Upper School - Grades 9-12

Upper School students at AIM Academy actively engage in cultivating the skills necessary to excel in the 21st century. Our students think globally, make connections, create and collaborate every day through meaningful, interactive, research-based experiences. Not only is our Upper School curriculum mapped to the Common Core State Standards, aligned with IDA Knowledge and Practice Standards, and E. D. Hirsch’s Core Knowledge Curriculum, but we are also building interdisciplinary connections through the STEAM model. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) has grown out of the federal education initiative STEM and reflects the philosophy of a growing number of professionals who recognize the importance of art and design in the thinking skills of 21st century learners.

English

Upper School English at AIM is both rigorous and engaging. All students in grades 9-11 participate in a 100-minute block each day dedicated to literature and writing. In addition, students receive literacy instruction with a specific focus on morphology, fluency, comprehension, metacognition, decoding and encoding in preparation for college level work.

Literature: AIM Upper School students read relevant, award-winning literature, which inspires powerful discussion and thoughtful, reflective writing. Exposure to both classics and contemporary literature that gets to the heart of modern issues is the focus. Examples include but are not limited to Animal Farm, MacBeth, Beowulf, Raisin in the Sun, Romeo and Juliet, Edith Hamilton's Mythology, Inherit the Wind, The Odyssey (Fagles Translation), The Alchemist and excerpts from Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories.

Writing: Students continue to engage in the steps of the writing process and refine their expressive skills in preparation for the demands of college-level writing. Our writing teachers implement current research-based practices, utilizing graphic organizers and technology to support the executive functioning skills necessary to generate a compelling piece of writing, whether it is in classic poetic forms or expository/persuasive text. Student progress is carefully measured monthly through the use of writing samples and rubrics.

Wilson®, Just Words®: For some students who still require explicit instruction in word study, decoding and/or spelling, we continue to offer daily Wilson and Just Words instruction, delivered with fidelity. Students who have “graduated” from Wilson programs, progress to one of AIM’s newer courses, Advanced Word Study and Research Writing in Content Areas. These courses provide an in-depth study of language structures and harness morphology skills to strengthen their comprehension of the vocabulary necessary for advanced reading and writing.

Latin I & Latin II

As a component of our language progression, we offer two years of Latin. While many schools have abandoned the study of Latin, the research behind the benefits for students with language-based learning differences is profound. Latin provides students with a deeper understanding of the English language and builds bridges between all of their previous language instruction.

Math

Math is often a favorite subject at AIM due to the use of multi-sensory, individualized and rigorous instruction.  Our math teachers use the extensive research of the NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) to drive the focus of their instruction. We continue to approach concepts from a conceptual level and build toward the more abstract procedures.

Math Courses Include:

• Algebra
• Algebra II
• Geometry
• Pre-Calculus

Science

Vital research in literacy instruction, matched with the STEAM model helps bring science to life in a very unique and profound way for our Upper School students. Side by side with the traditional coursework, students are learning and innovating by building indoor irrigation systems and recycling plastic bags into useful (even marketable) products. They also make connections between science and the arts that have opened up many opportunities for interdisciplinary project-based work surrounding current issues facing our world today. In addition to high school dissections and chemistry labs our students delve deeply into the language of science through the exploration of morphology.

Science Courses Include:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Global Science
• Physics

Robotics: VEX Robotics Design System provides an exciting platform for Upper School students to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). Students learn the science and engineering principles behind developing a VEX Robotics project. The process facilitates important lessons in collaborative learning and encourages leadership and problem solving among groups. We belong to a growing number of high schools and universities around the globe that build VEX labs into their science coursework.

History

Upper School students engage in the study of American and World History through close analysis of both primary and secondary text resources, project-based assignments, and the use of cross-curricular connections. Previously learned strategies for text reading, note taking, and assessment are reinforced and utilized. Through the use of literary connections, technology, visiting experts, and field trips, we engage our students in meaningful inquiry-based research and analysis. Research shows that this depth of knowledge secures enduring understandings.

History Courses Include:

• Western Civilization: A study of Ancient People and Cultures
• World Heritage: World History from the 1300s to the present
• 20th Century History: The American Century
• Senior Seminar: A survey course that focuses on a different geographic region each year and culminates in domestic and international travel opportunities. During the 2012-2013 school year, Juniors and Seniors will travel down the mighty Mississippi to complement their study of US History and this important waterway.

Technology

At AIM technology use is cutting edge. Each of our high school students has a Macbook loaded with research-based assistive software, including: Don Johnston's SOLO Suite, Read Naturally and Fast Math. Additionally, our students use a variety of web-based programs such as Google Applications (Earth, Docs, Forms, Sites, Sketch-up, Scribe, etc.), CAST, Storybird, Glogster, Edmodo, Many Eyes, I-Flash, Geometer’s Sketchpad, Timeliner, Prezi, Scratch, Sumo Paint, Garage Band, and Diigo. In addition to our 1:1 laptop program, teachers and students use SmartBoards throughout the school to foster interactive, meaningful learning experiences across the curricular areas of reading, writing, math, science and history. We also have a fully equipped graphics space in the Global Resource Center complete with brand-new 27 inch iMacs loaded with full animation/graphics capabilities, Canon digital SLR cameras, Canon digital video cameras, large format printers, large format scanners, and a Mediascape (a six-person collaborative digital workstation).

Electives

AIM offers a wide variety of electives that focus on the fine arts, performing arts, creative literary arts and more:

• Startup Corps - Students in grades 9-12 work with entrepreneurial professionals to launch for-profit and non-profit ventures
• Boatbuilding - Members of the Seaport Museum help students learn high-level engineering and math concepts through building sea-worthy boats
• Digital Photography - A grant from Moore College of Art provides a curriculum and 30 digital cameras for the integration of photography in learning at AIM
• Dramatic Interpretation - Parterships with People's Light and Theater and Arden Theater allow students to interact with professional actors.
• Arts and Music - Students in grades 9-12 have the ability to choose two electives in music and/or art that will each meet twice in a six day rotation. Art courses are offered in a wide range of disciplines from video production, animation and digital photography to architecture, fashion design, set design, illustration, painting, art history, sculpture, tile making and mosaics. Our art courses bridge academic subjects, current events, the art and design world and the world at large to create a class without walls and limitless possibilities. Music courses include music theory, music history, vocal arts (solo and ensemble), instrumental ensemble, music technology, and music composition.
• Phys Ed - Team and individual sports are offered as well as team building and problem solving activities which help students develop socially as well as physically. Emphasis is placed on awareness of personal fitness and skills/activities students can develop as part of a lifelong wellness regimen. Class meets twice on a six-day rotation.

Travel

Travel plays an important role in making rich connections to the curriculum and contributing to a wealth of background knowledge. Various interdisciplinary trips and optional travel opportunities include:

• Boston - Integrated science and history study of the region
• Italy - Extension of the history of the Renaissance period
• Ireland - Junior and Senior seminar in Irish history and culture
• New Orleans - History of the Mississippi
• Costa Rica - Exploration of the ecological systems of Central America

Fall & Spring In-Focus Weeks

During In-Focus Weeks, students select from a list of weeklong intensive workshops that are designed to capture their curiosity or tap into their talents. There are a broad range of subjects to choose from including Long-distance Cycling, S.T.E.A.M. Workshop, Somatic Poetry, Photography, Digital Game Design to name a few. In-Focus Week workshops are taught in small groups, held during the regular school day and geared toward student interests. Most Upper School workshops are held off-campus, but AIM provides transportation.