Together is better! Collaboration is at the heart of implementing the IB MYP (Middle Years Programme) in a fun and engaging way. As a coordinator or school leader, you might be wondering how to connect the various elements of the programme with what the school and its teachers are already doing. And this collaborative meetings calendar will provide a sense of direction as you create structured time for your teams to work together.
One of the best ways to dive into the MYP is to have your teaching teams work together to unpack the different features of the programme. These might include approaches to learning (ATL) skills, key concepts, and global contexts. Although these might sound unfamiliar at first, there’s a good chance that they’re already connected with the current teaching practices at your school.
Why use a collaborative meetings calendar
When it comes to planning out the academic year at an IB MYP school, a collaborative meetings calendar can be an incredibly useful tool. By using this calendar, teachers can work together to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding the requirements of MYP implementation. Professional development activities take time to plan and coordinate. When the calendar is set before the start of the school year, it helps to avoid any scheduling conflicts, reduce stress and workload for individual teachers, and ensure that teachers learn all things MYP well within the expected timelines. With a collaborative meetings calendar, everyone can work together to create a cohesive and effective plan for the year ahead.
Not only does a collaborative planning calendar help with teacher professional development, but it also provides space for sharing ideas. Teams can share resources and strategies with each other, which reduces workload and saves us time. It’s a win-win!
How to use this calendar
We’ve covered everything you’ll need as you make the transition to becoming an MYP school! By following the topics on this calendar, you can be sure to support your teaching teams on this learning journey. The calendar is structured around the following topics with suggested professional development activities and resources:
- Unit planning
- Approaches to Learning
- Coherent curriculum
- Interdisciplinary learning
- Assessment
- Reporting
The activities listed in this collaborative meetings calendar are designed to be delivered in a variety of ways! You’ll find a mix of the following in the calendar:
- Individual activities can be completed independently, either as a required or optional professional learning experience
- Asynchronous activities allow participants to collaborate at their own pace over a longer period of time
- Collaborative activities are designed for synchronous learning in settings such as faculty meetings
- Blended delivery engages participants in a combination of formats
Each activity works on its own or can be combined with others to design a longer session. We’ve also included a sample schedule which will give you a sense of how you may sequence these sessions. You can adapt the same to meet the needs of your school and your teaching teams.
Download this professional development calendar of suggested interactive professional learning experiences to develop and deepen a shared understanding of what it means to be an MYP school.
This blog is part of a series designed especially for candidate MYP schools. Click here to view the complete series!
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