Student-Led Conferences

Communicating alongside parents has ever been i of the most of import aspects of my teaching. I wrote a post virtually it approximately fourth dimension back. This twelvemonth was my commencement fourth dimension to facilitate student-led conferences and, boy, were they an incredible learning experience. 

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 student-led conference is basically the educatee inviting their parents to the flat to part inward the learning journey. As it was my commencement fourth dimension to concur student-led conferences, I contacted my quondam mentor from my commencement twelvemonth of teaching, Helen Teese. She explained the procedure to me as well as also how she has been organising the PYP Exhibition alongside her flat for the past times half-dozen years. 

I took what I learned from Helen as well as brought it to my flat as well as therefore asked them how they would similar the conferences to go. My students are especially abrupt as well as straight off decided what they wanted their parents to see. After a curt lesson on social skills, the students decided they would encounter their parents at the door as well as pick out them through 4 stations. We decided nosotros could schedule 4 groups at the same time.

1. The commencement station was educatee portfolios. These portfolios comprise samples of educatee survive throughout the year. Some of the pieces are selected past times students as well as approximately past times teachers. We decided that nosotros would demo our parents approximately of our recent Mathematics agreement inward our portfolios at this station.

2. After this, parents were escorted to ii chairs facing the Smartboard as well as our electrical flow enquiry cycle. In the PYP, at that topographic point are half-dozen units of inquiry as well as nosotros learn using dissimilar versions of the enquiry cycle. The students genuinely walked through the dissimilar parts of the enquiry cycle, explaining the research procedure to their parents. 

Student Explaining the Inquiry Cycle

After this, the educatee straight off went over to the Smartboard, opened their most recent UOI summative assessment as well as went through it. For this item unit, nosotros decided upon a cast or presentation. Students were given a pick of a poster, PowerPoint, Scratch animation or anything else that covered the criteria.

Action - Teaching Others what nosotros Learned

3. The side past times side station was the Literacy station. In our class, nosotros similar to write books collaboratively as well as therefore either impress them or brand them into digital stories to part online. Have a await at i mass nosotros made here. This is an fantabulous means to learn both the reading as well as writing components of the Literacy orbit as well as sequence every bit good every bit the transdisciplinary skills. I had planned to pick out a laptop ready therefore the students would but demo the video but, due to technical difficulties, nosotros had to modify plans as well as read the stories. The students also highlighted the orbit as well as sequence outcomes nosotros had been working on land creating the books.

Reading as well as Displaying Literacy Skills

4. The finally station was a reflection station for the parents. They were asked what they liked best virtually their child's work. Some of the students were over the satelite alongside the positive responses from their parents. Parents were also asked how nosotros could ameliorate the conferences for side past times side year. This feedback was therefore analysed past times the class. The instructor therefore emailed or had the purpose staff telephone weep upwards the parents to address their ideas. One nurture said he would similar to come upwards into the flat ore often. He was called past times the purpose as well as welcomed to brand an engagement to come upwards inward anytime he would like. It is real of import to follow upwards alongside nurture requests if you lot desire to genuinely prepare the civilization of your school!

Finally, clearly labeled displays similar the i below were on the walls for parents to reckon what the students were learning. 

Previous UOI Display inward Waiting Area

This is likely i of the best ways of reporting that I pick out ever learned!

The Construction Of Knowledge

Have you lot ever wondered why the PYP is structured the agency it is?  What is concept-based learning? I did! While constructivism, agreement yesteryear design, a transdisciplinary computer program as well as inquiry are likely the original components of the PYP, concept-based instruction is what is is all about. During the summer, I read a mass called, "Concept-Based Curriculum as well as Instruction for the Thinking Classroom", yesteryear Lynn Erickson. It has given me a much deeper agreement of how the PYP is ready as well as what it is trying to do.  

Perhaps the most valuable chapter of the mass for me was Chapter 2, The Structure of Knowledge. I am going to summarise it hither for my ain reference as well as for anybody who would similar to sympathise how the PYP industrial plant inwards a fiddling to a greater extent than depth. This was non covered inwards Making the PYP Happen, when I took it online inwards 2015.

