An Introduction to the MYP
The creative, dynamic energy of adolescence is focused in the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at NIST as students from 11 to 16 (Year 7 to Year 11) begin to connect what they experience in the classroom in a real-life context. The MYP aims to broaden perspectives, encouraging youth to communicate and collaborate with those of different cultures and backgrounds, and critically assess their choices and the world around them.
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
In the MYP developing social and emotional skills plays a role just as important as the broad academic subjects, and a strong focus on community service encourages adolescents to empower others through shared experiences. This well-rounded approach culminates in a self-selected personal project that ties together their learning and taps into their personal passions.
Download Our MYP Guide
This document provides a complete overview of the MYP curriculum at NIST, including our pedagogical approaches, assessment and more.
The MYP Framework
The MYP builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed in the PYP and prepares students for the rigor and requirements of the DP. As a broad curriculum framework, the MYP requires all students to study eight distinct subject areas: individuals and societies, language and literature, language acquisition, mathematics, design, arts, sciences, and physical and health education.
The MYP framework emphasizes learning in authentic contexts, building and deepening conceptual understandings, and developing skills that enable students to learn and thrive in our world. Students who participate in the MYP build confidence, learn by doing and connecting to the larger world, develop an understanding of global challenges, and act as responsible citizens.
Service learning plays a significant role, requiring students to take part in service activities in the surrounding community, and they are expected to objectively analyze their work and progress on a regular basis. The MYP cumulates in the personal project, which is an opportunity for students to apply all of the understandings and skills they have developed throughout the programme in a personal task of their choosing.
The MYP Framework
The MYP builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed in the PYP and prepares students for the rigor and requirements of the DP. As a broad curriculum framework, the MYP requires all students to study eight distinct subject areas: individuals and societies, language and literature, language acquisition, mathematics, design, arts, sciences, and physical and health education.
The MYP framework emphasizes learning in authentic contexts, building and deepening conceptual understandings, and developing skills that enable students to learn and thrive in our world. Students who participate in the MYP build confidence, learn by doing and connecting to the larger world, develop an understanding of global challenges, and act as responsible citizens.
Service learning plays a significant role, requiring students to take part in service activities in the surrounding community, and they are expected to objectively analyze their work and progress on a regular basis. The MYP cumulates in the personal project, which is an opportunity for students to apply all of the understandings and skills they have developed throughout the programme in a personal task of their choosing.
Interested in Learning More?
From interdisciplinary units to Approaches to Learning to conceptual understanding, the MYP can sometimes feel like a dizzying array of educational terms. To help parents and students understand the overarching ideas behind the MYP framework, the IB provides a comprehensive site that walks through each key element of the programme.
As a whole, the MYP encourages students “to make practical connections between their studies and the real world, preparing them for success in further study and in life”, and “to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathize with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning”.
