Primary Principal Update – Open Primary Share

As many of you already know, Friday, November 4th is our first Open Primary Share. This is an opportunity for you to visit our school and observe students engaging in everyday learning experiences. The primary school will be open to all parents for 1 hour between 13:30 and 14:30, but we ask that you do not talk while you are in the learning spaces as this would become overly distracting.

At BIS, inquiry is fundamental to the process of teaching and learning. Here are some things you may observe that are worth celebrating.

• Are (thoughtful, connected) questions being asked by students?

• Are students’ questions visible and valued in the learning space?

• Are students ‘doing the learning’ rather than having the learning ‘done to them’?

• Are students doing the cognitive ‘heavy lifting’ or is the teacher doing all the hard thinking work?

• Are students collaborating – teaching and learning with each other?

• Is there movement? Are students free to move around the learning space? Is there flexibility and fluidity here?

• Is the teacher moving around, interacting, observing (as opposed to standing and delivering)

• Is technology being used as a means to an end – to gather, sort and share learning?

• Do the students know why they are doing what they are doing? Is the teacher transparent in her/his discourse?

• Is there a sense of curiosity/wonder/intrigue/anticipation?

• Is the communication between the people in the space (teachers and learners alike) respectful and warm?

• Are the teachers excited/curious/engaged/energised?

• Is there some laughter? (the good kind)

• Does the physical/visual environment tell me something about the learning in this space? Can I connect with a narrative of inquiry? Are students using the visual environment to support them as independent learners?

• Does this space make ME curious/engaged/intrigued? Does it invite me to want to learn, to be here, to participate, to investigate?

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. Please feel free to join homerooms, music, physical education or additional languages classes. As always thank you for your ongoing support.

Warm regards,

Alan Lorenzini