Lynn Erikson (2007)

Theories are defined every bit explanations of the nature or behavior of a specified laid of phenomena based on the best prove available (assumptions, accepted principles, procedures). Theories are supported yesteryear best prove rather than absolute facts. Some examples are: The solid soil ridge theory of early on human migration, the VESPR theory inwards chemistry, or the large bang theory of the universe origin.

Principles or Generalisations are also known every bit enduring understandings, key ideas or essential understandings.  A Generalisation is ii or to a greater extent than concepts stated inwards a human relationship that run across these criteria: by as well as large universal application, by as well as large timeless, abstract (to unlike degrees), supported yesteryear unlike examples (situation). Generalisations must live tested against, as well as supported yesteryear the facts. They may postulate quantifiers (often, can, may) inwards the judgement if they are non e'er true. Some examples are: Organisms adjust to changing environments inwards social club to survive, Individuals or events tin exercise key turning points inwards history, Numbers tin live added together inwards unlike ways to achieve a mutual sum,  or The combined exercise of subtle as well as bold colors inwards a rendering tin advise complexity of emotion.

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Principle is also ii or to a greater extent than concepts stated inwards a relationship, but they are considered the foundation "truths" of a discipline. Principles exercise non exercise quantifiers (often, may, can) inwards the sentence. Critical understandings inwards a dependent champaign (e.g., the axioms of mathematics, or the laws of science). Like the universal generalisations, principles are referred to every bit "enduring or essential understandings" or every bit "big ideas" inwards educational circles. Some examples are: The furnish as well as need of goods as well as services comport upon cost, In the absence of forces, an object at residuum volition remain at rest, as well as an object moving at a constant velocity inwards a conduct describe of piece of job volition move yesteryear along doing as well as then indefinitely, Any conduct describe of piece of job tin live extended indefinitely inwards a conduct line, as well as All correct angles are congruent.

PYP Key Concepts - Lenses (whatedsaid.wordpress.com)

Concepts are oft referred to every bit lenses, used to await through. The factual/conceptual integration of thinking should live a witting pattern destination for curriculum as well as instruction. Concepts are mental constructs that "umbrella" unlike topical examples as well as run across these criteria: timeless, universal, abstract (to unlike degrees), unlike examples that portion mutual attributes. Concepts exercise transfer. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 higher aeroplane of abstraction than topics because of their generalisability. Concepts come upward at unlike levels of generality, abstractness as well as complexity. Examples are: System, Order, Habitat, Value or Linear function.

Topics organise a laid of facts related to specific people, places, situations or things. Topics exercise non transfer. They are related to specific examples. Examples are: Ecosystems inwards the Amazon pelting forest, The state of war inwards Iraq, The Pythagorean theorem or Picasso's paintings.

Facts are specific examples of people, places, situations or things. Facts exercise non transfer. They are locked inwards time, house or situation. Examples include: The tropical nature of the Amazon pelting wood creating a dense pelting wood or 2 + 2 = 4, 3 + 1 = 4.

I promise this helps you lot acquire your caput around the PYP. The vast bulk of the inwards a higher house data was gleaned from the source below.

Erikson H. L., 2007, Concept-Based Curriculum as well as Instruction for the Thinking Classroom, Corwin, CA.

Creating A Concept Based Question Lesson - Exercise 1

What is enquiry too what is an enquiry lesson? I promise to get to address these questions inward this weblog post.  The next paragraph has been taken from Page 29 of Making the PYP Happen too is the Definition of enquiry that I get got heard used on the unlike IB courses I get got taken. It is a adept commencement at defining inquiry, at 1 time lets figure out how to brand the PYP happen!

Inquiry, interpreted inward the broadest sense, is the physical care for initiated yesteryear the students or the instructor that moves the students from their electrical flow bird of agreement to a novel too deeper bird of understanding. This tin mean: exploring, wondering too questioning, experimenting too playing alongside possibilities, making connections betwixt previous learning too electrical flow learning, making predictions too acting purposefully to reckon what happens, collecting information too reporting findings, clarifying existing ideas too reappraising perceptions of events, deepening agreement through the application of a concept, making too testing theories, researching too seeking information, taking too defending a position, solving problems inward a multifariousness of ways.

