General Studies

IPC PROGRAM

In 2008 we introduced the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) into the Manasseh Meyer School. The IPC is a UK based curriculum currently taught in over 500 schools worldwide.

The theme that is central to all of the IPC is children’s learning. The IPC believe that helping children to learn – academically, socially, spiritually, emotionally and physically is the real purpose of school. This philosophy complements and enhances the curriculum that has been taught until now.

Children’s learning must respond to various needs:
•The current and future personal needs of the students
•The future career needs of the students
•The needs and cultural groups of the various countries in which the students will eventually settle
•The need for learning to be active and for students to be actively engaged with their own learning
•The need for students to assume responsibility, together with teachers, carers and family, for their own learning

The IPC believes an effective curriculum is one that meets all of the above criteria.

The curriculum begins with a set of standards or learning outcomes which clearly defines what children should be capable of at certain important periods of their development. These standards are described in terms of:
•Skills the children should be able to accomplish
•Knowledge the children should acquire and
•Understanding that they should develop

These standards of skills, knowledge and understanding must address three key areas – subjects ie units of work, personal development and international understanding. Each unit of work that the children will do throughout the course of the year addresses each of these key areas besides including art, music, science, history etc

The curriculum provides continuous opportunities for teachers to assess or judge the quality of children’s learning through a range of assessment or evaluative opportunities.

The curriculum is divided into age groups
Early Years Learning for 4 – 5 years old
Milepost One for 5 – 7 years old
Milepost Two for 7 – 9 years old
Milepost Three for 9 – 12 years old

This new curriculum is exciting and it has added a new dimension to the future development of the Manasseh Meyer School. It is implemented from the K1 class to grade school.

The Pre Nursery and Nursery classes follow thematic units.

PRESCHOOL

Math: Growing with Mathematics

The Prenursery to K2 classes follow the “Growing with Mathematics” program.

English: Jolly Phonics

Jolly Phonics is a thorough foundation for reading and writing. It teaches the letter sounds in an enjoyable, multisensory way, and enables children to use them to read and write words.

The five basic skills for reading and writing are:

1. Learning the letter sounds
2. Learning letter formation
3. Blending
4. Identifying sounds in words
5. Spelling the tricky words

GRADE SCHOOL

Nelson English

It is a clearly structured and rigorous skills- based course that aims to improve pupil’s understanding and use of the written word. It is well known for its “twin track structure” which focuses separately on basic skill s of the English language (punctuation, grammar and spelling) and their ‘development’ within the context of comprehension and writing. It is also a spiral curriculum.

Jolly Grammar

Jolly Grammar is the next stage, after a first year with Jolly Phonics. It helps children express themselves - for instance by using adjectives and adverbs to bring greater expression to their writing. It also improves their spelling in a structured way and by teaching the key rules.

Jolly Grammar teaches a wide range of language forms including the parts ofspeech, plurals, punctuation, and the tenses past, present, and future. It also teaches a wide range of spelling rules, including defining aspects such as the short vowels.

Collins New Primary Maths

A whole-school primary maths scheme with daily lesson plans. Each primary maths lesson provides clear guidance for the non-specialist and supports interactive whole-class teaching.

Three clear levels of differentiation across every component help cater for the range of ability and classroom management of every class, with additional components providing strategies for supporting children working above and below age-related expectations.

There are built-in assessments to track pupils' progress across the lesson, term and year. Lively and attractive pupil materials including primary maths games and activities provide individual practice and consolidation.