Supporting student agency
While it is important to have a clear purpose and direction with learning in a PYP classroom, it is also crucial to foster student voice, choice and ownership. Agentic learners:
take initiative, express interest, express wonderings, make choices, are aware of their learning goals
are actively engaged, monitor and adjust their learning as needed, offer feedback to others, consult on decisions that affect them, take responsibility for their learning
collaborate with teachers and other students to plan, present and assess learning needs
In this section of the planner, consider how students may be active participants in their learning journey. This may include exploring a chosen topic within a related concept, determining how to record and share their thinking with others, with whom or where they work, etc. When learner agency is alive in a classroom, differentiation can be more readily addressed and barriers for learning may be removed to best meet the needs of all.
The development and implementation of choice boards and/or play invitations can be an effective strategy that promotes both student agency and inquiry based learning and teaching. When connected to the identified related concepts for the unit, these may serve as powerful opportunities for student voice, choice and ownership to develop and thrive.
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