Teaching and Learning

Standards are more than lists of facts to memorize; in all divisions at ASM, standards focus on what is most important in each discipline, those deeper and more complex skills like interpreting mathematical or scientific data, using evidence to construct an argument, analyzing a historical source or literary text, using models to explain scientific or mathematical reasoning, or connecting with an audience in theater, music, or visual arts. Standards set rigorous goals for our students to meet, and our curriculum resources ensure that the students can achieve them.

The goal of a standards-based learning environment is for the curriculum, instruction, assessment, and reporting all to align to make learning smooth, consistent, and cohesive.  Standards are the framework or skeleton for the K-12 learning body. Teachers use these standards to create their assessments, and report on them in report cards. The report cards are opportunities for students to learn where they are as they progress towards these worthy goals. This alignment allows for students, teachers, and parents all to be clear on the key goals for each grade or class.

Essential Agreements describe the key practices that reflect ASM’s beliefs about effective teaching. They are the teaching strategies that we believe are essential to the implementation of our curriculum. 

At ASM we believe that teachers meet the needs of learners when they: 

• Inform learners of the big ideas, essential questions, and assessment criteria from the beginning of the unit.
• Help learners connect the big ideas and essential questions with their interests, backgrounds,and learning in other areas 
• Routinely provide for differences in readiness, interest, and style of learning 
• Use a variety of instructional strategies to facilitate the construction of meaning and promote a deeper understanding 

ASM offers the  IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12.

Teaching and learning at ASM are based on compelling and current educational research. All of our curricula are aligned with standards. These standards are like the skeleton upon which we build our curriculum. They define worthy goals for our students to learn: a cohesive and connected progression of crucial skills and concepts within each discipline.

Our instructional practices are also built on research. One value we hold at ASM is inquiry, research shows that students learn best when a task is meaningful and when it sparks curiosity and the desire to know more. It is based on the idea that learning is meaningful when students get to discover important ideas for themselves and construct deeper understandings.
 

We believe learning should be student-centered. No two students are the same. Our students are diverse in terms of experience, culture, and learning approach. Different students will need different things from the teacher in order to achieve the learning goals for that lesson. But all students benefit from teachers who know them personally and respond to their needs and interests. We believe in equitable access to learning for all.
For students who need extra support to achieve a grade or class learning goals, divisional Learner Support Teachers work with classroom teachers to design and implement plans that offer extra and, if necessary, specialized help.