Learning and Teaching: A Strong Alloy in the PYP Classroom

It is everywhere! Steel, the strongest metal alloy, is a combination of carbon and iron. The combination of these two elements produces a strong metal that supports important structures in our world. Steel is present in buildings, cars, tools, bridges, and so many more things. Is iron strong by itself? Sure! But when combined with just a little bit of carbon, the elements chemically react to produce a much stronger alloy. 

“Learning and Teaching” make up one of the three pillars of the PYP Framework (The Learner, Teaching & Learning, and the Learning Community).  Like carbon and iron, they combine to create the strongest alloy in the IB classroom. You might think of these two things as separate ideas or roles that work alone.  However, effective PYP teachers facilitate learning environments that are student-driven where the students embrace the skills needed to become life-long learners. 

Student-learning is iron. In its purest form iron can be worked and shaped easily.  Student-learning is the strong foundation of the alloy. The IB Approaches to Learning encourage learners to develop thinking, communication, research, self-management, and social skills. Students take the Approaches to Learning and become self-regulated and own their learning. As agents of their own learning, students can effectively inquire and ultimately teach themselves, creating authentic learning experiences.

PYP teachers work collaboratively to plan units of study and concept-driven inquiry that is developed around the six transdisciplinary themes:

• Who We Are
• Where We are in Place and Time
• How We Express Ourselves
• How the World Works
• How We Organize Ourselves
• Sharing the Planet

Teachers guide students through inquiry as they learn and develop their understanding during these units of study. This “carbon” makes the “iron” stronger. A student is always learning. That learning is made stronger through effective teaching and the student’s ability to apply the Approaches to Learning. The learner works closely with the teacher but also becomes the teacher to themselves creating the strongest alloy for learning. 

You might be wondering how this can be practiced in the classroom. Follett can help! As teachers nurture their students and classrooms, they can find mentor texts, hands-on resources, and professional books to help them build this strong alloy of “Learning and Teaching.” 

Follett’s team of certified librarians and licensed teachers can help you find books that connect to your units of study. For example, the team may suggest Abdul’s Story. A teacher may use a title like Abdul’s Story, during writing instruction. The story is about a young boy, Abdul, who loves to tell stories but struggles to write them down. He gets very angry about his struggles and basically gives up. Because Abdul learns how to develop his thinking, and strengthens his self-management skills, this story is perfect for modeling those approaches to learning and sparking conversation in the classroom. 

Students can put their skills into practice collaboratively with the many Makerspace solutions offered by Follett. What better way to practice communication and social skills then to work together to build a paper robot using Cubelets robot blocks?

Check out Titlewave^® for books, hands-on resources, International Baccalaureate® products, and more.  

Read more from Lori Woods: 

• Using Books to Address PYP Agency and Self-Efficacy
• Internationally Minded in the PYP Classroom 
   

Lori Woods
Lori Woods is a master’s level educator with ten years of classroom experience, primarily teaching Grade 3. Most recently, she taught for six years at an International Baccalaureate school, where she served on the IB reauthorization team, ELA pilot team, and technology committee. Lori also presented at the 2021 IB Global Conference. When she’s not working, she enjoys crafting and spending time with her family. Lori lives in south central Pennsylvania with her husband, three children, and two dogs.