The operate of Lynn Erickson helped me farther empathize how to innovation character lessons too deepen my agreement of the enquiry agency of teaching. In her majority Concept Based Curriculum  too Instruction for the Thinking Classroom she does a corking labor of unpacking what a concept based teaching should expression like. The next is taken from Chapter four of her book, the chapter is on lesson planning. 

Quality lesson plans run across sure enough criteria. They are:

• coherent - There is a clear link betwixt what students must know (factually), empathize (conceptually), too survive able to do (skillfully).
• interesting - The lesson is motivating to students. They desire to participate. 
• time-worthy - The lesson is worth fourth dimension spent.
• standards aligned - The lesson supports the deeper intent of academic standards (the often-implied conceptual intent) too equally the factual too skill-based expectations. 
• differentiated - The lesson meets the learning needs of unlike kinds of learners to maximise successful learning. 

On the in conclusion indicate of differentation the operate of Tomlinson too Edison (2003b, p.3) is quoted. I volition 1 time to a greater extent than exercise it hither equally a reminder to myself too others of the classroom elements that tin survive differentiated or modified.

• Content - The champaign of study affair too skills
• Process - How students do a personal connectedness to what they must know, understand, too survive able to do
• Products - The prove for what students know, understand, too are able to do
• Affect - The synergy betwixt stance too emotions
• Learning surround - The classroom "climate" too operating procedures

I promise this helps you lot equally much equally it has helped me agreement how to prepare an enquiry lesson. If you lot would similar to get got a closer expression at the PYP curriculum documents they tin survive easily flora yesteryear doing a Google search. I flora them here.

References

Erikson H. L., 2007, Concept-Based Curriculum too Instruction for the Thinking Classroom, Corwin, CA.

International Baccalaureate Organisation, (2009), Making the PYP happen:  H5N1 curriculum framework for international top dog education, (2009) International Baccalaureate, Cardiff, Wales.

Tomlinson, C.A., & Eidson, C. A. (2003b). Differentation inward practice: H5N1 resources guide for differentiating curriculum, grades 5-9. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision too Curriculum Development.

Creating A Concept Based Research Lesson - Survive 2

The next lesson has been taken in 1 lawsuit once to a greater extent than from the operate of Lynn Erickson. Her operate has maybe been the biggest attention to me equally I prepared for my novel component equally PYP coordinator.

Marianne Kroll, a primary instructor featured inwards the ASCD video Designing Integrated Units: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Concept-Based Approach, shares a lesson she used for helping 3rd aeroplane students come across how facts furnish a "pattern of evidence". This show tin lav live used to railroad train timeless, transferrable large ideas (generalisations). Marianne explains, "The instructor keeps the generalization inwards ask heed equally the lesson is planned, in addition to constructs a chart using the concepts from the generalization equally column headings" (See Figure 1).

 Grade 3: Lesson on Natural Disasters

Enduring understanding: "Natural disasters acquit on daily lives in addition to the economic scheme of a community."

Guiding Question:

• "What is a natural disaster?"

Teacher Note: After discussing the persuasion of a natural disaster in addition to having students refer or in addition to then dissimilar kinds of natural disasters, furnish them with internet or other appropriate reading material on Hurricane Kartina. Ask them to role mucilaginous notes equally they read, to score places that nation most the impact of the hurricane on the daily lives or economy. Then role the next questions in addition to fill upwardly out the Hurricane Katrina instance on the nautical chart alongside pupil responses. Leave the "Big Idea" column until each row has been filled in.

Figure 1               Natural Disaster Graphic Organiser

Natural Disaster	Impacts: Daily Living	Impacts: Economy	Big Idea
Hurricane Katrina (2005 southern U.S.)
The seismic sea wave inwards Southeast Asia (2004)
Forest Fires that threaten a community

Source: Marianne Kroll, Curriculum Consultant, Eleva, Wisconsin

• How did Hurricane Katrina alter the daily lives of people inwards communities similar New Orleans?
• How did Hurricane Katrina acquit on the concern in addition to economic scheme inwards New Orleans in addition to other involved communities?

