Recent Coffee Mornings: Montessori and PYP in KG, and Local / Global Issues in ES

How Montessori and the IB PYP Kindergarten Work Together in the Kindergarten

 

On Friday, November 7th, we hosted a Kindergarten Coffee Morning called Montessori and the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) at Seisen. Slides from the event are available in the Parent Portal.

 

The main takeaway is that the two programs, Montessori and PYP, have a lot in common. Oftentimes, students are developing understandings or skills in both programs during one learning experience. How is this possible? 

 

Ideas at the heart of Montessori and ideas at the heart of the PYP compliment each other. For example, both programs share some ideas about learning and teaching, such as valuing inquiry, valuing independence, and stressing the importance of interactions in the learning community to nurture these goals.

 

Both programs, Montessori and PYP, also aspire to develop globally minded, life long learners.

 

 

In addition to discussing ways that Montessori and PYP work together in the Kindergarten, parents and guardians at the November 7th Coffee Morning had the opportunity to go to classrooms and observe teaching and learning in real time!

 

Making Connections to Local and Global Issues - Why and How

 

On Friday, November 14th, we hosted an Elementary School Coffee Morning called Local / Global Issues. Slides from the event are available in the Parent Portal.

 

Students in all grades are exposed to a surprising variety of global issues, such as homelessness, wars, climate change, wealth inequality and migration. That is one reason these issues, taught in their local and global contexts, are part of the curriculum at Seisen.

 

However, making connections to local and global issues is also a direct consequence of the Seisen Mission, which states, for example, that “we seek to empower each student… to become competent and compassionate players in our global society, capable of empowering others and of bringing hope and peace to our ever changing world.”

 

 

During the coffee morning, parents and guardians had the opportunity to reflect on how the IB Primary Years Program also prioritizes action, agency, ownership and international mindedness.

 

The students transform their learning into action through learning experiences. Sometimes, that requires them to reflect on perspectives, perspectives they understand and share, as well as perspectives they may disagree with.

 

Perspective-taking is necessarily and important!

 

 

Learning to solve problems can sometimes be messy and complicated, but it is worthwhile because that is how the children become independent problem solvers.

 

Similarly, children sometimes respond to local and global issues with a range of big feelings, such as confusion or frustration or anger. As with problem solving, it can be messy and complicated. As with problem solving, it is worthwhile, because that is how the children develop an international mindset.

 

During the workshop, we offered tips for parents and guardians to use when children have strong feelings from learning about local and global issues. Please take a look at the workshop slides in the Parent Portal for details.

 

Here are some thoughts from parents and guardians who attended the workshop:

• I need to learn not to try to fix my daughter’s feelings and to respect and accept her feelings.
• I can help my child with their feelings by a hug.
• Bias is normal, universal.
• The main focus is to teach the children to navigate different information from a variety of sources. 
• The IB program is really about preparing the children to become globally aware which means having an open mind rather than having the answer.
• Recently I was too busy and I feel like I forgot that I am learning from my child. Raising a child means raising (re-raising) myself.
• As a parent, I realize I need to keep up to date with world issues more to support my child. I know too little. 
• Listen to what kids think, there is no need to change their feeling.

 

Here are a few questions from parents at the end of the workshop:

• How do you help kids to transfer their understanding of each topic to another situation? They focus on concepts such as change and connection and formulate generalizations that ideally transfer.
• How should we parents act when our daughter can’t accept our behaviour? Ha! There are probably so many ways! Explain your perspective, start with the purpose that drives your own behaviour. 
• How do we get good information/resources? Please start with the Seisen website: Student Life - Library - Online Resources.
• I want to talk about many things, but she is not interested most of the time? Teachers deliberately plan ways to engage children. For example, there may be a local connection that will interest her.