A warm and open environment exists in elementary classes.  Parents are encouraged to be involved and participate in the formative years of their child's education.  The elementary staff provides learning activities to excite and challenge students with the objective of extending children's creativity and problem solving skills. 

Field trips enhance the academic program and help to develop an understanding and appreciation of the richness and diversity of our host country, China. Periodic assemblies and concerts throughout the year, such as Chinese New Year and Fine Arts Night, give students the opportunity to perform in front of a school and community audience.

The curriculum is based on the belief that the student is the center of all teaching and learning.  The curriculum is international in its perspective.  The staff utilizes instructional strategies, resources, and assessments from several nations.

Language Arts

The Languages Arts program seeks to develop effective communicators, especially in the modalities of reading and writing.  Open Court (https://www.sraonline.com), ranked as the leading reading program at the elementary level, is used in Kindergarten through Grade 5.  Six Traits (http://www.greatsource.com) is implemented in the elementary to develop writing skills.  Internationally recognized language arts content area standards, Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (http://www.mcrel.org), allows teachers to determine achievement levels of students.  AIAN joins schools in 46 other countries in implementing an online writing program, Educational Records Bureau or ERB (http://www.erbtest.org).  The ISA, International Schools Assessment test (http://www.acer.edu.au/isa) is administered annually, with an examination population of nearly 50,000 students, to identify reading and writing achievement levels in Grade 3-5.

Mathematics

Mathematics curriculum is based on the premise that math is a way of thinking and a language to understand and construct meaning.  The Textbook series used is Real Math (https://www.sraonline.com, rated as the best elementary math texts.  The widely used National Council of Teachers of Math (http://www.nctm.org) standards and benchmarks are employed to measure student achievement.  AIAN joins 244 other schools around the world in utilizing The International Schools Assessment test to measure student achievement in math for Grades 3-5. 

Science

Science instruction allows students to engage in scientific inquiries while making observations, handling tools, generating data, and formulating explanations.  Students develop their own ideas after testing assumptions and thinking critically about the findings of others.  The focus of study is on living things, matter, force, motion, earth and space.  McGraw-Hill Science series (http://mhschool.com/science) is used in all elementary classes.  In addition, the highly acclaimed, interactive FOSS program (http://www.fossweb.com) is implemented at each grade level.  Student achievement is identified by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning science standards and benchmarks.

Social Studies

The Social Studies classroom allows students the opportunity to look at human behavior in a realistic, objective, and sensitive manner.  Students gain a deeper understanding of themselves, others, and their place in the world.  Main strands in the Social Studies classroom are history and geography.  The textbook series published by Teachers Curriculum Institute or TCI (http://www.teachtci.com) is used in Social Studies classrooms, providing instructional activities that allow students of all abilities to master key social studies concepts.  This is supplemented by Core Knowledge series (http://coreknowledge.org). Core Knowledge provides carefully sequenced and challenging content to hone skills.  Student achievement in the Social Studies is measured by content standards of the National Council for the Social Studies or NCSS (http://www.socialstudies.org)

Chinese

Chinese is considered a core subject.  Chinese language classes focus on developing students’ conversational, reading and writing skills while at the same time helping students gain a greater understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.  Learning occurs in ability groupings – beginner, intermediate and advanced.  Textbooks include Chinese Made Easy (http://www.jointpublishing.com/cheasy), Chinese Made Easy for Kids and Yu Wen http://www.ynpstore.com/books.  Student achievement is identified by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning science standards and benchmarks.

English Language Learning (ELL)

The English Language Learning program supports non-native English speakers from Kindergarten through Grade 5.  Non-native students receive help in language acquisition in order to reach proficiency and to achieve full participation in the curriculum.  Students attend daily ELL classes to develop the four language skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.  Major ELL instructional materials include Carousel of Ideas (http://www.ballard-tighe.com) and Read Well Plus (http://www.sopriswest.com/readwell). Language acquisition is assessed by Language Assessment Scales (http://www.ctb.com/products).  When students have reached a proficiency level in English, they begin a study of Chinese language and culture.

Physical Education

Students learn the language of physical movement in PE classes.  They learn their strengths and weaknesses physically.  The value of physical activity in a healthy lifestyle is promoted.  PE helps to develop confidence, self-image, and cooperation.  Strands in PE include games, swimming, gymnastics, body control, and fitness. 

Art

Students learn not only how artists of the past have expressed ideas, but also how to visually interpret and express themselves.  In visual art projects, age-appropriate methods and media are used, including Western and Asian drawing with pencil, ink or pastels, painting with poster paints or water colors, sculpture in paper or clay, collage, crafts such as Japanese origami, Chinese knotting or basket-weaving, and Chinese calligraphy. Students are encouraged to interpret subjects creatively by constructing maps of the neighborhood, costumes of the aborigines, masks of the Peking opera, posters of household safety, mobiles of our solar system, etc.

Music

The Music program encourages students to express their feelings.  Music class exposes students to the riches of Western and Asian cultures and enables students to discover their resources, as individuals and as members of their own cultures.  Students are taught tempo, dynamics, mood, timbre and form through listening, singing, reading, movement and performance.  Students develop an understanding of how music is related to other areas such as history, art, etc.  The Music curriculum seeks to promote not only fundamental musical concepts but also an understanding of Eastern and Western musical traditions and the positions occupied by music within these cultures.