The Aqsa IIS Elementary Section Curriculum is based on established Pre-School methods and standards, further enriched by Aqsa IIS professionals to meet the following objectives:
Promoting
Inculcate strong Islamic values in the students.
Help the students in their intellectual, emotional, physical and social development.
Enable the students to become independent learners.
Help each student to recognize and understand his/her role in the world.
Prepare the students to become Da’ees (preachers) of Islam.
At the Aqsa IIS Elementary Section, the balanced approach in curriculum designing, focuses not only on the students’ physical and mental grooming, but also on their spiritual uplifting. The activity-based methodology emphasizes creativity along with Tarbiyah as the main feature of Aqsa IIS Elementary Section. The students begin their day with the remembrance of Allah during specially prepared assemblies.
Arabic Language
Arabic language starts right from Play Group, so that the children are able to practice it by the time they reach the higher grades. This is considered a key to unite the Muslims all over the world and to understand the Book of Allah in the language it was revealed in. The Elementary students use specially designed Arabic workbooks, developed in-house, which help the children build Arabic vocabulary quickly and practice Arabic letters.
The students are encouraged to communicate in English language. The spoken abilities are enhanced through daily practice of phonics, whereas the reading skills are developed through an intense levelled Reading Program. We follow a Synthetic Phonic Program using interactive boards and tablets in the classrooms to enhance the listening and reading capability of students. The written expression is polished through a well-structured curriculum focused on appreciating creativity along with improving the hand writing.
Bangla language is highly valued at the school and is taught with the same zeal and emphasis as English and Arabic.
Special Aqsa IIS Elementary Section material is used to make Mathematics a fun and an exciting subject. It helps to build concrete base of numeracy which would help these students in future to learn and apply complex mathematical concepts to real-world problems.
Cultural Studies & Art
Cultural Studies involve selected topics from Geography, History, Botany, Zoology, Science and Social Studies. Exploring 2D and 3D Art stimulates creativity and broadens the mind. Painting, cutting and sticking, drawing, making patterns with symmetry and recycling are all fun ways to learn art and craft.Exploring Art stimulates creativity and broadens the mind. Painting, cutting and sticking, drawing, making patterns with symmetry and recycling are all fun ways to learn art and craft.
While Exercises for Practical Life help make our students more independent and confident, the Sensorial exercises sharpen and enhance the mental development of students. These activities help train the children to take care of themselves and their environment. Regular Sports activities help keep our students physically fit and mentally healthy.
Assessment
The students’ progress is closely monitored by assistant teachers, class teachers, subject teachers, level coordinators and the Section Head. Daily behavior reports help in the identification of areas of concern, whether it is academic or otherwise and aid in planning to overcome them. Remedial programs are carried out for those students who require special attention in certain academic areas. If required, problems are discussed with parents so that they can also play a positive role in helping their child cope. Report cards prepared on the basis of regular ongoing assessment are sent to the parents at the end of each term.
We at Aqsa IIS pay special attention to the training and development of our staff. Every year we plan and conduct an Annual Training session for our teachers to share with them the new discoveries and latest practices in the field of education. We keep the parents involved through multiple workshops conducted to guide and enable them to teach and train their children hence resonating the positive impact of the Institute .
‘Walk the talk’ is what the Aqsa IIS staff believes, greeting every student, each morning with a smile and greeting of peace – ‘Assalamu alaikum WRT’. This embeds the sunnah of saying salam and soon becomes a common practice within our students.
Providing an energetic start to the day, students gather for the morning assembly where every child is given the opportunity to participate in order to gain confidence from an early age.
A recount of previous learning, moral themes and class rules all take place during circle-time. Subsequently, children take a peek into what is planned for the day ahead.
Arabic is taught in such a manner that our students can grasp it easily ultimately developing the ability to converse in Arabic fluently.
An all-time favorite of our students is the sports class. With the guidance of a trained teacher, students learn and excel in various games and exercises, as well as build on teamwork, patience and the passion to succeed.
Washing hands, setting the table and saying ‘Bismillah’ before enjoying favorite snacks is all part of the tiffin/lunch time. The teachers join their students to teach eating etiquettes; such as using the right hand, sharing and finishing the meal.
The ‘Material time’ gives students the opportunity to unleash their potential by working with the Aqsa IIS Elementary Section material. Aqsa IIS Elementary Section material is especially designed to teach children various skills including better hand eye coordination, self-discipline, self-correction and focus while enhancing cognitive skills and creativity. These activities lay the foundation for future learning. It is a wonderful time for students to engage in numerous tasks with the freedom to choose from the available material. In Aqsa IIS, we ensure the availability of sufficient age-appropriate Montessori material to keep all the students involved simultaneously.
Due to varied dismissal times of siblings, staff or even parents who are unable to make it to institute on-time to pick up their children due to work hours, an after-school facility is available. However, this time is made purposeful for the students by engaging them in interesting activities, snacking or even taking a short nap and feeling refreshed before going home.
The security of our students is extremely important for us and so departure time is exceptionally organized. A pick-up card system is in place, which authorizes the card holder only to pick up the student.
Primary Section is Alhamdulillah well on its way to attain the vision of the Institute where students are being trained in a positive environment by passionate and dedicated teachers. Our approach to learning is evolving every day; modern and innovative techniques are being adopted to educate the students. These techniques optimize self-belief, competence and proficiency.
