What does the MYP “look like?”
One of the most common questions about the MYP is “what does it look like?” In a classroom, MYP comes alive through student-centered approaches in which students are engaged in deep thinking, discussion, and action. Provocative inquiry questions push students to consider the big concepts of their studies and assess their progress by allowing them to construct meaningful answers in a variety of ways. Samples of student work are displayed throughout the room, showing learner growth, as well as personal connections with and dedication to learning. The physical space allows for student collaboration and teachers to mingle, making powerful connections between all participants while generating a hive of thinking and learning that is both active and exciting.
Also through the MYP, teachers seek to be transparent in their goals and foundations for learning, posting key concepts, focal points and lesson objectives for students to see and connect. When students know what they are to learn and are active participants in learning’s construction, meaningful connections are made and lifelong learners are born.
Changes that connect Prospect, Langston and OHS have occurred thanks to our implementation of MYP as well. Some such changes include:
Teachers are more meaningfully building student skills such as collaboration, communication, thinking and reflection throughout the program. Faculty of all grade levels and disciplines work together to plan the purposeful growth of these skills, step-by-step, in grades 6-10.
Similarities in the ways that teachers assess students are building at all grades 6-10 as well. The MYP provides common rubrics that all teachers use to evaluate students each year of the program. In this way, students recognize and intimately know what is expected of them across the program, seeing similarities year-to-year as well as how the expectations are consistently deepened as they grow.
Click here to see a video introduction to our MYP.
Personal Project Information
During the 10th grade year, all students are expected to complete the Personal Project. The project is a product, event, or experience that captures and reflects the learning and development that the student has experienced over the course of their entire education. Much like the Exhibition in the Primary Years Programme (grade 5) and Senior Project (grade 12), the Personal Project provides an opportunity for students to explore their passions, inner-most thoughts, capabilities and future trajectory. Be sure to check out our display of Personal Projects either online or at the library (depending on health advisories) in April of 2021.
POLICIES
The MYP asks that the School District is very clear on our expectations of students, teachers and the community. Working towards this transparency, we have established four policies so that all stakeholders have a common understanding of our thoughts and expectations for our learning community. Through the framework and guidance of the MYP, the District has crafted policies based on Academic Honesty, Assessment, Special Education Needs, and Language. These policies were drafted with input from the district leadership team and faculty and will be annually updated.