Middle Years

Ages 11 to 16

The Canadian International School of Hefei is an authorized school for the Middle Years Programme.

IB authorized schools share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Canadian International School of Hefei believes is important for our students.

Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its three academic programmes: The Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), or the Diploma Programme (and in addition the IB Career-related Certificate).

For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org

An IB MYP education is an interaction of how, why and what to teach through concepts and global contexts. This allows students to make meaningful connections between the content of the subjects and the context of the real world surrounding them. Through approaches to learning (ATLs) student learn essential and valuable skills that are useful in both academics and the real-world. Students develop these skills implicitly and explicitly throughout their MYP journey and are encouraged to use them in real life situations by becoming responsible global citizens that reflect on their learning. At CISH these teaching practices and approaches are planned and applied accordingly.

At CISH, the MYP is a key part of the teaching and learning experience at CISH. The aim is to help students understand and embrace the principles and expectations of the program. Students are provided the opportunity to gain and develop the skills that will help them ‘learn how to learn’ guiding them to become lifelong learners. Across all subject areas, teachers focus on helping students succeed in the MYP by reinforcing the key MYP elements: Learning through Inquiry, Key Concepts, Approaches to Learning (ATL skills), Global Contexts,  International-Mindedness, Learner Profile Traits, Interdisciplinary Learning, Service as Action, Personal Project.

The MYP is a framework that is aligned with New Brunswick Education's curriculum. A link to the New Brunswick Education curriculum documents can be found here. By following New Brunswick's curriculum documents, we provide an IB Education integrated with a Canadian Education. This allows us to offer both the DP diploma and a Canadian High School diploma to our graduating students. 

The Structure of MYP

IB education centres on our learners, making sure they take ownership in the learning process and we give them this opportunity. It is not just the situation that the teacher is sharing information but that the students are seeking out that information and looking for that knowledge. This is how we go through the teaching process as well as showing our students how to learn and what to do with that learning when they have it.

Curriculum in the MYP consists of eight subject groups integrated through the areas of interaction which provide a framework for learning within and across the subjects which enables them to make connections between the subjects and the real world. Assessment is criterion based and the students are measured against specific criteria for each subject group.

We plan our teaching practices horizontally and vertically to enable us to ensure the curriculum reaches its objectives. Our planning articulates the timelines, topics, concepts, contexts, assessment tasks, and assessment criteria that will be covered within each subject and grade level. Collaboratively planned curriculum is revised every year according to the students’ needs and the MYP requirements.

• Students are exposed to conceptualized inquiry that targets the learner profiles
• We provide a rich, inquiry-based environment
• We help prepare them for academic study and to be life-long learners
• Students are becoming aware and responsible for their own learning
• We promote higher order thinking skills and advanced comprehension strategies
• We are developing intercultural awareness
• Students have the ability to study additional languages
• Students are involved in service and action opportunities in and outside the school community

Assessment is based on a demanding set of criterion and specific to each of the subject groups. Those subject groups include:

• Language and Literature (English, Mandarin, German, and Korean)
• Language Acquisition (English, Mandarin)
• Individuals and Societies
• Sciences
• Mathematics
• Arts (Performing and Visual)
• Physical and Health Education
• Design

At CISH, we are proud of our wide subject range, offering a comprehensive and deep exploration of different fields through inquiry. All students in the MYP are involved in service and action opportunities throughout the middle years. 
In Grade 10, each student will engage in a personal project that allows them to demonstrate the understandings and skills they have developed throughout the programme.