Overview

Introduction

Welcome to the International Academy - Amman Primary and Secondary Schools! Since its conception, IAA has embraced a very clear and well-defined purpose - to introduce into the world generations of youth embodying intellectual creativity and active citizenship, keen to impact their communities in positive and lasting ways. At IAA, students are carefully nurtured as "Learners of Today and Leaders of Tomorrow.

Welcome to the International Academy - Amman Primary and Secondary Schools! Since its conception, IAA has embraced a very clear and well-defined purpose - to introduce into the world generations of youth embodying intellectual creativity and active citizenship, keen to impact their communities in positive and lasting ways. At IAA, students are carefully nurtured as "Learners of Today and Leaders of Tomorrow.”

Teachers guide their students on this journey from Pre-K to Grade 12 within a comprehensive curriculum that teaches children to use the solid foundation received from school to become independent thinkers. The inquiry-based curriculum at IAA is designed to prepare students for a successful future in the 21st Century, an era that has witnessed major shifts in technological innovation, information literacy, economic globalization and cultural interaction. Hence, students at IAA develop 21st Century skills, including Critical Thinking-and-Doing, Creativity, Collaboration, Cross-cultural Understanding, Communication, Computing and ICT Literacy, Career and Learning Self-Reliance, all of which are incorporated throughout the IAA experience.

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Programmes and Accreditations

The curriculum at IAA is designed to prepare students for a range of possibilities and futures. The Primary School uses a synergy of subject curricula from prominent English-speaking nations, all converging to deliver the best overall programme. In Grades 1 to 5, IAA uses the British National Literacy Programme for English, Australian Mathematics and the International Primary Curriculum from the UK for integrated science, history, geography, music and art.

The curriculum at IAA is designed to prepare students for a range of possibilities and futures. The Primary School uses a synergy of subject curricula from prominent English-speaking nations, all converging to deliver the best overall programme. In Grades 1 to 5, IAA uses the British National Literacy Programme for English, Australian Mathematics and the International Primary Curriculum from the UK for integrated science, history, geography, music and art. The Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten programmes use the "Early Years Foundation Stage" curriculum, which is the British National Curriculum for early years" programmes. The Secondary School is authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, academically rigorous programmes that are globally recognized as among the finest in the world. In addition, IAA uses the Jordan Ministry of Education curriculum for Arabic-medium courses. IAA has endeavoured to choose curricula that place significant emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving. This approach allows young learners to evolve into resilient leaders equipped to confront challenges throughout their lives, effectively and confidently. 

The International Academy-Amman understands the central role of national identity and cultural heritage in the success of both individuals and communities. IAA aspires to educate children to become active members of the Jordanian community by fostering a strong connection with Jordan and the Middle East. Students are immersed in Arabic in their Social Studies (which is offered alongside Social Studies in English), Religion and, of course, Arabic Language curricula. The school also celebrates all Jordanian, Islamic and Christian holidays as integral to IAA"s spiritual and cultural identity. At the same time, IAA is international in its perspective, employing world-class programmes that allow the students to understand their own culture within a global framework.

IAA graduates are equally prepared to attend English-language university programs around the world, including North America, Europe, Oceania and the Middle East. The school holds accreditation from the New England (United States) Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Jordan Ministry of Education. All Secondary students attend American Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) preparation courses in Grade 11. They may also opt to earn either the International Baccalaureate Diploma or course certificates.  IAA students take and perform well on SAT Subject tests, which are the basis of the "SAT" Curriculum, in addition to earning their Jordanian "Tawjihi" equivalency.

IAA"s motto is "Learners of Today - Leaders of Tomorrow", and its curriculum is designed to prepare students for that role.

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IAA's Unique Curriculum

At IAA, we work hard to ensure that the student experience is unique. We also strive to ensure that students have a cohesive experience so that everything they learn from year to year is connected, and one year"s work builds upon the next. 

At IAA, we work hard to ensure that the student experience is unique. We also strive to ensure that students have a cohesive experience so that everything they learn from year to year is connected, and one year"s work builds upon the next. 

To ensure this continuity, teachers of grades Pre-K through Grade 12 collaborate closely to clearly identify what students at IAA should understand through their learning. These curricular goals are presented as "Essential Questions", and they guide students towards a deep understanding of the subject matter. You can read more about this type of curriculum structure, called 'Understanding by Design'.

In this section, you will find Essential Questions that indicate the concepts each IAA student will come to understand within each individual subject.

Teachers and Senior Management have also worked together to form "Overarching Essential Questions" that communicate the ideals explored by all IAA students across all subjects and grade levels. These questions are meant to form a meaningful link between the principles of IAA"s Mission, Vision and Pillars and the daily experiences of students within diverse learning environments - from the classroom, to the sports fields, to service projects around the Kingdom and beyond.

0verarching Essential Questions:

Leadership
  • How can my actions reflect my understanding of what I learn?
  • How can I communicate effectively?
  • How do I know what"s ethically right?
  • How do I know how to lead and how to follow?
  • How do I know when I"ve done my best?
Duty
  • How can I use what I"m learning in life?
  • How do I know who I am?
  • How do I make an impact on the world?
  • What is the best way to support those around me?
Acceptance
  • How do I learn about the world?
  • How do I think critically while still accepting different values and points of view?
  • How do I evaluate what I learn?
  • How do I find an answer?
Cultural Heritage
  • How do I think and act as a part of Jordan and a part of the international community at the same time?

