Dear Elementary School Parents,

At GAA our teachers in grades PK-5 are refining their skills and deepening their understanding of the importance of a strong phonics basis in the literacy classroom. Phonics is a crucial component of any strong literacy program and plays a significant role in developing children's reading skills and we are GAA are excited to be aligning our instructional approach to the science behind how students learn to read. 

Phonics refers to the relationship between sounds and letters. It involves teaching children how to identify and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words, as well as understanding how these sounds are represented by letters or groups of letters (graphemes). By mastering phonics skills, children can decode written words more easily, which leads to improved reading fluency and comprehension.

Phonemic awareness is another essential aspect of early literacy development. It refers to a child's ability to recognize and manipulate individual phonemes without relying on printed text. This skill helps lay the foundation for future success with phonics instruction because it allows children to focus on sound-letter relationships rather than struggling with basic sound recognition.

At GEMS American Academy, we believe that a school-wide approach to phonics instruction is critical for ensuring all students receive consistent support in this area. Starting next school year, we will be implementing a comprehensive phonics program across all grade levels that focuses on building foundational skills through explicit instruction and practice.

By adopting this approach, we hope to tighten gaps in learning among our students while creating a full school culture around phonetic understanding – especially during early years when students are still developing their language abilities.

Studies have found that effective use of systematic synthetic phonic programs can result in substantial improvements in word-reading accuracy compared with other methods alone especially with second language learners. Additionally, researchers suggest that incorporating both explicit teaching strategies along with opportunities for independent exploration can help ensure optimal outcomes for all students.

At GEMS American Academy, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible education – and that means making sure they have access to high-quality phonics instruction. We believe that by working together as a community, we can help ensure every child has the tools they need to become confident readers and lifelong learners.

Phonics is an essential component of any strong literacy program. It helps children develop foundational skills in reading and writing while also building their confidence and independence as learners. By adopting a school-wide approach to phonics instruction next year, we hope to create a culture of understanding around this critical area of learning – one that will benefit our students for years to come. Thank you for your continued support in helping us achieve these goals!

Leia Kraeuter

Elementary Principal

Dear Parents,

We are excited to share with you the professional development training our PreK to grade 3 teachers recently participated in with Erin Kent Consultants. The focus of the training was on the research of the science of reading, which is a set of evidence-based practices that help children learn to read proficiently.

Erin Kent Consultants is a highly regarded educational consulting firm that specializes in professional development for international educators. The firm is known for its expertise in the field of literacy and its commitment to providing teachers with the most up-to-date research-based information and practices.

During the training, our teachers gained a deeper understanding of the science of reading theories and how they can be applied in the classroom. They learned about the five core components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and how to effectively teach these components to students.

Overall, our teachers found the training to be incredibly informative and valuable. They are excited to apply what they learned in their classrooms and help our students become successful readers. We believe that this training will have a positive impact on our students' reading abilities and overall academic success. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Erin Kent Consultants and look forward to continuing to partner with them this year and next. 

Take a look at some of the great sessions we had in and out of the classroom:

Tiffany Pulci

PYP Coordinator

Amongst a host of different learning experiences KG1B is busy with, at the moment - one of the things keeping us very engaged is MEASURING. So far, the children have measured objects inside the classroom and outside the classroom, using non-standard manipulatives like blocks, plastic chains, toy bugs etc. They had fun using measuring tapes, just to see if something was long or short, and they have measured using their hands and feet.  We have used the vocabulary: long, short, tallest, shortest, tall, short, bigger and smaller etc.  Next, we are going to move onto measuring liquids and quantities.  So, listen out for words like full, half full and empty, popping into your conversations with your child in the near future.

We are super excited to get back to school this week in KG2A! We shared our stories from the break. Some students celebrated Eid with their families here in the UAE, while some travelled to other emirates or countries. One thing we all had in common was that we spent it with our loved ones. As we are beginning our new unit of inquiry ‘Where we are in Place and Time’, we are reflecting on our own family traditions and culture. This has led to many questions and discussions around our similarities and differences. We continue to grow friendships on our learning journey.

The students of Grade 2F recently completed the ‘How The World Works’ unit of study. Our summative project was to Make Your Own Regatta using recyclable materials. The students learned about the properties of materials and worked as a team to design and make a boat. 

The students tested their boats in water to check if they floated. We had great fun completing the project and each of our boats passed the test and floated in water. Great job Grade 2F!

3rd grade students have been busy exploring the fascinating topic of how the world works in their latest unit of inquiry. 

As part of this unit, they recently undertook their first project, focusing on climate zones. 

Through their own research, the students have become experts on this topic, gaining an in-depth understanding of the different climate zones and the unique characteristics of each.

To showcase their learning, the 3rd graders designed a visually stunning poster, featuring countries, animals, food and interesting facts about the three climate zones. They also used their iPads to create engaging slides and deliver their presentations with confidence and clarity.

The project culminated in an oral presentation, where the students shared their newfound knowledge with their classmates, impressing everyone with their enthusiasm and expertise. 

In Grade 4C, we have recently moved onto our new unit How the World Works and we have been busy learning about plants and their needs. Earlier this week, we conducted an experiment on the effect water has on plants. We planted four pots with seeds in them, one with no water and no sunlight, one with no water and sunlight, one with water and no sunlight and one with water and sunlight!

Before beginning our experiment, we needed to plan it out and make predictions about what we think will happen to the four pots. We talked about how we needed to keep some things the same (amount of soil and seeds) and some things different (water and sunlight).

Once we made our predictions, we were then able to proceed with our experiment. The students were all very eager to help out when filling each pot with the same amount of soil and seeds. Each day, different students were picked to help add water to the pots and they all really enjoyed the responsibility that came with it. 

As we move into next week, we are hopeful that we will see some interesting results and we will continue to make observations, take notes and discuss our findings. Overall, it has been an enjoyable learning experience for the students. 

Grade 2 and 3 have been creating clay masterpieces for you to see! (please check out below link). They have had so much fun and cannot wait for you to see their work! Please join us for our upcoming art shows that include performances on stage and artworks on display.

Dear Parents, 

Our Little Wildcats Basketball Team will be starting to train next week.  We are inviting parents to sign their Grade 4 – Grade 6 children up to join this team.   

The season will be ±7 weeks starting from May 4th – June 17th.  Training will take place on Thursdays from 3:00pm to 4:15pm.   

In order to sign your child up for the team, you will need to do through the ESM website.  Here is the link to the website that you will use www.Esm.ae 

When you are signing up, please make sure to select Little Wildcats Basketball  

Please make sure that you follow the instructions carefully to ensure that you can book the activities for your children.  We have created a comprehensive Step-by-Step New User Guide for you.  You can also watch this video which gives you a demonstration for getting set up. 

Please note that if you already have an account with ESM, you may need to update your child’s information to allow you to see the activities on offer.  We have attached a comprehensive Step-By-Step Existing User Guide to show you how to update it.   

The sign-up system for this team will stay open until Saturday 29th April.  If you do not register your child, they will not be able to join the team. 

• May 2: Grade 3 Art Festival @1:30pm Auditorium

• May 5: GAAPA Annual General Meeting @8:00am Planetarium

• May 10: Grade 2 Art Festival @1:30pm Auditorium

• May 19: Elementary Choir Concert

• June 26: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL