Building Bridges

As our school embarks upon the introduction of the International Baccalaureate - Middle Years Program- there are many challenges and opportunities ahead. Those who follow IB will know that the MYP program is perhaps the trickiest fit for most schools. In many ways the MYP is the critical piece in the IB continuum. It is the natural link to the work of the PYP, and it prepares students for success in the DP. I refer to it as the bridge of IB. As a stand-alone program it runs from grades 7-10, although some schools choose to offer the MYP program in year 1 (grade 6). Our school will offer it in year 2 (grade 7) because grade 7 is the start of the intermediate division in the Ontario context, and we will be offering PYP up to grade 6 level.

Because of this overlap in grades, the MYP can be found in both elementary schools and high schools. This makes for interesting planning because there is no one set model for MYP implementation. Many elementary schools in Ontario end at grade 8, while some incorporate grade 7 and 8 within high schools. Even at the same school there may be separate campuses or separate buildings for these grades as is the case with many independent schools.

All of this makes planning the MYP a more involved process. As the coordinator of a program in candidacy phase, I am still working my way through the maze of IB material. It has a language of its own- in the MYP itself there are command terms that are specific to instruction- and other descriptors that are unique. Then there are the various policy documents that need to be understood. It is all well laid out and quite manageable, but it is an undertaking nonetheless.

Fortunately there are good resources both inside and outside of my school. I have been able to rely on the advice of colleagues who have gone through (and are going through) the certification process. IB provides an expert consultant who is on hand to help you through the process. And there are plenty of excellent colleagues from other schools who are both experienced and eager to share their experiences. The workshops and courses put on by IB are also excellent resources to help understand the IB continuum.

In many ways, these opportunities and resources are like the MYP program itself- bridges to success.