News from our Elementary Vice Principal, Sofia Lyons
What does inquiry learning look like? What is going on in a PYP classroom?
In the IB Primary Years Programme, classrooms look very different to the traditional classrooms that many of us are familiar with. Teachers consider their learning space and how best they can create ways to nurture the visible, physical and emotional environment that is their classroom. Here is a brief list of what engagements you will typically see in an inquiry classroom:
In the IB Primary Years Programme, classrooms look very different to the traditional classrooms that many of us are familiar with. Teachers consider their learning space and how best they can create ways to nurture the visible, physical and emotional environment that is their classroom. Here is a brief list of what engagements you will typically see in an inquiry classroom:
Beyond topics, What’s worth inquiring into?, Chapter 2, pg 31 in Murdoch, M. (2016) Teaching and Learning through Inquiry, Dubai
Inquiry, interpreted in the broadest sense, is the process initiated by the students or the teacher that moves the students from their current level of understanding to a new and deeper level of understanding. Some ways this can be achieved include:
●“Exploring, wondering and questioning
●Experimenting and playing with possibilities
●Making connections between previous learning and current learning
●Making predictions and acting purposefully to see what happens
●Collecting data and reporting findings
●Solving problems in a variety of ways.” (Making the PYP Happen, 2009, p29)
By adopting these practices, teachers are able to provide a learning environment that encourages a constructivist approach to learning. As students strive to make meaning of the world around them, they travel along a learning path where they can construct, test and revise their personal beliefs about how the world works.
The structure of the learning environments, including the home, the classroom, the school and the community will lay down the knowledge foundation that will nurture meaningful participation and inquiry on the part of the students.
If you would like to know more about inquiry, how your child learns, or how you can best support your child at home with their learning, please do not hesitate to contact your classroom teacher or one of our PYP Coordinators, Mary Chraca (KG-Grade 1) and Mike Hopaluk (Grade 2-Grade 5).
Sofia Lyons
Elementary Vice-Principal
Inquiry, interpreted in the broadest sense, is the process initiated by the students or the teacher that moves the students from their current level of understanding to a new and deeper level of understanding. Some ways this can be achieved include:
●“Exploring, wondering and questioning
●Experimenting and playing with possibilities
●Making connections between previous learning and current learning
●Making predictions and acting purposefully to see what happens
●Collecting data and reporting findings
●Solving problems in a variety of ways.” (Making the PYP Happen, 2009, p29)
By adopting these practices, teachers are able to provide a learning environment that encourages a constructivist approach to learning. As students strive to make meaning of the world around them, they travel along a learning path where they can construct, test and revise their personal beliefs about how the world works.
The structure of the learning environments, including the home, the classroom, the school and the community will lay down the knowledge foundation that will nurture meaningful participation and inquiry on the part of the students.
If you would like to know more about inquiry, how your child learns, or how you can best support your child at home with their learning, please do not hesitate to contact your classroom teacher or one of our PYP Coordinators, Mary Chraca (KG-Grade 1) and Mike Hopaluk (Grade 2-Grade 5).
Sofia Lyons
Elementary Vice-Principal
Community Share
On Thursday morning, students from 1A and 4B shared some of their learning with students from other classes and grades. The children in 4B shared some of their inquiries into how ‘our understanding of science has evolved over time and shapes the future’. Students presented how they are using different text features to demonstrate their learning. The children in 1A shared various sections of their Family Scrap Books like family trees, family portraits and family interviews. The grade 1 students finished by performing a wonderful song about families. The Community Share was completed with the celebration of the students who received a Star Student award this week for their demonstration of PYP attitudes and/or IB Learner Profile attributes. You can see more photos of the event here.
News from our Kg Vice Principal, Sally Potts
This week was an exciting time in the Makerspace! Our students in KG1 and KG2 were involved in the International Hour of Code week.
They learned that coding means giving instructions to computers and practising their skills using a program called KODABLES. We also had a chance to celebrate our upcoming winter break with a variety of activities on Thursday. Thank you to all of our parents who worked with our teachers to make these wonderful events happen for our children.
We are looking forward to a very positive final week.