After taking students through the Hurricane Katrina example, furnish them alongside resources to compete the same procedure (in cooperative groups) of filling out the chart  related to the 2005 seismic sea wave in addition to wood fires. You could either specify a item geographic location where wood fires threaten communities, such equally southern California, or y'all could get got them generalize how wood fires would threaten the daily lives in addition to economic scheme of a community based on their operate alongside the disaster merely studied. It is of import for the instructor to continue the human relationship betwixt the concepts inwards ask heed when constructing the chart.

Reference

Erikson H. L., 2007, Concept-Based Curriculum in addition to Instruction for the Thinking Classroom, Corwin, CA., p. 103-104.

Writing Key Ideas

When people starting fourth dimension get down writing enduring, essential understandings, they are oft really full general as well as obtuse. The overuse of the verbs impact, affect, influence equally good equally the verbs is, are as well as receive got is a major argue for these weak statements. Learning how to scaffold your thinking using questions is a powerful tool for tightening, clarifying, as well as developing generalisations to deeper levels of sophistication. To scaffold a generalisation from a weaker Level 1, role as well as respond the questions "How?" "Why?" as well as "So what?" Read through the next illustration of a scaffolded generalisation from the bottom upwards (Level 1 to Level 3).

Level 3: Severe disruption of a community's social as well as economical infrastructure leads to feelings of loss, anxiety, confusion, as well as anger. Or, severe disruption of a community's social as well as economical infrastructure requires rigid leadership alongside the mightiness to work solve, communicate effectively as well as collaborate to become things done.

So what-is the significance, or effect, if the social as well as economic, infrastructure is disrupted?

Level 2: Natural disasters tin post away disrupt the social as well as economical infrastructure of a community.

How do natural disasters impact a community?

Level 1: Natural disasters impact a community.

Note that nosotros desire to driblet the weaker Level 1 generalisations inwards our units as well as instruct to Level 2. Teaching to this degree volition heighten academic standards because nosotros are educational activity deeper, conceptual specificity. Level three tin post away locomote used to differentiate as well as challenge advanced learners, or you lot may wishing to accept all the students through to Level 3.

Here are approximately additional scaffolding samples from a 9th shape physics unit of measurement on constant acceleration developed past times Matt Watson as well as Cathy Harne, Twin Valley School District, Elverson, Pennsylvania:

Level 3: The velocity of an object tin post away locomote determined from an x-t graph fifty-fifty if the x-t graph is curved.

So what is the significance?

Level 2: By drawing secant chords as well as solving for the gradient of the chord, i tin post away decide the instantaneous velocity of the object at an intermediate clock reading.

How does the gradient decide the velocity?

Level 1: The gradient of an x-t graph tin post away decide the velocity of an object.

Erikson H. L., 2007, Concept-Based Curriculum as well as Instruction for the Thinking Classroom, Corwin, CA.

The Business Office Of Mathematics Inwards The Pyp - Solar Daytime 1

In Nov I had the pleasance of learning from Tania Mansfield on the Role of Mathematics inwards the PYP.

She told us from the real laid about that, explicitly the things nosotros create inwards the workshop are things you lot tin purpose inwards your classroom.  The alive binder for illustration is where Tania shared all of the workshop documents. This seems to live similar to Edmodo but I prefer the Edmodo interface. One of the outset strategies nosotros were taught was to present fingers if nosotros needed to a greater extent than time. She also reminded us to say her if she is speaking likewise fast.

We introduced ourselves using Maths. Tania pointed out how the who nosotros are unit, is at the laid about of the year. We introduced ourselves using mathematics: favorite number, elevation & birthday. Other ideas were: I convey 3000 ruppeses inwards my wallet, impotent dates to me or I convey flown xxx miles.

The Blob Tree below was used decide prior noesis in addition to how nosotros were feeling.

Blob Tree

Session 2 began alongside Tony Ryan’s Thinker Keys. The Reverse Key - Think of something inwards life that is non a Math problem? Everything is related to Math. How nosotros organize ourselves is a transdisciplinary subject that lends itself to Math. 

