One World International School, Riyadh is one of the leading international schools fostering an environment of growth and development for students across regions, cultures, and ethnicities. At OWIS these efforts are accentuated with the IB PYP Curriculum integrated with the American Common Core Curriculum that provides a host of opportunities to help students become well-rounded leaders and innovators of tomorrow.
The American curriculum stands apart from other curriculas worldwide as it offers learners a room for flexibility and creativity. It provides a strong foundation that adheres to a framework that outlines the skills and knowledge areas necessary for students. This enables students to expand their skills and knowledge and apply them in real-world contexts.
The American Curriculum relieves the pressure of a single final exam. Instead of pressurizing students for a single exam, the American curriculum follows regular evaluations all year around. This is executed with a blend of credits including class attendance, assignments, group projects, presentations, tests and quizzes. The execution of regular ongoing formative assessments enables students to become more active and engaged in their learning process.
Why Choose American Curriculum for Your Child?
1. A standard-based curriculum:
The American Curriculum is governed and regulated by six accreditation authorities, that include the WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and MSACS (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools). The content of each subject follows Common Core State Standards assisting teachers to create benchmarks to analyze the learners progress. International schools following an American Curriculum must also meet the standards relevant to their host country (in this case, the Common Core Standards).
2. Qualified education from KG to Grade 12:
There are three stages in the American Curriculum – Primary, Middle and High School. Primary schoolis designed for students between 4 and 11 years of age and includes classes between KG (Kindergarten) to Grade 5. Students between 11 and 14 years of age are a part of Middle School, that covers Grade 6 to 8. Once this level is cleared, they are promoted to High School. This stage covers Grades 9 to 12 and students would generally be 18 years old. The fundamental subjects covered in each level are English language, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science and Arts. Students also get sufficient exposure to performing and visual arts, physical education, technology, foreign languages, as well as a wide-range of elective courses based on their academic and non-academic interests.
3. Multiple assessment methods:
Students are regularly assessed through group projects, class discussions, written assignments, graphic organizers, quizzes, projects and peer assessments under the American curriculum. These assessments help teachers identify gaps in the learning structure and enable them to weave remedies in the upcoming instruction and activities.
4. Focus on extracurricular activities:
Schools providing the American Curriculum always encourage students to actively participate in non-academic activities like music, performing arts and sports. Extracurricular activity provides students with an outlet for physical and social growth. Students also develop soft skills like teamwork, time management and discipline, which are critical for real-world communication and interactions.
5. Creating a portfolio of work:
Teachers help create learning portfolios for their students under the American curriculum while compiling their progress. Universities generally value these portfolios during admission, therefore, students must create them independently by the end of their school years. With mentorship and guidance from their teachers, this step becomes easier for the student.
Benefits of American Curriculum
1. Provides room for exploration:
A major factor that differentiates the American Curriculum from other learning methodologies is the freedom to learn and explore. It creates a one-of-a-kind learning experience where children can choose the subjects they wish to study. Moreover, they can also choose to take AP (Advanced Placement)) courses offered for Grade 11 and 12 or college-level classes. Students can register in grade-level, regular classes if they aim to earn an American diploma along with graduation.
2. Stronger relationships between teachers and students:
The American education style helps teachers embrace a friendly and respectful relationship with peers and parents. Students and parents who have been a part of the American Curriculum have testified to the interactivity, positivity and level of comfort between teachers and students. This promotes the free exchange of opinions, open discussions and the comfort of asking questions among students.
3. Prioritizing creativity:
In the context of innovation, entertainment and technological advancements, the United States is a global leader. The American Curriculum has been created to encourage innovation, creativity, brainstorming and thinking of, out-of-the-box solutions for conventional problems facilitated by an environment of collaboration, participation and transparent communication.
4. Holistic development for children:
American education focuses on exposing students to a diverse range of extracurricular activities and academic subjects. Moreover, this curriculum encourages them to participate actively in their community through internship or volunteering programs and opportunities. The American Curriculum is globally renowned for focusing on the holistic growth of a child – physically, intellectually, mentally, emotionally and socially in order to support natural development and growth patterns within them. This form of education encourages creativity, curiosity and motivates children to be life-long learners.
5. A comfortable pace of learning and education:
The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) for Grade 6 to 12 is the benchmark assessment in the US that has been designed to measure student skills and how they perform against college enrollment criteria.
The learning methodology at One World International School Riyadh provides a nurturing classroom environment where students are mentored by dedicated, compassionate and experienced professionals. The curriculum aligns entirely with the American Common Core and NGSS frameworks. For admissions and more information on the curriculum, contact us today.
Schedule a Tour of OWIS Riyadh Today
If you’re interested in learning more about our experiential and inquiry-led learning spaces, we invite you to schedule a tour of our engaging campus in Riyadh. You can also contact the Admissions team for more information.
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