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Challenges and solutions roadmap

I did this with my grade 3s at the end of the year as reflection and solutions but have flipped it now to be challenges and finding solutions.

The aim is to draw a road map that starts now and ends up with PYPX. They draw a road that has right/left turns, deadends, twists and turns, mountains, roundabouts etc on it. They plot along the way challenges that they might come cross in any subject/part of school life and find solutions that they could use. They might have to turn back at a deadend, take a left turn instead of right, face challenges going up mountain etc.

They can post to Toddle and then review it as the year goes on, with a reflection after PYPX.

When I've done my example. I'll add it to here.

Have a go...Lucy!

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Multi-Language scavenger hunt!

(Thanks Chat GPT)

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In case you want, having students decorate popsicle sticks can be useful for many purposes, during the school year. Here are a few reasons why it might be important, and useful ideas about how to use them.

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Classroom Management: Name Sticks

Name sticks are a useful, yet effective, classroom management tool. They're also extremely versatile.

Before I really get started here, I want to point out that name sticks are nothing new. Teachers have used them for years. I think that's a testament to how useful they can be.

I recently shared my name sticks on Instagram where I also shared how I use them, and a few friends over there shared how they use them. That's what this post is all about, all the ways you can use name sticks in your classroom.

What is a name stick?
Name sticks are exactly what the name implies, sticks with (student) names written on them. Most often, you'll see teachers using craft sticks like the ones shown below. In my opinion, "jumbo" size is the way to go. That size is just easier when you're trying to write names.

You can use them straight out the package. Grab a stick, write a name (I like to use Sharpie), repeat. Put all of your sticks into a little pail/can.

Sometimes, you might see teachers get kind of crafty with their sticks. I tend to get crafty. This is not necessary. Some teachers like to craft and enjoy making things for their classroom.

Some years, I paint my sticks. And, every year, I glue a bow on them. I like bows. Not sorry.

I'm often asked where I get my bows. I make them! I use 3/8" wide ribbon, tie a bunch of mini bows, and then hot glue them to the top of the sticks.

When I don't feel like painting the sticks, I just add the bow.

The stick shown above has a unique shape. They look like mini paint stirrers. I found this particular stick style at Hobby Lobby, alongside the "regular" shaped craft stick.

The colors of the bows (or sticks, when I paint them) bears no meaning to me. I simply choose colors that match my classroom because that makes me happy. I grab and label the sticks at random. But, if you choose to decorate your sticks, the colors could mean something if you wanted them to.

How can I use them?
There are so many ways you can use name sticks. Let's take a look at all the ways you can use name sticks in the classroom.

Calling on Students
This is probably the most common way teachers use name sticks: calling on students at random. When you notice that the same 3-4 kids are raising their hands for every single question, pull a name stick. This reminds students to really pay attention.

You can even rely on the name sticks. That is, instead of asking for volunteers to answer questions, share ideas, etc, you simply pull name sticks one a time. Again, this will remind students to stay focused, and you can be sure not to call on the same student more than once.

Note: Some people prefer to write numbers on their sticks so they can reuse the same set of sticks every year. If this idea works for you, that's awesome! I personally prefer writing student names because I don't want I call out numbers (too impersonal). Also, I like to know whose stick I'm pulling because my brain can't match names to numbers that quickly on the spot. So, writing names is probably a time saver for me. Hehe.

Grouping Students
Need to make groups quickly? Then, get that little pail of name sticks because you'll be able to group your 27 students in no time at all. Decide the size of each group. Grab that many sticks and BOOM, you have a group. Repeat until all of your students are grouped.

Pairing Students
I know, I know, pairing up students isn't all that different than grouping students. But, the sticks will still be a super quick way to quickly pair up students.

Tip: A sweet friend on Instagram, Marna, shared a great tip for what to do when you have an odd number of students. She lets that person choose which group they join, I absolutely love this idea.

When my kids start getting a little too comfortable in the hallways, I choose one or two mystery walkers. I simply pull a stick, or two, before we leave the room. I do not announce whose names were pulled. I keep an eye on those students and if they do a stellar job in the hallway, I let them know when we get to wherever it is we are going and I give them a Mystery Walker reward tag. Learn more about reward tags here.

If you have a quick task that you'd like a student to do, pull a stick! You could have that student help you with a specific task like passing out papers or materials, erasing the board, helping you with part of a lesson, and so on. You could also have them deliver things like notes to other teachers/office, retrieve a book from the library for you, or take the lunch cards to the lunchroom.

Another sweet Instagram friend, Candace, shared that she uses her name sticks for seating arrangements. The students draw a stick (which she numbers) and then they sit at the desk with that number. Of course she reserves the right to move kids as needed once they choose their seats, but she tries to give them the benefit of the doubt. Love that!

