At our international school in Riyadh, One World International School, we braid the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) with the American Common Core curriculum for students from PreKG to Grade 5, creating a dynamic educational environment that fosters inquiry, critical thinking, and global awareness. This unique blend equips students with essential skills for lifelong learning, promoting adaptability in diverse contexts.
Educators continuously enhance their practices, and their data-driven insights enable personalized teaching strategies, ensuring that instruction is aligned with each student’s strengths and areas for growth. Our inclusive approach accommodates different learning needs, allowing every student to thrive. Additionally, the PYP encourages meaningful parental engagement through workshops and learning events, fostering a supportive community that enhances children’s holistic development. Our PYP students gain significant long-term advantages, such as strong foundational skills and a global perspective, preparing them for higher education challenges. Read what our Deputy PYP Coordinator Ms. Shireen Banna has to say about this.
1. What long-term advantages do PYP students gain for higher education?
PYP students develop a strong foundation in critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, and international-mindedness. These skills prepare them for the challenges of higher education, as they are accustomed to exploring complex concepts and collaborating with diverse peers. Furthermore, the emphasis on self-directed learning fosters independence and resilience, qualities that are essential for success in university and beyond.
2. How does combining the PYP with the American curriculum benefit students, and what makes this approach unique compared to other options?
Integrating the PYP with the American curriculum offers students a balanced educational experience that emphasizes both inquiry-based learning and academic rigor. This approach creates a diverse learning environment where students can explore global perspectives while also meeting the standards of the American education system. Unlike traditional models, this combination fosters critical thinking and creativity, preparing students to thrive in a globalized world. At our school, we embrace a holistic approach to education that nurtures the intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development of each student. By integrating academic and extracurricular engagements with experiential learning, we foster critical thinking and creativity while promoting collaboration and empathy among peers. Our programs, such as the Heartfulness program, PSPE, after-school activities, and STEAM programs emphasize the importance of mental well-being and physical health through mindfulness practices, sports, technology, and arts, ensuring that students are not only prepared for academic success but also equipped with the life skills necessary for personal growth and resilience. This comprehensive framework cultivates a supportive community where every student can thrive, discover their passions, and become well-rounded individuals.
3. How does the PYP encourage parents to engage in their child’s learning?
The PYP promotes parental engagement in various ways such as regular communication, workshops, and family learning events. This year, OWIS Riyadh has launched a new initiative called “Let’s Grow Together”. The purpose of this program is to strengthen the partnership between parents and teachers by creating opportunities for collaboration and professional development. This not only helps the parents better understand the PYP framework and build meaningful relationships with teachers and other parents, but also contributes to a positive school culture that values collaboration and feedback. We believe this initiative will not only strengthen our community but also enhance the learning experience for our students.
4. How does the PYP accommodate students with different learning needs?
The PYP is designed to be inclusive, providing various strategies to accommodate diverse learning needs. This includes differentiated instruction, flexible grouping, and the use of assistive technologies. Because the learners are at the heart of the Teaching and Learning process, they are given the agency to design their learning journey and decide on what they want to learn and how they want to learn it. This kind of differentiation provides students with different learning needs with the choice and voice to take ownership over their learning and grow at their own pace. In OWIS, a student with learning difficulties might also receive additional support through targeted interventions or tasks modified by SEN experts, ensuring that they can fully participate in the learning process alongside their peers. In addition to these accommodations, at OWIS, we assess not only the depth of understanding of each student but also their growth as learners. Using self-monitoring checklists and rubrics, both the students and teachers can evaluate the students’ embodiment of the learner profile attributes as well as their development of the Approaches To Learning skills. The balance between concepts, knowledge, skills and attributes is a significant evidence that OWIS aims to cater for each individual, based on their own needs.
5. How does data help personalize teaching in the PYP? Can you give an example?
Data plays a crucial role in personalizing teaching within the PYP framework. By analyzing assessments, observations, and student reflections, educators can identify individual strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. For this reason, besides using MAP tests and CAT4 to assess where students are at and set goals for each to move forward, we have designed our own trackers at OWIS to document where students are at in reading, writing, and mathematics before the start of each unit. This helps educators identify the different group levels and differentiate accordingly. Towards the end of each unit, the teachers assess and document the results in the same trackers. They look for improvements to celebrate and identify areas that require further development. For example, if data shows that a student struggles with mathematical concepts but excels in verbal communication, the teacher might provide tailored support through verbal explanations or collaborative group work, allowing the student to engage meaningfully with the material.
6. How do educators at OWIS continue to improve their PYP practices?
Educators at One World International School engage in continuous professional development through workshops, collaborative planning sessions, and peer observations. We also encourage reflective practices, where teachers analyze their teaching methods to identify areas for improvement. Additionally, participation in IB workshops and conferences allows our educators to stay updated on best practices and innovations in the PYP framework. Our IB PYP educators are dedicated to delivering the highest quality education by fostering an engaging, inquiry-driven environment that nurtures each student’s unique potential and passion for learning. We believe in nurturing global lifelong learners, one at a time.
