OUR ACADEMICS
Our academics help students develop critical thinking skills while immersed in an Islamic environment.
At Silicon Valley Academy, we follow the California State Standards, Common Core Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards for the skills and concepts taught at each grade level. Our teaching strategies from the GLAD model empower teachers to bring this content to life. The textbook is a resource to effectively teach concepts, along with field trips, artifacts, videos, children’s literature, and the internet. The content is the "what" we teach; our GLAD teaching philosophy and strategies are the "how" we do it. These strategies go beyond teaching students to find the "right answers" - what most schools engage in as a typical textbook activity - to developing critical thinking skills while examining complex problems. Students are actively involved in their learning process to develop a love of learning!
Curriculum Highlights:
- Thematic Learning with Standards-Based Units
- Integrated Islamic Teaching with Academic Subjects
- Multi-Level Classes Allow for Student Leadership and Scaffolding
- Cooperative Group Work and Multiple Learning Styles
- Hands-on Projects and Field Trips
- Ongoing Assessments with Individualized Feedback
- Dedicated Quran, Arabic, and Islamic Studies Sessions
Pre-Kindergarten
Our Pre-K program is centered on providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for our students. We develop stimulating, developmentally appropriate activities related to monthly themes, including story-telling; art projects; songs and poems; cooking projects; and sharing related Quran and Sunnah to strengthen their metacognition, creativity, and self-confidence. Based on a large body of research that shows that worksheets are not effective or developmentally appropriate, our Pre-K program does not implement the use of worksheets.
Elementary & Middle School
We offer multi-level classes in elementary school. For instance, when students enroll in Kindergarten, they enter a KG/1st grade multi-level classroom where they will spend the next two years. Students learn science and social studies together, and break out into grade levels to learn math and reading. A two-year social studies and science unit rotation guarantees that students never repeat the same material covered the previous year. When teachers plan their two-year unit rotation, they plan their lessons based on teaching to the most advanced students and scaffolding to the lowest in order to meet all academic needs. Moreover, research shows that younger children gain self-confidence and maturity by being exposed to older students, while older students learn to be positive, mature role models for the younger students.
Students must turn 5 on or before October 1 to enroll in SVA's kindergarten program. Please note that the California Department of Education requires children entering kindergarten to turn 5 on or before September 1. Therefore, if your child will be turning 5 September 2-October 1, you must complete the SVA Informed KG Consent Form.
Accelerated High School
Our accelerated high school provides a one-year independent study college preparation program as an opportunity for learners who want to proceed at an accelerated pace toward higher education with the support of their Islamic community. Students not only master academic content, but also learn strategies that facilitate metacognition and recall.
The first semester is the student’s freshman year in high school and the second semester is their sophomore year. In the spring, our students take the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). The CHSPE evaluates whether a student has all the mathematics and Language Arts knowledge and skill expected of a high school graduate. When the test is passed, students are issued a certificate by the California Department of Education that is the equivalent of a high school diploma for community college entrance. Students can then use that certificate to enroll as full-time freshmen in the community college of their choice.
Enrollment in SVA’s Accelerated High School Program is open only to students who have completed all three years of middle school at SVA. Students must also meet SVA’s academic, social, and emotional standards to qualify. Please note that the program's availability is dependent on staffing resources and the number of qualified students, so SVA does not offer the accelerated program every year..
This student production focused on cleanliness and respecting the caretakers of SVA Silicon Valley Academy.
Islamic Studies
We have a cross-curricular approach to instill Islam in the hearts and minds of our students. Islamic principles are addressed and made relevant within social studies, science, and literature classes through discussions and making connections. Integrated thematic units, including related Quran and Hadith, foster the development of moral and spiritual intelligence, academic knowledge and higher level critical thinking.
Our approach to “Islamic” studies offers children a way to relate Islam to the world around them and assimilate the faith into their daily lives.
Most importantly, we work to create a safe, caring and nurturing setting. This teaches Islamic values such as cooperation, generosity, self-discipline, consideration, and responsibility to be practiced following the tradition of the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him.
Our Islamic studies program includes a curriculum which links authentic Hadith, Quranic Ayahs, and stories of different prophets to the California content standards for each grade level. This reinforces the message to our children to apply Islam into every aspect of their learning and their life, thus turning “Islamic Studies” into Islamic action. As a result, students study aspects of Islam throughout the day, not just for a 50-minute period of time.
Home-school connection homework assignments are assigned to all grade levels to provide families an opportunity to learn what their children are studying and share their perspective. An example of a home-school connection would ask students to talk to a parent or family member and sketch and/or write about how their family prays at home.
Morning Assembly - Students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade begin the day at 8:20 a.m. with a morning assembly where they recite the morning dua, Surah al-Fatiha, and hear a brief piece of Islamic advice. Starting the day with Quran and dua fills our school with barakah, alhamdulillah!
Dhuhr - Students in 2nd through 8th Grade perform Dhuhr prayer daily in the gymnasium. Prayers are led by a student.
Salat-ul Jummah - Students in 2nd through 8th Grade gather every Friday for a special children’s' Salat-ul-Jummah. Khutbas are often catered to issues that have come up among the students over the week. Parent volunteers and Middle School students rotate as khateebs.
Arabic and Quran
SVA teaches Arabic to inspire students to study and develop an understanding of the Quran. The goal of Arabic instruction is to motivate students to look deeper into the meaning of the Quran and ponder upon its verses. The multiple meanings of Arabic words and roots of these words are explored to give children the sense that Arabic is not easily translated and that a proper understanding of the Quran can only take place when the original language of the Quran is analyzed. The appreciation of the rich and meaningful language of the Quran encourages students to delve more deeply into the Arabic language.
We teach memorization of surahs, as well as Quranic recitation with Tajweed, or proper pronunciation, at a comfortable and enjoyable pace. Our goal is for students to be inspired, not burdened. Our students take time not only to develop a general understanding of the meaning of the Quran, but also to reflect in writing what each surah means to them and how they may apply their newfound knowledge to their everyday life.
We are not a hifz school - our intention with Quran and Arabic is to provide a meaningful experience and inspire students to study and read the Quran to better themselves - now and for the rest of their lives.