The MYP - Year 7 to 11

MYP Coordinator: Ms. Amanda Hart

Introduction

# The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) emphasises intellectual challenge. It encourages students aged 11 to 16 to make practical connections between their studies and the real world, preparing them for success in further study and in life.

# The MYP aims to develop active learners and internationally minded young people who can empathise with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning. It is inclusive by design; students of all interests and academic abilities can benefit from their participation.

# The programme empowers students to inquire into a wide range of issues and ideas of significance locally, nationally and globally. The result is young people who are creative, critical and reflective thinkers.

# Research shows that the MYP Programme allows students to:

- build confidence in managing their own learning
- learn by doing, connecting the classroom to the larger world
- outperform non-IB students in critical academic skills
- consistently have greater success in IB Diploma Programme examinations
- thrive in positive school cultures where they are engaged and motivated to excel
- develop an understanding of global challenges and a commitment to act as responsible citizens

Learning and Teaching in the MYP

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) helps students develop both subject-specific and interdisciplinary understanding. The MYP curriculum framework includes:

- The Learner Profile Attributes, skills that we strive for our students to develop, as the human beings who help create a better, brighter future.
- Approaches to learning (ATL), helping students learn how to learn by developing skills for research, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-management.
- Key and related concepts, helping students explore big ideas that matter.
- Global contexts, helping students understand the relevance and importance of their study for understanding their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet.
- Service as Action, through community service. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a commitment to servicemaking a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

The MYP organises teaching and learning through eight subject groups:

- Language acquistion
- Language and Literature
- Individuals and Societies
- Science
- Mathematics
- Arts
- Physical and Health
- Design

The programme promotes interdisciplinary study that helps students make important connections between academic subjects.

Integrated teaching and learning helps students analyse complex issues and develop the habits of mind they need to participate in our increasingly interconnected world.

Assessment and Evaluation

Students will be assessed both with summative and formative tasks.

- There are 4 criteria per subject. Each criterion - A, B, C, D contains multiple strands (3 to 4) that have to be assessed summatively at least twice per academic year.
- Formative assessment is ongoing and is everything that is not summative. From class conversation, to presentations, tasks completed at home or games, formative tasks take varied forms and allow students to build up their knowledge. It can, or not, be graded, but in all cases, it helps teachers come to a conclusion when the time comes to give an end of term best fit grade.

Parent Involvement

There are many things you can do to be involved with your child's learning.

- Ask your child about what they have LEARNED every day; not just about what they did.
- Support your child with the necessary resources from home, if available.
- Become involved with activities at school including actively participating in workshops or volunteering to share your expertise
- Encourage your child not to be scared of making mistakes, learning occurs when we try, and try again until we succeed.

Source and more information regarding the MYP can be found at: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/middle-years-programme