Summer holidays are over. We are starting school this week. This year I will find myself also teaching Grade 7 & 8 Technology alongside Grade 7, 8, 9 & 10 Art. MYP at my school is trickling up this year to include grade 8 as well. In two years time, it will go up to grade 10 to include all Middle School. As part of our meetings held at this time of year, we had an interesting discussion on “What does learning look like for an MYP student? What is different to a student not in an MYP program?”

It’s an interesting question, and one that is taken for granted when teaching the IB for several years. For those that are unfamiliar, these programs are more interactive with students, more self-engaged and heavily process driven. Reflecting how you are as a learner is also an ongoing process. We offer a variety of tasks and products, have consistency across subjects and stress concept over content.

In addition to this, we watched the video above. These are all good reminders for the beginning of a new school year, especially considering the changes Middle School students will be going through.