Wonder wall – What are nosotros wondering? It is for the children to query in addition to ask. Make certain you lot purpose it…

Wonder Wall

Lines of enquiry in addition to summatice assessment criteria given at the start. We wrote our essential agreements through the PYP attitudes. EAs should live few inwards number, refer to things done, live positive, observable & agreed past times everyone. We did a Think-Pair-Share 

Next nosotros did Living Graphs to represent: the score you lot teach, years pedagogy the pyp, stand upward nearest to the strand you lot prefer, when you lot were inwards schoolhouse how you lot felt at Math (3D). We also looked at Mathematical Glyphs - students brand their faces using shapes. Biography Glyphs - Parents convey to guess if no names are on there.

Living Graph

Next nosotros did a C.O.R.I. - Collect Organise Represent Interpret. This activeness had all v of the strands inwards it. We all had a sticker on our book. This determined who nosotros would locomote with. It was only about other strategy for mixing upward the class. There were ever lots of resources on paw in addition to nosotros had to create a 2 infinitesimal presentation at the end. Everything was stuck upward on the walls later on the presentation. We learned from each others locomote in addition to saw that our locomote was celebrated. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 CORI could live used for creating a rubric. Visual dictionaries, could live used to back upward EAL students. We demand to live certain whether nosotros are checking for math understanding or linguistic communication understanding. We played only about other  game alongside 2 coins called heads up. We had our hands on our heads or bottom spell Tanya tossed a coin.

For our lastly session nosotros were asked to come upward up alongside a Definition of a Math learner. We played a game called house value bingo in addition to therefore did only about reading. We did the iii Rs - Review, Remind, Reflect earlier going on to an activeness where nosotros were asked to guess a length of string. People used a release of dissimilar strategies to guess the length of string. The indicate was that nosotros all come upward into the activeness alongside prior knowledge. 

Reading RRR - Review, Remind, Reflect

The twenty-four sixty minutes catamenia wrapped upward alongside rocket writing - nosotros had to reverberate past times writing for iii mins. What a day!

The Exercise Of Mathematics Inward The Pyp - Twenty-Four Hours 2

When nosotros came inwards for hateful solar daytime ii our function was upward on the walls. There was a photograph slide demo on the whiteboard of our function yesterday. It was obvious that our function was existence celebrated. We as well as thus began amongst a Math song. It was a funny 1 inwards karaoke style.

Student function on display

We read MTPYPH p.82 Constructing pregnant virtually mathematics, Transferring pregnant into symbols as well as Applying amongst understanding. We besides read the introduction sections to the mathematics reach as well as sequence. Tania mentioned INCA assessment like to MAP.

When nosotros went on to applying amongst agreement marketplace days were mentioned when the students get got to purpose coin inwards existent life situations. Tania suggested 60% of the fourth dimension on constructing meaning, 10-15% on transferring pregnant as well as 25-30% of the fourth dimension on applying amongst understanding. Plan a plain trip would hold out some other representative of a summative assessment.

We as well as thus did a "Loopee" - I get got 49 who has 5x5, I get got 25 who has 3x4. This needs to hold out inwards a security surroundings where mistakes are non frowned upon.

First, second, third, kids on picayune bikes

Kids get got to part one-half during their snack.

Look at the 5 strands, purpose a moving painting of a bicycle.

We did the same action amongst a map. There are multiple ways to acquire the strands of discover as well as cast & infinite yesteryear looking at the streets, parks, shapes on the map. We decided to purpose string to stair out the distances of the scream upward road. At the halt nosotros had a gallery walk where nosotros walk to a greater extent than or less as well as await at each other's work.

Sorting shapes

We were sorting shapes. There were no correct or no incorrect answers.

After tiffin nosotros played Making 10s. For this game 5 cards are seat down. The sentiment of the game is to acquire the most cards. To produce this yous get got to brand 10. You may produce this inwards anyway, but a moving painting bill of fare is 10. 

Concept map is a practiced assessment.

Concept Map

TED Talk from Dan Mayer was a really practiced video. 

We should get got Math journals. Students require to reverberate on their Math learning. This is some other agency to acquire the conversation going. Dialogue journals build upward a peachy human relationship amongst yous as well as your students.