Libraries & Technology

The American Section libraries play an integral part in the school’s information-literacy curriculum. All our students have access to libraries beginning at the earliest age. A cornerstone of our program is to instill a lifelong love of reading and to impart an excitement about books that will endure long after the students leave the American Section.

Students are actively encouraged to go to the library; they have library classes beginning in Lower School. The Section employs three librarians who keep abreast of best practices to ensure that students have access to the best new books and enduring classics. Their goal is to entice even the most reluctant of readers to check out a book.

Librarians also collaborate with classroom teachers on projects to hone student research and analytical skills. In this age of proliferating information online, it is imperative that students have the intellectual tools to discern fact from fiction. Library classes also focus on Internet safety and etiquette, including how to identify and counteract cyber-bullying.

Librarians also promote reading through our Writer-in-Residence program, inviting American authors and illustrators to the school. Past visitors have included Matt Holm, Rosemary Wells, Laura Numeroff, Ruta Sepetys, Neal Shusterman, and Kwame Alexander. For older students, we’ve welcomed investigative journalist Scot Carney, spoken-word poet Taylor Mali, and authors Rachel M. Harper and Rebecca Walker. The students embrace these experiences, which extend the classroom walls and bring books alive for them.

Technology

To maximize student learning with technology, the Section provides iPads for Lower School students to facilitate learning and research. Students create and showcase their work using podcasts, animation tools, or online classroom books to name a few.

Middle and Upper School students use Chromebooks to hone their research and analytical skills and to collaborate with each other using our Google Apps-based education platform. Students learn to create websites and online newspapers, and use blogs to critique readings or provide peer review.

Computer programming and other online technologies are taught in the French classroom.