Primary
The Primary International Program offers an educational option for students, who are interested in English as the main language of study. All core subjects are taught in English, and there are eight hours of Spanish instruction per week. In the International Program, our philosophy emphasizes differentiated instruction and individualized learning to meet a variety of student needs. The program fulfills requirements of the Ministry of Education in Ecuador, the Primary Years Programme(PYP) and of our accreditation agency, Cognia.
Our educational goals include preparing our students with the skills to be successful global citizens and to promote a life-long love for learning.
Critical thinking skills are developed across the program’s curricula.Teamwork among students, teachers, and parents is essential to achieve our goals.
Research shows that students learn best when they are given choices and when holistic learning opportunities are provided. Students become actively involved in studying topics of interest that naturally tie in various curricular activities. Children apply their newly acquired knowledge to solve problems, think critically, and search for information. Teachers provide a classroom environment, in which students feel free to take risks and develop
responsibility. In addition, teachers set high expectations and encourage students to work to their full potential. Students work together, fostering cooperation, respect, and acceptance of others.
Our teachers participate in ongoing professional development about research-based innovations in the field of education, which facilitates the incorporation of best teaching practices in the classroom. In our community, teachers and students engage in self-reflection and goal setting in order to continuously advance our methodologies and learning.
Math
The International Section’s Math curriculum is built around unit investigations on topics such as number, data analysis and geometry. The program that we currently use is Math Expressions. Students are actively involved in problem solving and engaging in activities that will help them understand the why, as well as the how, of mathematics.
Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Numbers and Operations
Measurement and Data
Geometry
Language Arts
The focus of our Language Arts program is for our students to develop into competent and independent readers and writers. In order to accomplish this, we use a challenging and engaging curriculum and provide daily exposure to literature and opportunities to develop both reading and writing. The Language Arts program is integrated with learning experiences from the PYP program.rendizaje del programa PYP.
Social Studies/Science
The Primary International Section believes in presenting learning situations that will develop respect for diversity in people and cultures. Social Studies and Science are taught within the PYP Units of Inquiry. Each unit leads students to develop awareness of global events, their impact in our world and how they can take action to improve current situations.
Units also include plenty of inquiry, hands-on active learning, multi-sensory activities, collaborative group work and reflective thinking to foster a deeper understanding of the world.
Units also include plenty of inquiry, hands-on active learning, multi-sensory activities, collaborative group work and reflective thinking to foster a deeper understanding of the world.
Social and Emotional Well-Being
Primary International has a social curriculum that contributes to the formation of a positive learning community. We use the program Tribes: A New Way of Learning and Being Together (www.tribes.com) to develop classroom communities and to support students in the acquisition of the skills and knowledge required for personal success and fulfillment in today’s world. The Tribes process centers on the creation of a healthy learning environment via the use of community agreements centered on mutual respect, appreciation, reflection, and class meetings. We also use the program Kelso’s Choice to teach students how to effectively and appropiately deal with conflict.