One of the biggest causes of learning tension I see with teachers new to inquiry or PYP, centers around planning for inquiry.
There are lots of great blog posts about planning for inquiry:
Planning in RESPONSE to Learning
Planning for Concept Driven Learning
However, many of these posts focus on inquiry-based planning in a long-range and short-range sense. The question I get from many teachers I work with is:
“What does inquiry-based planning look like from day to day?”
I have noticed that many of the teachers new to inquiry and PYP at my school use their day plan templates from non-inquiry-based or non-PYP education systems. I wonder how much these day-to-day planning tools preclude teachers from achieving their goals of planning and teaching units in an inquiry-based, PYP way?
Inspired by this question, I have been working on a mock-up of a potential PYP day plan template. I have tried to structure the day plan to include time for Unit of Inquiry, Stand-Alone Math Inquiry and Stand-Alone Literacy Inquiry. Within each type of inquiry I have tried to include an explicit focus on the essential elements of the PYP, stages of the inquiry cycle, approaches to teaching, assessment and reflection. Here is my first draft:
Here is an example of what it might look like once it is filled in:
My hope is that by changing or adapting their planning tool, teachers will also change the way in which they plan – and consequently the way in which they teach. Building space on day plans for a guiding questions, elements of the PYP, stages of inquiry, approaches to teaching, assessment and reflection will hopefully make these components of inquiry-based, PYP teaching and learning more explicit in the minds of teachers when they are planning each day. If they are more explicit in the minds of teachers when they are planning, hopefully they will also become more explicit and transparent for the students as their learning.
This is my first draft of a PYP-friendly day plan template and I would love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and feedback as well as see some other examples of day plan templates that support the unique needs of planning for inquiry in a PYP school.
Making Good Humans 
I assume that the F & S for assessment mean formative and summative; what does the D stand for?
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Hi Simon, D stands for diagnostic. In my teaching I like to see what skills, knowledge and understanding my students have before a unit starts. (Also goes by the name of tuning in, assessment before learning or assessing prior knowledge).
This allows me to understand where I need to provide whole class support, small group support and individual support. It also helps me identify the students who are coming with the expected knowledge, understanding and skills so I can help support them in how to extend their learning over the course of the unit.
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Hi there!
Just wondering – do you still use this template? Have you revised this at all?
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Do you still use this template?
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The day planner has interesting parts but once again too detailed for new to PYP teachers who are struggling to juggle with understanding of all the terms. With this in mind I would remove the parts from Knowledge all the way down to Learner profile(which are part of the planner and POI already). I like the “guiding question” and “stage of inquiry” parts. Feel there are details about the what of methods expected to use which could be included ….specially for the sake of newbies and in view of making something concrete shape up in those 75 minutes.
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Thanks for your suggestions Nadine! I agree that this format can be overwhelming for a teacher new to the PYP. Most of the teachers at my school who are going to try this template are in their third or fourth years as a PYP teacher, feel pretty confident and are looking for a way to push themselves to focus on the 5 essential elements more on a day to day basis. Perhaps I could create a modified version for teachers who are new to the PYP!
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Looks very thorough and tidy. It is nice to see the clear direction of the inquiry and it allows for the potentials of where the inquiry can lead in the future.
I will always struggle with the idea of scheduling and how to make it friendlier to student led inquiry, does your schedule look like this everyday?
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Thanks for your comments Jessica. Right now most of the teachers at my school have blocked out time for Unit of Inquiry and we are in the process of building stand-alone math and literacy planners, so once those are in motion there will also be blocked out time for Literacy Inquiry and Math Inquiry. I would love to see more schedules reflect 20% time/i-time/personal inquiry time where students are able to pursue their own areas of interest and learning. How are the schedules set up at your school?
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I liked the idea of the plan template but could you provide us some more examples. Thank you
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Hi Raya,
I have a few teachers at my school testing out this template. Once they have used them for a while, perhaps I could scan a few and make a post about how the template worked in action, along with their reflections and suggestions for improvement. 🙂
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Would love to see how you would fill in the literacy and maths section of the day, if possible.
