The goal of our elementary math curriculum is to develop students who can understand mathematical concepts and become skilled mathematical thinkers. Our teachers differentiate instruction to a range of learners in understanding mathematics while focusing on computational fluency and efficient strategies. Our program utilizes best practices in math education including math manipulatives, math centers, and technology integration. The program uses cooperative learning strategies and allows students to make real-life connections. Also, instruction is scaffolded, so students develop and deepen their understanding of math from kindergarten to grade 5.

Math is aligned to the Common Core State Standards. These standards, developed by a coalition of US states, detail what K-12 students should know in math at the conclusion of each school grade. Topics covered in elementary include Counting & Cardinality, Operations & Algebraic Thinking, Number & Operations, Fractions, Measurement, Data, and Geometry. The standards are widely used and align with a variety of resources. A sample standard can be seen below:

For additional information, please visit http://www.corestandards.org/Math/

Program Resources

We have recently adopted the Everyday Mathematics program from McGraw Hill. This program was developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project to offer students a broad background in mathematics. The program takes a problem-solving approach based on everyday situations. Students have the opportunity to practice basic skills in a variety of engaging ways including mental math challenges, fluency exercises, and educational games. Lessons are arranged to take advantage of previously learned concepts and skills and to build on them throughout the year.

At St. Paul American School, we believe that providing students with an engaging and stimulating science curriculum is a pathway to developing a student’s curiosity and understanding of the world around them. Through our science program, we hope to develop our students’ skills as scientists and enable them to investigate and solve a scientific problem. We utilize a student-led inquiry based learning method where students engage in a topic with questions and prior knowledge, explore a problem together, explain scientific concepts in their own words, extend their skills to a new problem, and evaluate their learning.

In science, we have adopted the Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS. The standards were developed by a consortium of 26 US States and by the National Sciences Teachers Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the US National Research council to create new science education standards that are rich in content and practice. The students build on skills learned throughout elementary school. The standards have three dimensions that are integrated in instruction at all levels:
For additional information, please visit https://www.nextgenscience.org/

Program Resources

St. Paul American School utilizes Interactive Science from Pearson. Interactive Science includes strong literacy connections for elementary learners. Students are introduced to STEM content, skills, and practices and explore real-life STEM issues through hands-on, investigative, and collaborative activities. Teacher-directed science inquiry leads to open inquiry in every lesson. Scaffolded instruction within the program includes models, prompts, and think-alouds to challenge learners to become independent. The worktext allows students to keep a record of their study while serving as a great reference tool. For more information about the program, please visit Interactive Science.

Being an international school, social studies is a great time for students to learn about their classmates’ cultures and share their own. In class, students explore topics in Time, Continuity, and Change; Connections and Conflict; Geography; Culture; Society and Identity; Government; Production, Distribution, and Consumption; and Science; Technology, and Society. Our social studies program also integrates social and emotional learning. SEL is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

The AERO (American Education Reaches Out) Social Studies Standards reflect AERO’s special mission: supporting schools around the world that are (1) independent and (2) international while, simultaneously, serving (typically) a largely American student population. Any set of standards and benchmarks that would be meaningful to these schools have to be sufficiently flexible to appeal to a diverse group of schools with widely different histories, geographic locations, cultural traditions, and student bodies. That’s why second-tier content integrates both local and American history and culture, while the learning standards focus on skills and depth of knowledge. A sample standard is below:

For additional information, please visit http://www.projectaero.org

Program Resources

St. Paul American School utilizes Harcourt Social Studies from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. It is a K-5 social studies curriculum that encourages active inquiry while introducing civics, economics, geography, and history concepts. Students develop critical thinking, problem solving, and communicating skills for engaged civic life. The program includes strong ELA instruction to support social studies inquiry and new literacy standards. The program encourages students to explore their world, expand their thinking, and engage their college, career, and civic awareness. The curriculum is flexible and easily adapts to every classroom.

