English Language & Literature

MYP language and literature equips students with linguistic, analytical, and communicative skills that can also be used to develop interdisciplinary understanding across all subject groups. MYP principles are informed by the Common Core academic standards and contribute to the development of opinion-forming, decision-making, and ethical-reasoning skills, and further develops the attributes of an IB learner. 

These six skills in the MYP language and literature subject group-- listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and presenting-- develop as both independent and interdependent skills. 

Individuals & Societies

Courses in Individuals and Societies (I & S) encompass experimentation and observation, reasoning and argumentation, the use of primary sources, and data that can be used to propose knowledge claims about human existence and behavior. In this subject group, MYP students begin to explore these knowledge claims by assessing the validity, reliability, credibility, and certainty and individual, as well as cultural and historical perspectives. 

The humanities and social sciences focus on the development of critical and creative thinking skills that student can apply in a wide variety of interests and careers. The knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students develop in individuals and societies courses provide a meaningful foundation for further study and help to prepare students to work in academia, non-governmental and governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, and business and industry. 

In MYP individuals and societies students develop cognitive and procedural skills as well as strong conceptual understandings that support teaching and learning in the DP. Research and investigation transfer to the DP’s core requirements including Creativity, Action, Service (CAS), the Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge (TOK). MYP I & S supports students in pursuing DP group 3 subjects (Economics, Psychology, History) at both the SL and HL levels. 

Mathematics

Mathematics aims to ensure that learners acquire mathematical understanding by constructing their own meaning through increasing levels of abstraction. It is fundamental to the program that, since it is used in real-life situations, mathematics needs to be taught in relevant, realistic contexts, rather than by attempting to impart a fixed body of knowledge. Teaching and learning experiences challenge students to be curious, ask questions, and to construct meaning about mathematical concepts in order to transfer this meaning to symbols and apply mathematical understanding in familiar and unfamiliar situations. 

MYP mathematics at ASW is informed by the Common Core academic standards and further extends them by encouraging students to engage with the moral, social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental applications and implications arising from the work of mathematicians.

The MYP mathematics objectives and criteria have been developed with both the internal and external assessment requirements of the DP in mind. The use of technology is also emphasized in the MYP as a tool for learning, applying, and communicating mathematics.

Science

Sciences within the MYP aims to encourage inquiry, curiosity, and ingenuity as students explore the natural and manmade worlds. Learners should develop an understanding of the resources of a rapidly-changing scientific and technological society and how to use those resources wisely. 

The main approach to teaching and learning in sciences is through structured inquiry in the context of interdisciplinary units and real life applications. Students are encouraged to investigate science by formulating their own questions and finding answers to those questions, including through research and experimentation, both individually and collaboratively. All IB sciences encourage students to reflect on the ethical, social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental implications of using science to solve specific problems. 

Scientific inquiry enables students to develop a way of thinking and a set of skills and processes that they can use to confidently tackle the internal assessment component of DP subjects in biology, chemistry, and physics. MYP sciences objectives and assessment criteria are aligned with the DP sciences objectives and internal assessment criteria, supporting the smooth transition from the MYP to the DP. 

Physical Education & Health

PHE courses foster the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will contribute to a student’s balanced and healthy lifestyle.  PHE focuses on both learning about and learning through physical activity. 

Through PHE, students can learn to appreciate and respect the ideas of others, and develop effective collaboration and communication skills. PHE also offers many opportunities to build positive interpersonal relationships that can help students to develop a sense of social responsibility. Through the Shape America academic standards within the MYP framework, PHE at ASW develops the enjoyment, engagement and confidence in physical activity that students need in order to achieve and maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle. 

MYP Language Acquisition (Spanish, French, German, Polish)

The ability to communicate in a variety of modes in more than one language is essential to the concept of an international education that promotes multilingualism and intercultural understanding, both of which are central to the IB’s mission. 

The study of additional languages in the MYP provides students with the opportunity to develop insights into the features, processes, and craft of language and the concept of culture, and to realize that there are diverse ways of living, behaving, and viewing the world.

MYP language acquisition courses are planned with consideration of the students’ possible pathways to the DP and further study. The knowledge, skills, and attitudes that students develop in language acquisition courses provide a meaningful foundation for these further studies and the world of work in global economies and international business. 

MYP Polish Language & Literature

MYP Polish Language & Literature is informed by the Polish National Curriculum (Polska Podstawa Programowa) recommended by the Polish Ministry of Education for high schools within the MYP framework. Leaning on the content of the Polish National Curriculum, students will focus on the six skills of the MYP language and literature subject group- listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and presenting.

MYP language and literature equips students with linguistic, analytical, and communicative skills that can also be used to develop interdisciplinary understanding across all subject groups. MYP principles are integrated with the Polish National Curriculum to contribute to the development of opinion-forming, decision-making, and ethical-reasoning skills, and further develops the attributes of an IB learner.

MYP Design

MYP Design challenges all students to apply practical and creative thinking to solve design problems; encourages students to explore the role of design in both historical and contemporary contexts; and raises students’ awareness of their responsibilities when making design decisions and taking action.

Inquiry and problem-solving are at the heart of MYP Design. Courses require the use of the ‘design cycle’ as a tool, which provides the methodology used to structure the inquiry and analysis of the problems, the development of feasible solutions, the creation of solutions, and the testing and evaluation of the solutions. In MYP Design courses, students are actively involved in, and focus on, the whole design process rather than on the final product/solution. MYP Design courses enable students to develop not only practical skills but also strategies for creative and critical thinking.

MYP Design courses help specifically to prepare for the study of computer science in the DP as it requires an understanding of foundational concepts of computational thinking, as well as knowledge of how computers and other digital devices operate.

Elective Classes

The MS offers a range of elective classes, including Art, Band, Choir, Dance, Music, Rock Band, Theatre, and Design Technology. Students take elective classes for a semester, with the exception of Band and some Choir classes.