Academics at ISSI

At the Islamic School of Staten Island the Early Childhood , Lower School and Middle School classical curriculum specifies what content is taught from one year to the next and encourages mastery of skills based on content.

The curriculum incorporates poetic knowledge, exposition, narration, imitation, spirit of inquiry, and virtue development.

These are proven teaching methods applied in classrooms.

PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES
For any teacher, student, or subject.

1. IMITATION : Imitation (mimetic) teaching is providing students models of excellence to imitate. Through mimetic teaching students learn great ideas (truth, goodness, beauty, unity). Mimetic modes include: narration, expositions, rhymes, recitation, copying, and repetition/memorization.

NARRATION : Narration is a teaching practice where students are asked to communicate back the substance of content they have learned. Integrates grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
Means: Living books (literary, spark wonder, make connections, and ask questions).

2.POETIC KNOWLEDGE: Poetic knowledge is a poetic (sensory-emotional) experience of reality that inspires wonder, awe, and delight. Poetic modes include wonder questions, reflection, and experiential learning.

Modes: Stories, music, poetry, drama, art, and nature study.

3. SPIRIT OF INQUIRY: Students learn to define terms, make judgements, question, and argue using reason.

SOCRATIC DISCUSSION: a shared dialogue between student and teacher in pursuit of truth.
COMMON TOPICS: Teach students how to think logically and add depth to understanding.
Means: Texts worth knowing, living books, and primary sources.

4. VIRTUE DEVELOPMENT: To cultivate the moral and educational virtues of a student and build habits of learning.

THINKING ROUTINES : Routines or habits that develop education virtues in students.
NORMATIVE QUESTIONS: Questions dealing with moral judgements, ethics, and values.

5. EXPOSITION : A series of question and answer responses on foundational content in the curriculum.