Teaching and learning in the MYP is underpinned by the following concepts:

Conceptual Understanding: Key and Related Concepts 

At Lewis and Clark Middle School, we know that understanding the big ideas and connections between classes is essential for students learning. Concepts are big ideas that have relevance within specific disciplines and across subject areas. MYP students use concepts as a vehicle to inquire into issues and ideas of personal, local and global significance and examine knowledge holistically. The MYP prescribes sixteen key interdisciplinary concepts along with related concepts for each discipline. 

Teaching and Learning in Context: Global Contexts

At Lewis and Clark Middle School, we know students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and the world that they have experienced.

Using global contexts, MYP students develop an understanding of their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet through developmentally appropriate explorations of:

• identities and relationships
• personal and cultural identity
• orientations in space and time
• scientific and technical innovation
• fairness and development
• globalization and sustainability.

Skill Development: Approaches to Learning

As a unifying thread throughout all MYP subject groups, Approaches to Learning (ATL) Skills provide the foundation for students to complete independent learning and encourages the application of their knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Developing and applying these social, thinking, research, communication and self management skills helps students learn how to learn. At Lewis and Clark Middle School, we want to ensure that we are giving students the skills for future success, so we make sure to actively plan to develop these skills.

Service As Action, Through Community Service 

Action and service have always been shared values of the IB community. Students take action when they apply what they are learning in the classroom and beyond. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a commitment to service—making a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

Inclusion and Learning Diversity in MYP

As part of the MYP curriculum, Lewis and Clark Middle School addresses differentiation within the written, taught and assessed curriculum. This is demonstrated in the planning MYP units of student and in the teaching environment, and reviewed by the IB during programme evaluation. The MYP allows schools to continue to meet state and national legal requirements for students with access needs. Lewis and Clark Middle School has developed an inclusion/special educational needs (SEN) policy that explains assessment access arrangements, classroom accommodations and curriculum modification that meet individual student learning needs.