[Show definition of Curriculum]
Central to your child's school experience is the underlying curriculum taught in the classroom. "Curriculum" refers to both what is taught and how it's taught. When considering the different curricula outlined in the next few pages, keep in mind that few schools fall neatly into one category or another. Most schools' curricula comprise a blend of best practices drawn from multiple curriculum types. Having said that, most schools do have a general overall curriculum type. These are identified for each school on OurKids.net.
Nile Academy has a
Progressive, Montessori approach to Curriculum (as opposed to Traditional, Liberal Arts, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf approach).
[Show: About Progressive, Montessori?]
Progressive (sometimes called "in- quiry-based") curricula attempt to place children's interests and ideas at the heart of the learning experience. Instead of lessons being driven by predetermined pathways, progressive curricula are often "emergent", with learning activities shaped by students' questions about the world. Instead of starting with academic concepts and then tying it to everyday experience, progressive methods begin with everyday experience and work back to an academic lesson. Teachers provide materials, experiences, tools and resources to help students investigate a topic or issue. Students are encouraged to explore, reflect on their findings, and discuss answers or solutions.
Curriculum at schools on OurKids.net
Progressive - 37%
Traditional - 39%
Liberal arts - 13%
Montessori - 9%
Reggio Emilia - 0%
Waldorf - 2%
Particularly popular in the younger grades (preschool to elementary), but sometimes available all the way up to high school, Montessori schools offer an alternative vision to the standard lesson format of most classrooms. Instead of listening to whole-class lessons, Montessori classrooms allow students to choose which "tasks" or activities interest them. These tasks centre around special Montessori puzzles - their essential feature being they contain a right answer and allow for selfcorrection. A strong emphasis is therefore placed on lessons being concrete and rooted in practical experience, along with students developing a sense of self-sufficiency, confidence and curiosity.
What Nile Academy says: Nile Academy's Grade 1 to Grade 8 curriculum is taught within the framework of the Ontario Ministry of Education’s curriculum. Specialist educators teach our comprehensive curriculum in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Information Technology, Physical Education, Music, and Visual Arts for Grade 6 to 8 classes.
At Nile Academy, children are encouraged to discover their emerging capabilities and achievements. Our teaching staff is dedicated to nurturing their students’ individual needs in an accommodated atmosphere where they can grow emotionally, socially, and academically – freely at their own learning pace.
Support programs are conducted for individual students who need extension or acceleration in various key learning areas; remedial sessions in English and Mathematics; a Reading Recovery program; and specialist support for ESL students.
We offer an Aftercare Homework Program (for Grades 1-8): Students can register for this supervised time to work on homework and connect with some peers after school.
Program | offered
|
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Montessori toddler | |
Casa | |
Elementary | |
Middle School | |
High School | |
Pedagogies and subject courses:
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Mathematics Equal Balance
Nile Academy has an
Equal Balance approach to Mathematics (as opposed to
Traditional Math ,
Discovery Math approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]
These math programs feature an equal balance of “Traditional” and “Discovery” methods.
Mathematics at schools on OurKids.net
Equal balance - 68%
Traditional math - 27%
Discovery math - 5%
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
Textbooks and supplementary materials: This information is not currently available.
Calculator policy: This information is not currently available.
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Early Reading Phonics-intensive
Nile Academy has a
Phonics-intensive approach to Early Reading (as opposed to
Whole Language ,
Balanced Literacy approach).
[Show: About Phonics-intensive?]
Systematic-phonics programs teach young children to read by helping them to recognize and sound out the letters and syllables of words. Students are then led to blend these sounds together to sound out and recognize the whole word. While other reading programs might touch on phonetics (either incidentally or on a “when needed” basis), systematic phonics teaches phonics in a specific sequence, and uses extensive repetition and direct instruction to help readers associate specific letter patterns with their associated sounds.
Early Reading at schools on OurKids.net
Phonics-intensive - 45%
Whole language - 2%
Balanced literacy - 53%
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
DIBELS Testing: This school does not use DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
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Writing Equal balance
Nile Academy has an
Equal balance approach to Writing (as opposed to
Systematic approach ,
Process approach approach).
[Show: About Equal balance?]
Programs that balance systematic and process approaches equally likely have an emphasis on giving young students ample opportunities to write, while providing supplementary class-wide instruction in grammar, parts of sentences, and various writing strategies.
Writing at schools on OurKids.net
Equal balance - 80%
Systematic approach - 10%
Process approach - 10%
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
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Science Equal Balance
Nile Academy has an
Equal Balance approach to Science (as opposed to
Expository ,
Inquiry approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]
Science programs that balance expository and inquiry learning equally will likely have an equal blend of tests and experiments; direct, textbook-based instruction and student-centred projects.
