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The International School of Astana once again provided a precious opportunity for systematically building the instructional capacity of its teachers. The school invited Mr Mikhail Novossyolov, an International Baccalaureate expert, PYP and DP teacher training workshop leader, member of the International Authorizing Examinations Committees from Perm city, Russia, to conduct a two-day workshop.
The themes for each session of the workshop were structured around topics such as looking at PYP resources, sharing ideas, discussing children’s behaviour, creating a safe and caring play-based environment, delivering effective instruction in a PYP classroom, and practicing how to use the programme’s rubrics to score students’ performance.
The trainer created teams of four Kindergarten teachers to let them interact with each other and actively participate in group work. The teachers presented their ideas they all might use to make lessons more interesting, learner-centred, educational, and fun before their colleagues. They actually combined elements of games and various approaches to teaching and learning in order to improve student achievement and to ensure that all student needs are met.
During the sessions PYP Kindergarten teachers covered all they needed to cover with PYP policies, procedures, and vision, and inspired excitement for the upcoming school year.
In a heated debate on the physical design of a developmentally appropriate classroom including various learning areas and play spaces, Ms Svetlana Novakovskaya expressed her opinion which states that a teacher is the only one who is able to attract a child’s attention to books, and this does not depend on the area where the classroom library is accommodated. She claims that the major task of a good teacher is to be able to encourage interest in his subject and reading books, using his pedagogical skills.
‘We have had two busy days. For example, today we articulated our vision for a learning environment to teach children through play, given their age,’ comments on presentations of the groups at the seminar Ms Sanimkul Aysina.
To sum up, thanks to Mr Novossyolov, the participants benefited from a well-balanced educational atmosphere. The event was a powerful avenue for the staff development and growth, building more opportunities to expand their efforts in making the school the best it can be for its students.
