International Mindedness is What??
Say what? Exactly what does ” international mindedness” mean and is it even a word? It’s certainly thrown around a lot within IB schools, that’s for sure.
| Learning about our heritage |
My new post as 4th grade teacher at an IB school in France has me immersed with no less than TWELVE different nationalities within my class of 23 kids!! You think I’d better grasp ” international mindedness” and fast?!
The IBO states that each school, international or not, promotes and celebrates the diversity of is own cultural population, both within the school and in its local community. This can be done in so many ways. Most communities have a wealth of cultural diversity within. These can be visitors to the town, the family backgrounds and historical roots of the area. All of this can be harnessed and brought within your classroom.
The Themes Behind The PYP and International Minds.
| Exploring language in relation to Who We Are |
Be sure to include an explanation to the children of the theme of each unit at the beginning of each inquiry. It builds the correlation for them, between what we are doing and why we are doing it. The central idea is inherently tied to the theme after all.
By providing resources that allow the children access to different cultures, perspective and languages, the learner profile is administered, with a climate of open communication and careful expression of ideas, feelings and attitudes.
Implementing International Mindedness.
I like to begin each inquiry with a look at the theme and the central idea and use it as part of a provocation to promote inquiries and action from the children.
Who We Are: International Action
Part of our recent Who We Are unit, in my Tpt store.
looked at the ways we maintain balance of health within our mind and body.
Having looked the factors that influence us through our heritage and culture, the children were inspired to create a healthy snack stand to raise funds for new playground toys. This was a local school issue brought to the forefront by the children. The result was an incredible array of colourful foods from all the nationalities within our class! Truly an international merging of minds to culminate our first unit of inquiry of the year.
Enjoy!
