The goal of learning is to understand, apply, and transfer knowledge and skills to a variety of contexts that exist within and beyond the school. AISL defines learning as a life-long process that deepens what we understand, builds on what we know and can do, and develops our character.
Characterized by rigor and real-world relevance, the AISL educational program is a balanced approach that supports all students to reach their personal excellence. Our educational philosophy highlights six tenets that guide our educational program: academic excellence, life-long learning, balanced learning, global citizenship, whole child, and technology. At AISL our class sizes are approximately 20 students.
Academic Excellence
A college preparatory, internationally-minded American international education that challenges and supports our students to achieve their personal best.
AISL students consistently demonstrate high achievement on internationally recognized measures of success. Since 2011, students in grades 2 through grade 10 have taken the NWEA Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) test twice annually, in the fall and spring. Annual testing results in the areas of mathematics, reading, and language are analyzed at three levels: whole school, class and/or grade level, and by content area. This in-depth study of individual and collective results guides daily instruction at the class and individual level and is a contributing factor in curricular decisions school-wide. Additionally, students use their MAP results to set personalized academic goals during three-way goal setting in October and report out on progress towards their goals to parents during student-led conferences in the spring.
Standards-Based Grading and Reporting
AISL teachers have been working on updating assessment practices to align with current research that shows standards-based grading practices contribute to students’ self-efficacy (one’s belief that one can accomplish a given task) leading to greater intrinsic motivation and achievement. In other words, a student’s grade should only be a reflection of student proficiency towards learning standards (outcomes). Our goal? To ensure that our school-wide assessment practices remain rigorous, are designed to develop students’ self-efficacy, and are a true reflection of student achievement.
In essence, a standards-based mindset seeks to accomplish the following:
● Focus on accuracy and confidence.
● Seek the most frequent evidence of learning.
● Repurpose homework as (in)formative practice to guide instruction and the learning process.
● Consider the most recent evidence of learning.
● Use reassessment to allow time for learning.
● Separate competencies (critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creative thinking) from academic achievement.
● Separate attributes (behavior, Habits of Mind) from academic achievement.
● Define levels of performance using criteria.
