Building Our Primary Years Programme: A Shared Journey of Learning

Frau Viola Buck

IB PYP Coordinator | Head of English Primary

GESM KiGa and  Grundschule recently concluded a highly engaging and productive two-day IB Category 1 workshop, “Building your IB programme: Primary years,” bringing together our Primary teachers for two days of professional learning, reflection and collaboration.

Category 1 workshops are designed for educators who are new to an IB programme, providing a foundation in the philosophy, principles and practices needed to begin developing a strong understanding of the IB approach. For GESM, the workshop provided an especially valuable opportunity for our teachers to deepen their understanding of the PYP and reflect on how its principles can come to life in our classrooms.

The workshop was led by Mr. Declan Chen, an experienced IB workshop leader, school evaluation-visit team member and programme leader. With a background in international and bilingual schools, Mr. Chen brought a wealth of experience and research into inquiry-based, concept-driven, project-based, problem-based and phenomenon-based learning. His expertise and engaging approach encouraged our teachers to ask questions, share ideas and connect the principles of the PYP to their own teaching practice.

More importantly, the two days provided our teachers with the time and space to learn together, collaborate and build a shared understanding of the PYP. Through discussions, activities, reflection and collaborative planning, teachers explored how inquiry, concepts, learner agency and meaningful learning experiences can shape the way our students learn.

This professional learning comes at an exciting time for GESM. As we continue to strengthen our KiGa and Primary departments, our Grundschule has now joined our English Primary in implementing the PYP as its curriculum framework. Having a shared framework across both sections creates exciting possibilities for greater collaboration and coherence in our Primary programme. This year, we look forward to bringing our German and English KiGa and Primary communities even closer together through joint assemblies, shared outdoor learning experiences, collaborative activities and more opportunities for bilingual learning. These experiences will allow our students to learn not only within their own sections, but also from and with one another.

As a German school abroad, we also continue to strengthen and celebrate our German identity within our international and multilingual community. The PYP provides a wonderful framework for connecting our students, teachers and cultures while maintaining the unique strengths of both our German and English sections.

The workshop was an important first step in what promises to be an exciting year of shared learning, collaboration and growth. We look forward to seeing our teachers translate their learning into meaningful experiences for our students as we continue building a strong, connected and internationally minded KiGa and Primary communities at GESM.

• 

• 

• 

• 

•