# Early years and primary years ATL categories

The following table provides a summary of the Early Years/Primary Approaches to Learning skill categories and skill clusters. 

![](/files/T31YoEK7TBWHymRz2VdI)

Then we will look at each category separately in detail where suggested resources and implementation ideas are provided.

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| Categories                                             | Clusters                                                                                                                                    |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Thinking skills ![](/files/es4MpL3COghaDmnkUjUE)       | <ul><li>Critical-thinking skills</li><li>Creative-thinking skills</li><li>Transfer skills</li><li>Reflection/metacognitive skills</li></ul> |
| Research skills![](/files/8YF8FRH7txK05ISQG83A)        | <ul><li>Information-literacy skills</li><li>Media-literacy skills</li><li>Ethical use of media/information (Primary only)</li></ul>         |
|                                                        |                                                                                                                                             |
| Communication skills![](/files/ZIjJzxVkDKOQ4Vuq8xN1)   | <ul><li>Exchanging-information skills</li><li>Literacy skills</li><li>ICT skills (Primary only)</li></ul>                                   |
| Social skills![](/files/SSYQqLw2R0HAU7Unzzlp)          | <ul><li>Developing positive interpersonal relationships and collaboration skills</li><li>Developing social-emotional intelligence</li></ul> |
| Self-management skills![](/files/ri5hSApxXbRIsvPZbBsF) | <ul><li>Organization skills</li><li>States of mind</li></ul>                                                                                |

Even if you are new to PYP and using the Approaches to Learning, it is likely that you are already incorporating these types of skills in your teaching. Use the appropriate checklist based on your experience to help you evaluate this.

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