Julie Kertesz

When do you learn best? Thinking back to your personal primary years experience, is there a lesson that you can remember well? Can you visualize, feel, or hear the lesson that you are remembering? Usually the most remembered classes are ones that have involved an experience where, as students, we can interact and experience the knowledge being taught. In an IB classroom, educators are trying to provide this experience through a collaborative environment. In a collaborative classroom teachers and students can act as instructor, learner, and/or facilitator. The teacher, however,…read more

International perspective: A driving force behind the PYP is the philosophy of international mindedness. The IB’s mission statement strives to nurture young people who recognize that they are global citizens and who are motivated to make changes to and in the world. Along this idea, the new U.O.I. for Grade 1 discusses the celebrations that occur in November and December. The children are learning about: Diwali, Christmas, Ramadan, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Posada. Teacher Questions: What is a culture? What is a tradition? What are some important holidays that people celebrate in November and…read more

Relatively fresh from kindergarten, Grade 1 students have a lot more responsibility and expectations as they continue into their primary education. These new graduates are certainly inquisitive when their school environment fosters exploration. Applying new skills into their learning is essential for their ability to construct meaning of what they are learning. Using the IB curriculum, students are taught a set of transdiscilinary skills that they can apply during learning and in life outside of the classroom. The transdiscilinary skills taught are: social skills, communication skills, thinking skills, research skills and self-management skills.  This week I…read more