Grade 5 Parent

Evening

IBMYPThe Middle

School Years

Laraine Reason

What are the Middle School Years?

Middle School Research – The Roller Coaster Years

• Biological-puberty• Cognitive – goal setting, taking control of

learning• Moral and Ethical – values “right and wrong”• Psychological and Social Changes- peer

relationships, sense of individuality

Biological

• Accelerated physical development – girls more physically developed

• Bone growth faster than muscle- awkward• Great variability in physiological development

13/14yr old – difference between peers• Sexual growth – before emotional & social

maturity• Fluctuations in basal metabolism – tired to

restless

Cognitive

• Metacognition• Move from concrete

stage to more abstract thought

• Consideration for ideas contrary to fact

• Intellectually at risk• Analysis of the power of

political ideals

• Ability to project ideas into future -anticipate

• Ego-centric and argumentative

• Exhibit independent critical thought

• Consider academic goals as secondary to personal and social concerns

Moral and Ethical Development

• Idealistic • Ask the big questions• Are reflective,

introspective, analytical about thoughts

• Seek to explore the moral and ethical issues exposed through media/ friends

Psychological Development - at no other point in human development are they most likely to encounter so much diversity – in relation

to self and others

• Erratic inconsistent behaviours –anxiety and fear

• Emotive- sensitive, easily offended

• Moody, restless, vulnerable

• Searching for identity –”who am I?”

Middle school- What Students Say:• “ I had to organize myself more, I was pretty

disorganized”• “you are treating me more like an adult”• “you have to be a bit more responsible, as you

have so many classes and teachers”• “It was pretty hard at first, and I kept on

forgetting things and losing things”

Middle School – What Students Say:

• “Cool. I got a real locker”• “the school work is harder”• “There are more classes and lots more

teachers”• “Lots of different teachers, that was hard”• “So many books and teachers”

Where To From Here? Elementary - MYP

• Shift in structure requires a shift in thinking• Students in MYP can see up to six teachers a

day• Subjects often operate in isolation• Students need to organise books, equipment

and compartmentalise time• Need to adopt some good organisation

practices

Goal Setting is a Priority – short and long term goals

• Students must write their goals and put them up on display at home – Short term (week) and Long term (monthly/ term)

Tips From Parents

• Middle school – work is harder, more teachers, more classes, more personalities = different expectations

• Pack school bag the night before• Check that child has everything they need for

that day• Timetable on the refrigerator• Folder for “home notes”

More Tips From Parents

• Be there when child needs a ride, or has a game

• Go to all meetings or parent info nights at school

• Check what is needed before leaving school –i.e.. Books, assignment questions

Time Management MatrixImportant Urgent Not Urgent

CrisisPressing problemDeadline- driven

Planning and preparation requiredLong-term projectRecreation- relaxation

Not Important Some phone callsEmailsPopular activities

Trivial tasksSome phone callsJunk mailBusy work

Intelligence – How Do We Learn?

• Research is showing Genes are constantly activated and deactivated by stimuli –The Genius in All of US David Shenk)

• Talent is not always gift bestowed – but a product of highly concentrated effort

• Deliberate practice – can actually produce changes in the brain patterns

Gardner’s 8 Multiple Intelligences

The basis of the three IB programmes

The broad nature of study, including more than one language

The flexibility of delivery of the curriculum –

It is a coherent broad-based international curriculum

A foundation of values that are known as the Learner Profile

Criteria based assessment

Continual assessment

Task objectives in rubric format

Varied tasks

Grade 10- The End game

Personal Project

Record of Achievement

IBMYP Certificate

The IB Learner Profile- the mortar for the

building blocks• The Learner Profile is the mission statement

translated into a set of values and tenets

• The Learner profile – creates what the IB views as values or principles that are immersed in all the IB programmes

The Learner Profile is about the whole person – emphasising, intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth

Learner Profiles• Inquirer

• Knowledgeable

• Risk-Taker

•Balance

• Open-Minded• Reflective

• Caring

• Communicator

• Principled

• Thinker

Approaches to Learning Skills

MYP

- Research Skills

-Communication Skills

-Social Skills

-Self-Management Skills

-Thinking Skills

Cognitive ProcessesThe Knowledge Dimensions

 1.

 Remember

 2.

Understand

 3.

Apply

 4.

Analyze

 5.

Evaluate

 6.

Create

Factual            

Conceptual            

Procedural            

Metacognitive

           

Bloom’s Knowledge Dimensions

Knowledge Dimensions Defined

• Factual Knowledge is knowledge that is basic to specific disciplines. This dimension refers to essential facts, terminology, details or elements students must know to understand a subject

• Conceptual Knowledge is knowledge of classifications, principles, generalizations, theories, models, or structures important to a discipline d

• Procedural Knowledge refers to information or knowledge that helps students to do something specific to a subject, It also refers to methods of inquiry, very specific skills, techniques, and particular methodologies.

Parents are the Key to Maximising Student Success

How Can Parents Help?

• Check Day Books (diaries) daily – use to communicate with school

• Set up study area• Establish a routine –

important• Timetable on

refrigerator • Check homework

Be Engaged in Your Child’s Learning

• Look at homework and discuss ways that activity can be addressed

• Respect your child’s choices

• Be a “sounding board” for your child

• Show an interest

Be A Role Model Not a Critic

• “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them” James Baldwin (author)