During the October 10th Staff Development day, teachers investigated different inquiry-based stations by putting themselves in the role of the student. As they did picture sorts, make observations, experimented, and found resources, they thought about how they could use similar strategies in their classrooms. They also brainstormed how they could provide support for students so all can be successful while "constructing knowledge".
One of the expectations of the Primary Years Programme is that teachers are constantly in a process of reflection and professional development as a way to improve their practice. As teachers, we are inquirers of how to be better teachers. This inquiry helps us better understand how to help our students be inquirers as well. Check out our hard working teachers in action:
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One of the amazing features of the Primary Years Programme is that value it places on learning a second (or 3rd or 4th for some of our students) language. Our wonderful spanish teachers, Mrs. Johnson and Mr. Dorn, are very thoughtfully supporting teachers to bring the language into their classrooms. Twice a week, teachers are given vocabulary cards to post in their room of words that they can use throughout the day. Although each class may use them differently, you will see the same words in each classroom.
Have you heard your child talk about getting "extra specials"? Once every 6 days, students in grades 1-5 get an extra specials in order to allow teachers to meet with the PYP Coordinator. During these meetings, we are building the conceptual units that our students will learn in each grade level. By the time the 2016-17 school year rolls around, each grade level will be teaching 6 units of inquiry.
Below is a photo of our budding Programme of Inquiry. You can see the yellow themes across the top. Each grade has a unit under each theme. (You can read more about the themes in the PYP Overview Section.) There is a LOT of planning and thought that goes into each unit since this is a shift in how we approach teaching. Our teachers at Findley have done an amazing job jumping right in and getting started. As the year progresses and your child's teacher mentions they are teaching a PYP unit of inquiry, it is because of the hard work they put in during the first few months of school. Teachers have already started focusing on the essential elements of PYP with students. You can see evidence of this as you walk through classrooms. Many teachers use picture books to reinforce the vocabulary of the attitudes and attributes. If you do not see this language in your child's class yet, no worries! Many teacher like to post them slowly as they are discussed during the first weeks of school. |
AuthorThis blog is written by Amber McLandrich, the school's PYP Coordinator. Archives
September 2018
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