I have started to attach attributes and attitudes to my planner but your planner is much more comprehensive.
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Hi Carole,
Thanks for you comments! At my school, we are just getting underway in the construction of stand-alone math and literacy units. Once those units are planned, then I believe it will be easier to use the math and literacy section of this planner. But if math and literacy are still being taught in a traditional way (without a central idea, lines of inquiry, room for questions etc.) I think it would be difficult to use these sections of the planner.
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Thank you, this has been an inspiring read. Would you clarify do teachers at your school fill these in by hand? Daily, for a week at a time, unit of inquiry at a time..?
I think that the more one would use the vocabulary (in a) daily (planning), the quicker one would internalise the key to the PYP. In that sense I could see this planner help someone new to the PYP as well as those, who are more experienced. Being a fantastically helpful tool, I would like to make a suggestion: I would love to see this modified into a weekly planner, one shared with parents. With reference to your original work, for sure. Would this be possible?
Many thanks,
Anna
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Hi Anna, Thanks for your comments. When I created it, I had the intention of using it as a day plan and probably filling it in by hand (just a personal preference) but I think it would be cool for someone to turn it into an electronic template for digital day plans! I’d be happy to share the original file with you if you are interested in turning it into a weekly planner. You can direct message me on twitter @makingoodhumans with your email address and I will forward you the original file that can be modified. 🙂
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Hi, I am a new PYP Coordinator I would love to have the template too. Thank you!!!
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Thanks for sharing the template. I am going to try it and see how it goes.
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That’s great! Let me know how it goes. I’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions. 🙂
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Could you please send me some completed examples. I am seriously thinking of trialling your format..I will note you as owner/ creator. Thanks Sandi
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Absolutely! You can send me your email address here or direct message me it on Twitter @makingoodhumans. I’d be happy to share – not credit needed. I’d also love to hear how it goes and any feedback about to improve it!
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Hello! A new graduate and also new to PYP inquiry. I love this! Are you also able to send me some completed examples as well as the original file that can be modified?
I am still familiarising myself with all this!
Thank you!
email: emmakk8@gmail.com
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Hi
Please send any other examples. I would be most appreciative.
This is my email:
sandi.stone@alsahwaschools.edu.om
many thanks
Sandi
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This looks great! Would you mind sending it to me as well? This will really help imbed the PYP language as well. My email address is nz.ashby@yahoo.com
Thank you so much.
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Absolutely! I will send you the editable version. I’d also love to hear how it goes if anyone puts it into action. I’m very open to feedback and suggestions as well!
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Please can I have this too, I really like it, congratulations on developing it. jeweleaston@hotmail.com
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Can you send me the editable version too and any other examples? I’d love to try out this template with the teachers at my school.
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Absolutely! Either find me on Twitter @makingoodhumans or send me your email address. 🙂
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Thank you for sharing this information.
Honestly, I keep not understanding how it works in real life. This is my first job as a teacher (Grade I) and my school is also an IB. I really do not understand how to make it so that I can have a whole idea of what Im going to be doing everyday with the students. Maybe what I am asking is too basic but Im really lost and I would appreciate if I could get some answer.
For example, let’s say that the first week of school I decide to go back to review alphabet, work on phonics sounds, start forming words with the first group of sounds (satpin), etc. For that, the way i do my lesson plan tells me everything I have to do during the whole class so I have a guide of what to do at each time:
Class: Grade I
Subject: English (Language)
Duration: 50 minutes
Activities:
-Explaining kids we are going to go back to Alphabet and review the different sounds of the letters.
-Review Alphabet: Worksheet with all the letters of the alphabet. They will have to cut them and order them from A to Z. Also they will have to name them.
-Playing video about the phonic sounds for ‘S’, ‘A’ and ‘T’: “jolly phonics song – Youtube.
