At The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls, Membean Provides Confidence to Ease Tough Transitions

After administering both teacher and student literacy surveys at Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls, Sheila Byrne identified a significant opportunity to enhance language development across the school. The surveys revealed that many teachers faced challenges in this area, and students struggled with subject and domain-specific vocabulary, especially as Middle and High school coursework became more demanding. In response, the former Head of English, Lyndsey Bryden, implemented Membean in 2021. By taking advantage of the school's Apple-certified status and digital agility, this initiative effectively supported both students and teachers. Consequently, the school developed a nurturing language-learning environment that significantly enhanced literacy and oral expression.

“Our students needed more nuanced language to improve oracy, and we were seeing a big dip in MAP scores in grades 6 and 7. We consider digital agility a strength within our school, but some educational apps aren't a good fit. We required a culturally informed and appropriately leveled program.”

Membean appeared to be the program for them. Once they started to use it, the school's faculty loved the ease with which the program aligned student needs and teacher priorities. Teachers wanted their students to feel better prepared to strive. In addition to being appropriately calibrated to cultural standards, Membean's personalized differentiation gave students the discretion to feel challenged without explicitly signaling differences in ability levels within classrooms.

“Membean is culturally appropriate and adaptive. We can target each individual student without separating them into groups. In the United Arab Emirates, especially in a middle-school classroom, differentiation must be discreet. With Membean, students work in unison without obvious indications of leveling differences.’

This parity between needs and goals has become increasingly clear as The Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls continues to use Membean. Classroom practice minutes have provided students with a predictable structure, ultimately saving time and promoting efficiency. The ease with which teachers can track progress gives them a means of promoting healthy competition that the girls love. In addition, Sheila has noted measurable gains on assessments.

“What you really want to know about Membean is that it's high impact, but the labor in using it and getting student engagement is not intense. You can see its effects within a short period of time. Our school has seen positive progress with vocabulary across the board, with a particular spike in MAP results in grades 9 and 10.”

Sheila sees Membean's value for all students, but it particularly impacts hers by equipping them with the skills to keep their footing as coursework intensifies. “Students in the United Arab Emirates are instructed in English from an early age, but things change when they enter sixth grade. Bright, confident, articulate young women face the challenges of a far broader curriculum at middle school, with exposure to new subject-specific language that can impact their progress. Let's get them the tools to ensure that limitations concerning language don't impede their learning.” With the support of adept teachers and some help from Membean, the girls at the Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Girls have been able to bridge this transition more easily.