Passion Driving Motivation Driving Learning

By PYP development on May 9th, 2012

This blog-post was published on a virtual network, Inquire Within, on 22 November 2011. It was written by Steve Box from Moreton Bay Boys’ College, Australia.

Having 10yo boys define and articulate passion can be a challenge. Having them demonstrate it…an attainable goal. My plan…Passion Week.

Year 5 Passion Week falls within our PYP ‘Who We Are’ Unit of Inquiry, which for our program this year focuses on how we make decisions and use self-awareness to determine our actions. Through an understanding of self, an engagement with multiple intelligences models and the opportunity to explore their own interests, students undertake a week-long passion project.

Learning for Life – The Field Trip Experience

By PYP development on April 9th, 2012

This article from Edition 5 of the PYP Essentials newsletter, was published by the NSW / ACT PYP Network in July 2010. It was written by Peter Grimes, Deputy Head of  the Preparatory School, The King’s School, Australia.   Nervously and awkwardly he lies on the board awaiting the rolling foam closing quickly. Apprehension is etched [...]

Teaching for understanding in mathematics

By PYP development on April 2nd, 2012

This article from September 2011 – December 2011 issue of The International Inquirer newsletter, was published by the The Hong Kong and Southern China PYP Network. It was written by Matt Hayes & Jacki Craggs from Clearwater Bay School, Hong Kong.

How Y2 teachers at Clearwater Bay School are developing mathematical understanding through the use of literature, art and drama.

As teachers in an IB world school, we believe that mathematics is “a global language through which we can make sense of the world” (IB Primary Years Programme, Mathematics Scope & Sequence Document, 2009, pp.1) and while we see mathematics as a way of thinking rather than a fixed body of knowledge, the challenge of making this significant and relevant to the lives of our children is considerable.

Teachers as inquirers – reflections from a learner

By PYP development on March 26th, 2012

This blog-post was published on a virtual network, Inquire Within,  on  13 February 2012. It was written by Tanja Galetti from Lincoln Community School, Ghana. It was back in October 2011 that I shared a post titled More About Teachers as Inquirers, introducing a fabulous PD opportunity (Teachers Are Inquirers) organized by the Learning Council at my [...]

Languages and inquiry in the primary school classroom

By PYP development on March 19th, 2012

This article from Edition 2 of the PYP Essentials newsletter, was published by the NSW / ACT PYP Network in January 2009. It was written by Louise Owens, then PYP Coordinator, now Head of North Ainsile Primary, Australia.

Language B education is an essential component of any IB programme. Yet, for a variety of reasons including resourcing, it can sometimes become the “forgotten” part of the curriculum in the primary school sector. It was therefore with pleasure and anticipation that languages teachers working in NSW PYP schools attended a “job alike” day at Trinity Grammar Prep School (Strathfield).

Sharing the planet: action satisfaction

By PYP development on March 9th, 2012

This article from September 2011 – December 2011 issue of The International Inquirer newsletter, was published by the The Hong Kong and Southern China PYP Network. It was written by Sonya Yong from Hong Kong Academy, Hong Kong. “What is pollution?” “Where does Styrofoam come from?” “How can we stop pollution?” Questions buzzed through the [...]

A fish-friend inquiry

By PYP development on February 27th, 2012

This blog-post was published on a virtual network, Inquire Within,  on  10 December 2011. It was written by Tasha Cowdy from Yokohama International School, Japan. Walter was excited to add his name to the agenda as soon as he arrived at school on Monday. Jessie, Walter’s mum, came to give me some background information so that I could [...]