Science at schools on OurKids.net
Equal balance - 70%
Expository - 5%
Inquiry - 25%
Teaching approach: This information is not currently available.
Subject | offered
|
---|
Evolution as consensus theory | |
Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
Evolution is not taught | |
Subject | offered
|
---|
Biology | |
Chemistry | |
Ecology | |
Geology | |
Meteorology | |
Physics | |
Physiology | |
Zoology | |
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Literature Equal Balance
Nile Academy has an
Equal Balance approach to Literature (as opposed to
Traditional ,
Social Justice approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]
These literature programs draw in equal measure from “Traditional” and “Social Justice” programs.
Literature at schools on OurKids.net
Equal balance - 75%
Traditional - 21%
Social justice - 4%
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
Subject | offered
|
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Canadian lit | |
American lit | |
European (continental) lit | |
World (non-Western) lit | |
English lit | |
Ancient lit | |
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Social Studies Core Knowledge
Nile Academy has a
Core Knowledge approach to Social Studies (as opposed to
Expanding Communities ,
Thematic approach).
[Show: About Core Knowledge?]
Usually focused on teaching history and geography at an early age, the core knowledge approach uses story, drama, reading, and discussion to teach about significant people, places, and events. Breadth of content and knowledge is emphasized. The curriculum is often organized according to the underlying logic of the content: history might be taught sequentially, for example (as students move through the grades).
Social Studies at schools on OurKids.net
Core knowledge - 40%
Expanding communities - 30%
Thematic - 30%
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
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Humanities and Social Sciences Equal Balance
Nile Academy has an
Equal Balance approach to Humanities and Social Sciences (as opposed to
Perennialism ,
Pragmatism approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]
These programs represent an equal balance between the perennialist and pragmatic approach to teaching the humanities and social sciences.
Humanities and Social Sciences at schools on OurKids.net
Equal balance - 81%
Perennialism - 7%
Pragmatism - 12%
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
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Foreign Languages Equal Balance
Nile Academy has an
Equal Balance approach to Foreign Languages (as opposed to
Audio-Lingual ,
Communicative approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]
These programs feature an equal blend of the audio-lingual and communicative styles of language instruction.
Foreign Languages at schools on OurKids.net
Equal balance - 64%
Audio-lingual - 2%
Communicative - 34%
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
Subject | offered
|
---|
Chinese-Cantonese | |
Chinese-Mandarin | |
French | |
German | |
Greek | |
Italian | |
Japanese | |
Hebrew | |
Latin | |
Russian | |
Spanish | |
ESL | |
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Fine Arts Equal Balance
Nile Academy has an
Equal Balance approach to Fine Arts (as opposed to
Receptive ,
Creative approach).
[Show: About Equal Balance?]
These programs have an equal emphasis on receptive and creative learning.
Fine Arts at schools on OurKids.net
Equal balance - 63%
Receptive - 1%
Creative - 36%
Subject | offered
|
---|
Acting | |
Dance | |
Drama/Theatre | |
Graphic Design | |
Music | |
Visual Arts | |
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
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Computers and Technology Medium integration
Nile Academy has a
Medium integration approach to Computers and Technology (as opposed to
Light integration ,
Heavy integration approach).
[Show: About Medium integration?]
Effort is made to integrate the development of digital literacy through the curriculum. However, this is not a dominant focus.
Computers and Technology at schools on OurKids.net
Medium integration - 53%
Light integration - 18%
Heavy integration - 29%
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
Subject | offered
|
---|
Computer science | |
Robotics | |
Web design | |
-
Physical Education
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.
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Advanced Placement courses
This information is not currently available.
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Sex and health education Not Ontario curriculum
Nile Academy has a
Not Ontario curriculum approach to Sex and health education (as opposed to Follows provincial curriculum approach).
[Show: About Not Ontario curriculum?]
The sex education curriculum does NOT follow the provincial one taught in public schools - either in terms of structure, pacing, focus, and/or tone.
Sex and health education at schools on OurKids.net
Does not follow prrovincial curriculum - 42%
Follows provincial curriculum - 58%
Nile Academy has a approach
Mostly value-neutral (as opposed to Fairly value-based approach).
[Show: About Mostly value-neutral?]
By and large, students are taught about sex free of any particular moral or ethical standpoint. The school doesn't impose any particular values or value systems (such as social, political, or ideological values) on students when teaching sex and related issues.
What Nile Academy says: This information is not currently available.