Sall Potts,
KG Vice Principal
They learned that coding means giving instructions to computers and practising their skills using a program called KODABLES. We also had a chance to celebrate our upcoming winter break with a variety of activities on Thursday. Thank you to all of our parents who worked with our teachers to make these wonderful events happen for our children.
We are looking forward to a very positive final week.
Sall Potts,
KG Vice Principal
KG Corner
The students in KG2D have really enjoyed learning about measurement during our unit on “Where We are In Place and Time”
Creative Arts
This week the Kg2s have been going further with their space journey exploration. They have been creating their own planets out of paper mache and balloons. Some classes have started role playing in the drama room where the department have built a rocket ship, space station, planet and workstation for the students to explore.
This week the Kg2s have been going further with their space journey exploration. They have been creating their own planets out of paper mache and balloons. Some classes have started role playing in the drama room where the department have built a rocket ship, space station, planet and workstation for the students to explore.
KG Islamic
السّلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته ، تحية طيبة للجميع
أمضينا أسبوعاً حافلاً مع أحبابنا الصغار كما قضينا وقتاً ممتعاً معاً.
في الروضة الأولى تمكن الأطفال من تلاوة سورة الإخلاص وحفظها غيباً كما أدرك الطلبة مفهوم الحديث الشريف " افشوا السلام بينكم"، وأصبحوا مُدركين لأهمية التّحية في الإسلام ومكانتها ، كما شارك الأطفال في التعبير عن فرحهم باليوم الوطني والتعبير عن انتمائهم وحبهم للوطن.
في الروضة الثانية أصبح أطفالنا قادرين على تلاوة سورة الكوثر وإدراك المعنى الإجمالي للآيات وأصبحوا أيضاً مدركين معنى الحديث الشريف "الكلمة الطيبة صدقة" ، كما شارك الأطفال في التعبير عن فرحهم في احتفالات اليوم الوطني وتعزيز روح الانتماء للوطن.
أمضينا أسبوعاً حافلاً مع أحبابنا الصغار كما قضينا وقتاً ممتعاً معاً.
في الروضة الأولى تمكن الأطفال من تلاوة سورة الإخلاص وحفظها غيباً كما أدرك الطلبة مفهوم الحديث الشريف " افشوا السلام بينكم"، وأصبحوا مُدركين لأهمية التّحية في الإسلام ومكانتها ، كما شارك الأطفال في التعبير عن فرحهم باليوم الوطني والتعبير عن انتمائهم وحبهم للوطن.
في الروضة الثانية أصبح أطفالنا قادرين على تلاوة سورة الكوثر وإدراك المعنى الإجمالي للآيات وأصبحوا أيضاً مدركين معنى الحديث الشريف "الكلمة الطيبة صدقة" ، كما شارك الأطفال في التعبير عن فرحهم في احتفالات اليوم الوطني وتعزيز روح الانتماء للوطن.
Asalamu Alaykoum,
We have spent a lovely time with our children this month.
KG1 students learnt Surat-ALIkhlas, they were able to memorize and understand its meaning. Students were also capable of understanding the meaning of the Hadith (Spread the greeting among yourselves) and they recognized the importance of greeting others in Islam. They also expressed their happiness about the UAE National day and the sense of unity and belonging.
KG2 Students are now able to recite Surah-Kawthar and they understood the general meaning of it. They were able to understand the Hadith (The good word is charity). Students also expressed their happiness about the UAE National day and the sense of unity and belonging.
Thank you.
Regards,
Mrs. Jadees
We have spent a lovely time with our children this month.
KG1 students learnt Surat-ALIkhlas, they were able to memorize and understand its meaning. Students were also capable of understanding the meaning of the Hadith (Spread the greeting among yourselves) and they recognized the importance of greeting others in Islam. They also expressed their happiness about the UAE National day and the sense of unity and belonging.
KG2 Students are now able to recite Surah-Kawthar and they understood the general meaning of it. They were able to understand the Hadith (The good word is charity). Students also expressed their happiness about the UAE National day and the sense of unity and belonging.
Thank you.
Regards,
Mrs. Jadees