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Welcome from the Director of Curriculum and Staff Development
The American School of Dubai offers programs in alignment with the school’s mission. Using research-based curriculum standards and best practices, the programs provide an educational experience designed to help students achieve their full academic potential. The school challenges and assists students in becoming intellectually adept, thoughtful, and ethical contributors to a global society. Programs are student-centered with a college preparatory focus, including Advanced Placement opportunities in the high school.
The Accreditation for Growth (AFG) process for Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation provides direction for a school’s long-range strategic planning and annual goal setting. ASD’s school-wide initiatives are based on these. Current focus is on embedding writing throughout the curriculum and service learning.
The ASD program ensures the development of knowledge and skills, and fosters positive attitudes toward learning in core curricular areas of each school division. Middle and high school students have numerous electives to choose from, including arts, music, and physical education/health. Middle school students are also offered a variety of enrichment courses. To prepare students for their adult participation in the 21st century, information and technology literacy is incorporated in all curricular areas. Emphasis is placed on the intentional development of critical thinking, problem solving and communication, and collaboration skills. In addition, the Arabic language program will be offered in all school divisions beginning in the 2010/2011 school year.
Curriculum review and professional development processes support continuous program improvement. All teachers in the ASD community participate through professional dialog and shared leadership.
For additional information about curriculum and staff development at ASD, please e-mail the
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ASD Program Review
Systematic Program Review Cycle
In accordance with the ASD Program Review Cycle schedule, all of the school’s programs go through a constant cycle of development, implementation, monitoring, review, and adjustment. Philosophy, standards, benchmarks, instructional materials, instructional strategies, and assessment tools are reviewed. Program revision decisions are based on (1) the ASD mission; (2) strategic long-range planning and annual goals; (3) current research; (4) developmentally appropriate practices; (5) responsible consideration of current fiscal, staffing, scheduling, and facilities constraints; and (6) cost/benefits analysis.
Systematic Program Review Process
Program improvement is supported through grade level teams and organizational structures in the middle and high school departments. Regular meetings occur for professional dialog, collaboration, and facilitation of curricular work. ASD has non-student half days (Program Improvement Days) throughout the year to allow for meetings to support this work. In addition, program review committees, representing K1-Grade 12, meet intensively during the initial phase of the review process.
Curriculum Philosophies and Standards
ASD has adapted the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards to its math, science, social studies, and world languages programs. These standards for American overseas schools provide standards similar to American stateside criteria, thus supporting ASD’s mission to provide what is best in American education. ASD has also adopted the State of Delaware English Language Arts standards, while standards in other curricular areas are being developed based on national standards in the United States.
Vertically and horizontally aligned standards reflect what students will most likely become, know, and accomplish as a result of learning in a specific area. These include content (big idea concepts), skills, and dispositions. Specific benchmarks provide developmental performance expectations to measure a given standard at a specific grade level or in a particular course. Teachers are responsible for assisting students in meeting these standards.
The Curriculum and Staff Development Office coordinates an extensive staff development program. We establish, publicize, and administer a school-wide program to attract large numbers of participants who seek to improve their classroom instruction skills and strategies in support of ASD education goals.
 Educators' Exchange, Carrie Ekey Educators' Exchange, Movie Making Educators' Exchange, PhotoShop |
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