Sub Helper
Substitutes are often overwhelmed when they guest teach in your classroom. They usually have the goal of following your plans, adhering to schedules, and figuring out procedures which can make learning names quickly more challenging. Sharing the name sticks with your sub means they can use them to call on students, choose helpers, and so on without saying, "Yes, you, with the red shirt."

As a Library Marker
Another fellow teacher on Instagram explained that she's used name sticks as library markers. When students remove a book from the shelf, they place their name stick in that space so they remember where their book goes when it's time to put it away. I've seen this done with paint sticks as well. It's a great way to teach kids to be responsible with shared classroom materials.

Taking Attendance
Once upon a time, my students would walk through the door, take their stick and place it in on one side of a pocket chart to indicate whether they brought their lunch from home, or if they were getting school lunch that day. I placed the pocket chart and stick at the doorway so students remembered to do this as they walked in each morning. I loved this system. I could quickly see who was absent and who needed their lunch card that day. Sadly, this set up just didn't work with our pod situation at school. Since we entered the school all at once from the playground, my class was always backing things up out into the hallway and I didn't have any other place to put this chart. So, I stopped using the sticks in this manner. However, many people on Instagram reported that one of the things they use the sticks for is taking attendance and I still think it's a fabulous use of name sticks.

I'm sure there are other useful ways to use name sticks. If you have one that wasn't mentioned here, please share it in the comments below. :)

DON'T FORGET IT, PIN IT!

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Name sticks are a useful, yet effective, classroom management tool. They're also extremely versatile. Before I really get started here, I want to point out that name sticks are nothing new. Teachers have used them for years. I think that's a testament to how useful they can be.

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Learning Intention: How can I get to know my new classmates better?

Learner Profile: Communicators and Inquirers.

ATL: Communication and social skills.

FYI: It's not necessary to make it a competition.

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Unpacking the IB the learner profile ideas. Website shared by Patricia.

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Walkthrough an IB school's corridors, classrooms, teacher lounges, and offices.

What is the one thing they all have in common?

LEARNER PROFILE ATTRIBUTES POSTERS!

Yet, in workshops, conferences, and online forums the most rampantly asked questions are around "how can we help our students in their development and understanding of the attributes of the IB learner profile?".

All of us have to agree that, the Learner Profile Attributes encapsulate the citizen of the present and future - one who navigates complex challenges to enter a work environment where 60% of jobs don't exist today.

The Learner Profile Attributes make the <3 of the IB PYP. Here, we list down 8 tried-and-tested ways to make them come alive in your classroom! You can use these strategies to make the learner profile attributes more visible and intentional in your classroom!

1. Book tree
An organic display where your children identify, illustrate, and talk about the Learner Profile
Reading and storytelling are a ubiquitous part of any primary years classroom, so they make for rich opportunities to recognize the Learner Profile attributes. Very often, teachers use storytelling as a means to discuss the LPAs - pausing and asking questions about what attribute the characters displayed! This works very well but in our experience, we have seen that this may also hinder the flow of the story. Here, we suggest a better strategy to use the books for LPAs.Co-construct a display with your children. Establish an agreement with your students to identify the LP focus in each book they read. After they read, they may draw a picture/write/talk about how the learner profile attribute was evident in the book. This work can then be added to a book board in the class along with the learner profile attribute infocus. Lots of meaningful discussions and connections take place when you make the learner profile visible in the classroom. An added benefit - children thinking about a particular Learner Profile can get book ideas throughout the year!

Best for ages 4-10

2. Shoutout Board

We're always talking about MUST HAVE displays in the PYP classroom! Here is one for you that goes beyond the static Learner Profile Attribute Posters. Two ways to design a shoutout board.

Way 1 - Co-create a shoutout board with your children. Have them come up with a design, create the labels, and put it all together. Children write shoutouts for each other and the teacher adds them to the board.

Way 2 - Ready the shoutout board before day 1 of school. You can give it a meaningful / punny title "Look who's been caught being a ...." On the first day, everyone gets a "risk taker" shoutout for making it to class. Then children can give each other shoutouts for demonstrating the attributes. As a teacher, you can also give shoutouts to students and students can give them to you! Model the attributes and make it a part of your classroom's culture.

Best for ages 3-8 year olds

3. Exit Ticket

Developing a shared language around the learner profile attributes is an exercise in discipline and self-awareness. Anne Evans says and we paraphrase - "the real purpose of the learner profile is to encourage reflection on the attributes".

One great way to reflect on a daily basis - make the classic Exit Ticket a daily part of your goodbye routine. On the exit ticket, have children write one attribute they really worked on or really demonstrated!

2 birds with 1 stone - encourage reflective practice and build learner agency.

As a teacher, be sure to model this along with your students! You might say something like, "Today, I think I was a risk-taker when we decided to go out and look for bugs because as you all know, I am scared of creepy crawlies". Make the Exit Ticket a wonderful habit for all the citizens of your classroom. You can assign virtual exit tickets to students using the Toddle Students App and keep this process going during in-person and virtual learning!

