Visit to Willow Park Primary School

By Team E30th May 2012

First impressions

Foyer• “Action Wall”• Willow park Programme of

Inquiry for the year framed• Inquirer together, inspire

forever. Classrooms• full of “IB language”• Colourful• Children walking the talk

Visible thinking

• Inquiry Model visible in the classrooms in different forms, e.g. cut out, post notes. Reflection is at the centre. Reflection takes place all the time not just at the end, evident in in classroom displays. Reflection sheets filled out and teacher conferenced

Resources for Learning

• Organised into inquiry units, boxes can be added to by teachers

• IB Co-coordinator oversees• National library used• Use “primary resources’

e.g. people, incidental• In resources each syndicate

for each unit has a PYP reflection, resource, summary folder

Essential Agreement

• All classrooms have an essential agreement.

• Class meetings in upper classes are held at least twice a week

Essential Agreement

• Classes are individual as to how they display their essential agreements

• Flexibility and creativity is encouraged amongst classes

• Planning is in Syndicates

Key Concepts

• Key concepts are displayed. Students have a clear understanding of what each key concept means and it is evident in wall displays.

• Inquiry “key concept” driven not “profile” driven

Action

• Important that “action” is taken.

• Evident with “Action” books

• Wall displays• Foyer “Worm Tea” for

sale

Learner Profiles and AttitudesWall displays school wide attitude for week certificates at assembly

Learner profile Attributes

• Added to as year progresses

Flexible Timetable

• Students able to timetable their work each week.

• Incidental learning • Planning often done daily

or retrospectively• PE, Mandarin,Art, Music,

Dance and Drama taught separately

• Other languages not evident on wall displays

Reflection

• By Students• By Staff• Not afraid to modify or

throw out what hasn’t worked

• Syndicates plan and reflect together

Summary

• Same inquiry throughout school.

• Year 0-2 timetabled 3-6 more Trans-disciplinary

• Wall displays, display the learning journey and are concept based

• Flexible planning allowing for incidental learning

• School wide review process every 9 weeks

• One Book option sent home to parents, no portfolios

• Reflection sheets used• Some separate

Specialist• Mandarin/Maori taught

as specialist