At AIS-R, our elementary literacy program is designed to build confident, curious, and capable readers and writers. Rooted in the science of reading, our approach draws on the latest research about how children learn to read and write. We balance explicit instruction with authentic opportunities for meaning-making, equipping students with the tools they need to become independent, resilient learners.
Learning in Action:
Using UFLI Foundations, students in early grades build foundational decoding skills through systematic and explicit phonics instruction.
Students read and write every day through whole-class instruction, small-group practice, partnership dialogue, and independent learning tailored to their needs.
Rich, intentional instruction in vocabulary, morphology, and sentence structure helps students comprehend complex texts and express their ideas clearly.
Teachers model fluent reading, facilitate discussion, and build content knowledge through read aloud and shared reading of a rich range of texts.
Our literacy block is cohesive and purposeful—students see how words, reading, and writing interconnect.
Our goal is for students to transfer their literacy skills across all subject areas, confidently reading to learn and writing to express, inform, and inspire. Just as importantly, we want them to see themselves as readers and writers—curious, capable, and connected to the world through language. We foster a joyful, authentic relationship with reading and writing that extends beyond the classroom, nurturing habits and identities that students will carry with them throughout their lives.
AIS-R further recognizes that learning to talk and listen are critical skills, and as such, teachers provide opportunities for students to develop as communicators who can captivate an audience, motivate, persuade, and inform, not solely with the content of their message, but also in the delivery. In the context of dialogic classrooms, talk is explicitly scaffolded and modeled across subject areas. Some key approaches that teachers apply:
Interactions which encourage students to think in different ways
Questions which invite more than simple recall
Answers which must be justified, followed up, and built upon
Feedback which informs and leads thinking forward
Contributions which are extended
Exchanges which chain together into coherent and deepening lines of inquiry
Through a balanced mathematics program and authentic problem solving, students build conceptual understanding and develop computational fluency. Mathematics instruction is grounded in the Common Core Standards for Mathematics. Teachers facilitate inquiry and exploration to support students with making sense of concepts and developing independence as mathematical thinkers and communicators.
Learning in Action:
Students build strong number sense and mathematical reasoning through exploration with manipulatives.
Students explain their thinking, explore patterns, and consider multiple strategies in a supportive, talk-rich environment.
Students are regularly challenged to apply their math thinking to real-life problems, modeling mathematics in meaningful ways.
Students build fluency, flexibility, and confidence through engagement with spiraling content.
Mathematics is about noticing patterns, making sense of the world, and persevering through challenges. Our students build essential numeracy skills and develop as resilient problem-solvers who enjoy thinking mathematically.
Inquiry is at the heart of learning at AIS-R. We nurture inquisitive learners by encouraging students to ask questions, seek answers, and connect their learning to the world around them. Our concept-driven units of inquiry are designed to build deep, connected understanding. Students explore big ideas that cross subject boundaries and anchor their learning in real-world relevance.
Inquiry at AIS-R is intentional, rigorous, and grounded in rich, diverse texts. Teachers use essential questions and compelling provocations to spark curiosity and develop background knowledge. High-quality literature, nonfiction, and media form the backbone of many units, allowing students to read to learn, discuss ideas, and build understanding layer by layer.
Learning in Action:
Students explore big ideas like systems, interdependence, or identity through rich, interdisciplinary units.
Learners take an active role in directing aspects of their learning, setting goals, and reflecting on their progress.
Students practice critical transferable thinking skills –analyzing, evaluating, and creating—that support lifelong learning and positive action in the world.
Inquiry nurtures independent, resilient learners who think critically and care about their world.
Alongside core subjects, AIS-R elementary students engage in a diverse program of specialist classes designed to deepen their learning, spark new passions, and cultivate the development of the whole child.
Arabic
Our Arabic program honors linguistic and cultural diversity through two tailored pathways: Heritage Learners and Arabic as an Additional Language. Students build foundational language skills and deepen their appreciation of Arabic language and culture in a way that is developmentally appropriate and responsive to their background.
Design Thinking and Technology
Students explore digital tools, computer science concepts, and AI literacy through hands-on, creative problem-solving. They learn to think like designers, building empathy, testing ideas, and refining solutions as they develop the skills to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Music and Performing Arts
Whether composing rhythms, singing in harmony, or taking the stage, students grow as expressive performers and collaborators. Our music and performing arts program helps children build confidence, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
Visual Arts
Through drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media, students explore visual storytelling and artistic techniques. They are encouraged to take creative risks, express their ideas, and connect their art to concepts explored across the curriculum.
Learning Commons (Library)
More than a place to borrow books, the Learning Commons is a dynamic hub for inquiry, exploration, and discovery. Students engage with literature, conduct research, and develop information literacy in a welcoming and inclusive space.
Physical and Health Education (PE)
Students develop physical skills, teamwork, and a strong sense of well-being through a range of games, sports, and movement activities. Health and wellness are integrated to support lifelong habits for a balanced, active lifestyle.
Together, these learning experiences are essential to the development of the whole child—intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally. They reinforce our belief that education should be as diverse and dynamic as the learners themselves.