The ISB programme

The programme is taught primarily in English, but special consideration is given to Italian - both as a mother-tongue and an additional language. Our language and cultural programme enables Italian children to be prepared for the “certificazione di scuola elementare”in the Italian national system. At the same time, Italian is made accessible to International children so that they can better enjoy their time, the people and the culture of their country of residence.

The ISB Curriculum

The Primary Years Programme (PYP)

The curriculum at ISB is based on the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization (PYP). This programme is broad-based and lays the foundations for all future studies. It stresses the importance of understanding and intellectual development across all subject areas.

The subjects

During their time at ISB students will be taught the following subjects:

We aim to teach the subjects through our Programme of Inquiry. The programme follows an integrated approach, so that elements from many subject areas may be taught in any particular unit.

First School (Early Years)

First School accepts children of 3-5 years of age. Learning at this age is a natural process and involves social and physical skills as well as language and cognitive content. There are six main areas of development:

This is a crucial age for language development. ISB promotes the use of English and children should also continue to develop in their mother tongue if this is not English. Parents are advised to retain an active and engaged use of other languages that are spoken at home.

Elementary School

Elementary School accepts children of 5-11 years of age and, when we reach full enrolment, will be divided into 6 grade levels. Grade 1 follows a natural sequence from First School and develops more formal elements as children are introduced to written language and mathematics.

The Italian Programme
The teaching of Italian is provided in two distinct courses.

Italian as Mother Tongue
First School is the ideal age for children to develop bilingual skills because of their facility in absorbing language. Our programme provides a language-rich environment and although most of our emphasis is focused on the development of English we include an opportunity for Italian children to express themselves in the school in their family language. We focus on listening and speaking skills, with activities that include oral work, telling and acting stories, structured play and learning songs. In grade 1, Italian children begin more formal work and will gradually be introduced to writing. Grade 2 in ISB develops language skills similar to prima elementare - and this continues through Elementary School so that at the end of Grade 6 ISB students can obtain the “certificazione di scuola elementare”.

Italian as a Foreign Language
For students who are learning Italian as a foreign language, we aim primarily to develop language skills for social interaction and to help international students appreciate the country in which they are living. The programme is designed for individual needs as students may join the class at any stage of Elementary School.

Approaches to Learning at ISB

We believe that the way children learn is essential to developing positive characteristics that assist in their future personal, academic and professional lives. It is not only the factual content of learning that helps us to become successful participants in society, but also the approach to learning as a reflection of our attitudes to life, work and other people. We structure our elementary programme to build on some of the typical traits of young people, such as natural curiosity; these traits have been identified in the PYP and can be used to describe children in the following terms.

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Transdisciplinary Skills

As well as learning specific subjects, there are many skills that a student should develop that are not limited to one content area. These skills are not taught in isolation, but are developed throughout the programme and can be identified as:

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Classroom atmosphere

Teaching at ISB takes place in a lively learning environment, characterised by collaborative activities which balance the pursuit of knowledge with essential reasoning skills. Learning often involves group activities focused on skills for leadership, social interaction and problem solving. Teachers use a range of methods and grouping strategies to support the educational goals.

Homework

As children develop academically, teachers will expect them to take an increasing responsibility for the organization of their own learning. This will mean that students will need to spend time at home continuing with projects or assignments started at school.
In elementary school, work done at home will usually start with reading; this should be a daily activity. In addition, parents are encouraged to read to their children for pleasure in English or the home language. Short tasks in other subjects areas may be set by the teacher in Grade 1, and will extend to longer assignments by Grade 6.
Homework should enable children to work independently, as we are aware that some parents may not speak or read English.

Assessment of Learning

We use a wide range of assessment strategies to record and analyse student learning. Assessment helps us to identify the child’s strengths and to suggest areas in which learning may require support. It also helps us to advise families about the future schooling opportunities for their children, in ISB or in their home countries. Students themselves can play a part in assessing their own learning, and this can help them to develop responsibility and personal commitment.

Feedback to Parents

Formal reports are given to parents in February and June each year, and these provide analytical feedback according to our targets for learning. We also recommend regular contact with the teachers so that families can come to understand the aims of the programme and assist their children in working in the ISB environment.