Curriculum
"Knowing is a process, not a product."
The great educational psychologist Jerome Bruner once wrote: “Knowing is a process, not a product.” What this means is that real education involves more than just having kids memorize disconnected facts: It requires helping kids understand how to discover new truths, by their own efforts using their abilities, talents, and creativities. At AMA we take this approach very seriously, from Pre-K through 12th grade, by ensuring that our students have every opportunity to construct their own understanding of the world. In practice this means plenty of hands-on interdisciplinary work, together with a carefully designed curriculum that ensures that students see connections between what they learn in the classroom and the real world, including their own communities.
Curriculum
In primary grades, our students study:
- English
- Spanish and Kaqchikel
- Science
- Art and Music
- Physical Education
- Social Studies
- Mathematics
In the secondary grades, our students study:
- English/Language Arts
- Social Studies
- Scence
- Mathematics
- Art and Music
- Spanish and Kaqchikel
- Physical Education
- Home Economics
Math and Science
In science we encourage students to think beyond narrow subject boxes of ‘physics problems’ or ‘biology problems’ and instead emphasize an understanding of nature through asking questions that may require a combination of physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics to answer.
Language Arts
Our Language Arts and Social Studies program encourages students to learn with an open and creative mind, understand that reading, writing and a knowledge of history empowers them and they can make the world a better place.
Physical Education
All grades participate in physical education including coached team sports (soccer and basketball). In all grades the various subjects are integrated whenever possible using interdisciplinary projects and units.
Volunteering
Our students are also encouraged to participate in volunteer opportunities to help people in Panajachel and the surrounding villages. This is part of our ‘Whole People, Whole Planet’ approach that stresses the importance of having a wide and inclusive view of the world beyond the schoolroom.