IB MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME (MYP)
The Peirce Middle School is designed to guide students through the transition from the self-contained elementary classroom to greater individual responsibility in high school. The middle school follows a schedule with 10 classes taught over the course of two days. Students follow individual schedules that allow them to work with a variety of different teachers and students.
Senn-Peirce Partnership
During the spring of 2010, CPS announced its support for the implementation of a new IB Middle Years Program (MYP) partnership between Senn High School and Peirce. The MYP is a model that precedes the prestigious Diploma Programme in the IB continuum of academic programming. While the Diploma Programme is offered to high school juniors and seniors around the world, the MYP is a program for students in grades 6 through 10.
Peirce will provide the MYP to its 6th, 7th, and 8th graders; Senn will offer the program in the 9th and 10th grades. Faculty from the two schools collaborate to ensure a smooth and meaningful transition for students academically as well as personally and socially.
The Senn MYP on its own will benefit students entering from other academic programs/schools, particularly as a preparation for the IB Diploma Programme. However, Peirce MYP students will especially gain from the collaborative planning between the two schools.
Course of Study
The MYP requires at least 50 hours of instruction in eight subjects of study for all students. Those courses are as follows:
In addition to the MYP-required coursework, students participate in a Global Studies and Learning Communities class.
Teachers develop the curriculum based on Illinois State Standards, Common Core State Standards and MYP objectives for each subject. Peirce teachers collaborate with Senn teachers to align the curriculum across the five years of the program.
- IB MYP is a curriculum framework with emphasis on critical and reflective thinking, and on connections between school subjects and the real world.
- MYP is a 5-year program for 6th-10th graders.
- The MYP is designed to meet the developmental needs of all adolescent students, regardless of special learning needs. All students in 6th-8th grades at Peirce participate in the MYP.
- Students are assessed on their progress toward MYP learning objectives in each of the eight subject areas.
- Students receive regular feedback on their progress toward the MYP objectives through classwork, formal assessments, and an MYP report card, which is issued in January and June.
- Peirce is proud to partner with Senn High School to offer the full five-year continuum of the MYP.
Senn-Peirce Partnership
During the spring of 2010, CPS announced its support for the implementation of a new IB Middle Years Program (MYP) partnership between Senn High School and Peirce. The MYP is a model that precedes the prestigious Diploma Programme in the IB continuum of academic programming. While the Diploma Programme is offered to high school juniors and seniors around the world, the MYP is a program for students in grades 6 through 10.
Peirce will provide the MYP to its 6th, 7th, and 8th graders; Senn will offer the program in the 9th and 10th grades. Faculty from the two schools collaborate to ensure a smooth and meaningful transition for students academically as well as personally and socially.
The Senn MYP on its own will benefit students entering from other academic programs/schools, particularly as a preparation for the IB Diploma Programme. However, Peirce MYP students will especially gain from the collaborative planning between the two schools.
Course of Study
The MYP requires at least 50 hours of instruction in eight subjects of study for all students. Those courses are as follows:
- Reading (daily)
- Math (daily)
- Humanities
- Science
- Language Arts
- Spanish
- Physical Education
- Arts: Visual Arts & Music
- Technology: Computers & STEM
In addition to the MYP-required coursework, students participate in a Global Studies and Learning Communities class.
Teachers develop the curriculum based on Illinois State Standards, Common Core State Standards and MYP objectives for each subject. Peirce teachers collaborate with Senn teachers to align the curriculum across the five years of the program.
MYP Course Outlines
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Year 2 (7th Grade Syllabi)
Language & Literature Individuals & Societies Mathematics (Under Revision) Music Science Dance Drama Visual Arts Language Acquisition-Spanish Physical & Health Education |
MusicYear 3 (8th Grade Syllabi)
Language & Literature Individuals & Societies (Under Revision) Mathematics (Under Revision) Music Science Dance Drama Visual Art Language Acquisition-Spanish Physical & Health Education |
MYP creates and revisits units on a yearly basis. Last updated review was done in 08/2022. If you have any questions about a particular syllabus, please reach out to the teacher.
Assessment
In the MYP students work toward developing knowledge and skills in each of the eight subject areas. Each subject has aims and objectives to guide students’ study of the curriculum. In order to help parents and students understand their progress toward these goals, we issue an MYP Report of Student Progress twice a year. The IB report card is in addition to the regular CPS report card.
MYP grades look very different from the typical A-F grades. Students are assessed according to criteria that relate to each subject area. For example, in Humanities students are assessed based on Knowledge, Concepts, Skills, and Organization & Presentation. For each criterion there is a different rubric. On standard report cards students are given a grade based on the percentage of correct answers. In the MYP assessment, teachers match students’ achievement level to a descriptor on the rubric. The points on the rubric do not correspond to grade percentages, so a 9 on the rubric does not equal an A. While it is always possible for students to reach the highest level of achievement on the rubric, it is expected that it make take several years to attain these levels.
After teachers assess students according to the criteria for their subject area, all the points are added up and translated into an MYP grade according to grade boundaries. Students strive to reach the highest levels of achievement over the course of the five years of the program.
In the MYP students work toward developing knowledge and skills in each of the eight subject areas. Each subject has aims and objectives to guide students’ study of the curriculum. In order to help parents and students understand their progress toward these goals, we issue an MYP Report of Student Progress twice a year. The IB report card is in addition to the regular CPS report card.
MYP grades look very different from the typical A-F grades. Students are assessed according to criteria that relate to each subject area. For example, in Humanities students are assessed based on Knowledge, Concepts, Skills, and Organization & Presentation. For each criterion there is a different rubric. On standard report cards students are given a grade based on the percentage of correct answers. In the MYP assessment, teachers match students’ achievement level to a descriptor on the rubric. The points on the rubric do not correspond to grade percentages, so a 9 on the rubric does not equal an A. While it is always possible for students to reach the highest level of achievement on the rubric, it is expected that it make take several years to attain these levels.
After teachers assess students according to the criteria for their subject area, all the points are added up and translated into an MYP grade according to grade boundaries. Students strive to reach the highest levels of achievement over the course of the five years of the program.
IB Middle Years programme @ PEIRCE
Mr. Samuel Lee, Peirce MYP Coordinator
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