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Instruction and Assessment

Inquiry-based Learning

At NOVA, teachers use subject content as a means to develop students’ thinking, information processing, and problem-solving skills. Learning is student-centered, with teachers guiding and supporting the process. Equal emphasis is placed on how students learn as well as what they learn. Instructional resources are open-ended and authentic, and questions that arise are explored collaboratively by students and teachers. Assessment is used throughout the learning process to monitor progress and adjust instruction to meet students’ needs.

Transdisciplinary LearningTransdisciplinary learning allows students to develop concepts and skills across subject areas rather than studying subjects in isolation. While subjects remain distinct, they are intentionally connected so students can apply their learning in a range of contexts. This approach reflects how knowledge is used in real life, where understanding draws on multiple disciplines. Through transdisciplinary learning, students learn to combine ideas from different subjects and apply them meaningfully in varied situations.

 

The Six Transdisciplinary Units 

The transdisciplinary themes serve as the starting point for student inquiry. Within each theme, students explore central ideas and develop understanding through connected learning experiences. These themes encourage dialogue and collaboration across the learning community, supporting students in building understanding of themselves, their wider community, and the world.

Assessment

Assessment in the PYP is a collaborative process involving teachers, students, and families. Teachers use a range of tools, including rubrics, checklists, continuums, subject-specific standards, benchmarks, exemplars, and narrative records, to understand student progress and inform next steps in learning.

Teachers also use standardized assessment tools, such as the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) and Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), to identify students’ strengths and areas for growth. These tools are diagnostic in nature, are not achievement tests, and are not reflected on report cards.

Reflection is an important part of the assessment. Students are regularly asked to reflect on their learning process at different stages of a unit of inquiry, supporting growing awareness of their own learning.

The Elementary School uses American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards as a framework for assessment in Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Social Studies, Music, Visual Arts, and Macedonian Language. Course grades are determined by overall performance on Power Standards, which represent key standards for each subject and grade level. Teachers combine evidence from formative and summative assessments and use professional judgment to determine each student’s overall level of attainment. For further details, families are encouraged to refer to the school’s assessment policy.

STUDENT AGENCY     PARENT SUPPORT

PYP Exhibition June 2025

A young woman in a yellow shirt stands in front of a display table with various educational materials, including a laptop, birdhouses, and informational posters.
A crowded school hallway with students and teachers gathered around a large bulletin board displaying information, surrounded by colorful lockers and decorations.
A group of people, some wearing green shirts, gathered around a green display board and various objects on a table in what appears to be a public setting.
The image shows a classroom setting with a table in the foreground displaying various educational materials, including a laptop, books, and other items. In the background, there are shelves filled with more educational resources and a poster on the wall.
Two young women are engaged in a conversation in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting, with a display board visible in the background.
The image shows a group of young women standing in what appears to be a library or bookstore, with bookshelves and other items visible in the background.
The image shows a group of young women standing in what appears to be a school or educational setting, with a desk and various items on display in the foreground.
A group of people, some standing and some seated, appear to be gathered in what looks like a library or community space, engaged in conversation and activities.
A group of young people, likely students, standing in a school hallway with colorful displays and a laptop on a table in the foreground.
A crowded indoor space with people standing in line, some wearing casual clothing and others in formal attire, suggesting a school or community event.
The image shows a group of people, likely students, standing in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting. The foreground features several individuals with diverse appearances, including different hairstyles and clothing. The background includes windows, shelves, and other furnishings typical of an indoor educational environment.
A crowded indoor space with people of various ages, including children, standing in line and interacting with each other.
A group of students gathered around a table, examining displays and exhibits in what appears to be a science or technology exhibition or classroom setting, with colorful posters and signage visible in the background.
A crowded indoor space with people of various ages and attire, including a computer station and signage in the background.
The image shows several people, including two women, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity or discussion in a library or educational setting, with bookshelves visible in the background.
The image shows a group of people, likely employees or staff, conversing in what appears to be an office or workplace setting, with various items and decor visible in the background.
Three young people standing in front of a table displaying various items, including a laptop, in what appears to be a school or office setting.
A group of young people, mostly women, are gathered in what appears to be a library or study area, with bookshelves and other furnishings visible in the background.
A group of young people, mostly women, are seated in a school or university setting, with some standing and interacting with each other.
A group of young people, likely students, are gathered around a table displaying a map and other educational materials in what appears to be a school or educational setting.
The image shows a young girl standing in front of a display table with a laptop and various items, while several people are visible in the background in what appears to be an educational or community setting.
The image shows a group of people, including several young children, standing in front of a colorful exhibition display featuring various characters and text.
The image shows a group of young students standing in front of a display table with various items, including a laptop and a large yellow sign that says %22BEEXLAT%22.
The image shows a group of young women standing in what appears to be a school or community center, with colorful displays and posters visible in the background.
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