Teaching and Learning

Our English Language Arts (ELA) Program, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, aspires to foster a transformative and lifelong learning experience through aligned practices that are Learner identity-centered, skills-focused, and vertically aligned.

Our English Language Arts (ELA) Program, in its daily practice nurtures a love of language, literature and communication while equipping our Learners with agency and future-ready skills. These are provided through current, relevant, and research-based program(s). ELA at ASD honors and embraces all the unique needs and identities our Learners possess.

While our ASD English Language Arts program embraces more granular and age-appropriate Essential Agreements at each of the 4 divisions of the school, our ELA program, as a collective K-12, maintains the following Essential Agreements:

• We are responsive (academically and culturally) to student Learners’ needs.
• We prioritize intentional planning of curriculum that is standards-aligned.
• We utilize skills-based approaches to teaching.
• We value and embrace professional learning opportunities that support best practice.

The ASD English Language Arts program is anchored to the AERO Common Core Plus framework and standards.

The World Language program at ASD seeks to empower Learners to communicate and connect in diverse situations in the language of acquisition. Our World Language Learners strive to develop both linguistic skills and cultural knowledge in diverse and dynamic ways.

The active work of the World Language department is to intentionally foster additional language literacy through the development of the communicative, literary, and cross-cultural competencies necessary to live, work, and be lifelong Learners in a diverse and ever-changing world.

Essential Agreements:

• Language learning entails activating sensitivity and cultural awareness.
• Risk-taking is an element of language learning that helps to expand who we are as people.
• Language learning is a process and a journey.
• The World Language program is informed by student Learner needs.
• The World Language program is a process of building and is therefore aligned across all divisions.

Additional Information about our Program:

• The World Language program is anchored to the AERO World Language Standards and Benchmarks.
• The World Language program provides students with authentic experiences to provide context to the language, including holiday celebrations, museum visits, restaurant experiences, and trips to the target country, in order to make the language come alive for students. - Students have many opportunities to demonstrate their learning, including DELF tests, IB tests, and AP tests.

The Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) program at ASD strives to empower Learners to communicate and interact in Modern Standard Arabic as a means of nurturing identity and cultural understanding, enabling them to embrace and serve the community.

The active mission of the MSA experience is focused on enhancing Learners’ communication skills through authentic inquiry practices. Our MSA program cultivates critical thinking, creativity, as well as cultural understanding.

Essential Agreements

• Language and identity are intertwined 
  Development of MSA encourages inclusivity, specifically in our host country of Qatar.
• Exposure to various forms of literature in Arabic is a valued asset in our program.
• Indulging in culturally rich experiences enhances MSA language and culture development.
• Enhancing MSA skills is an intentional act of transferring all learning experiences.

Additional Information about our Program:

• The MSA program is a Kindergarten through Grade 12 offering.
• The MSA program is anchored to the Qatari National Standards.
• The Qatari National Standards are aligned across the program for an appropriate language-building experience.

Our Mathematics program, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, fosters Mathematicians who think critically and solve problems creatively to gain a broader perspective of math and its authentic presence in our world.

Our Mathematics program, in its daily practice, challenges Learners to work collaboratively and persistently to solve authentic problems and communicate their reasoning effectively through fun and engaging learning opportunities.

Every Learner is granted equitable opportunities to thrive, foster curiosity, develop profound conceptual understanding, and achieve personal success.

Our Mathematics program maintains the following essential agreements:

• All learners can be successful in math.
• The instructional approach to math and assessment of math values both process and accuracy.
• Learners will discover concepts and make mathematical connections through relevant experiences and persevering to solve authentic problems.
• Math instruction leans into real-life situations that help Learners explain natural phenomena.
• Teachers will provide learning opportunities that promote exploration and risk-taking.
• Teachers are open to a variety of evidence of mastery and understanding.

Additional Information about our Mathematics program:

• Math is offered from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12.
• Our K-12 standards are the Common Core.
• Math Practice Standards as well as content standards are emphasized in gaining proficiency as mathematicians.

The ASD Science program aspires to support students through real-life experiences to develop a passion for discovery, wonder, and scientific literacy to positively impact our world.

The ASD Science Program strives toward this vision by promoting curiosity through an inquiry-based and hands-on approach. We additionally approach science as a collaborative enterprise where all students are scientists. We encourage our scientists to critically evaluate scientific information and be creative problem-solvers in order to responsibly interact with our world.

