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Start Here: Teachers

  • Start Here: Teachers

A warm welcome to you all! Step into the world of excellence at the InThinking MYP English Language & Literature website!

Crafted exclusively by an experienced MYP teacher for fellow educators like you, this site is your gateway to unparalleled success in teaching the Language & Literature course. Unlock a wealth of comprehensive information and an abundance of invaluable resources meticulously designed to empower you to deliver exceptional education. Get ready to revolutionize your teaching journey and achieve remarkable results with our unrivalled support.

Finding your way around the site

The website is vast, but don't be daunted... you can usually find what you need using the search feature.

The site is organized like an upside-down tree with top-level categories and many branching sub-sections and pages.

The sitemap icon  (under home) will allow you to see the whole website simultaneously. If you can't find something you are looking for, you may also search by putting a key-word in the search box on the upper right side of the screen. Frequently consulted pages can be saved to your starred favourites.

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Start by watching the introductory videos below in which you will learn about what you can expect to find in each of the main areas of this website: 

Introducing the Site

Introducing the new L&L website

Complete Website Overview

Setting up student access

Using ready-to-teach units

Unit Planning

Getting Started

On the pages below you will find an overview of the basics of the MYP:

Course Philosophy

MYP philosophy is focused on preparing students for their future lives in our 21st century world. As a result, learning in language and literature classrooms is intricately connected with real world global...

Concept-Based Curriculum

Our 21st-century world is creating new knowledge at an incredibly fast rate! Concept-based curriculum enables students to use a schema in their brains to sort, organise and create patterns with information...

IB Acronyms & MYP Glossary

I remember a wonderful teacher friend who said in the first weeks after she moved from the US system to the IB system, 'you and I both speak English, but I don't understand a word of what you're saying!'...

The Learner Profile

The Learner Profile attributes encompass the responsibilities and capabilities we seek to develop in our students. They include qualities that will enable students to respect both themselves and others.

The IB Continuum

The IB Continuum is the learning progression for students between the ages of 3 and 19. There are four programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) and either the Diploma...

Planning the L&L programme

Teachers often approach me and ask, 'where do I start with planning my Language and Literature courses?' This page takes you through the main elements of the planning process, from subject group overview...

Course Overview

On the pages below you will find a detailed discussion of the requirements of the Language and Literature course; the assessment objectives and the command terms. 

Course Overview

Aims of the Language and Literature course- Let's begin with five important aims of the Language and Literature course. Read through them and reflect on how you include them in your classroom practice and...

Aims of the course

The English Language and Literature course builds students' conceptual understanding and skills in reading, speaking, viewing and writing. On this page you will learn about the aims of the course and...

Course Requirements

The Language and Literature course has a number of important requirements. In addition, there are some essential elements of guidance to take note of. This page aims to explain everything you need to...

Assessment Objectives

Language and Literature has 4 assessment objectives and they explain what students should be able to do as a result of studying the Language and Literature course. Years 1,3 and 5 have separate objective...

Command Terms

Command Terms are central to the L&L course objectives and an integral part of the assessment criteria. They are intended to provide students with the language they require to be able to understand the...

Unit Planning

This part of the website explains all aspects of unit planning, including key and related concepts, global contexts, creating a statement of inquiry, inquiry questions, planning assessment and choosing ATL skills, developing learning experiences, differentiation, reflection and engaging in the process of evaluating your unit plans. 

Unit Planning

Key and related concepts are central to every MYP unit. There are 16 key concepts that act as connectors to transfer big ideas between subjects and subject groups. In addition, there and 12 Language and...

Key Concepts

Key and related concepts are central to every MYP unit. 16 key concepts act as connectors to transfer big ideas between subjects and subject groups. In addition, there are 12 Language and Literature specifically...

Related Concepts

Related concepts, along with key concepts are central to every MYP unit. There and 12 Language and Literature specific related concepts that develop the depth of students' conceptual understanding in...

Global Contexts

There are six global contexts that guide students’ inquiry into key and related concepts in the context of our global common humanity. Global contexts identify specific settings, events and circumstances...

Statement of Inquiry

The statement of inquiry combines the key concept with the related concepts and the global context exploration to create a central focus for each Language & Literature unit. Students inquire into the...

Inquiry Questions

Inquiry questions support students' curiosity in the unit topic both from an intellectual and interest perspective. They help to structure our students' factual and conceptual thinking processes during...