-Start explaining S and relate them with the sound of actions (for example, ‘S’ – weave hand in a S shape, like a snake, and say ssssssssssssssss)
-Distribute worksheets:
Worksheet 1: they have to relate the letter S with images (for example, S with an image of a ‘sun’, a ‘snake’, the ‘sea’, etc)
Worksheet 2: they have to write the name of different images (for example, one image will be a ‘sun’ and they will have to write down the letter of that image. Those students more advanced can write the whole word)
-Read a story: read a story where the sound S is being repeated along the story (for example, “Sam’s holidays’ – This is Sam and he is on holidays. Sam wakes up every morning when the SUN is out. Then he goes to the SEA with her SISTER and they play with the SAND. They love building different shapes. Today he draw a SMALL SNAKE… etc).
-Story review: ask the children where did Sam go? With who? What did he do? ….Is there any sound that you find familiar? Ask them to draw all the words we found with the sound S and write down the word.
How can i convert what i just wrote on an IB PYP Daily lesson plan for Grade I (English)?
I really appreciate any help?
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Hi Cris,
Congrats on your first job as a teacher, and starting out with an IB is a great way to begin your career in education. It is a great system, but it does take some time to get used to! 🙂
With regards to your questions, “How can I convert what I wrote on a PYP daily lesson plan” the short answer is – you can’t. It’s kind of like trying to jam a square peg into a round whole.
The longer answer is that planning and teaching looks and feels quite different at an IB school than what many of us remember from being a student ourselves, and also quite different from what many of us were trained to do in Teacher’s College. So a huge part of becoming an IB teacher involves a process of unlearning and relearning. It’s not about doing the same things in a different way, and more about completely revinvisioning what needs to be done to help students to become critical thinkers and global citizens. Being an IB teacher is much more about learning than teaching, so a great first step is to shift your own focus in the classroom from teaching to learning. Invest in your own professional learning. Read blogs. What Ed Said and Inquire Within are great places to start. Read about inquiry. Read about planning in response to learning. Read about concept-based teaching. Reflect on what you know and understand about how people learn. Reflect on whether your practices align with your beliefs about learning. Join Twitter so you can talk to other IB teachers and see pictures and videos of what their days look like. Challenge your own understanding of the purpose and use of worksheets, tests, lesson objectives, grades, whole-group activities etc.
Being a successful IB teachers comes so much from knowing and transforming yourself as an educator – so think of yourself as a learner first and a teacher second. But I can assure you it is very worth it! Good luck 🙂
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Hi,
Would love to try this format. If you could share a completed one that would be helpful.
Thank you
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I have only completed sample copies, but I have not yet tried this in practice. If I come across any other competed ones from colleagues I will be sure to share them. 🙂
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This is just what I need, could I have an editable copy too please?
Thanks.
deborah.mcharg@gmail.com
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Would love an editable copy too!
aylincil@hotmail.com
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Hello everyone, I am a new teacher. I would really appreciate if someone could email me Math grade 4 planner. I really need some help to design my own so I require a sample. Much appreciated! Email: hajra.rahman@hotmail.com
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Would love an editable copy too!
jennifer@navarre.net
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I would love to have a digital version as well for my new to PYP staff! email =
emma.stafford@isnsz.com
Thank you!
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Hi,
I am the PYP coordinator at my school and I’d love a digital version of the day plan template to share with my staff. I think the idea has great potential and helps to focus staff on incorporating the essential elements into their lessons.
cmamo@canadian-school.pl
Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Christine
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Love this and love how generous you are with your work and reflections. Thank you! I am not new to PYP but am now officially PYP trained! I too need to unlearn many things. Please do send a digital version of your amazing lesson plan template! I am going to share it with my colleagues. We are in the process of looking for a lesson plan template we all agree on- and I think yours is ideal.
thanks again for all your sharing
Bianca
biancaindeed@gmail.com
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I’d love to be sent them too! Wonderful tool! Thank you 😊
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Can you send me a version of your planner. I am new to the PYP and would love to see if it gives me more focus and understanding of my day. Thanks!
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Hi, Thanks for this. Would you happen to have a filled in example of language acquisition, i.e. a foreign language at beginners level where inquiry is very difficult since the children don’t speak the language yet. Would be very grateful for any info. My email address is: sdepauw@ais-antwerp.be Thanks!