Essential Agreements:

• All people are scientists.
• Science education is taught through inquiry.
• Science is a way of thinking and solving problems.
• All students have access to proper science laboratory spaces and materials.
• Science learning further thrives through supported intentional integrated, cross-curricular learning experiences.

Additional Information about our Program:

• Science is taught across all grade levels from our Preschool intentional play/discovery program (PK3/4) to our oldest learners (Grade 12).
• The Science program is rooted in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).

Our PK-12 Social Studies program is founded on the following vision:

The ASD Social Studies program aspires to empower Learners to take ownership of ideas and take action to create a more just and inclusive world.

The ASD Social Studies program works toward this vision by equipping Learners to understand multiple perspectives, critically analyze complex issues, and apply their learning to create solutions for real world challenges.

Essential Agreements:

• Foster respectful discussions of complex and meaningful issues.
• Think critically to evaluate credibility and relevance of sources.
• Ask and pursue answers to authentic and engaging questions.
• Explore opportunities for community action.
• Cultivate disciplinary practices and content knowledge.

Additional Information about our Program:

• ASD aligns our Social Studies program to the AERO Social Studies Curriculum Framework K-12 Standards and Performance Indicators.

The ASD Visual Arts program strives to provide a fundamental mode for human expression, empowering learners to reach their full potential. The arts serve as a vehicle for creativity and encourage learners to discover their passions through hands-on art-making experiences that develop their talents.

The ASD Visual Arts program actively reaches toward this vision by creating opportunities for self-expression where Learners can voice their ideas, feelings, and beliefs. The program invites critical thinking and provides a rigorous and supportive learning environment. The arts are a powerful and essential means of communication. Learners are challenged to collaborate and connect with others in an enjoyable, inclusive environment as they explore, create, and share artwork.

Essential Agreements:

• The Visual Arts department embraces a wide variety of ‘evidence of learning’.
• By the nature of the arts, the students are at the heart of the learning process.
• The assessment criteria are known and transparent without being prescriptive.
• Learners' ability to succeed is not based on final products but on creative risks throughout the process.

Additional Information about our Program:

• The ASD Visual Arts Program serves Learners from Pre-K through Grade 12.
• Our program is rooted in the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) in both our instruction and assessment practices.
• The classroom content is just one strand of Visual Arts within ASD; ASD’s extracurricular programs across LES/UES/MS/HS are offered and encouraged throughout the school year.

The ASD Music program strives to create a vibrant and enriching musical environment in which all Learners have the opportunity to explore, develop, and excel in their musical abilities, empowering them to become lifelong learners of music.

The ASD Music program actively works toward this vision by providing a comprehensive and inclusive music education to students in grades PK-12. We foster a lifelong appreciation and understanding of music from diverse cultures, by nurturing artistic expression, cultivating creativity, discipline, and collaboration.

Essential Agreements:

• Music from all cultures is valid and celebrated in the music classroom.
• Every child will experience music and be able to express their learning in different ways.
• Learners experience music by engaging in active, hands-on music learning.

Additional Information about our Program:

• The ASD Music program serves Learners from Pre-K through Grade 12.
• Our program is rooted in the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) in both our instruction and assessment practices.

The ASD Drama program aspires to support Learners through a wide variety of learning modalities which help and encourage diverse voices and an expression of self through the arts.

The ASD Drama program strives toward this vision by combining social emotional wellbeing and academic rigor. The program encourages critical thinking, curiosity and storytelling to give every student a voice and opportunity for self expression.

ASD Learners are challenged to work collaboratively while engaging in a wide range of performing arts activities which foster the creative minds of young people

Essential Agreements:

• The Drama department embraces a wide variety of ‘evidence of learning’.
• By the nature of the arts, the Learners are at the heart of the learning process.
• The assessment criteria is known and transparent without being prescriptive.
• Learners' ability to succeed is not merely based on a final product, but the willingness to take creative risks throughout the process.

Additional Information about our Program:

• The Drama learning experience is offered in Middle and High School.
• While Drama runs its own program, it additionally sits within the Fine and Performing Arts departments, as all three departments anchor to the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) for instruction and assessment practices.
• The classroom content is just one strand of Drama within ASD; extra curricular programs across MS/HS/UES are offered and encouraged throughout the year.

The ASD Physical & Health Education program aspires to support learners in their pursuit of physical and health literacy for lifelong wellbeing.

The ASD Physical & Health Education Program focuses on the development of each Learner’s wellbeing. We build the knowledge, skills, understandings, and habits needed for Learners to pursue interests and passions, engage with others, and positively impact personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.

