American Curriculum School (Dubai Nad Al Sheba)

In KG 1 & KG 2 we place significant emphasis on the development of a positive self-concept, appropriate socialization, and learning readiness skills. It is here that our students learn key foundational reading and language art skills that set them on the path to becoming lifelong readers, writers, and effective communicators.

The foundations are laid for a happy and successful American curriculum school experience, where our students learn to take pride in their learning and develop the confidence to explore and take risks. These fundamental skills are taught in an active, stimulating, and accepting environment, which encourages exploration.

Students are provided with a balanced instructional program in math that allows students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the relationship between numbers and quantities and build a foundation for place value as they count, represent and compare whole numbers, initially with sets of objects. Students also describe and model objects in their environment using simple geometric shapes and vocabulary. Through effective delivery students become proficient in basic computational skills and procedures as well as adept at problem solving. 

Students’ scientific investigation skills with the development of application and design skills are nurtured at an early age through exploration to such questions as: “What happens if you push or pull an object harder? Where do animals live and why do they live there? What is the weather like today and how is it different from yesterday?” They demonstrate their understanding of core ideas through asking questions, developing and using models, planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. 

All learning is thematic, allowing students to explore what it means to be a good citizen, national symbols, work (now and long ago), geography, time and chronology, and life in the past. 

Our students’ wellbeing is important, and at an early age our students learn skills that enable them to make healthy choices and avoid high-risk behaviors. This is inclusive of developing our students’ ability to talk about their emotions, express emotion as well as develop their social skills that lead to developing positive pro-social behaviors increasing their social awareness and self-management skills and responsible decision making. Coupled with this is our emphasis on the importance of physical fitness.  Fitness is developed through the activities in the daily lessons, which emphasize physical activity, continuous movement, and challenges that involve overloading the major muscle groups. Students have opportunities to understand the fitness components, fitness assessment, and the need for a lifetime of physical activity. 

Our Kindergarten curriculum is enriched by our Arabic and Islamic Education provisions which instills love and pride in the students for their faith and values.
 

As part of our American curriculum school in Dubai, our goal in Middle School is to provide children with an environment that allows them to develop both cognitively and socially. Focus is placed on developing the ability to think critically and use logical reasoning, applying previously learned knowledge, and being confident in one's abilities. This transitional stage instills good study habits and skills which are expanded to include higher-order thinking and questioning across all subjects.

An engaging and rigorous academic program is the pillar of our middle school. Students receive intensive yet compelling instruction in core subjects. At the same time, teachers focus on the development of learning and study skills.
 

At the American School of Creative Science, we are committed to the Dubai Inclusive Education Policy Framework. The Inclusion Program is available for students in all grades who require additional support. This support is designed to assist students to achieve grade-level standards, as well as challenge and extend students who are achieving above grade level in the mainstream classroom.

Where needed we work to provide alternative pathways. The Effective Learning Provision (ELP) Team provides planned accommodations, modifications, and teacher training and guidance. Further information can be found in the Inclusion Handbook.

Our Social Emotional Learning course is taught from K-Grade 8. It is mapped to Common Core; the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL); the National Health Education Standards; and the 6-8 curriculum is mapped to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards. Each unit teaches core kindness concepts: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, and Courage. Each unit offers students the opportunity to: 

• inspire the audience, be it students or teachers
• empower them by giving them skills or knowledge
• act upon and apply these skills and knowledge
• reflect on their learning and their actions
• share their thoughts

All students come to school with their Apple Devices. The “Bring Your Own Device” system in the Elementary & Middle School provides all students with innovative opportunities to research and create.

Digital Citizenship is a taught skill covered in our homeroom sessions, ensuring we are developing responsible users who can use their devices independently and effectively. In addition, students engage in coding in their Computer Science lessons.

We believe in the potential for effective use of technology in lessons to transform teaching and learning and prepare our students to develop their digital literacy preparing our students to be future-fluent.

Please click here to see our BYOD Guidance for Parents.

Please click here to see our BYOD Policy which details the Acceptable User Agreement.

At the American School of Creative Science, our emphasis is on high-quality teaching and learning together with rigorous assessment and regular feedback to ensure students are achieving their full potential. This methodology will help identify the next step in students’ learning and attainment. 

Attainment is holistically celebrated in the school through rewards, honor walls, praise, certificates, display of work around the school and on digital displays. A key focus is placed on dialogue surrounding learning and progress along with awareness of targets and all students have access to their data and learning goals through their e-portfolios. It is through their e-portfolios that learning goals are co-constructed. 
 

At the American School of Creative Science, course delivery methodology is based on world-class renowned teaching strategies and best practices, with the aim to:

• Motivate students for tapping into and realizing their full potential.
• Ensure the “holistic development” of the child.
• Build self-confidence, self-awareness, and enable independent learning.
• Establish a firm foundation of knowledge and skills in core subjects of English Language Arts, Mathematics, History/Geography, and Science.
• Benefit from an enriched curriculum through Art, PE, and Computer Science.
• Benefit from UAE National Curriculum in Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies.

A successful teacher at ASCS

• Provides a safe and secure environment supporting our school’s mission and core moral values.
• Is an activator of learning.
• Uses success criteria and clearly explains the learning journey.
• Knows their students and uses data to inform learning.
• Differentiates instruction to cater to the individual needs of the students.
• Gives opportunities to students to reflect and self-assess.
• Provides students with regular feedback to optimize the learning process.
• Seeks feedback.
• Has a growth mindset and talks about learning not teaching.
• Promotes critical thinking and wider perspectives.
• Collaborate with others.
• Engages in dialogue, not monologue.
• Communicates regularly with parents so that they can actively contribute to their child’s learning.