IST - Curriculum

A school's curriculum describes what the student does over the entire school program, and includes what is explicitly taught (the "overt" curriculum") and what the student indirectly absorbs (the "hidden" curriculum). IST's overt curriculum is explained in the curriculum documents that can be found by clicking on the links below. Our hidden curriculum reflects our Values, and is reinforced by our discipline and behavior codes.

A school's taught Curriculum is typically broken down into subject syllabuses. IST believes that traditional divisions of knowledge can be misleading and arbitrary, and so we discuss "Subject Areas" as opposed to "Subjects".

The Core Curriculum is composed of Language A, Humanities, Mathematics and Science. The Specialist Curriculum is composed of Language B, Arts and Physical Education. Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is interwoven through the Pre-School and Elementary School curriculums

Definitions of IST's Subject Areas

Sometimes also known as Mother Tongue, home language or first language, from Middle School a Language A program becomes Literature-based. However, a student's choice of a Language A program may well be influenced by factors other than that that is the language spoken at home. IST Language A studies begin from Pre-Kindergarten and focus on the skills of language and textual description and analysis, and of the articulation of ideas and arguments through speech and writing. In learning a Language A, students follow a typical pattern of language acquisition.

Sometimes also known as Second Language or Foreign Language, typically learnt outside the home and often subsequent to the Mother Tongue. The focus in a Language B program lies more in communicative competence, especially in the oral skills. In learning a Language B, students follow a more deterministic pattern of language acquisition dictated by their purpose in learning that language.
IST Language B studies begin from Grade 4, although for some students a third Language A is also possible.

Sometimes known as Social Studies and covering the human world, how people construct it and how they view it. Humanities at IST is approximately 50% History, 30% Physical Geography and 20% Economics, Political Studies and Civics and focuses on the skills of research. Pre-School and Elementary School Humanities provide many of the topics studied in the IST curriculum.

As well as arithmetic, Mathematics involves an approach to problem-solving and relationships, and focuses on the skills of logical approaches, ordering and sequencing."

Science traditionally comprises Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and today, it also includes Environmental Science. IST Science focuses on the skills of the scientific method and Pre-School and Elementary School Science provides many of the topics studied in the IST curriculum.

This Subject Area comprises Art, Music, Drama and Information and Computing Technology (ICT). In the IST Pre-School, the Arts provide many (or even most) of the students' learning activities.

Physical Education at IST is thematic rather than based on major sports and aims at developing an understanding of how the body works and a joy in exercising.

This subject area covers looking after oneself, social roles and responsibility, moral issues and health and for older students Lifeskills, Career Orientation and University guidance. In the Pre-School and Elementary School, PSHE is an integral part of the program and is taught by the student's Core teachers, however from Middle School PSHE becomes a specialist subject.