Elementary School
Kindergarten - 5th Grade at Silicon Valley International School

The PYP (Primary Years Programme) framework is based on a structured inquiry approach, where teachers facilitate the understanding of specific content and skills outlined in our curricula, but in ways that allow students to be curious about, and build their own understanding of the content and skills through a deeper grasp of concepts.

Research consistently shows the cognitive and academic benefits of the bilingual brain. In comparison with their monolingual counterparts, bilingual students  show greater mental flexibility and stronger executive function, see the world from multiple perspectives, and consider problems from a variety of different angles. We provide immersive language learning experiences that build a strong foundation for students to become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural individuals. In Kindergarten through 2nd Grade, students spend 70-80% of their time learning in Chinese, French, or German. In 3rd through 5th Grade, students spend 60% of their time learning in Chinese, French, or German to begin preparing students for the academic work they will encounter in the most academically rigorous colleges and universities.

INTL strives to create a nurturing environment in which students are encouraged to reach their full potential. Social-emotional learning is woven into the fabric of the curriculum, as well as taught explicitly. Classes work collaboratively to create Essential Agreements at the beginning of each year, which work in tandem with our Citizenship Standards to guide all community members in common behavior expectations. Our international and bilingual approach to education reinforces the idea that each person is a unique and valued member of our learning community.

INTL has one of the leading Chinese immersion programs in the country. Using a highly integrated curriculum that balances inquiry-based learning through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), second language acquisition, and individualized and small group reading instruction, the program nurtures the development of students’ Chinese language skills in natural and meaningful contexts. Through partnerships with schools and universities in China and Taiwan, and collaborations with other Chinese immersion schools, INTL’s Chinese program fosters a culture of continuous improvement and field leadership. By the end of 5th Grade, students in the INTL Chinese program are already reading, writing, and speaking on sophisticated literary, historical, and cultural topics in Chinese.

The French Program at INTL has long been a leader among French-American schools. The curriculum is delivered by highly trained, credentialed French teachers and combines the French national curriculum of the Ministry of Education with an inquiry-based approach through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP). The program maintains a robust network of connections to peer institutions in France and worldwide, provides a wide array of opportunities for students to connect and collaborate with their peers in France, and to interact with French artists, writers, musicians, and scholars. By the end of 5th Grade, students in the INTL French program are already reading, writing, and speaking on sophisticated literary, historical, and cultural topics in French.

The German Program at INTL has been offering a holistic German-immersion experience to students for more than 30 years. Within the framework of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), our native German teachers provide an outstanding education that enables students to become not just bilingual but active global thinkers. The curriculum integrates German curriculum expectations as well as ensuring students are exposed to both a US and international context and curricula. a. Students in the program are well prepared to take official German-language assessments (Deutsches Sprachdiplom) in middle and high school, giving them the possibility to attend universities in Germany or other German-speaking countries. German-speaking students who return to their home country after attending the program report that they are well prepared for the transition into the German, Austrian, or Swiss school system and are often ahead of their German-speaking peers in certain subject areas.

INTL uses a balanced literacy approach to building reading and writing skills in all of our languages (English, Chinese, French, and German). Teachers use a highly intentional approach to teaching literacy in meaningful contexts. Students develop a love of reading and writing. They use a wide variety of reading strategies to decode and interpret texts and  to write effectively for different purposes. They have ongoing opportunities to develop their literacy skills through small group instruction and guided reading opportunities.

Our Students have the unique opportunity to learn mathematical skills and concepts from a variety of different angles and perspectives. The inquiry-based curriculum draws from core resources such as Singapore Math, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and Chinese, French, and German approaches to mathematics education. Our math program emphasizes the importance of learning mathematical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. It integrates math concepts with their real-world applications through inquiry-based units that ask students to utilize their math reasoning and skills to investigate and solve issues and problems both within and beyond the classroom.

Students have the opportunity to learn and apply the scientific method in a wide variety of contexts within the Primary Years Programme Units of Inquiry. The science curriculum integrates the physical, biological, and earth sciences through an investigation of Living Things, Earth and Space, Materials and Matter, and Forces and Energy. Students learn to develop and test hypotheses, design and create experiments, analyze data, and use deductive and inductive approaches to scientific reasoning through real world connections.

Computer science is integrated in all subjects in hands-on, engaging and age-appropriate ways. From 1st through 5th Grade our students become computer literate, good cyber citizens, and learn how to code.

Students become acquainted with human systems and economic activity, social organization and culture, continuity and change through time, human and natural environments, and resources and the environment. The curriculum provides a global perspective ensuring students explore major themes across place and time. They learn to understand today's world and act upon it as a free and responsible individual, be active citizens in a diverse world, and confront history and geography from a variety of perspectives.

Physical education, health, wellness, and social development are key elements of our program. In Kindergarten through 2nd Grade, students do PE in both Chinese, French, or German and English. The program emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, and the development of motor skills. In 3rd through 5th Grade, students work with a Physical Education Specialist. They participate in a variety of different sports and games. They learn specific athletic skills. They work both independently and as part of a team. They also continue their explorations into health and wellness with the overall aim being to develop lifelong learners who lead a physically active and healthy lifestyle.