In Green Heights International School, we believe the Early Years are the foundation years of the child’s development.
Our curriculum—in both the British and American divisions—emphasizes the development of physical, academic and social skills in a child-centered environment.
Through our program, children develop skills in many areas; English language, early years Math and cognitive abilities that are all carefully integrated. In addition, physical development is encouraged through P.E program as well as skills in creative art, music; computer keyboarding and ethics. Through themes and projects, teachers explore key learning areas in all core subjects alongside laying a moral and spiritual foundation.
The project approach is a strategy used by teachers to guide students through in depth studies of real world topics. Project themes include, for example, Under the Sea, Transport, The Rain Forest, Occupations and Countries of the world. Each trimester, different themes are introduced and studied/explored using a variety of media, resources, materials and project ideas. “
* Personal, Social and Emotional Development, helping to build confidence, concentration, independence and respect.
* Communication, Language and Literacy, developing speaking and listening skills and beginning to read and write.
* Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy, focusing on number work, mathematical ideas and thinking.
* Knowledge and Understanding of the World, helping children investigate and think about their place in the world.
* Physical Development, relating to developing physical skills and understanding.
* Creative Development, centered around building children’s imagination.
Following rules and routines.
-Listening and speaking.
-Sharing and taking turns.
-Self-confidence and expressing feelings.
-Vocabulary and following directions.
-Alphabet and number awareness.
-Enjoying stories and books.
-Eye-hand coordination for cutting, coloring, pasting, writing….etc.
-Creative thinking and exploring.
At GHIS, teachers observe and respond appropriately to children. Our teachers make continuous detailed observations of our students. This helps them to recognize patterns in children’s play, how they interact with adults and each other, what they are interested in and how learning can be extended.
For each child, our teaching staff compiles and reviews a personal report card, documenting his/her process of development and learning in all areas of personal, social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. Through this process teachers and parents together can better identify and meet the child’s unique developmental needs.
We hold regular parent conference days where parents have a scheduled appointment to discuss their child’s progress and development.
At GHIS, we work on a theme approach to learning, extending the classrooms out into the real world. Field trips are integral in our real-life approach to learning. Fun trips are planned as fun, learning opportunities building on our multi-sensory skills approach to learning.
We celebrate several special days through the school year to complement aspects of the curriculum. These may be linked to the following areas: community charity support through “We are One”, religious festivals; Sports day; academic presentations, annual shows, and fun days.
we encourage role play. When children do role plays, they learn how to personify. Role play is a vital activity for our children because it stimulates their imagination and enhances their social development, encourages friendship through cooperation, listening and turn-taking.. They can learn a variety of skills and attitudes during role play, like how to be co-operative and empathetic with others. They learn to express their feelings. Additionally, they can learn about other cultures and improve their language and motor skills.
What is Jolly Phonics?
Jolly Phonics is a fun and child centred approach to teaching literacy through synthetic phonics. With actions for each of the 42 letter sounds, the multi-sensory method is very motivating for children and teachers, who can see their students achieve.
Letter Sound Order
The sounds are taught in a specific order (not alphabetically). This enables children to begin building words as early as possible.
How does Jolly Phonics work?
Using a synthetic approach, Jolly Phonics teaches children the five key skills for reading and writing, aligned to the British Cambridge framework and the American Virginia standards.
The five skills taught in Jolly Phonics
Super Safari is a course that welcomes our students to English through stories, songs and plenty of playtimes while supporting their cognitive, motor-sensory and social development.
As your child progresses through the early years stages, a reading system is introduced. We start reading as early as the third week. Children receive reading lessons 3 times a week with a reading teacher. This includes several reading programs via the Jolly Phonics curriculum and Oxford Reading Tree.
In stage 2, we follow the next level of “Jolly Phonics” and Oxford Reading Tree, which are used worldwide. Children just love reading stories packed full of humour, drama, detailed illustrations, and endearing characters, motivating every child to learn new vocabulary.
Character development is about helping students learn and practice positive character attributes. When we build good character, we build strong communities. In the school community, character development is woven into programs and practices it becomes a way of life. Student success is dependent on a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment where all students feel valued. This starts by teaching our students about the value of character – respecting themselves and each other, making positive contributions to their school and community and thinking critically and creatively.
Children learn math through concrete applications using manipulatives such as blocks, counters, sticks, which enables children to make sense of new math concepts and develop their spatial thinking skills. Only after children have had ample opportunities to learn a new concept with real objects, are they ready to connect their learning to abstract symbols such as numbers and math symbols.
For young learners, science is just an extension of their everyday world. We don’t have to teach young children how to wonder, discover, and explore through play because they do it naturally.
It’s so important to focus on working with early learners to learn how to create amazing experiences that encourage discovery through play, asking questions, exploration and using creativity to solve simple problems. Amazing experiences turn into unforgettable learning experiences that can inspire and motivate children to want to learn and explore more on their own.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World relates to children’s everyday lives, their homes, families, other people, the local environment and community, and the wider world. There are three main areas in this area of learning –
The school is committed to teach two compulsory subjects which are:
Arabic language and Religious studies.
Stage1 receives a daily session of Arabic and 20 min of religion.
Stage2 receives a daily session of Arabic and 20 min of religion.
In stage 1, homework is given at our Early Years students twice/week, teacher may ask parents to help their child “find” something with which is related to the theme or an activity done in the class or topic discussed. It is also important that your child has something for “show and tell” on the correct day. This is far more beneficial than “formal” homework. In stage 2, math, Arabic, English homework will be sent for practice through our resource packs.
Children are taught French as a third language starting from stage 2. They learn by listening, seeing, imitating, and practicing. Introduce them to rhymes, songs, games, and counting in a second language. They will start by understanding the teacher’s body language. Most importantly, make learning fun.
*N.B Children receive 3 French lessons per week.
Students are also given 2 sessions per week of the following:
Artistic exploration encourages important skills such as creative thinking, adaptation, problem-solving, innovation, and follow-through. As they grow, their ability to engage in complex projects increases, paving the way for vibrant, creative, and expressive artistic endeavors.
Using songs, rhymes are a great way to help children develop their language and communication skills. Songs have positive impact on a child’s language and literacy development. That is why we tend to speak more slowly and clearly. So, children have a chance to catch the words and the way they’re formed. It also encourages students’ participation and increases their self-confidence.
Our students should be able to try new ways of moving, whether it’s hopping, walking, running, jumping, leaping, skipping, or sliding also practice these movements while experimenting with changes in speed and direction. And teachers can play music in the background to encourage children’s creative instincts. We teach them accept difficult challenges, when they fall down, they have to stand up again. If they drop a ball, they pick it up again. And if they lose, they learn to say, ‘That was a great game. I want to play again.’
Green Heights International School sets high expectations for its students.
In order to achieve these expectations, students need to have an acceptable level of English, a good attitude towards learning and good behavior.
Upon parents’ application request, candidates sit an assessment for British or American Early Years.
Green Heights International School was founded as an extension to Green Heights Language School which gained an outstanding reputation since its establishment in 1998 at the start of the new millennium.
