The Ideal Middle School Curriculum…

Philosophy

Assessment

Teacher support/ Resources

Structure

-places student at centre of framework

-ensures a meaningful, challenging and varied school experience

-addresess the needs of the adolescent brain

-is brain friendly and encourages different modes of thinking

-prepares students for a rapidly changing world

-encourages and supports creativity

-prepares students for life not just exams

-has a pedagogy of engagement

-requires specialist MS teachers

-constructivist approach

-reflects our mission

-internationally minded global citizens

-encompasses whole learning experience

-consistent approach to facilitating learning to encourage life-long learners

 
- has a consistent to  approach to assessment agreed across all subjects

- has assessment and reporting based on clearly defined subject specific criteria

-has assessment practices that promote learning by inspiring, motivating and challenging all learners

-has appropriate resources available for professional and course development in line with the philosophical and pedagogical approach of the programme

-provides opportunities to interact with a community of schools and educators with a common philosophy

-places community service and co-curricular areas as part of the structure

-ensures a balance in terms of subject areas

-has a clear framework of learning outcomes and is consistent and documented

-encompasses whole learning experience (seen curriculum, hidden curriculum, co-curriculum)

-enables vertical and horizontal articulation with regard to skills, literacies and dispositions (standards and benchmarks)

-focuses on concepts and skills and has content that should be reflective of times

-provides a framework and vocabulary to enable meaningful cross-curricular collaboration for students and teachers