The PYP Approaches to Learning or commonly known as Skills are a set of transdisciplinary skills that are valuable for all their learning within the classroom and in life outside of school. They are tools that can be used by students across all subject areas to become successful learners. Opportunities are provided for students to practice using these skills and reflect on how they are applying them to their learning. You can support the use of these skills outside of school by referring to them with your children and the community. The more purposeful, guided opportunities we have to use them, the more skilled we become in their use.
Thinking
Acquisition of Knowledge
Gaining specific facts, ideas, vocabulary; remembering in similar form
Comprehension
Grasping meaning from material learned; communicating and interpreting learning
Analysis
Taking knowledge or ideas apart; separating into component parts; seeing relationships; finding unique characteristics.
Synthesis
Combining parts to create wholes; creating, designing, developing and innovating
Evaluation
Making judgments or decisions based on chosen criteria; standards and conditions
Dialectical Thought
Thinking about and understanding two or more different points of view at the same time
Metacognition
Analyzing one’s own and others’ thought processes; thinking about how one thinks and learns.
Social
Accepting Responsibility
Taking on and completing tasks in an appropriate manner; being willing to assume a share of the responsibility
Respecting Others
Listening sensitively to others; making decisions based on fairness and equality; recognizing that others’ beliefs, viewpoints, religions and ideas may be different and stating one’s own opinion without hurting others
Cooperation
Working together in a group; being courteous to others, sharing materials; taking turns
Resolving Conflict
Listening carefully to others; compromising; being fair
Group Decision-Making
Listening to others; discussing ideas; asking questions; working towards consensus
Adopting a Variety of Group Roles
Understanding what behavior is appropriate in a given situation and act accordingly
Communication
Listening
Listening to directions; listening to others; listening to information
Speaking
Speaking clearly, expressing ideas clearly and logically
Reading
Reading a variety of sources for information and pleasure; and comprehending what has been read
Writing
Recording information and observations; taking notes and paraphrasing; keeping a journal or record
Viewing
Interpreting and analyzing visuals and multimedia; understanding how they convey ideas, values and beliefs; making informed choices about personal viewing experiences
Presenting
Constructing visuals and multimedia for a range of purposes and audiences
Non-Verbal Communication
Recognizing the meaning of visual and kinesthetic communication
Self-Management
Gross Motor Skills
Exhibiting skills in which groups of large muscles are used
Fine Motor Skills
Exhibiting skills in which precision in small muscle systems is required
Spatial Awareness
Displaying a sensitivity to the position of objects in relation to oneself or each other
Organization
Planning and carrying out activities effectively
Time Management
Using time effectively and appropriately
Safety
Engaging in personal behavior that avoids placing oneself or others in danger or at risk.
Healthy Lifestyle
Making informed choices to achieve a balance in nutrition, rest, relaxation, health and exercise
Codes of Behavior
Knowing and applying the appropriate rules and procedures of groups of people
Informed Choices
Selecting the appropriate course of action or behavior based on fact or opinion
Research
Formulating Questions
Identifying what one wants to know and asking compelling and relevant questions
Observing
Using all of the senses to notice relevant details
Planning
Developing a course of action and devising ways to find out necessary information
Collecting Data
Gathering information from a variety of first-second-hand sources
Recording Data
Describing and recording information in a variety of ways
Organizing Data
Sorting and categorizing information and arranging in understandable forms
Interpreting Data
Drawing conclusions from relationships and patterns that emerge from data
Presenting Research Findings
Communicating what is learned; choosing appropriate media.