 

Creative Arts Essential Questions:

  1. How can we use the Arts to express ourselves?

  2. How do we use the Arts to be supportive of others?

  3. How can we use the Arts to show acceptance of cultures and societies?

  4. How can we encourage leadership and risk-taking skills to improve our performance?

  5. How can we use Art to inspire creativity and leadership in our community?

  6. How can we collaborate to enhance our artistic, listening and visual skills?

  7. How can we develop our societal and cultural awareness by appreciating Art history?

  8. How can we encourage students to appreciate and be proud of Art within their own culture?

  9. How can Art develop and foster our international mindedness by understanding other cultures?

  10. How can we use Art to make a difference to ourselves and others?

  11. How can Art foster an understanding of environmental awareness and our responsibility as global citizens?

  12. How can we instill pride and respect for the creations of ourselves and others?

Design Technology Essential Questions:

  1. How can we believe that what we are told is true?

  2. How much does the quality of the outcome/product rely on the quality of planning?

  3. What is the most effective way of communicating our ideas?

  4. Why is it our responsibility to make sensible informed decisions on how to use "tools” safely for everyone"s well-being?

  5. How does what we create/produce affect others?

  6. Why do we need to understand the needs of others?

  7. How can we find out what we need to know using reliable sources?

  8. How do we decide and choose which information sources are the most helpful/useful/trustworthy?

  9. On what basis do we decide and chose which information/sources are the most helpful?

  10. How do I know I am working to the best of my ability?

  11. How do I evaluate that I have been successful?

English/Literacy Essential Questions:

Reading 

  1. Why do we read?
  2. How do we read?
  3. What is text?
  4. What makes a person a (good) reader?

 

Writing 

  1. Why do we write?
  2. How do we write?
  3. How can we write better?

 

Speaking 

  1. How do I speak so that I can be understood?
  2. Why do I speak?
  3. How do I communicate with and without words?
  4. How do I speak so that the audience actively listens?

 

Listening

  1. How do we listen actively?
  2. What do we listen for?

 

IAA Pillars

  1. How do leaders use communication effectively?
  2. How does reading encourage acceptance of other cultures & understanding of our own?
  3. Why is it our duty to be literate as a community?
Humanities Essential Questions:

  1. To what extent do systems manifest themselves in varied contexts?

  2. What role do systems play in shaping our world?

  3. How does culture shape Society? How does society shape culture?

  4. What are the impacts of culture on society?

  5. Why should we celebrate differences?

  6. How does ideology triumph over another?

  7. How does identity drive Global events and change?

  8. What is the relationship between belief and change?

  9. To what extent do Humans impact the environment?

  10. What is the role of Humans in an ecosystem?

  11. How has technology transformed the world?

  12. How do beliefs influence innovation?

  13. To what extent is the world connected in overt and covert ways?

  14. How has colonization shaped the world?

  15. What are the impacts of globalization?

  16. How has colonization shaped the world?

Library Essential Questions:
  1. How can technology help us find answers?
  2. How can I contribute ethically in a 21st-century learning environment?
  3. How can we find out things we want to know?
  4. What is the best source of information?
  5. How do we know what to believe?
  6. What makes a book or story great?
  7. How can a fiction story be true and not true at the same time?
  8. How can we use non-fiction books as a starting point for further inquiry?
  9. What do good readers do?
Maths Essential Questions:

Number and Algebra

1. To what extent can numbers and symbols be used to help us communicate?

2. Why is it important to know and apply mathematical operations?

 

Measurement and Geometry

1. How and why do we need to measure?

2. How do we use geometry to identify and classify 2D shapes and 3D objects in our world?

3. How can we use formulas to measure and then analyse?

 

Statistics and Probability

1. How can data be collected, organised, presented, analysed and interpreted?

2. How do we determine outcomes in everyday events?

3. How do we differentiate between theoretical probability and the observed one?

Physical Health Education (PHE) Essential Questions:

  1. How can I live a healthy lifestyle?

  2. How to be an effective member in the community?

  3. How can I choose a good way to manage my anger when I"m under pressure?

  4. How to transfer my healthy lifestyle to making my community a healthier place to live?

Science Essential Questions:
  1. What is Matter?
  2. How is Matter classified?
  3. Do materials around us always stay the same?
  4. What causes materials to change?
  5. How are materials manipulated to suit our needs?
  6. What is the relationship between the different states of matter?
  7. How do physical and chemical changes differ?
  8. What makes the change in matter important in our lives?
Spanish Essential Questions:

Reading

1. What can you read about in your World Language that you would not be exposed to in your native language?

 

Writing

1. How does one express preference, feelings, emotions, and opinions in detail in Spanish?

2. How does read text in Spanish contribute to understand better the language, the country and the people from Spanish speaking countries?

 

Speaking

1. What do I have to know to be a successful speaker?

2. What are the benefits to being able to communicate in another language?

3. How are words, phrases and sentences different and similar in English/Arabic and the target language?

4. What is considered polite and/or impolite behavior in the two cultures?

 

Listening

1. How the recognition of the context and the understanding of different accents help me to be a good listener?

2. How do I know that I am using the correct word for the country where I am?

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Rubicon Atlas Curriculum Map

IAA employs the Rubicon Atlas, a rich curriculum mapping system which allows parents and staff to review the entire academic programme from Pre-K all the way to Grade 12! Why is this important? This major achievement allows IAA to effectively streamline student education to ensure a holistic, inter-related and optimal experience for our students. It also allows parents to support their children with comprehensive knowledge of learning concepts and topics as they move through their years at IAA.

IAA employs the Rubicon Atlas, a rich curriculum mapping system which allows parents and staff to review the entire academic programme from Pre-K all the way to Grade 12! Why is this important? This major achievement allows IAA to effectively streamline student education to ensure a holistic, inter-related and optimal experience for our students. It also allows parents to support their children with comprehensive knowledge of learning concepts and topics as they move through their years at IAA. You can access the Rubicon Atlas here using a password .If you are an IAA parent and you would like access to the IAA Rubicon Atlas password, please contact the PR & Communications at +962 5502055 Ext. 3131.

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