International Baccalaureatte
Written by Michael Nicolaides
PYP Parents Supporting PYP Learners
Dear parents,
Our college recently put out a parent PYP survey to gauge the level of understanding our community had in regards to the IB framework. Currently, we have had over 50 responses and what is evident is that our community is seeking more information about how they can support their children at home.
As a PYP parent at Saltwater College, you are part of our community of learners who contribute positively towards your child’s learning journey through the IB Primary Years Programme. As a PYP parent, there are several specific ways you can support your child. Inspired by an IB poster, here is what we think are the 6 most important ways you can support your child at home and at school.
The PYP questionnaire is still open and can be accessed via this link. We would appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey.
In no particular order, here are a few ideas for each type of support and ideas to take you further. If you find all six overwhelming, choose 1 to focus on first.
1. Take an inquiry stance: As the leading strategy teachers use, all teachers at Saltwater College take an inquiry stance. What does this mean for parents? Here are a few things to do and resources to access.
2. Reflect together: The PYP framework builds in time for reflection for students to be aware of their effort and identify specific ways to improve in the future; it is also part of our approaches to learning (ATL) under thinking skills to reflect on the process of learning. Here are some ideas for you:
3. Support agency: The PYP defines agency as, “the power to take meaningful and intentional action, and acknowledges the rights and responsibilities of the individual, supporting voice, choice, and ownership for everyone in the learning community.”
How can you help with this?
4. Give feedback: Feedback is one of the most effective tools we have as teachers. It moves students forward by considering, “What’s my next step?” There is always a next step in learning and we need to help learners identify what this is.
Here are a few ideas:
5. Extend concepts: In the PYP, we have a carefully designed, intention concept-based curriculum. Concepts are powerful, broad, and abstract organising ideas that build understandings across, between and beyond subjects.
How can you extend these at home?
6. Live the learner profile: If you want to choose one area to focus on first, this would be it! Supporting the learner profile attributes is a crucial way to support your child. You can help by first understanding all 10 attributes, using these words in conversations with your child, and living the learner profile through your words and actions.
Finally, here are a few more PYP parent resources from the IB:
- Below is a learner profile video and information from the International Baccalaureatte.
2. The PYP Playlist
The PYP playlist is a collection of resources designed to help your school community learn about the PYP and become active in your students' education.
3. 23 Stories for PYP Parents
Parents asked; educators answered. What essential reading would you recommend to Primary Years Programme (PYP) parents who want to integrate the IB philosophy into their homes? We posed this question to PYP educators on Twitter and they offered these recommendations to help parents continue the PYP journey.