Best for 4-12 year olds

4. Handmade Student Posters

The PYP thrives on collaboration and yet our displays and walls often have printed ready-to-use posters. Authentic displays are a process, "a systematic act of collecting, interpreting and reflecting on concrete traces of learning". "What's on your walls?" is a classic question and the answer usually entails prints of the Learner Profile Attributes in a variety of styles - Dr. Suess posters, Animal posters, Teachers Pay Teachers Printables and many more! We love them all. However, there is one we like above all - HANDMADE STUDENT POSTERS.

Here are 2 ways to create hand-made student posters:

Way 1 - Ryan Highbea, an experienced PYP educator shares his experiences of helping very young children construct meaning of the IB Learner Profile Attributes.

Teachers can start by showing children a diverse range of photos for each attribute. For risk-taker, show them images like

Then teachers can tell their young learners, "these are all risk takers. What do you observe them doing". Children contribute several ideas (being a risk taker looks like doing dangerous things, being excited, helping someone, doing something you wouldn't do otherwise).

Students are then given pieces of paper to illustrate themselves as risk-takers. Overtime, students can also take photographs of themselves and each other to stick them next to the posters!

These drawings together make the Learner Profile Attribute Poster.

Way 1 is best suited for 3-7 year olds

Way 2 - Divide students into 10 tables (1 for each learner profile attribute). Give them art tools to create posters that illustrate the Learner Profile Attribute. Make the posters come alive by giving children the ability to take photos and clip them next to the posters every time someone demonstrates the attribute. Get students to create collages or illustrate on Toddle Student's App to create Learner Profile posters for your virtual classroom.

Way 2 is best suited for 6-11 year olds

To us, the Learner Profile attributes are a toolbox with specific superpowers that allow us to navigate diverse challenges. With this lens, our students are constantly working towards strengthening those superpowers. One strategy we use is called "Brag Tags" - a form of student lanyards.

Each student has a brag tag that has a personalized note about the attribute they have demonstrated well. Students enjoy being stopped by people at school and being able to talk to them about the tag they've earned! Students get to vocalize around the attributes, take ownership of the ones they want to develop, and get acknowledged for their personal strengths!

Best for 5-7 year olds

6. Build, Construct, and 3D Represent

We've never met a student who didn't love building, constructing, and making a mess! Get creative with the learner profile attributes. Divide children into teams and assign them 2 attributes each. Give them a range of materials - lego, art tools, blocks, clay, paints, and more. Let children explore what the Learner Profile means to them and create a visual representation.

To conclude, each team should explain their thinking and present their models to their peers.

Best for 3 to 8 year olds

7. Quotation Station

Quotes are so underrated - sprinkled over twitter posts, projects, and essays! But if we look at them closely, quotes provide opportunities for deep reflection and metacognition. Gather your favourite quotes and save them in a nice little ribboned diary. Get ready for Quotation Station by:

Starting your Monday mornings by diving into 1 famous quote. Here are few quotes you can start with "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new - Albert Einstein", "You must be the change you want to see in the world - Mahatma Gandhi", "Stand up for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone. Never, never be afraid to do what's right - Martin Luther King, Jr", "Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting - Edmund Burke".

Encourage students to make personal connections with the learner profile attributes. Ask questions to provoke their thinking "how can you bring this to life? What action can you take?"

Dedicate a part of your display wall or a corner of the classroom as the "Quotation Station".

On Fridays, regroup and have children reflect on what they did to live the quote!

We promise your students will love this!

Best for 5 to 10 year olds

8. Kindness Ninjas

Learner Profile Attributes are the foundation for developing strong internationally minded citizens. Create opportunities for children to have real experiences with the world by implementing a "Kindness Ninjas" program.

1. Assign a core attribute for each week.

2. Children identify and recognize this attribute all across the school.

3. Like ninjas, they leave notes of appreciation for teachers and students everywhere!

To take this a step further, teachers may identify penpals for students to speak to all across the world.

Play around with these flexible strategies - you can find lots of opportunities to merge them and make magic!
PS: We made a memorable Learner Profile mnemonic to remember the attributes - "The Ridiculous Iguana Befriended Cats, Reindeers, Cobras, Koalas, Octopus, & Parrots".
Liked this resource? Here are a few more you might like to explore:

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8 Creative Strategies for IB PYP Learner Profile Attributes

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Equip yourself with 8 tried-and-tested creative strategies to make the IB PYP Learner Profile Attributes come alive in your classroom.

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Optional Activity BML PPT

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Figure me out

Create mathematical equations to show who they are

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Discover (and save!) your own Pins on Pinterest.

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Who were you as a learner. Describe how you showed each of the learner profiles last year, then create a self portrait.

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The future is bright in maths.

Instruct the students to pick a career that has a focus on, draw, write, ideate what they would look like or symbols that relate to that.

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Country Bunting

Home country flag on one side, region/city flag on the other

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Who are you Writing Prompts