Academics

IB Philosophy

The International Baccalaureate at GISC

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education. Their programs help to foster agency and curiosity in students, leading them to become creative, independent thinkers in a rapidly evolving world. 

Our IB Journey

Since November 2017, GISC has been authorized as an IB PYP school and has continued to develop its Primary Years Program. The quality of GISC's PYP was affirmed during a June 2022 evaluation visit - a part of IB’s quality assurance process, helping schools to continue offering dynamic, global education.

IB Report, 2022 Evaluation

"[GISC has] a vibrant learning community with the common purpose and commitment to creating a school culture in which IB philosophy for the PYP can thrive…The welcoming and inclusive community seeks to promote understanding and intercultural understanding through an intentionally planned bilingual IB program."

List of 3 items.

  • Approaches to learning at an IB World School

    The goal of the IB educational framework is to create instruction that is universally applicable and prepares students to operate in a global context. In addition to focusing on concept knowledge (rather than content) and attributes of a life-long learner, the IB has created a framework of skill sets that are applicable across disciplines. So while GISC students learn subject specific skills, GISC is also dedicated to develop students’ social, communication, thinking, research, and self-management skills across all areas.
  • Student agency

    At GISC, next to conceptual and skill based instruction another focus is on student agency. The main goal is that students experience self-efficacy, that they are drivers of their own learning. With this type of student involvement learning becomes much more meaningful and students can maintain their intrinsic motivation and love for learning throughout their lives. In addition to teaching practices in the classroom, GISC has been in the process of implementing learning portfolios and include students in conferences with the parents, so that students cannot only drive their learning but also reflect and set learning goals.
  • Why the IB matters for your child’s future

    Continuing an IB education through the Middle Years Program (MYP) to the Diploma Program (DP) allows students to graduate a High School Degree that is being accepted at universities worldwide, the master key to universities. GISC is fully committed to the IB approach to teaching and learning and is planning to expand the IB with the Middle Years Program into the grades 5-8 in the foreseeable future. Until GISC is ready to add a high school section and to expand the IB program with a path to bilingual IB Diploma, GISC’s students can attend any High School, especially one with an IB program. Currently GISC is collaborating with the LFC where GISC students can continue to study Language and Literature in German with the option to graduate with a bilingual IB Diploma. 

    Whether students continue in an IB program or not, the concepts and skills that they have learned at GISC’s PYP program are universally applicable and will set them up for a transition into the next school.

4th Grade PYP Exhibition

German International School Chicago is a preschool through 8th grade school that prepares students to become well-rounded, creative, and responsible global citizens. We provide students with a rigorous German-English bilingual education in a supportive and individualized learning environment.

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