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Qalam

Qalam (Arabic for pen, and an acronym in Arabic: قيادة, لغة, معرفة meaning “leadership, language, knowledge”) is ICEI’s groundbreaking multi-year intervention in Israel’s Arab elementary schools.

Using ICEI’s proven teaching methodologies, entirely reconceived for Arabic instruction, Qalam trains and supports principals and teachers to accelerate academic achievement in their schools. Qalam fully addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of Arabic language’s “diglossia” – the sizable gap between spoken and written Arabic. 

A student writes on the board

How it works

1

Each elementary school principal in Qalam is paired with one of ICEI's Principal Mentors – all highly accomplished and experienced former principals. ICEI’s Principal Mentor works closely with the principal to create a vision for the school, develop actionable annual work plans, and support their faculty.

2

ICEI’s on-site Arabic Literacy Coaches bring professional development into the classroom in real time under actual classroom conditions. The Literacy Coaches work closely with teachers to transform how they plan and teach their classes.

3

Data-driven instruction becomes part of the school’s DNA, thanks to ICEI’s online data tracking system, Medida, and ongoing guidance. This approach helps principals and teachers continually track the progress of each class and student and differentiate instruction to meet their needs.

4

ICEI creates motivational learning environments, including in-class libraries of 400 Arabic books, leveled according to difficulty. We upgrade each classroom with a designated area for frontal instruction in the form of short mini-lessons, with posters that encourage reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

5

Research shows that school-parent partnerships in education positively impact students’ academic outcomes. We empower parents to fully engage in their children’s education while fostering mutual respect between parents and faculty members.

Testimonials

“This program is the ‘Waze’ of our school. Without it, we’d be lost. We’re only at the beginning of first grade and our students already know how to read. Our classrooms are calm, with many success stories, and I have more time for everyone and everything.”
Principal, Omar Ben Alhatab School, Umm al-Fahm
“Improved reading and critical thinking skills are helping my students not just in literacy, but in all subjects. My students are improving in math at a rate I couldn’t have imagined before."
Teacher, Yesodi Aleph School, Be'ene
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Participating Schools

ICEI currently runs Qalam in the following schools and communities:

  • Omar Ben Alhatab, Umm al-Fahm
  • Yesodi Aleph, Be’ene
  • Almanar, Kfar Kassem
  • Alsalam, Arara**
  • Jabour Jabour, Shfaram**

**Also part of Meisharim