During my two years at the British International School of New York I worked within the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IBPYP). This program of study follows a school specific curriculum that includes 4-6 units per year. Each unit is focused on a different theme and provides different types of learning experiences.
IB PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAM
Personally, I enjoy teaching within the PYP framework because it integrates all subject areas. It allows the class to dig deeper into one topic of study. Students have the opportunity to do more hands-on research, projects, and productions. During the year that I taught first grade, my class researched the history of New York City, performed a play, and made simple electrical circuits.
Even though my current school is not a PYP school, I still use a similar inquiry-based framework to create my social studies and science units. I believe that students are more engaged when they become the drivers of their own education. The learner profile is something that I have taken with me to each of the schools that I have worked at. It is a well rounded framework that promotes personal growth for each student.
Our nursery rhyme unit in preschool was one of the highlights of the year. This was the bulletin board I created with students as characters in each of the rhymes.