• Transitioning from the PYP to the MYP:  Garden Hills to Sutton, a Natural Step

    The transition from elementary school to middle school is often seen by parents and students as a big step. However, the skills and knowledge our students gain throughout the PYP (Primary Years Programme)  at Garden Hills, prepares them to succeed in the  MYP (Middle Years Programme) at Sutton Middle School. The focus in both programs on the Approaches to Learning (ATL’s) and the Learner Profile  equips students with the necessary skills.

    You could say transitioning from PYP to MYP is a natural ‘ next step’ in their learning journey.

    Connections between PYP and MYP:
    PYP students study and explore six transdisciplinary themes of global significance that offer students the opportunity to explore the commonalities of the human experience.

    They are described as transdisciplinary, because they focus on issues that transfer across subject areas, also known as the Key Concepts. MYP students connect their learning with their life and the world through the use of Global Contexts. The MYP has identified 6 global contexts for teaching and learning, that extend from the PYP transdisciplinary themes.

    Approaches to learning in PYP:

    • These are Thinking skills, Research skills, Communication skills, Social skills and Self-management skills.

    • Teachers work with children to help with the development and application of these skills to support the transfer of learning between curricular areas.

    • The ATL skills are extensively worked on and highlighted during the PYP Exhibition. By continuously working on these skills, we can prepare the students to prepare naturally for the MYP and the Personal Project.

    Middle Years Programme:

    MYP students continue to develop their knowledge, concepts and skills by studying eight subject areas through the 6 global contexts (see above). Each subject is taught through their key-concept and related concepts with links to the global context. 

    Throughout the MYP, students are involved with Service as an Action. Just as the PYP culminates in the PYP exhibition, the MYP does that in the Personal Project in MYP.

    Further developing ATL skills in the MYP:
    The focus on Approaches to Learning skills (ATL’s)helps students to develop the self-knowledge and skills they need to enjoy a lifetime of learning. ATL skills empower students to succeed in meeting the challenging objectives of the MYP subject groups and prepare students for further success in the CP/DP high school programs at North Atlanta..

    These ATL skills are transferable across their courses and into the students' personal lives. The Personal Project in the MYP provides students with the opportunity to showcase these skills before they take the next step into the CP/DP at North Atlanta..

    The IB Learner Profile
    Students, as well as staff and parents, are encouraged to recognize and support the learner profile attributes. They are promoted and talked about from grades P-12, in the PYP, MYP, DP and CP. By allowing students to follow these attributes, we can prepare them to be internationally-minded lifelong learners, setting all students up for success in a global world.