St. Paul American School also offers a robust foreign language program in our elementary school. From kindergarten to fifth grade, students are able to take Chinese language classes. They learn how to read and write Chinese characters, practice speaking and listening in Chinese, and learn about Chinese culture. In fourth and fifth grade, students have the option of taking Spanish class. In this class, students begin to lay the foundation for Spanish language learning through writing, reading, listening and speaking.

Our foreign language courses follow the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. The standards create a roadmap to guide learners to develop competence to communicate effectively and interact with cultural competence to participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world. The goal areas revolve around communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities.

For additional information, please visit https://www.actfl.org

With the growing importance and need for students and future leaders to have strong technology skills, Saint Paul American School provides Information and Communication Technologies class in its elementary school. From kindergarten to fifth grade, students learn essential technology skills. These skills include touch typing, creating spreadsheets and charts, coding, digital citizenship, computational thinking, and collaboration. Additionally, students create digital projects and research for a variety of topics.

ICT class follows two sets of standards, the ISTE Standards for Students and the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards. The International Society for Technology in Education lists skills and attitudes expected of all learners when using or engaging in technology from K-12. The Computer Science Teacher Association K-12 Computer Science Standards provide a core set of learning objectives designed to give students a clear and understanding and the necessary skills for computer use and application.

For additional information, please visit https://www.csteachers.org and https://www.iste.org/standards

At Saint Paul American School, we believe in the development of the whole child. That’s why we put a lot of emphasis and care into our physical education and dance programs. Elementary students meet twice a week for physical education and once a week for dance. During physical education, students learn fitness skills, sports, games, and activities. Students also learn about teamwork, perseverance, effort, and always trying their best. In dance, students use dance to not only express themselves physically but also to improve their ability to memorize, evaluate, and analyze. The goal for both programs is to give the students the knowledge, skills, desire, and confidence to pursue lifelong fitness and health.

For physical education, we follow learning standards from SHAPE America. SHAPE America's National Standards & Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education define what a student should know and be able to do as result of a highly effective physical education program. By the end of elementary, the students will be able to demonstrate competence in fundamental motors skills and selected combinations of skills; apply basic movement concepts to a variety of activities and sports; identify basic health-related fitness concepts; exhibit acceptance of self and others in physical activities; and identify the benefits of a physically active life style.

For additional information, please visit https://www.shapeamerica.org

Our dance class follows the National Core Art Standards for Dance from the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. The National Core Arts Standards outline the philosophy, primary goals, dynamic processes, structures, and outcomes that shape student learning and achievement in dance, media arts, theatre, and visual arts. The standards revolve around the key traits of Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting.

For additional information, please visit https://www.nationalartsstandard.org

We feel that art is an important part of any elementary program. It allows students an outlet for creative expression as well as developing problem-solving skills, motor skills, language skills, and much more. Our elementary art program focuses on the visual arts like drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking. Elementary students meet twice a week for art. During art class, students work with a variety of mediums. They also learn about the different elements of art, art history, cultures, and artists. The art program is integrated with core subjects and allows students a creative outlet while developing social skills like cooperation skills, observation skills, and discussion skills.

Our art class follows the National Core Art Standards for Visual Arts from the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. The National Core Arts Standards outline the philosophy, primary goals, dynamic processes, structures, and outcomes that shape student learning and achievement in dance, media arts, theatre, and visual arts. The standards revolve around the key traits of Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting.

For additional information, please visit https://www.nationalartsstandard.org

At St. Paul American School, elementary music is a class that studies many different aspects of music foundations. The class focuses on music listening, discussion, evaluation, history, and creation. Throughout elementary, the learning progresses from developing a sense of the steady beat and matching pitch in kindergarten to ensemble singing and culminating music projects in fifth grade. The ultimate goal for our elementary music program is to cultivate a life-long enjoyment of, curiosity about, and appreciation for music in all of our students.

Our art class follows the National Core Art Standards for Music from the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. The National Core Arts Standards outline the philosophy, primary goals, dynamic processes, structures, and outcomes that shape student learning and achievement in dance, media arts, theatre, and visual arts. The standards revolve around the key traits of Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting.

For additional information, please visit https://www.nationalartsstandard.org