Baltimore International Academy Middle School Program

Academic Program at BIA Spanish Immersion (K-8) Chinese Immersion (K-8) Arabic Immersion (K-2) Russian Immersion (K-8) French Immersion (K-8) Full Language Immersion Programs Individuals and Societies Mathematics Sciences Language and Literature Language Acquisition Arts (Music & Visual Arts) Physical and Health Education Technology/Design International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP)

What Research Says About Immersion Education Positive relationship between basic thinking skills and being a fully proficient bilingual who maintains regular use of both languages. Bilingual children develop the ability to solve problems at an earlier age They demonstrate an advantage with selective attention and greater executive or inhibitory control They exhibit enhanced sensitivity to verbal and non-verbal cues and show greater attention to their listeners' needs relative to monolingual children.

What Research Says About MYP Education A study within a large, socio-economically diverse school district in the United States explored student engagement and performance in five MYP schools in comparison to five non-MYP schools. Using state assessments as a benchmark, the results indicated that a higher percentage of MYP students achieved proficient or advanced performance on mathematics and science assessments than did the matched comparison group (Wade 2011). Examining student performance on the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA), this global study by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) explored PYP and MYP student performance—in comparison with non-IB students—in mathematics, reading, and expository and narrative writing. The data from a total of 50,714 international students, 68% of whom were IB students, suggested that the PYP and MYP cohort performed better than their non-IB peers in all four assessment areas and at many grade levels. (Tan and Bibby 2012). In a study exploring the influence of the MYP on student performance and teacher pedagogy in the United States, teachers reported that on the whole they believed the MYP benefitted students by encouraging higher order thinking and educating the whole child. Teachers also suggested that the MYP improved teacher pedagogy by encouraging collaboration and teaching beyond tested material (Kobylinski-Fehrman 2013). A quasi-experimental study was conducted in the United States to investigate the science performance of PYP and MYP students (n = 50) in comparison with their non-IB peers (n = 50). This study, based on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP), found statistical differences in science performance between IB and non-IB students. IB students outperformed the comparison group on the CSAP across all three grade levels (Healer 2013)

Middle Years Programme - IB The MYP is designed for students aged 11 to 16. Emphasizes intellectual challenge, encouraging students to make connections between their studies in traditional subjects and the real world. Fosters the development of skills for communication, intercultural understanding and global.

Tour the world at BIA!

Baltimore International Academy PARCC Results 2014-2016

Credit: Google Image

2015-2016 PARCC Results BIA is Top 10 for all BCPS Elementary Schools and Top 20 for all BCPS Middle Schools

What Makes BIA Stand Out? 100% Language Immersion in alignment with Common Core State Standards Small class sizes- individualized attention Opportunities to travel to target language countries Students from BIA have attended the best high schools in Baltimore City IB MYP Hands-on science program Students learn a 3rd language beginning in Middle School

Extracurricular Activities Sports Boys’ Basketball Boys’ and Girls’ Soccer Girls’ Volleyball Dance Club Clubs Language Immersion Clubs Model United Nations Club Math/Science/Engineering Club Anti-Bullying Club Robotics Team Debate Club Extended Learning Opportunity After School Reading Math

National Junior Honor Society Honor Societies National Junior Honor Society French Honor Society Slavic Honor Society Spanish Honor Society

All Target Language Embassies Partnerships All Target Language Embassies

Special Opportunities for Students

Russian Embassy Trip 2015

Spanish Immersion (K-8) DELE Center STAMP: Standards-Based Measure of Proficiency The school has also become a center for learning Spanish with certified teachers in the language by the Cervantes Institute of Spain Exchange teachers and interns from Spain help teachers in the classroom and promote language and culture International Spanish Academy (ISA) for the Spanish Government

Chinese Immersion (K-8) Confucius Institute (Han Ban) Classroom Prepares students for the HSK exam, which is internationally recognized and will help with college applications Youth Chinese Test- current BIA middle school students have achieved high scores and one 8th grade student scored the highest level among all Maryland test takers Supported by the Embassy of People’s Republic of China Supported by the Confucius Institute at University of Maryland, College Park. Professional development for teachers and cultural events for students Teacher interns from China

Russian Immersion (K-8) Slavic Honor Society chapter (there are only 5 in the US) Trip to Samara, Russia ---Summer 2016 Russian Olympiada at Goucher College There are only 2 Russian immersion middle schools in the United States---we are the only one that is full immersion.

French Immersion (K-8) Bonjour, Parlez – vous français? Le Grand Concours Level 1 & 2- National French Contest DELF Center Trips to France and Canada Student Intern from France STAMP Test: Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency French Honor Society Bonjour, Parlez – vous français?

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