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How has your trialling of this gone? I would likek to start this too, at least with a few teachers. Would it be possuble to send me some completed examples too?
Thanks so much!
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Hi there, I know this is something that you were developing last year, but I would really appreciate getting a copy of this as well, please. I work at a PYP school in Japan, and I will be taking over the first class this year. The class start in April, but I am trying to get a handle on my planning format.
My e-mail address is iain.clark@sunnyside-international.jp
Thanks very much in advance.
Iain.
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Hi,
This template is very helpful …would love to have an editable copy of this template and few more examples of the filled template.
shadabbeacon@gmail.com
looking forward to hearing from you 🙂
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Hi everyone,
Hopefully by now if you have requested an editable version of this day planning template, you should have received it. If for whatever reason you haven’t, please let me know. 🙂
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Please send me a day plan template
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Sure. Just send me a working email address and I will send it right along.
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kikkk.bhatnagar@pathways.in
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Please send to sandi.stone@alsahwa.edu.om BTW – love reading your blog!
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If you don’t mind, could you also send me a copy? svincent@aspengroveschool.com I just discovered your blog and I am enjoying reading so much!!
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Absolutely! I have sent it – if it doesn’t arrive, let me know and I will try again. 🙂
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Hi
I never received :] I look at the date and it was a year ago! The idea of effective planning is always on my mind and I still see this template as the best yet.
I would love to see examples though if you have.
Could you explain the D again?
Thanks
Sandi
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Hi! I would love a copy as well. bornofhisheartministry@gmail.com
I have to facilitate a PYP POI planning session and would appreciate any information you could send my way!
Thank you!
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Hi! Please send me an editable copy
mstrange@waysideschools.org
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Hi, I just discovered your blog and love your content. Would it be possible for you to share your editable version with me as well? Thank you so much! My email is Paige.filla@apis.ac.th
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Hi, this planner is just what I have been looking for. Would you please send me a copy?
Thank you!
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I’m new as a PYP Coordinator, I would like it if you could also send me a copy of this template. I’m learning a lot from your blog. caterina.salamone@nhboe.net Thank you!
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I’m also a new PYP coordinator, love reading everything on your site, would like access to the editable version and would love to hear your reflections on the trial implementation of the daily planner at your school (with any created examples).
I really commend you on the initiative 👏👏
kara@attamimi.edu.my
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I was looking for a better way to write out daily lesson plans during my unit of inquiry, and my google search led to your blog post. I love how simply it lays out all the components you need to keep track of in such an organized way. I am struggling with incorporating (and remembering to incorporating) all of the parts. If you are still sharing your template and any other tips you have for a teacher in her second year of teaching, my email address is
sahmed@tarbiyahacademy.org
thank you~
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I am trying to apply for a PYP position (but I have no experience in IB Schools),
I have to provide a weekly plan and a complete lesson plan and I am currently LOST!
I do not have any templates for a yearly plan, weekly or daily plan.
I did get an IB Unit of Enquiry plan but that’s it.
Are you still sharing your templates? and your tips?
My e-mail is vero_chassan@yahoo.com
thanks for your help
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Can I get a copy of that template too =)
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Opps forgot to put my email. It’s missnancypham@gmail.com =)
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hi i would also like a copy of the template. My e-mail is ruchimanhas@yahoo.co.in
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I would like it if you could also send me a copy of this template. I’m learning a lot from your blog. shweta.jain@treamis.org.
Thank you!
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Hi everyone! Thanks for all the comments and support. For those of you who asked for a copy I have forwarded you an email. If you did not receive it let me know and I will send it again. 😀
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I really enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for sharing such wonderful ideas. I would love a copy as well: mpowers@madisoned.org
Thanks!
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Big thanks! I love your daily planner, which I find will better organize my ideas in a very friendly manner. I will come back to you with my results on how they worked for my class soonest! I a copy of your template could be provided, I would like one too.
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Hello. it’s the first time that I come across a concrete example of how to plan for pyp. Would you please send me a copy of your daily lesson planner template in addition to more filled examples. Thank you.
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