We have started our PYP Exhibition with a level of enthusiasm that is tangible. The students are for the want of a better word 'bubbling'. We had been on a 'pre-tuning in' field trip to climb to the top of a large monument in the middle of the city. This was to create a sense of wonder . . . what is outside our walls? . . what can we see when leave the 'bubble' of our school? and really spend some time looking at what lies beyond our walls. The stage was set on Monday when students arrived at school to an empty classroom. It was cleared of all the tables and chairs, all that remained was a big open space. . . the possibilities were waiting! Now we are aware of each student and as a result we knew that about a third of the students are new to PYP and as such had no prior experience with the PYP Exhibition. They had understanding of the staging day of the Grade 10 personal project that we interacted with last month but the Exhibition was a whole knew thing. So the reflection video that showed the journey of the Grade 5's from last year was our provocation to get us thinking. The students watched and listened and shared their thinking and understanding with each other. We asked them to make a connection, or think of a key word or phrase and then to be part of creating a Graffiti wall that will grow and develop over the journey of the inquiry. The wall have been hung outside and already people are adding to them . . . we will watch them change . . . We have discussed passion, experience and curiosity, we have shared stories, laughter and tears. We are making it real. The key is keeping it close to the heart and keeping it real for our students - with our students. The space they work in needed to be their space . . . they need to know what works for them . . . how can they create a space that will help them to feel connected and in tune with what will work? We looked at studio spaces, we watched videos of spaces that other students had created. Our students sketched plans and went home to think about it. The came back 'fired up' . . . one boy came with plants, a lamp and his own chair on wheels! He was charged - his enthusiasm was tangible, to quote him "...Yep - I've moved in!". Other students brought flowers and fans and organisers . . . they had a vision and it was starting to build for them. Others needed time - they need to find the space and feel it - they need to develop their space, they need to create their studio and they will in their time, in their way, so it works for them. The past two days have been fast, they have been full on, there is so much happening (much of it not connected to the Exhibition) . . . the students are bubbling and it is such a wonderful feeling when students are finding it difficult to go home because they just want to be in their studio. Not counting down . . . but two feet in with heart and mind - this journey is already inspiring! Students on a personal inquiry with their heads and hearts ready . . . what a great starting point. Comments are closed.
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AuthorTeaching in an IBPYP school; interests: student agency, technology integration, growth mindset & the continuous cycle of improvement that is the world of education, learning and being! Archives
June 2018
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