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Approaches to Learning

Skills in the IB Primary Years Programme

Approaches toLearningSkills in the IB Primary Years Programme
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Wade King Elementary School

Email: hana.anderson@bellinghamschools.org
Website: wadeking.bellinghamschools.org
Location: 2155 Yew Street Road, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 647-6840
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WadeKingElementary/
Twitter: @wadekingelem

Approaches to Learning in the IB Primary Years Program

As an IB school implementing the Primary Years Program (PYP), Wade King continuously strives to incorporate all the essential elements of the IB PYP. One of the essential elements of the program includes the PYP Approaches to Learning, which can also be thought of as sets of skills. These Approaches to Learning can be categorized into five groups: thinking skills, social skills, communication skills, self-management skills, and research skills. Everyone in our learning community works to develop these skills through our teaching and learning. These skills support students as they approach their self-directed learning and inquiry.


The skills and sub-skills that make up the PYP Approaches to Learning, as well as a brief description of each, can be found below (along with some photos of our incredible Wade King students).

Thinking Skills Thinking Skills

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Acquisition of Knowledge

We learn new things, including facts and vocabulary, along with concepts and deeper knowledge.
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Comprehension

We work hard to understand what we learn, and we practice telling others about it.
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Application

We are able to use what we've learned by thinking and applying our knowledge in a new way.
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Analysis

We can break down the things we learn and take a closer look by comparing, contrasting, and seeing relationships.
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Synthesis

We are able to put things together and look at the big picture. This may involve creating, designing, or inventing something new.
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Evaluation

We practice determining the quality of our work, expressing and defending our opinions.
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Dialectical Thought

We practice recognizing different points of view, and work to understand the reasons for differing viewpoints.
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Metacognition

We think about our process for learning, articulate our thinking, and practice making good decisions.
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We are thinkers!

The Wade King learners are continuously acquiring and applying new knowledge, reasoning, and practicing responsible decision-making.

Social Skills Social Skills

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Accepting Responsibility

We take on tasks and accept the responsibility to carry them through to completion.
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Respecting Others

We practice listening to others, considering their thoughts and opinions, then responding fairly.
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Cooperating

We work well with others by compromising, being courteous, and sharing responsibility.
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Resolving Conflict

We work out problems by listening to others, accepting responsibility, and being fair.
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Group Decision-Making

We practice working with others to listen and discuss options, work towards an agreement, and make informed decisions.
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Adopting a Variety of Group Roles

We practice how to interact with others in different roles and as a part of different groups.

Communication Skills Communication Skills

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Writing

We record what we learn by documenting our thoughts, ideas, and observations.
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Viewing

We view and interpret signs and images in a variety of contexts.
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Presenting

We practice presenting ideas and concepts that we have learned in a variety of ways.
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Listening

We listen to others when they are presenting information and giving directions.
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Speaking

We practice clear and concise verbal expression of ideas.
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Reading

We can read from a variety of sources for different purposes. We can also draw conclusions and make inferences from what we read.

Self-Management Skills Self-Management Skills

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Gross Motor Skills

We work to build strength in our larger muscles.
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Fine Motor Skills

We practice using our smaller muscles for precision.
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Spacial Awareness

We practice being aware of the space around ourselves and our location in relation to others.
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Organization

We plan activities and carry them out effectively.
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Time Management

We practice using our time efficiently and effectively.
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Safety

We actively avoid behavior that puts ourselves or others in danger.
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Healthy Lifestyle

We practice self-care by making good decisions about how we stay fit, what we eat, how we relax, and how we stay clean.
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Codes of Behavior

We work hard to follow the essential agreements of the learning communities we participate in.
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Informed Choices

We make educated decisions based on information and facts.

Research Skills Research Skills

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Formulating Questions

We are curious about a variety of research topics, and actively pose relevant questions.
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Observing

We use our senses to notice relevant details and features related to our learning.
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Planning

We are always gathering relevant information to determine how we can best learn.
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Collecting Data

We gather information from a variety of sources.
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Recording Data

We practice describing and recording information in a variety of ways and from a variety of sources.
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Organizing Data

We organize information we have gathered by sorting, categorizing, and using various organizational tools.
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Interpreting Data

We work to understand the data that has been organized from various sources, and draw conclusions from the information.
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Presenting Research Findings

We can select the appropriate media to communicate what has been learned from the research.
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We are inquirers!

Being an inquirer involves asking questions, researching those questions, organizing the data gathered, and conducting an analysis of the findings to draw conclusions.
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