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.

MYP: Alignment across the continuum

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

Teaching and learning in the IB

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

Tasks can be

uploaded:

Grades are tracked:

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

r.wiens_gwa@gemsedu.com