An Interview with Shannon McMahon. This episode and blog act as a starter guide to the IB Organization and Primary Years Program. Teaching at an IB school or transitioning to one can be overwhelming, but our guest today breaks it down very clearly for you!
For the full interview, listen to the episode.
The PYP, IBO, Transdisciplinary framework…what does this all mean? If you work at an IB elementary school or you are considering a job at one, then this episode is just for you!
There is a lot of information in this episode! I’ve outlined below a few of the highlights from the interview with our expert in all things PYP! However, to gain the full understanding and importance of the program, I highly suggest listening to the episode with my expert guest!
The IB Programs:
Let’s first make sure we understand these acronyms!
PYP – Primary Years Program
MYP – Middle Years Program
DP – Diploma Program
CP – Career-related Program
The Ib Learner Profile
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
The Six Transdisciplinary themes in PYP:
WHO WE ARE
Inquiry into the nature of the self; beliefs and values; person,
physical, mental, social and spiritual health; human relationships
including families, friends, communities, and cultures; rights and
responsibilities; what it means to be human
WHERE WE ARE IN PLACE AND TIME
Inquiry into orientation in place and time; personal histories;
homes and journeys; the discoveries, explorations and
migrations of humankind; the relationship between and the
the interconnectedness of individuals and civilizations, from local and
global perspectives
HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES
Inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas,
feelings, nature, culture, beliefs, and values; the ways in which
we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation
of the aesthetic
HOW THE WORLD WORKS
Inquiry into the natural world and its laws, the interaction
between the natural world (physical and biological) and human
societies; how humans use their understanding of scientific
principles; the impact of scientific and technological advances on
society and on the environment.
HOW WE ORGANIZE OURSELVES
Inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems
and communities; the structure and function of organizations;
societal decision-making; economic activities and their impact on
humankind and the environment
SHARING THE PLANET
Inquiry into rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share
finite resources with other people and other living things;
communities and the relationship within and between them;
access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.
Complete Lesson Plans using Common Core & PYP themes of Inquiry.
Celebrating diversity and culture is a key component of the PYP. Therefore at the cultural classroom, we align all of our lessons to the meet common core standards and national standards for the arts while also making note of the correlations each lesson has with one of the 6 Units of Inquiry in the PYP framework.
FEATURED LANGUAGE ARTS LESSONS
PYP & Common Core complete lesson plan for 4th grade language arts.
PYP & Common Core complete lesson plan for 2nd grade language arts.
PYP & Common Core complete lesson plan for 3rd grade language arts.
Check out these resources for more information about IB Elementary Schools and the Primary Years Program (PYP).
International Baccalaureate Organization
Primary years program
PYP Teaching Tools
Sharing the PYP blog
Two Apples a Day post