Ada Merritt K-8 Center Eighth Grade Orientation Middle Years Programme

Ada Merritt K-8 Center Guiding Question How will MYP experiences help my child in the future?

Ada Merritt K-8 Center Eighth Grade Highlights MYP Requirements Culminating Project High School Fairs Eighth Grade Exams End of the Year Activities

Eighth Grade Requirements In order to receive the Ada Merritt K-8 Center International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) Certificate and Pin, students need to meet the following criteria: Have a yearly GPA of 2.5 or higher in all Academic Courses and in conduct Have completed a minimum of 40 hours of Community and Service: 10 in grades 6 and 7, 20 in grade 8. All Service Record forms must be submitted before May 25, 2012 Have successfully completed the eighth grade research project Have completed an MYP portfolio.

Ada Merritt K-8 Center

What is the 8 th Grade Research Project? The MYP Research Project is a great opportunity to:  develop and apply information literacy skills  apply the skills developed while participating in the Middle Years Programme at Ada Merritt K-8 Center in all subjects and through approaches to learning  develop and showcase talents and interests, and apply them to a chosen goal  apply knowledge of the design cycle The Research Project should also clearly focus on an issue or theme closely related to an Area of Interaction.

The Eighth Grade Research Project should:  have a clear and achievable goal  express a truly personal message  be the result of individual initiative, creativity, and ability to organize and plan  reflect special interests, hobbies, special abilities, or concerns about particular issues  be original work—authenticity is very important and students will be required to sign a document stating that the project is their own work.

How will it be graded? The research project is an individual project. The third nine week period has been designated for in class mentoring and supervision of the project by the technology/gifted resource teachers. Students will receive printed resources to help them through the process and to ensure that projects have all the required components.  Projects will be graded using the Technology assessment criteria.  The various phases of the Design Cycle will each receive a grade during the third grading period.  The presentation of the final product will be evaluated by teachers and classmates using a rubric.

What are the required components of the 8 th Grade Research Project?  A Design Folder compiling all the phases of the Design Cycle  A link to an area of interaction  A guiding question  A presentation of the project with visual aids during the MYP Technology Fair  A structured piece of writing or personal statement.

The written report will include: Cover/Title Page Table of contents Introduction: the focus of the project with a link to an area of interaction Rationale: why the student chose this project and the particular Area of Interaction Research: explanation of the project Conclusion: reflecting on the process, the product and its impact Bibliography Appendices.

Ada Merritt K-8 Center October 19, 2011: Coral Gables Senior High School International Studies Charter High School North Miami Senior High School October 26, 2011: International Studies Prep Academy Miami Beach Senior High School New World Iprep November 2, 2011: Young Women’s Prep Academy Young Men’s Prep Academy Declined invitation: Terra High School, MAST Academy, Dash Applications due January 15, 2012 High School Fairs

Ada Merritt K-8 Center Algebra 1 End of Course Exam Geometry End of Course Exam Earth & Space Science End of Course Exam FCAT in Mathematics, Writing, Reading, and Science Spanish Language AP Exam Eighth Grade Exams

Ada Merritt K-8 Center Eighth Grade Field Trip Dinner/Dance Promotion Ceremony End of the Year Activities

Ada Merritt K-8 Center Eighth Grade Orientation September 28, 2011 The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life. Plato