Developing Relationships

This past week, and continuing throughout the year, Preschool, as with the other classes in Primary, has been focusing on developing relationships between children, teachers and parents. In the early years, relationships are a fundamental part of a child’s experiences. As children get older they learn with their peers by questioning, discussing, negotiating, finding and solving problems together.

Children’s relationships are influenced by a sense of self- identity and belonging, family, culture, friendship and collaboration. In PYP classrooms we aim to nurture relationships in which children feel free to question and hold discussions while trusting that their perspectives are acknowledged and valued. As teachers we try and model sensitivity, discretion and respect. We also try to get to know you, as parents, so that we can share your child’s learning journey together.

How do we develop relationships in the PYP?

• Group discussions
• Sharing personal experiences from within and outside the classroom
• Working in pairs or small groups to complete challenges
• Setting up activities where children have to interact to share ideas and information and construct meaning together
• Planning units of Inquiry such as friendships, culture, self-identity
• Promoting and exploring social skills (accepting responsibility, respecting others, cooperating, resolving conflict, group decision-making and adopting a variety of group roles) through different units
• Exploring the attributes of the learner profile in everyday situations (caring, thinker, open- minded, reflective)
• All members of the community modelling the PYP attitudes (cooperation, tolerance, empathy, respect)
• Community engagement activities
• Having fun together and laughing!

Below are some photos of Preschool building relationships!