Planning Summative Assessment

Once you have chosen the topic of your unit and planned the statement of inquiry, the time has come to begin planning teaching and learning with the end in mind. Planning the performances of students'...

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is an integral part of the assessment process. Throughout the process of teaching and learning teachers use a variety of methods to assess students' progress and plan for their future...

Choosing ATL Skills

By engaging with approaches to learning skills, our students develop relevant skills across the curriculum and help them “learn how to learn”.

Differentiation

Differentiation is tailoring your teaching to the different needs of your students to ensure they have equal access to learning. It can take the form of altering the content of units, the process of teaching...

Service as Action

During our Language and Literature units, we create opportunities for students to connect authentically their learning with the real world locally, nationally and globally. We introduce students to global...

Unit Reflection

The Reflection section of the unit planner is a place where teachers reflect on significant aspects of the unit before, during and after teaching it.Reflection questions offer an opportunity for teachers...

Units by Concept

Here you will find unit plans organised by each of the 16 key concepts. Each ready-to-teach unit plan includes key and related concepts, a global context exploration, the statement of inquiry, factual, conceptual and debatable inquiry questions, summative assessments, ideas for resources and much more!

Units by Key Concept

Key Concept - AestheticsThis key concept is the creation and perception of beauty in relation to art, culture and nature.Key Concept - ChangeThis key concept is the transformation from one form to another.

Units by Year Level

This website area takes each unit plan and organises it by year level: Years 1-2; Years 3-4 and Year 5. There are also several unit plans for any Year Level:

Units By Year Level

Most units on this website can be adapted for a different age group by changing the texts and adapting the statement of inquiry, inquiry questions and summative assessment(s).

Assessment

In this section of the website all aspects of assessment are explained:

Assessment - the Basics

Assessment is integral to all teaching and learning and requires teachers to assess the prescribed subject-group objectives using the assessment criteria for each subject group in each year of the programme....

Assessment Objectives

There are four objectives for Language and Literature and they explain what students should be able to do as a result of studying the course.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is an integral part of the assessment process. Throughout the process of teaching and learning teachers use a variety of methods to assess students' progress and plan for their future...

Summative Assessment

Summative assessment is an integral part of the process of learning and teaching in Language and Literature. At the end of a designated period, students perform authentically their new understandings...

GRASPS Summative Assessment

GRASPS is an assessment model in which students perform their understanding using an authentic 'real-world' assessment task.

Best Fit Judgement and L&L Grading

We make a 'best fit' judgement to create the final grade at the end of each reporting period. Below is a step by step guide to achieve the 'best fit' judgement with ease!

Approaches To Learning Skills

This part of the website includes an introduction to Approaches to Learning Skills and ATL Teaching Strategies for the Language and Literature classroom, followed by a page for each of the five ATL skill categories of

Approaches to Learning

Approaches to learning (ATL) are skills designed to enable students to 'learn how to learn.' All programmes and subjects have ATL skills and they provide a common language for teachers and students to...

Approaches to Teaching Skills

For those new to the MYP, you will encounter new approaches to teaching and your students' learning. The following pages on the site provide an introduction to a wide range of approaches to teaching: 

Approaches to Teaching

Bloom's Taxonomy is an approach to pedagogy that aims to maximise students’ performance. Bloom's Taxonomy is a framework for classifying intellectual objectives and skills essential to learning. It...

General Resources 

Finally, this part of the website introduces you to many significant resources to support you as a Language and Literature teacher. You will find a wealth of resources from using reading logs with your students and choosing texts to develop their joy of reading, to using technology in your classroom to developing interdisciplinary units and supporting students in the Personal Project.

General Resources

I remember a wonderful teacher friend saying in the first weeks after she moved from the US system to the IB system 'you and I both speak English, but I don't understand a word you're saying!' One of...

IB Acronyms & MYP Glossary

I remember a wonderful teacher friend saying in the first weeks after she moved from the US system to the IB system 'you and I both speak English, but I don't understand a word you're saying!' One of...

Presentations

On the following web pages, there are presentations to enhance the teaching and learning in your Language & Literature classroom

Newsletters & Interviews

Read our news and updates to the site in the latest newsletter and interviews with Kate Beatty, the website author!

Reading Resources

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” – Walt Disney

Selected Pages

All materials on this website are for the exclusive use of teachers and students at subscribing schools for the period of their subscription. Any unauthorised copying or posting of materials on other websites is an infringement of our copyright and could result in your account being blocked and legal action being taken against you.