Middle Years Program (MYP)

The IB Middle Years Program (MYP) at The International School of Curaçao (ISC) is for students aged 11-16 and is offered in grades 6-10.

The MYP is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. The MYP is a five-year program. Students who complete the MYP are well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Program (DP) if they choose. The MYP curriculum framework comprises eight subject groups, providing a broad and balanced education for early adolescents. The MYP is inclusive by design; students of all interests and academic abilities can benefit from their participation.

Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills

These skills are woven in our units of study by our teachers, affording many opportunities for our students to develop across these invaluable and wide-ranging skills. These skills are not only vital to the development of the whole child but also to prepare our young people for further tertiary study and/or paid employment.

MYP Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills are a set of five core, interrelated categories designed to help students "learn how to learn" through independent study and practical application. These include Thinking, Social, Communication, Self-management, and Research skills, which are integrated across all subject groups to develop critical, creative, and collaborative learners.

Approaches to Teaching

We have an inquiry-based curriculum:

• which involves asking open-ended questions.

• that is concept driven.

• that is contextualized.

• that is collaborative.

• that is informed by assessment, of & for, learning.

We seek to create a learning environment, rather than a teaching one:

• promoting education beyond the classroom.

• and defining the role of the teacher as more of a learning facilitator.

• We teach and promote academic honesty.

Service & Action

All of our 11–16-year-old are engaged in meaningful service and action within their local, national and international communities. Student involvement is mandatory.

The Personal Project

In the final year of the MYP, students complete a Personal Project, a very exciting culmination to the MYP which develops the student’s personal interests and allows students to synthesize MYP skills.

Emphasis on Interdisciplinary Teaching & Learning

To help students prepare for a complex and interconnected world, the MYP embeds a focus on interdisciplinary learning, in addition to subject specific studies. Middle School learners make connections between subject areas naturally and this trait is highly important as our ever-changing world demands education that empowers people to integrate disciplines in novel and creative ways. Critical thinkers must successfully integrate disciplinary perspectives to understand complex issues and ideas. As such, we endeavor to offer interdisciplinary units where two or more subjects work together to bring about new interconnected learning at each grade level.