Elementary School


First through sixth grade students attends school all day; from 7:30 am to 2:45 pm. BCIS strives to develop all aspects of the child in a positive environment. The school recognizes that each child is a unique individual and that children learn and develop at different rates and through a variety of methods. It is our desire to create an atmosphere that will foster independent learning in each classroom. The number of students in each class is kept low to provide for as much individualization as possible. Teachers create a classroom environment which offers structure and organization yet has the flexibility necessary to meet each child’s needs. While the approach is aimed at the acquisition of basic academic skills, a great emphasis is also placed upon students’ acquisition of positive feelings about school and their own capabilities. The curriculum is based on the basic skills of reading, spelling, writing, English and mathematics. These skills are utilized to acquire mastery in other subjects common to an Elementary School.

We aim to teach our children a range of disciplines within the scope of distinct themes or topics. The individual topics themselves are carefully chosen to reflect the interests of the students, to stimulate their imagination and therefore, facilitate the learning experience. Each topic contains elements of the core components of the elementary curriculum with relevant focus on Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, and Moral Education. These elements are fused and integrated within the thematic approach to provide a holistic and student-centered development process; however, where appropriate, subject content is isolated to maximize skills or for purposes of remediation. In addition, we at BCIS recognize the importance of heightening our students' cultural awareness, both to comprehend their place within the global community and their position within Thailand itself.

The later aspect is covered within a distinct Thai studies element of the curriculum where the students gain the opportunity of discovering the uniqueness of Thai culture through learning the Thai language, customs and other aspects of socio-cultural relations. Our school is a community of learners working together to draw meaning from our environment. We value our students' curiosity and interests. Our teachers have the responsibility to provide experiences that will develop the skills students will need to answer their own questions. We aim to raise the awareness of the responsibility they genuinely share with educators in our community.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Bangkok Christian International School is committed to providing the highest quality teaching curriculum materials, and educational experiences to its students to prepare them for living in the twenty-first century. Although we are independent of any national system, extreme consideration has been given to many educational reform reports and research studies. Our curriculum is constantly being updated to reflect the best in education from around the world. However, we selecte the most appropriate methodologies for our student population. . Educational research cites a number of areas that need to be stressed in the early grades. They assert that Listening must be taught since students do not automatically become good listeners just through school attendance. This can be accomplished through Read Aloud, through audio and video materials, and through opportunities afforded in subject matter activities. These same reports stress that Study Skills to be taught from the early grades. Efforts will be made to train the students in organization; time management; note taking; content area reading; test taking; retention; use of reference materials; and the gaining of information from maps, graphs and diagrams. Thinking Skills is a third area that should receive attention. Curriculum materials have been chosen that emphasize higher level thinking skills. They go beyond the literal level of questioning and rote learning and challenge students to think about the "how" and "why" of what they are learning. Educational Technology and Cooperative Learning Strategies serve to maximize the learning of all students. Our teachers use many diverse instructional methods to challenge students to reach their potential as young members of our communities. The School Climate, which we promote, is cooperation in the process of learning and serving. We endeavor to encourage all students to work hard toward goals and to help one another en route to those goals. BCIS is committed to shaping 'world citizens' and leaders for the 21st Century. In the elementary school we are responsible for ensuring a strong foundation by creating opportunities for students to respect, appreciate and understand their environment, cultures, and people around them. Multicultural Awareness is promoted by actively building appreciation for other cultures. Students are constantly challenged and rewarded by interacting with a diverse population of community members in our school. By building students awareness and appreciation we are instilling values and giving our students tools to succeed in a global environment. Service Learning is a key part of school life at BCIS. We are committed to serving the needs of our students. To learn humility, empathy, and caring we feel service to one's community is essential. We try to create opportunities for our students to grow, learn and use the world, to improve academic skills, life skills and develop as young people.

Assessment of student's learning is an ongoing process. Our teachers use a variety of tools including observations, reading analysis, writing assignments, independence projects, timed tests, checklists, scoring rubrics, and portfolios. Student self-assessment and peer assessment is an integral part of this process. We feel that students' reflection of their efforts and achievements are a key component in developing responsibility and self-awareness. We recognize that at times some students will need extra educational support in order to succeed. Students who need extra language support spend one to two periods a day with English teachers to build basic skills and fluency. Due to the team-teaching approach in our educational planning, these students can develop skills in a non-threatening environment using the themes and materials from their homeroom classes as well as consolidate previously covered topics. The homeroom teacher, elementary coordinator, and councilor review students who have been referred by teachers, administrators, or parents as needing other educational supports. If an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is needed all persons who have an interest in seeing the student succeed are brought together for collaboration. Homework is an important part of student life at BCIS. Homework provides an opportunity for a student to reinforce concepts and practice skills, thus enriching their in-school program of studies. It also promotes self-discipline, organization and effective study habits. In addition, it serves as a valuable means of communication between home and school about a child's progress. Homework can provide parents with insights into their child's development and learning experiences, and invite their involvement in an appropriate way.