THE MIDLLE YEARS
PROGRAM
The Middle Years Programme
IST offers the International Baccalaureate Programme for the middle school. The curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of students between the ages of 11 to16. It is a student-centered program, which encourages our students to draw connections between eight subject groups while striving to have a positive impact on those in their local and global communities.
We concentrate on developing independent and interdependent learners who are able to draw upon strong academic skills of inquiry, critical thinking and analysis to discover and apply new knowledge. The MYP offers students opportunities to develop their potential, to explore their own learning preferences, to take appropriate risks and to reflect on, and develop, a strong sense of personal identity. (Source: MYP: From Principles to Practice, September, 2015)
To get more detailed information about the Middle Years Programme (MYP) click on this link: IST-Middle Years Programme Parent Handbook
Teaching:
Our curriculum is organized in a way that ensures teaching and learning is conceptual and relevant to the lives and experiences of our students. With conceptual learning, student inquiry is supported, and deeper academic understanding and interdisciplinary learning is fostered.
skills:
As students develop, they learn how to be learners; this process is supported by weaving 21st century skills into the heart of the curriculum, ensuring that these skills are a part of the entire learning process. A unifying thread throughout all IB programmes and MYP subject groups, approaches to learning skills provide the foundation for independent learning. Developing and applying skills for research, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-management help students take ownership of their learning.
Personal Project (PP):
The Personal Project is the culminating project for the students in the MYP. The main focus of this project is for the Grade 10 students to show how they have developed as learners. Students choose a topic of interest, complete in-depth research, and finalize by selecting a product/outcome to show their learning. The Personal Project Handbook can be downloaded here: Personal Project Guide
Service as Action (SA):
Service as Action is an integral part of the MYP and will be introduced this academic year. As service and action have always been shared values of the IST community, we continue the work with our students. Our students strive to be caring members of a larger, global community by demonstrating a personal commitment to making a difference to the lives of others and the environment around them.
Download the Service as Action guide here: IST Service as Action Guide
Interdisciplinary
Unit (IDU):
When two or more disciplines or subject groups collaborate to develop a unit, students engage with the topics in more holistic ways, offering them a broader approach to the curriculum and its ties to more global contexts.
Estonian Language:
Estonian is offered to all MYP students as the language of the host country. Every student gets an advantage to study the Estonian language in addition to English and a foreign language of choice.
Middle Years Subject Groups:
The learning success of Middle School students is measured against a criterion-related assessment system developed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Each subject, interdisciplinary unit and projects within the MYP has a set of criteria used to measure student success. Teachers organize continuous and varied assessments over the course of the programme.
| Subject Group Discipline | Courses offered to Grade 6 – 7 | Courses offered to Grade 8 | Courses offered to Grade 9 | Courses offered to Grade 10 |
| Language and Literature | English Language and Literature | English Language and Literature | English Language and Literature | English Language and Literature |
| Language acquisition | Russian, German, Spanish and French | German, Spanish and French | German, Spanish and French | German, Spanish and French |
| Sciences | Integrated Sciences | Integrated Sciences | Physics, Chemistry and Biology | Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
Mathematics |
Mathematics |
Mathematics |
Mathematics |
Mathematics |
| Art | Art and Music | Art and Music | Art and Music | Art and Music |
| Physical and Health Education | Physical and Health Education | Physical and Health Education | Physical and Health Education | Physical and Health Education |
| Design | Design | Design | Design | Design |
| Individuals and Societies | Individuals and Societies | Individuals and Societies | Individuals and Societies | Individuals and Societies |
Middle School Assessment:
| Subject Group Disciplines | A | B | C | D |
| Language and Literature | Analyzing | Organizing | Producing text | Using language |
| Language Acquisition | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
| Individuals and Societies | Knowing and understanding | Investigating | Communicating | Thinking critically |
| Sciences | Knowing and understanding | Inquiring and designing | Processing and evaluating | Reflecting on the impacts of science |
| Mathematics | Knowing and understanding | Investigating patterns | Communicating |
Applying mathematics in real-life contexts
|
| Arts | Investigating | Developing | Creating / Performing | Evaluating |
| Physical and Health Education | Knowing and understanding | Planning for performance | Applying and performing | Reflecting and improving performance |
| Design | Inquiring and analyzing | Developing ideas | Creating the solution | Evaluating |
| MYP Projects | Planning | Applying skills | Reflecting | |
| Interdisciplinary | Evaluating | Synthesizing | Reflecting |
Semester and Final Grades:
Grades for all subjects will be calculated from the scores in the eight individual subjects, as per International Baccalaureate (IB) expectations. Each subject has its own table of grade boundaries, showing how the level obtained using subject criteria is converted into an overall MYP level from 1 to 7. (These are automatically calculated by the ManageBac based on the sum of achievement levels).
| Grade | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Boundaries | 1-5 | 6-9 | 10-14 | 15-18 | 19-23 | 24-27 | 28-32 |
Why choose the Middle Years Programme at IST?
IST-Middle-Years-Programme Children are not the generation of tomorrow, they are the generation of today. Students need a programme that is focused on preparing them to be innovative thinkers, problem-solvers, and inquirers. Our programme equips the students at IST with skills and attitudes needed to progress in their learning and understanding, to continue to grow and develop as life-long learners. We aim to empower our students to be active community members, global citizens, and skilled enough to succeed in jobs that are not even created yet. Choosing IST will not only give your student the key ingredients for the future but a passport to the world.
Click on the link below to download the IB Middle Years Programme Parent Handbook 2023/2024:
IST-Middle Years Programme Parent Handbook
General Regulation MYP Programme
More information can be attained from the public website: http://ibo.org/en/programmes/middle-years-programme/
