Your+questions+answered

__**What could I do / my school do to help the transition to MYP?**__ //Get students to meet; get parents involved in each other's UoIs// //Familiarise myself wth the MYP documentation.// //Visit exhibitions / celebrations of learning// //Prepare the G5s (How? We talked about test taking. What other transition ideas do you know of?)// //Whole-staff discussions, as opposed to MYP and PYP meetings all the time.// //Visit the MYP lab// //Be more transparent - invite them to the Exhibition// //Take the G5 students to the MYP Personal Project// //Communicate with MYP teachers//

__**How do we ensure that PYP students are ready for MYP Science and Social Studies?**__ //Have a balanced Programme of Inquiry// //Exchange our expectations with MYP teachers// //Regular revision of the PoI to improve / incorporate related science concepts// //standardised testing - give primary students experience of this necessary skill they will need in Middle School// //Be familiar with MYP expectations// //Work backwards// //Work as a whole school// //Make opportunities for feedback / reflection among students / teachers//

__**What are some resources we could use to help develop understanding in science / of science?**__ //www.worldheritage-explorer.co.uk// //www.kidipede.com// //www.kidshealth.org (this site has articles that you can download in Arabic and Spanish)// //www.howstuffworks.com//

//Discovery Channel// //National Geographic// //Newspapers// //Students' experiences// //the local environment// //Youtube// //the inquiry cycle//

__**What are some strategies to ensure we have enough Science and Social Studies in our PoI?**__ //check with the strands and related concepts// //map the strands on a grid and check for gaps / repetition// //look at PoI vertically and horizontally//

//How do you / could we track skill development in science and social studies?// //Continuums work very well (Archana will explain more!)// //Assessment for each skill// //Potfolios//

__**What are some resources we could use to help develop understanding in social studies / of social studies?**__ //invite guest speakers// //stories// //photos// //artefacts// //specialist teachers from your school// //literature// //parents// //newspapers, magazines, documentaries// //the local environment// //Primary sources / documents// //Skype with relatives / schools form other parts of the world who are focusing on the same unit / idea//

__**How can we differentiate in Science and Social Studies?**__ //word banks// //writing frames// //scribing children's comments// //use formative assessments to form groups / inform planning// //multiple intelligences// //grouping//

__**How do we write an ENGAGING unit?**__ //By making it relevant to the students// //Be provocative!// //Use related concepts// //Base it on what the students what to learn//