Academics

Our Preschool Montessori & Creative Curriculum Program:

Learning takes place as children touch, manipulate, and experiment with things and interact with people.

At Sanabil Learning Center, we have chosen to use the Montessori Philosophy Approach in addition to the Creative Curriculum, to provide the best of both worlds in our approaches to teaching & learning. Our Montessori approach helps our toddlers and preschoolers build independence and confidence while fostering their natural curiosity.

All activities are developmentally and age appropriate. They are designed to promote language & listening skills, gross and fine motor development, and opportunities for imaginative play. The wide variety of hands-on materials and activities support a strong foundation for learning. Our goal is to provide opportunities for an active involvement of children and their parents in a continual process of education based on the knowledge of early childhood development best practices in an Islamic environment.

Our unique program is designed to help children ages 12 months to 5 years old become aware of their environment, by providing each child opportunities to interact in the community as a self-confident American Muslim citizen in a positive and constructive way. The program is also framed to help the children develop feelings of self-worth and pride about themselves, their families, and their iman.

Our classrooms are designed to create a literacy rich environment, where language is integral part of the daily routine. Language is supported by encouraging self-initiated activities and informal spontaneous conversations, giving children something real to think and talk about, using open-ended questions to generate language, and in general using language in ways rather than limiting it to directions, commands, and requests. For English language learners, our bi-lingual teachers (English, Arabic & Urdu) make special efforts to differentiate instruction and make learning easier using gestures and body language to help children understand, speak clearly and simply, respect the child’s language, and help the child to preserve his/her own language and culture.

The Sanabil Curriculum 

The Sanabil Curriculum is based on the assumption that the development of a positive self-image and of academic and social skills are essential for a child to live an effective, creative, and contributing life. We base our curriculum on the need to explore, experiment, make choices, problem solve and to think independently. Basic concepts of good nutrition practices are interwoven into the children’s daily routine. Throughout the year, children participate in food preparation activities that include good nutritional information as well as other educational concepts.

Islamic Studies is taught as a separate subject while simultaneously being integrated with the daily curriculum. We aim to provide our children with a positive, nurturing, loving, and challenging atmosphere where everyone is encouraged to play, explore, create, and learn at the same time, according to the teachings of Islam, and in line with their own individual abilities, and strengths.

Creative Curriculum for Preschool 

The ultimate goal of early childhood education is to set children on a course to lifelong success as learners and citizens. The Creative Curriculum for Preschool features exploration and discovery as a way of learning, enabling children to develop confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills. 

The Creative Curriculum for toddlers and preschool is a comprehensive collection of knowledge-building resources and daily practice resources that explains the “what”, “why”, and “how” of teaching. The curriculum is based on five fundamental principles:

  1. Positive interactions and relationships with adults provide a critical foundation for successful learning
  2. Social-emotional competence is a significant factor in school success, constructive.
  3. Purposeful play supports essential learning.
  4. The physical environment affects the type and quality of learning interactions.
  5. Teacher-family partnerships promote development and learning.
Creative Curriculum

The Creative Curriculum for toddlers and preschool is award-winning research driven curriculum based on 38 objectives for development and learning that utilize exploration and discovery to guide learning and enable children to develop confidence, creativity, and critical thinking skills. These objectives are integrated into each and every one of the comprehensive collection of resources that makes up the curriculum. The Creative Curriculum for toddlers and preschool combines the Foundation (i.e., five comprehensive knowledge-building volumes) with the Daily Resources, which offer detailed guidance for every day of the school year to help teachers individualize instruction to meet the needs of divergent learners. The Curriculum also addresses all the important areas of learning, from social-emotional and math to technology and the arts and incorporates them throughout every part of every day. Furthermore, provides daily, built-in opportunities for observation, offers daily opportunities to focus on English language development, and offers practical solutions for effective teaching and successful learning to help children succeed, both in school and in life.

Our S.T.R.E.A.M. Education Initiative
Why We Use a Subject Teaching Model at Sanabil Elementary School
 
At Sanabil Elementary School, we believe that teaching by subject is the most effective way to provide a deep, well-rounded education for young learners. Here’s why:
 
Specialized Expertise: Each subject is taught by a teacher who specializes in that particular area, whether it’s math, science, language arts, or Arabic. Our students benefit from teachers who have a passion for their subject, providing a higher level of instruction and understanding.
Focused Learning: Teaching by subject allows students to dive deeper into each topic, helping them build a strong foundation in key areas like reading, writing, math, and science. It also helps students stay organized and structured in their learning process.
Exposure to Different Teaching Styles: Students learn from a variety of teachers, each with their unique teaching style and expertise. This keeps the learning environment dynamic and engaging, giving children a well-rounded experience and a chance to connect with different educators.
• Preparation for Future Learning: By learning through subject-specific instruction, students are better prepared for higher grades and future academic challenges. This method mirrors the way learning is structured in middle and high school, helping children develop the study habits and organizational skills they will need later on.
 
By teaching children through specialized subjects, we ensure they receive a focused, enriching education from dedicated teachers who are passionate about their fields. This approach helps foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of learning.