GEMS World Academy - Dubai
Introduction to the MYP
Making the Transition:
Grade 5 (PYP) to Grade 6 (MYP)
Rhonda (Wiens) Zaharko
MYP Coordinator
From the PYP to the MYP
1. What is the Middle Years Programme
2. What does teaching and learning look like in the MYP and how
will my son/daughter be assessed in their learning? • Assessments • Rubrics • Grading (IB Grade 1-7)
3. What does my son/daughter need to know as they enter the Secondary School and how do parents support students at home?
• ManageBac • iSAMS • course options for Grade 6 students in the MYP schedule.
Leaner Profile Attributes:
• inquirers
• knowledgeable
• thinkers
• communicators
• principled
• open-minded
• caring
• risk-takers
• balanced
• Reflective
IB
Learner
Profile:
The MYP Journey
Grades 6-10 (Years 1-5) Approaches to Learning (ATL)
• Learning how to learn, explicit teaching and learning in the development 21st Century Skills
Approach to Teaching (Global Contexts, Concepts)
• Teaching and learning to ensure meaningful life long learning
• Understanding how to apply and transfer knowledge in real-world situations
• Teaching beyond facts to develop creative and critical thinkers
Service as Action (Elena Aldridge)
Grade 10 Personal Project (Melodee Peters)
Approaches to learning
ATL Skill Category MYP ATL skill cluster
Communication Communication
Social Collaboration
Self management Organization
Affective
Refection
Research Information Literacy
Media literacy
Thinking Critical thinking
Creative Thinking
Transfer
SERVICE AND ACTION:
• Aimed at getting all MYP students involved in
service-oriented activities. (Service Learning)
• Is a reportable element for every MYP student at
GWA.
• Each MYP student must meet a minimum of four of
the eight SA outcomes over the course of the
academic year.
Assessment in the MYP is…
• Criterion-related • Different criteria for each subject • Part of the learning experience
• Formative
• Summative
• judgment made by teacher against criterion of achievement reached by student at the end of a specific stage.
• A reflection of the student’s abilities and achievement
level at the “end of the course”.
Understanding how overall Assessment works:
Criteria in Mathematics:
A: Knowing and
Understanding
B: Investigating
Patterns
C: Communicating D: Applying
mathematics in real-
world contexts
MATH DESCRIPTOR MAX VALUE STUDENT GRADE
Criterion A: Knowing and Understanding (max 8) 4
Criterion B: Investigating Patterns (max 8) 3
Criterion C: Communicating (max 8) 5
Criterion D: Applying mathematics in real-world contexts (max 8) 3
TOTAL (max 32) (15)
Boundaries
(based on
criteria)
Final Grade
(1-7)
1-5 1
6-9 2
10-14 3
15-18 4
19-23 5
24-27 6
28-32 7
The student would receive a final grade of 4 in this course summarized as:
4
Produces good-quality work. Communicates basic understanding of most concepts
and contexts with few misunderstandings and minor gaps. Often demonstrates basic
critical and creative thinking. Uses knowledge and skills with some flexibility in
familiar classroom situations, but requires support in unfamiliar situations.
Managebac (MB)
Managebac is one of our communication tools. It allows teachers to: • communicate task dates, results, and send
messages to both students and parents. It allows students to: • keep track of assessments and deadlines on the
assessment calendar • upload tasks for assessment • track assessment grades for each subject • build an ongoing student portfolio
iSAMS
iSAMS is our student information system.
It allows us to:
• send important emails and communication to
parents directly through email.
• send report cards by email to the parents account.
• keep track of important events and activities
happening throughout the school.
• send updates on behavior points, award points and
attendance.
Course Options
• Language choice (Language Acquisition) French
Spanish
• Arts choice Drama
General Music
Advanced Music
How does GWA support the transition
from the PYP to the MYP?
• Transition Unit in Grade 5 (After the PYPX)
• PYP to MYP Handbook
• Step Up Day – June 6th
How can you support your child in
this transition?
• Discuss the course selection choices and complete the
googleform. • Googleform sent via email tomorrow Wednesday, May 3rd
• Please ensure your contact information is correct on iSAMS.
• The deadline for completion of course selection is Wednesday, May
10th.
• Discuss with your child’s grade 5 teacher any questions
you may have in the transition process.
• Email me any questions you have. I will either answer
them directly, or invite you in to meet with me.
Thank you for coming!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
ask, or email me. (email below)
Rhonda Wiens Zaharko
MYP Coordinator