Blog
Close the schools… we have failed…
We have failed … Most schools have failed to raise generations to live peacefully on earth. We have been unable to understand and respect others. We haven’t just failed; we have also distorted everything. All the concepts are mislaid, and humans are divided into three...
I have the right to live
I write this article while the war on Gaza continues, the killing continues, and the injustice continues… I write this article and a new war started in Lebanon. I write this article knowing well what it means to lose a student, to have your school destroyed, to lose...
Timetables based on questions
As usual, I start my PYP-related blogs with the standards and practices and reference the recent IB documents. Leadership 3: The school organizes time for learning and teaching that provides a broad, balanced and connected curriculum and serves the changing needs of...
A Journey, Not a Race
As PYP coordinators, we are no strangers to change. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a constantly evolving journey to meet our students' needs and the demands of an ever-changing world. When changes are introduced, it’s natural to feel the urge to implement them...
Learn how to learn
"Lifelong learner," "facilitator of learning," and "learner-centered classroom"… We repeat these words in every workshop and educational article. How do we ensure the classroom is learner-centered? It may seem easy initially, but changing our beliefs is challenging....
A successful IB workshop
Ongoing professional development is an essential element in the culture of an IB school. In this blog, we will explore the responsibility of the PYP coordinator and share some ideas to ensure that the workshop will have a positive impact. According to the IB...
Inquiry: 10 Essential Tips
In this blog, I will share 10 tips that will help you start your career as an inquiry-based teacher: Be an inquirer and a role model. You can’t teach in an inquiry-based learning classroom if you are not curious and a lifelong learner. Share your...
A successful IB visit
Many coordinators ask about IB visits and how to prepare for them. Let’s start by looking at the different types of visits: Consultation: This visit takes place during the consultation phase. The IB consultant supports the school with readiness in preparation for the...
Developing or reviewing the POI
Many PYP coordinators face challenges when developing a programme of inquiry (POI) for the first time or revising it with the team. In this blog, as usual, I will share the PYP perspective based on the IB documents and then give you some tips and ideas. Let’s start...
Collaborative planning in the PYP
This blog can be read anytime in connection to a previous blog, “Stand-alone or Integration”. We hear a lot of the following questions related to collaboration in the PYP: When do we meet? What is the frequency of the meetings? Who needs to attend the collaborative...
Stand-alone or Integration?
As a PYP workshop leader and experienced PYP coordinator, I hear a lot of the following questions: How many integrations do we need to do per year? Do specialist teachers (Arts, PSPE) need to do 6 units per year? Do we need to create a stand-alone unit? Can we connect...
I’m a primary years coordinator; where do I start?
I will answer this question using three scenarios. Scenario 1: I'm a new PYP coordinator in a new IB PYP school. 1- Start with the IB publications: The most crucial thing for an IB PYP teacher/ coordinator is to become familiar with the...
A Collaborative Approach to Goal Setting
The start of the new year or the new term brings an opportunity for fresh beginnings, growth, and self-discovery. For educators, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment in students is paramount to their success. One approach to achieve this is to actively...
The Role of Teachers in the Age of AI
What is a teacher, and is he still crucial in our daily life? What is his role in the era of artificial intelligence (AI)? Today, you can design, write, and sing by clicking one button. You can publish anything and become an influencer on social media without a...
Let’s Discuss Agency in the PYP
When the enhanced PYP was published in 2018, all PYP teachers were discussing the word Agency by asking the following questions: What will it look like? How do we implement it? How do we measure it? Why is it important? How do we discuss it with the parent community?...
Designing High Quality Units: Where to Start
We all struggle sometimes to design high quality units and we find it a very complicated process. Let me tell you something, I can give you an excellent unit designed by an excellent educator and once you implement it in your classroom it will not be successful for...
Do you hear their voice?
The PYP promotes student-centered classrooms where students are independent and empowered to make choices in their learning experiences. My main question in this article is, as teachers, what we are doing to ensure that this is happening in our classrooms? How can we...
An induction programme for new teachers
In this article a PYP educator of a continuum school in Qatar presents an induction plan for new teachers joining the team. The yearly turnover of teaching staff is one of the biggest challenges for international schools. New teachers joining the team usually...
The power of networking
Have you thought about joining one of the IB networks or associations? In this article you will learn about how the IB World Schools collaborate through networks in the gulf region. When I moved to Dubai (2010) as a PYP coordinator, I had heard that the PYP...
Back to school
In this blog, I would like to share some ideas about going back to school: 1- Moving away from a reward and punishment system: During the first week of the school year, students, in collaboration with the teacher, write essential agreements. These agreements consist...
I’m a new teacher, where to start regarding inquiry-based learning
I will share 9 tips that will help you start your career as an inquiry-based teacher: Be an inquirer, be a role model. You can’t teach in an inquiry-based learning classroom if you are not curious and a life long-learner. Share your journal, your...