The Primary Section comprises of grades I – III.
Activity-based learning with modern teaching techniques.
Teaching languages, sciences and concepts with Islamic integration.
Tarbiyah, in and outside the classroom to make better Muslims.
Providing classroom environment which is embedded with Islamic principles and teachings.
Teaching Arabic and Tajweed as regular subjects to make understanding of the Holy Qur’an easier.
Following monthly moral themes to incorporate essential Islamic values.
Offering Zuhr Salah in congregation on campus.
Exclusive opportunities to meet and learn from religious scholars and professionals. Participation and distinctions in national and international.
Students are guided to become self-motivated learners, who are strong academically and are able to foster their own ability to think comprehensively and clearly. Subject details are as follows:
From the beginning, students learn the art of recitation of the Holy Qur’an. They also memorize different Surahs, learn hadith and Duas.
Arabic is taught in a simplified and effective manner building upon reading, writing and conversing skills. Being the language of the Qur’an, it holds great importance within the academic framework of Averroes.
Being an English medium school, students are taught to communicate fluently and effectively in English. During the year all areas of the subject are covered; including reading, writing, listening and speaking effectively in English.
As the national language, Bangla is highly valued at the School and is taught with the same zeal and emphasis as English and Arabic.
Students are taught mathematical concepts which are reinforced through practical activities. The methodology adopted at Aqsa IIS provides a platform for students to become independent in utilizing their mathematical skills. This approach helps form a strong foundation to build upon in coming academic years.
The Institute has a thematic approach to the way Islamic Studies is taught, where a concept is reinforced in all aspects of teaching. Through this process students learn in an engaging manner, which helps increase their knowledge while enriching their faith and thus translating into action.
Science is taught in such a way that students are made to realize and appreciate the grandeur of Allah and His creation. They are motivated to understand the application of scientific concepts through experiments, diagrams, flow charts, documentaries and science projects. Exhibitions and competitions held by the Institute are an effective means to further nurture students’ scientific inquisitiveness. Students are encouraged to make discoveries, devise formulae and experiment on their own.
A rigorous and engaging ICT curriculum with Islamic integration is in place at Aqsa IIS . The focus of the subject is to teach basic computer skills including computational & problem-solving skills, programming, web browsing, cutting-edge technologies like robots & biometrics.
Students develop an understanding of the world through Geography in which they learn about the environment, other cultures, their economy and politics. Emphasis is placed upon how to become responsible and active citizens of the world. Through History, students derive important lessons from the past and benefit from a focused study of Muslim Heroes.
Expressive Arts is a combined subject involving dramatic skills for stage performances, delivering speeches amongst small groups or before the morning assembly and building on existing skills and talents, thereby developing stage presence and self-confidence. Arts and Crafts is a way to expand a student’s mind, broadening his/her horizons in being creative and helping them refine their gross and fine motor skills. Students use this time to analyze, criticize and produce original pieces of Earth
Health and Fitness is ensured by providing the students training in sports such as Basket Ball, Martial Arts, Badminton, Table Tennis etc. All students partake in weekly physical activities.
The academic progress of the students is systematically monitored by teachers and the Section Head through close observation as well as through the assessment of class work, quizzes, tests, oral assessments, projects and examination. The grading and assessment system is one that is made comprehensible for the students and parents to reflect upon the child’s progress and set future targets.
Aqsa International Institute has initiated an after-school program entitled ‘Homework Solving Session’ & Intense Hifz Program. After-school programs are ideal for engaging youth in positive activities in a safe and supervised environment while parents are at work and also for those who are interested in providing wider opportunities for growth to their children. The After-School program provides opportunities for children to explore interests, gain competency in real-life skills, solve problems, and assume leadership roles. This program will also help them build strong, supportive relationships with adult role models and mentors, and to become active participants of community welfare. Productive Evenings has a range of programs for children to opt from in a safe and friendly setting.
Allah refers to children as gifts from Him. They should be loved, cherished, and considered a blessing to have. This course will delve into one of the greatest, but also most testing, experiences we may undertake in life: parenthood.
From the delivery room to your child’s first steps into adulthood, Islam provides the most comprehensive guidelines in how to raise and nurture them. This course will not only provide knowledge but most importantly practical and relevant steps to facilitate your job as a parent.
“He gifts to whom He wills female [children], and He gifts to whom He wills males.” [Al-Shura: 49]
In these exciting courses, you will learn about:
Your child’s rights upon you.
How to deal with the “terrible two’s”.
Should we home school our children or send them to public or Islamic schools?
How to teach your child to pray.
How to tackle gender mixing in the West.
What to watch out for in boys and girls during their teenage years.
How to address your child having bad friends.
What to be careful of with modern technology.
How to deal with your child if they have problematic addictions such as drugs, pornography.
And much, much more!
The course will also enable parents, carers, older siblings and teachers to instil maturity, sense of responsibility and leadership within children, so that our children become the comfort of our eyes.
This program is designed to help the surrounding community read the Holy Qur’an fluently with application of Tajweed rules to develop a strong bond with the Qur’an. In addition to Nurani Qaida, children recite the Qur’an, memorise selected surahs & duas and learn salah.