Lakecrest Independent School

Teaching Philosophy

Learning through inquiry is the dominant teaching/learning strategy promoted by the PYP. The PYP provides for 6 interdisciplinary “units of inquiry” at each grade level. These are developed using the provincial curriculum for much of the content. The interdisciplinary approach for the Kindergarten to Grade 6 levels provides for the integration of much of the subject material which has been traditionally taught independently. Perhaps this change is most noteworthy in the fine arts and physical education. These traditionally separate subject areas now become integral parts of inquiry units taught at each grade level. Formal scheduled weekly meetings among physical education, music, art classroom teachers ensure that each unit of inquiry includes components of these subject areas. As an international program, the IB PYP promotes the development of a global view. However, it is a strongly held belief in the IB program that in order to understand and appreciate other cultures a student must first understand his/her own culture. The PYP at Lakecrest will include much emphasis on bringing students to a deeper understanding of our Newfoundland and Labrador culture as they learn about others. Personal development is a required component of the PYP. For example, students discover through inquiry and construct new concepts, but are then required to take action. Thus students understand the value of learning and how knowledge obtained can be used to make the world a better place. PYP students, parents and teachers work collaboratively to encourage and develop the IB “student profile”. This is ensured by the required inclusion of planned activities which promote the development the traits of the PYP student profile in teacher daily lesson plans and the culture of the school. The PYP student profile includes the following traits: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective.