Following on the theme of looking at the five essential elements of the Primary Years Programme, the next is - skills.
It is very important in the PYP to develop the students knowledge and have a strong academic side of the programme as well as developing a good conceptual understanding as we saw in the previous post. The International Baccalaureate also recognises that it is just as important to develop a range of skills that can enable the students to support their own learning and to complement the construction of meaning.
These skills are developed within the unit of inquiry lessons, in authentic situations and with a meaningful context. We don’t have “skills lessons”, the development is built into our programme. It is also just as important to make sure that these experiences are tailored to the age of the students in the class.
So which skills do we want to develop in our students?
Thinking skills
Social skills
Communication skills
Self-management skills
Research skills
These are the skills set out by the IB and are in turn subdivided into further definitions. It goes towards our policy here at Chatsworth School of not just focusing on the academics but developing the whole child and giving them the tools and the skills to be successful in their future careers.
Alex Inman
PYP Coordinator
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