As a PYP coordinator, you play a crucial role in leading and supporting the implementation of the PYP in your school. As you embark on this exciting and challenging journey, it is important to be well-prepared and take the following first steps to ensure the success of the PYP in your school.
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Familiarize yourself with the PYP framework
Familiarize yourself with the IB standards and practices
It is important to familiarize yourself with the IB standards and practices in order to effectively lead and support the implementation of the PYP programme in your school.
The IB standards and practices are guidelines developed by IB to ensure the quality and consistency of its programs. They provide a framework for the PYP and outline the expectations and requirements for schools and teachers participating in the program, and cover a range of areas, including curriculum, assessment, teaching and learning, and professional development.
By reading and understanding the IB standards and practices, you will gain a better understanding of the PYP and how it operates. This will allow you to make informed decisions and provide guidance to teachers as they implement the PYP in their classrooms. Additionally, being familiar with the IB standards and practices will help you ensure that the PYP in your school is of high quality and aligns with the expectations of the IB organization.
Familiarize yourself with your school's programme of inquiry (POI)
Next, take the time to thoroughly review your school programme of inquiry and its key components, such as the transdisciplinary themes and the units of inquiry. These provide the structure for the PYP and guide the development of students' knowledge and understanding at your school.
If your school doesn't have a POI and that you don't have time to create one, I recommend that you start the year using the sample provided by IB that can be found on the Programme resources center > Developing a transdisciplinary programme of inquiry or here. (As an early-years coordinator, you will only need the units of inquiry for age 3-6).
Read more about creating your first programme of inquiry on my blog.
By familiarizing yourself with the POI, you will be able to understand the overall direction and focus of the PYP in your school and identify any areas that need improvement. You will also be able to provide guidance and support to teachers as they plan and teach their units of inquiry.
Additionally, familiarizing yourself with the POI will allow you to track progress towards achieving the goals and targets of the PYP program and ensure that the PYP is meeting the needs of your students.
Build relationships with key stakeholders
As a PYP coordinator, one of your key responsibilities is to build relationships with a range of stakeholders, including teachers, staff, students, parents, and the wider community. Building strong relationships with these groups is essential for the success of the PYP programme in your school.
Here are some tips for building relationships with key stakeholders:
Introduce yourself to the teachers, staff, and students in your school. Take the time to get to know them and understand their vision for the PYP and how you can support their efforts.
Collaborate with teachers to plan units of inquiry and other PYP activities. This will help build trust and establish a collaborative working relationship.
Get to know the school leadership team and understand their vision for the school and for the programme. Work closely with them to ensure that the PYP aligns with the overall goals and priorities of the school.
Engage with parents and the wider community to inform them about the PYP and seek their support and involvement. This could include hosting information nights, setting up parent-teacher conferences, and leading parents workshops to provide regular updates about the PYP program.
Show your appreciation for the contributions of all stakeholders. Acknowledge their efforts and celebrate their achievements, and make an effort to listen to their concerns and ideas.
By building strong relationships with key stakeholders, you can create a positive and supportive environment for the PYP in your school. This, in turn, will help ensure the success of the PYP and the development of well-rounded, internationally-minded students.
Read more about collaboration with teachers on my blog.
Stay involved in the classroom
As a PYP coordinator, it can be easy to feel pressure to dedicate all of our available time to our duties and responsibilities.
However, it is important to keep being involved in the classroom as a teacher or instructional coach. This can be a valuable way for the you to stay connected to the daily experiences of students and teachers, and to offer support and guidance as needed.
As a teacher, a PYP coordinator can model best practices in inquiry-based teaching and learning, and can provide support and guidance to other teachers who are implementing the PYP in their classrooms. This might also involve co-teaching with other teachers, leading professional development sessions, or providing one-on-one coaching and feedback.
You can work with teachers to identify areas of strength and areas for growth in their teaching practice, and can provide support and resources to help them improve. This might involve observing teachers in the classroom, providing feedback and suggestions for improvement, and helping teachers to develop and implement action plans to address any areas of need.
Being involved in the classroom as a PYP coordinator can be a challenging experience, but it is an important part of supporting the ongoing implementation and development of the PYP in the school.
Being a full-time homeroom teacher and PYP coordinator might be too demanding, so it may be a good idea to pair with a new teacher, act as a floater to cover teacher absences, or even just scheduling regular class visits as part of your weekly schedule. The key is to stay connected to the classroom!
Seek support and resources
You don't have to go alone as a PYP coordinator. There is a range of resources and support to help you successfully implement the PYP in your school. Utilize these resources and don't hesitate to reach out to the IB for support when you need it.
Your IBWS manager
Make sure to know who your IBWS (IB World School) manager is. IBWS managers are specialists in responding to school needs in implementing IB programmes and interpreting IB principles into practice. They may be the first point of contact when you need information regarding the implementation of the programme, so feel free to ask them anything.
Additionally, your IBWS manager will be the first point of contact for Authorization and Evaluation visits. You can find the name and contact of your IBWS manager, on the "My School" page of myIB: myIB > My School > School Profile > Your IB contact.
Resources on the Programme Resource Centre (myIB)
There are plenty of resources on the Programme Resource Center (PRC) on myIB, and it can be difficult to identify which will help you start. Below are some recommended resources to read on the PRC. To access them directly from the links below, you might have to login to myIB in a different window first.
FROM PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE (The Learner, Learning and Teaching, The learning community): the new documents replacing the old “Making the PYP happen”. Don’t try to read as a whole, but make sure you go back to these documents whenever you have questions about the programme.
Implementation > Information for coordinators: you will find the “Coordinator resources” and the “Coordinator's handbook and notes” there. They are valuable documents for new coordinators. You can also start by reading the “New coordinator welcome pack”
Teacher support material: This material will help you learn more about some aspects of the programme. Make sure that you also check there when you have questions or doubts.
Scope and sequences: You will also be supporting the single-subject teachers, so you may want to improve your knowledge and understanding of the single subject scope and sequences.
Keep exploring the Programme Resource Centre for other documents of interest. This is where all the IB documents are gathered.
Professional learning communities and SNS
You can also seek out professional learning communities or find a mentor who is an experienced PYP coordinator. This can be a great source of guidance and support as you navigate your new role.
I have joined many groups on facebook but the most helpful was PYP Coordinators. Don’t hesitate to post your questions there. There are more than 4,000 members, so you can be sure to always have somebody commenting on your post with some helpful advice. Even if you don’t post actively, you can read the feed and see questions and answers from other coordinators from all around the world.
There are also groups and active people on Twitter and Instagram, but I personally don’t use them.
The Programme Communities on myIB is the IB social media, where educators exchange information. It is quite new but it is being used more and more.
Finally, consider attending workshops and conferences to stay up to date with best practices and developments in the PYP. This can help you grow as a PYP coordinator and ensure that you are providing the best possible support for your teachers and students.
Final words
By following these steps, I hope that you can set yourself up for success as you begin your journey as a PYP coordinator. Leading and supporting the implementation of the PYP is a challenging but rewarding role that requires a strong foundation in the PYP, good communication skills, and a collaborative approach. With the right preparation and support, you can help your school deliver an engaging and transformative PYP experience for all students.
Keep reading this blog to find other resources and information.
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