Elementary curriculum at RIS is based on our school mission and philosophy. Deriving from these, the school has developed K-12 standards and grade-level benchmarks in all subject areas, based on similar standards in U.S. and other Western curriculum models.

A particular feature of RIS pre-kindergarten through grade five curriculum is the integration of subject area concepts into units of inquiry. Core subjects of social studies, science and much of the language arts skills are taught within integrated units. At each grade level, teachers plan units together so that all children of a grade level are learning the same concepts and skills, and are assessed in the same way. The specialist teachers in technology, the library and science work closely with classroom teachers to integrate their instruction into what students are learning in the homerooms.

Language arts instruction in reading, writing, speaking and listening takes place in both the integrated units and as separate instructional blocks. Whenever possible, the reading and writing activities are connected to the unit topics of study. Students are assessed in reading and writing at the beginning and end of the school year to help teachers plan appropriate instruction and to measure progress. Writing is evaluated using the “6 + 1 Traits” model, with teachers and students looking at ideas, sentence fluency, organization, word choice, voice, conventions and presentation.

In mathematics students learn problem-solving and computational skills. Mathematics instruction includes units in number, patterning, geometry, measurement, graphing and probability.

Several periods a week, students attend specialist classes in Thai language or drama, music, art, physical education, values or religion, information technology, science and library skills.

Christie Powell (K-12 Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator )