PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
FROM AGE 6 – 12
The Primary Years Programme is an educational framework designed by the IB for students aged 3 to 12. It is renowned worldwide for its holistic and inquiry-based approach to education. At its core, the PYP aims to foster a lifelong love for learning. It achieves this by encouraging students to become active, curious, and independent thinkers. Through inquiry-based learning, students explore various subjects while developing essential skills like critical thinking, communication, and research. The PYP curriculum is transdisciplinary, meaning it integrates different subject areas to create a more comprehensive understanding of real-world issues. This approach not only prepares students academically but also equips them with the skills to solve complex problems and adapt to an ever-changing global landscape. At MIS, we use the PYP framework to create a strong academic programme, as well to help us develop well-rounded individuals. We place a strong emphasis on character education, promoting values like empathy, reflection, respect, and cultural awareness. At MIS, our PYP learners are actively engaged in their learning through hands-on experiences, regular trips into the local community and the opportunity to collaborate with peers across other grade levels. At MIS, student voice is respected, and we pride ourselves in fostering a strong sense of belonging among students of all backgrounds. As the only international school in North Sumatra offering the PYP, our student centered, challenging and relevant approach to education is truly unique.
Eligibility Assessment
The school requires at least one day’s notice for any new enrolment starting at the school. Families who arrive at the school unexpectedly will be inducted immediately where possible, with the student/s beginning in class the following day, depending on the completion of enrolment forms, entrance exams and payment of the first invoice.
MIS is permitted to enroll international students who are holding a KITAS or whose parent is a KITAS holding expatriate employee, as well as students of Indonesian nationality, and students of dual nationalities.
MIS accepts PYP 1 students no younger than 6 years old by the first day of school. Transfer students must provide Academic Reports, Birth Certificates and Parents’ ID upon enrollment. Students entering the school in Grade 3 or above are required to complete the MAP test in Science, Language, Math, and Reading.
PYP 1-2 (Grade 1-2)
Develop strong language skills through early & guided reading, writing, presentation, and listening, as well as learning mathematical strategies and knowledge in the five areas of measurement, number, pattern and function, shape and space, and data handling.
TEACHER AIMS:
❖ Create a positive, collaborative learning environment where students can support one another’s learning and share ideas, resources and skills with confidence.
❖ Encourage the IB Learner Profile, Attitudes and positive action, in all areas of learning.
❖ Provide and guide students through a learning programme that encourages students to be thinkers as they initiate their own learning, frequently make personal learning and behavior choices, and reflect on these.
❖ Give clear, specific feedback that develops confidence and challenges learners to higher levels of thinking and personal performance.
❖ Identify and plan carefully to support specific learning needs, building on students’ current knowledge, interests and strengths.
❖ Design learning experiences that are transdisciplinary, child-centered and meaningful, and that encourage life-long learning skills and values.
LANGUAGE ARTS: SPEAKING, LISTENING, READING, WRITING, VIEWING, & PRESENTING
Developing strong language skills is an essential focus at PYP 1 and 2 level, where children are developing many early reading and writing skills. Students will undertake a variety of speaking, listening, reading, writing, and viewing activities daily. They will regularly present their work to an audience. The current Unit of Inquiry will provide the context for much of this learning. An individualized, daily writing programme, guided reading groups based on ability, integrated grammar lessons and phonics-based spelling, make up the basis of the language programme. While grade level expectations guide the learning activities, students will work at their own individual pace to develop skills, with remedial support or extension provided as required. While all instruction is in English, value is also given to the family’s mother tongue and it is expected that parents will support children’s learning in their mother tongue at home. Research shows that children who have strong language skills in their mother tongue, learn English better.
To help develop vocabulary and a love for reading it is recommended that children have at least three books read to them daily (either in English or their mother tongue). They will also regularly bring home reading to share. This includes their own writing, leveled reading books, library books, or poems. These reading activities at home will be part of their Learning Adventures each week.
MATHEMATICS
For our daily mathematics program, a variety of resources are used to support the development of specific mathematical strategies and knowledge in the five areas of measurement, number, pattern and function, shape and space, and data handling. Small group lessons, follow-up activities and mathematical games will follow the philosophy of the PYP, with an emphasis on authentic problem solving and hands-on experiences. Wherever possible mathematics will be taught in the context of the current Unit of Inquiry with opportunities to practice and apply new skills in many different ways. Number concepts, skills and strategies will be taught continuously throughout the year.
SPECIALIST INSTRUCTION & ACTIVITIES
Students will also join in specialist instruction and activities throughout the week. These classes are designed to support and broaden our students’ interests and abilities and are linked to the UOI being studied by the class wherever possible.
PYP 3-4 (Grade 3-4)
Students are expected to uphold the classroom essential agreements, as well as work conscientiously towards understanding and exuding the IB essential elements. They will work on setting goals for themselves and reflect periodically on their progress.
TEACHER AIMS :
❖ Create a safe, respectful and engaging learning environment.
❖ Establish a set of high expectations for each student and provide them with the access, support, and opportunity for attaining them.
❖ Give honest feedback on student work in order to define and monitor personal goals.
❖ Guide students through the learning process in a collaborative and open-minded way.
❖ Make every student feel that their ideas and hard work are valued so as to build a strong and positive attitude towards lifelong learning.
❖ Promote citizenship through the use of positive action within the community.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Through activities focused on reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and presenting, language instruction will not be taught in isolation, but connected throughout all subject areas as outlined in the IB PYP Language Scope and Sequence. Using English is important, however, speaking in mother tongue is encouraged too.
Students in grades 3 and 4 will be expected to read daily at home from either the online program, checked out library books or books at home. We will also be utilizing read-alouds, guest readers, literature circles, independent reading, and guided reading in class to develop reading strategies and skills. We will be looking at developing our vocabulary, spelling, grammar and writing skills through centres, our morning work, author sharing and our ICT time. Students will be working on organizing their thoughts, word choice, and different purposes of writing, using a variety of genres. Students will develop their understanding of the writing process through weekly Writer’s Workshop tasks.
MATHEMATICS
Maths is a core area of our curriculum. Students will focus on Maths integrated into the UoI as well as stand-alone skills. As outlined in the IB PYP Mathematics Scope and Sequence, we will focus on five areas (measurement, number, pattern and function, shape and space, and data handling). Students will explore and develop their maths skills through guided lessons, independent and group activities. These lessons and activities will follow the philosophy of the PYP using an emphasis on authentic problem solving and hands-on experiences.
INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
ICT time is utilized as a tool for inquiring into reading, maths as well as research and attainment of knowledge in regards to each unit of inquiry. Students will be developing their researching and communicating skills as well as their basic computer skills. We will also be looking at responsible and safe use of the Internet through digital citizenship.
LEARNING ADVENTURE
Students will have a learning adventure schedule for the duration of each unit. This is designed to support student's needs and reinforce concepts taught during the week. Reading, in any language, is beneficial to a child's growth in literacy. Students will be held accountable for sharing their learning journeys with the class in a timely manner (minimally once a week).
PYP 5-6 (Grade 5-6)
In line with the MIS Mission Statement, the IB Learner Profile and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) students in PYP 5/6 are learning how to take increasing responsibility for completing work of a high standard. PYP 6 students mark the culmination of their learning in the PYP by preparing and holding an Exhibition. The students present their work and share it with their parents and the whole school community in Term 4.
TEARCHER AIMS:
❖ Implement and facilitate a well-balanced and challenging program that helps all students build their academic strengths and work to their potential in all areas of the curriculum
❖ Provide a safe and positive learning environment
❖ Provide students with a space to develop self-confidence and organizational skills to support their learning
❖ Support students to become independent and creative in their approach to inquiry and other learning processes
❖ Encourage students to become positive contributors to society
LANGUAGE ARTS
Using the IB PYP Language Scope and Sequence and the AERO standards, Grade 5 and 6 students are encouraged to express their ideas clearly, concisely and confidently in English. Increasing their English language skills enables them to access information and express their ideas more successfully in other areas of the curriculum, as they learn about themselves and their world.
Reading: Students will be reading to themselves, to each other, and listening to reading. This reading will primarily take the form of novels, poetry, and non-fiction writing. They will be reading books at their reading level both independently and with a small group of students at similar reading levels, facilitated by a teacher. We will also be reading books as a class in which the entire class reads and works on activities based on one book together. At home, students will be expected to read at their independent reading levels four nights per week.
Writing: Students will be writing stories, responses to literature, research papers, narratives, biographies and persuasive pieces throughout the year. Students will also be writing in a journal, on topics created by students and myself.
Listening: Reading aloud is an important component of a complete language arts program. We will be reading out loud for 15 minutes every day. We will discuss and complete activities based on these readings.
Spelling & Grammar: Students will have spelling lists and will work through a spelling program. They will have homework every week and will be taking weekly quizzes. We will be focusing on different grammar topics as they arise in student writing.
Mathematics
Students learn by hands-on experiences and practice in Math. By following the IB PYP Math Scope and Sequence, and AERO math standards students develop not only their math skills, accuracy and confidence in performing and applying number operations and recalling number facts, but also their understanding of number, measurement and problem solving.
Information Communication Technology (ICT)
The internet has become an important tool for student’s POI research. It is essential for them to have daily access to the internet at home, as they are being shown how to use it for research purposes in class. All students will be given g-mail accounts this year and will be expected to use these for class on a regular basis. We will develop our fluency of the Google Suite throughout the year and practice various other computer and ipad applications.
