International Baccalaureate
International Baccalaureate
Hillside Middle School is an authorized IB MYP World School.
The IB program is a system that promotes preparation for college readiness, inquiry based learning and real world connections of topics. All ninth and tenth graders will participate in the Middle Years Programme (MYP). You may have seen some changes happening in the building.
If you have visited the school recently—Look up! Look down! Look all around! See the new additions to the walls and ceilings that showcase Internationalism and cultural awareness.
You may hear conversations which include the attributes of the Learner Profile (caring, risk-taker, thinker, communicator, reflective, knowledgeable, open minded, balanced, principled, and inquirer).
You may see lessons that have big, overarching questions that are timeless, relevant to students, and span (different subject areas). Examples of these questions are:
- How does literature affect our understanding of different environments? (Language A)
- Who is that invading my space? (Humanities)
- How do inventions create art forms? How do we communicate emotions? (Arts)
- How is my personal environment a reflection of me? (Language B)
- Where will the path lead? (Math)
- How do little things make a difference? (Physical Education)
- How does altering a system cause change? (Science)
- How does the internet affect communication in the 21st century? (Technology/Design Cycle)
These are questions, students will remember and ones that use the content to teach the bigger idea. Students can answer these questions at their own level and feel successful. Teachers have begun to collaborate to design the IB MYP units and reflect upon them.
IB assessments challenge all students using rubrics. These assessments go beyond tests and quizzes and involve the student in real-world connections. In the course of this learning, students must understand the IB Command Terms.
IB Command Terms
IB MYP and DP students will become familiar with specific command terms used throughout their courses and programs. These instructional words will be common language for both students and teachers.
IB MYP and DP students will become familiar with specific command terms used throughout their courses and programs. These instructional words will be common language for both students and teachers.