their journey starts here
RAISING CARING LEADERS
FOR OUR CHANGING WORLD
At IST, we strive to develop global citizens, who will build a better world through intercultural understanding and respect, and who are motivated to succeed. Our students are encouraged to become compassionate action takers and life-long learners, displaying empathy and tolerance towards others, as well as an understanding of difference and equity.
IST is an authorized International Baccalaureate (“IB”) World School for its Primary Years Programme (Junior Pre-K (age 3) – Grade 4) and the Middle Years Programme (Grades 5 – 8). IST is one of the few IB continuum schools, providing more than one IB Programme, in Central Texas.
IB schools around the globe share a common philosophy—a commitment to a high-quality, challenging, international education. As an official part of the worldwide community of IB global schools and an active member of Texas IB Schools (TIBS), IST shares the vision and mission of providing a high-quality, internationally minded education, fostering inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people.
Since it was founded in 1968, the heart of the IB’s mission has been built on a cornerstone of creating a better world through education. It has a reputation for quality, high standards and pedagogical leadership, and for providing an academically rigorous, yet holistically compassionate, education for students aged 3-19. The IB currently has a presence in over 150 countries and serves the needs of well over 1 million students, worldwide.
An IB education emphasizes the importance of taking responsible action in the world and provides the skills and dispositions that students need to be successful in that pursuit. This inquiry-based approach crosses disciplinary, cultural, geographical and linguistic boundaries, and champions critical engagement, stimulating ideas and the formulation of effective relationships.
IB students are given a unique education. They are encouraged to think independently and drive their own learning; to take part in programmes of education that can lead them to some of the highest-ranking universities around the world; to become culturally aware, through multilingualism; and be able to engage with people in an increasingly globalized, rapidly changing world.
At IST, we know that the IB approach puts our students at an advantage, academically, socially and emotionally; and allows our students, both past and present, to become capable, successful and inspirational global citizens, poised and ready to make a positive difference.
For more information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.
their ideas
are important.
their ideas
are important.
EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMS
PLAY-BASED LEARNING AND CREATIVITY
EARLY CHILDHOOD
By offering the IB Primary Years Programme in our Junior Pre-K class, we are laying solid foundations for a lifetime of future learning. We appreciate that all individuals learn and grow at different rates, however our students share an inquisitive, creative and resourceful nature, ideally suited to a setting such as ours. Our youngest learners benefit from our stimulating and supportive environment, in which they interact and learn with their peers and teachers. They are encouraged to explore themselves and the world around them through play-based activities, and by building relationships with others. Early childhood at IST is a holistic learning experience, which employs a developmentally appropriate curriculum, using units of inquiry (as per the PYP), across a range of discrete subject areas, integrating socio-emotional, physical and cognitive development through play, discovery and exploration.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO EDUCATION
PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
At IST, the IB Primary Years Programme is offered to students from Junior Pre-K to Grade 4, and is designed to encourage and support students in becoming caring, confident and proactive learners throughout their educational journey. It is a holistic approach to education, cherishing and valuing the importance of children’s socio-emotional development as well as academic rigor. The PYP Framework branches into 6 transdisciplinary themes of global significance* under which all units of inquiry, for all grade levels, fall. Every grade level’s units of inquiry are unique, and allow students to delve into their inquiries, develop their conceptual understanding of the issues in focus and strengthen their knowledge and skills. The transdisciplinary nature of these studies also allows for all discrete, specialist subject areas to integrate seamlessly with what the children are learning. This enables students to make relevant and authentic connections between all the different areas of study, and thus strengthen and broaden their understanding of what they are learning. In addition, the framework is uniquely adaptable to allow us to tailor make our scope and sequence, choosing educational standards from around the world that are trusted, challenging and relevant.
*Who We Are, How We Express Ourselves, Where We Are In Place and Time, How The World Works, How We Organize Ourselves, Sharing The Planet
ACTIVE LEARNING FOR THE REAL WORLD
MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
IST is proud to be an IB World School providing the Middle Years Programme. We offer a world-class curriculum to our students in Grades 5 through 8, providing a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world, as well as fully and capably prepare them to continue their studies in the IB Diploma Programme, Career-Related Programme, or elsewhere. It aims to develop active learners, empathetic and caring citizens, and internationally minded young people, who are driven, purposeful and motivated. The IST middle school curriculum is comprised of eight subject groups, each requiring 50 hours of teaching time, per year of the programme, thus providing a broad and balanced education. Through the exploration of a wide range of local and global issues, concepts and ideas (across the subject groups), our students become creative, critical and reflective thinkers, as well as confident, self-motivated learners. In addition, the framework is rigorous and highly flexible, which allows us to personalize our educational requirements, in order to provide an exciting, robust and inclusive programme.
WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO SIMPLY
LEARN BETTER.
British National Curriculum
The school utilizes the standards of the British National Curriculum and the outward-looking, global philosophy of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) accreditation process for individualized, high-quality learning experiences in a safe and nurturing environment. The school also participates in a formal mindfulness program and adheres to a Positive Behavior Model. Combined, these programs encourage strong moral values, along with the highest standards of behavior and personal responsibility in our inclusive environment. LEARN MORE >>
Singapore Math
Singapore Math is our PK – middle school math resource originally created by the department of education in Singapore. It includes a variety of materials including textbooks, workbooks, challenge problems, and extra practice designed to reach students at all levels. Practice is sequential and organized to push students as they become more comfortable with the topics. There are also a variety of manipulatives available to help students visualize and conceptualize their learning. Singapore Math classrooms are productive, focused, and full of mathematical conversations. LEARN MORE >>
WHY DID WE CHOOSE SINGAPORE MATH?
RIGOUROUS
COLLABORATIVE
Differentiated
Singapore Math differs from other math resources because it is interactive, collaborative, and creative, allowing students to use a variety of tools to solve problems and engage their critical thinking skills. Students are encouraged to use concrete (physical objects), pictorial (drawings), and abstract (numbers and equations) methods, as they are ready, to solve problems in a variety of ways. The focus on activities is the process because there is always more than one way to solve a problem. Singapore Math is based on math concepts, surrounded by skills and procedures. All three are necessary for a well-rounded mathematics education.
We chose to use Singapore Math at the International School of Texas for several reasons. First, it is rigorous. With its mix of practice, problem solving, and mental calculation, students learn math deeply and broadly. Singapore Math is designed to prepare students to be successful in upper levels of math and to keep them engaged and excited and lifelong learners. Second, it is collaborative. The IB program highlights the importance of the 21st-century skill of collaboration, and Singapore Math does as well. Students need to be able to put their thinking into words, both orally and in writing. Students are encouraged to talk through how they’re solving problems with their classmates and work together to solve problems using more than one method. Third, Singapore Math is differentiated. Our students have a variety of skill sets, and Singapore Math has the materials to support all of our students, from students who need extra practice to students who are ready for an extra challenge.