"What makes a hero?" "Can violence ever be honorable?" "How does conflict shape identity?"
These are the kinds of big, conceptual questions that drive International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) classrooms. But when students engage with classic works like The Iliad, accessibility challenges can prevent them from fully participating in these inquiries — especially for diverse, multilingual learners.
Adaptive Reader provides an innovative solution: leveled, multilingual, and audio-supported editions of The Iliad, allowing all MYP learners to explore complex concepts through high-quality texts that meet them where they are — without lowering expectations.
What Is Concept-Based Inquiry? (And Why It Works in MYP)
Concept-based inquiry is a hallmark of MYP teaching. Instead of focusing only on content knowledge, students explore universal concepts (like conflict, identity, power, and heroism) and make connections across time, place, and culture.
Key elements of MYP concept-based learning:
- Big conceptual questions that provoke critical thinking.
- Inquiry-based learning where students generate their own questions.
- Interdisciplinary connections — linking literature to history, ethics, and global issues.
- Global contexts (e.g., Identities and Relationships, Fairness and Development).
Indeed, Adaptive Reader provides learners with an opportunity to take charge of their own understanding.
How Adaptive Reader’s The Iliad Supports Concept-Based Inquiry
1. Choosing Conceptual Lenses: Conflict, Heroism, Identity
Teachers can organize the unit around conceptual lenses such as:
- Conflict: What drives people to war? Can violence ever be just?
- Heroism: What makes a hero? How does culture shape heroism?
- Identity: How do individuals define themselves in times of conflict?
Students approach these concepts through the story of Achilles, Hector, and the Trojan War, using Adaptive Reader's leveled texts to ensure that every student can engage.
Example Unit Statement of Inquiry:
"Understanding conflict and heroism through classical literature helps us reflect on modern identities and ethical choices."
2. Accessing the Text: Leveled and Multilingual Editions
Adaptive Reader offers The Iliad in three levels:
- Original: For students ready for the challenge of Homeric language.
- Gold: Slightly simplified for strong readers who need modest support.
- Silver: Adapted for readers needing significant scaffolding — without losing the core story and themes.
Plus, translated editions (30+ languages) allow multilingual learners to access the story in their strongest academic language, ensuring full participation in inquiry discussions.
Audio versions support:
- Auditory learners.
- Students who benefit from hearing complex syntax.
- Inclusive classrooms that address diverse learning profiles.
✅ MYP Connection: Meets Differentiation, Inclusive Education, and Language Development goals.
3. Inquiry Activities and Project-Based Learning
Instead of traditional comprehension work, students explore big questions through Adaptive Reader’s editions, then apply their learning creatively.
✅ MYP Connection: Fosters ATL skills (Research, Thinking, Communication), Interdisciplinary Links, and Student Agency.
4. Reflection and Global Connections
To close the unit, students reflect on:
- What does The Iliad teach us about conflict and identity today?
- Who are modern heroes, and how do they compare to Achilles?
- How do cultural values shape our idea of heroism and honor?
These reflections connect the ancient story to contemporary issues, encouraging students to think globally and ethically — key IB goals.
Final Thought: Empowering All MYP Learners to Engage with The Iliad
Through concept-based inquiry and Adaptive Reader’s innovative approach, The Iliad becomes more than a distant classic — it becomes a living text for conversations about conflict, heroism, and identity in today’s world.
In MYP classrooms where diversity is the norm, Adaptive Reader ensures that every student can think deeply, ask open-ended questions, and contribute meaningfully to the inquiry process.
➡️ Explore The Iliad and other classic works through Adaptive Reader at adaptivereader.com — and give every student a voice in the conversation.