Essential Agreements:

• Character development and well-being are integral facets of our program.
• We foster a positive relationship with both self-care and physical education.
• Developing physical literacy by learning in, through, and about movement.
• We provide authenticity in content and assessment.
• The Health component of our program is skills-based.

Additional Information about our Program:

• The Physical Education program is required from PK3 - 10th Grade.
• Electives are offered in the High School and offer a range of choices to engage all Learners.
• The ASD Education and Health program is anchored to the SHAPE curriculum and standards.

The American School of Doha (ASD) understands how important it is for our students to acquire the technological skills that will not only aid them in participating in today’s technological era, but to excel, be competitive, and become leaders in today’s globalized, competitive world. They must become innovative thinkers, be able to ask questions, research, and find solutions in response to the fastest changing industry in the world today.

Technological education is central to all our lives today, and the development of technologically literate individuals throughout the school is a priority for us and to our students. The technologies provided by the school provide a platform that teachers use to engage students, present content, evaluate performance, and provide on-going feedback. Students are active participants in their own learning, striving for academic excellence, and exploring what it means to be a positive, active global citizen.

Learning activities enhanced by technology aid students in becoming confident and competent in 21st-century technological skills, while also becoming capable of using technology tools to enhance their communication, information, resource gathering, as well as their presentation skills.

The ASD Counseling Program aspires to support each Learner's safety, well-being, and growth toward increased independence through intentional Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) experiences that foster important awareness, social skills, emotional regulation, self- and peer advocacy, as well as collaboration.

The ASD counseling curriculum fosters learning experiences that hone in on personal safety, social-emotional skills, and the promotion of. growing independence. We equip our Learners to know and understand personal safety and how to thrive emotionally, personally, academically, and professionally. This well-rounded and holistic Learner experience inspires a ripple effect that has implications for positive change across generations to come.

Essential Agreements 

• We intentionally teach personal safety as a mandatory and essential skill at all levels.
• We nurture emotional well-being, recognizing that it is essential for personal growth.
• We strive to help Learners develop and practice effective strategies for resilience and self-care.
• We encourage and support Learners to develop independence and self-reliance.
• Through an SEL curriculum, we guide and equip Learners to build essential skills for positive relationships, empathy, and effective communication.
• We help Learners recognize the impact of their actions and words on others and the world around them.
• We encourage Learners to actively contribute to creating a positive and inclusive school environment, inspiring and uplifting those around them.
• We support Learners as agents of positive

Additional Information

• The Counseling program is offered in our Lower, Upper, Middle, and High School divisions.
• The Counseling Department runs its program based on the ISCA Comprehensive Model and the CASEL Framework & Competencies and utilizes the Multi-Tiered  Systems of Support (MTSS) to support students.
• The Counseling Department is a part of the Student Support Services Team (SSST). The SSST is comprised of the Director of Student Support Services, the School Psychologist, and includes English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialists, Learning Support (LS) teachers, Reading Specialists, Counselors, Instructional Assistants, and Nurses.

The Library experience at ASD encourages Learners to seek diverse reading opportunities and informational resources; empowering them to deepen understanding as well as ethically extend critical future-ready skills.

The ASD Library program is designed to support and enhance ASD’s curriculum across all subject areas and its goals. The two Libraries at ASD encourage lifelong reading and nurture the intellectual and personal development of our Learners by providing a diverse collection of print and online resources.

The Library spaces provide Learners with the time, space, skills and resources to become independent critical readers, thinkers, and ethical users and producers of information.

Essential Agreements

• Librarians work collaboratively with classroom teachers to integrate the library and subject area curricula.
• Librarians intentionally teach Learners to evaluate information from diverse sources.
• Librarians work alongside teachers as collaborative partners to guide Learners through the inquiry process, helping them develop strong research and analytical skills.
• Librarians model and teach Learners ethical use of information.
• Librarians encourage Learners to explore and read a variety of literature and discover their personal taste.
• Librarians provide equitable access to a variety of quality resources.

Additional Information about our Program: There are two ASD Libraries: the ES Library serves the Lower and Upper Elementary Schools, and the MS/HS Library serves the Middle and High School divisions. The Library program is anchored in the Illinois Standards Aligned Instruction for Libraries (I-SAIL). The careful adoption of these standards was most specifically in support of the standards’ alignment with the collaborative nature of Librarians partnering with classroom teachers. Each of the two ASD Library spaces have one or more certified teacher librarians. The ASD Library works collaboratively with classroom teachers and is accessible to the ASD community as a whole.