUDY
We use only English to teach all academic subjects and to communicate throughout the day. It is important for our students to learn to read and write traditional Arabic as well as French.
Arabic study is taught 2 hours a week. Arabic study begins the second semester of Kindergarten, after our students have a solid foundation in English, and continues through each grade level 1-6.
The study of French begins in first grade with students learning letters and sounds. Instruction for first grade students is 2 hours per week. Students in grades 2-6 will learn to speak, read and write French as they continue their study.
Welcome to the International Academy of Sfax, where we are “Changing Lives Through Education.”