Spicewood Elementary School Mother Tongue
As an IB campus, teachers develop Units of Inquiry that allow inquiry that allows for a global context. We can learn from other countries and cultures and find appreciation of our differences through open-mindedness. Language is involved in all learning and provides...
Attitudes: Digital Citizenship
Whether it be online research for a project about animal habitats in second grade or collaboration on a Google slides presentation in third grade, our students have an ever increasing online presence. Spicewood students are given a multitude of learning opportunities...
IB Continuum in RRisd
The IB continuum of international education for 3-19 year olds is unique because of its academic and personal rigor. We challenge students to excel in their studies and in their personal growth. It aims to inspire a quest for learning throughout life that is marked by...
Approaches to Learning: Communication
In alignment with teaching the whole child, students at Spicewood work on a variety of skills to give them the tools they need to be successful [read more about Approaches to Learning] in our ever changing and connected world. Explicitly teaching and giving students...
Inquiry Teaching and Learning in Action
"Inquiry" is defined as "a seeking for truth, information, or knowledge -- seeking information by questioning." At Spicewood, teachers to an inquiry based approach to teaching and learning in the classroom. Inquiry is messy, takes time, and is full of student driven...
Authentic Assessment in the PYP
Our fifth grade classes are just wrapping up their How the World Works unit of inquiry in which students explored the concept of phenomena (what does that word actually mean?) and how different perspectives can influence one's interpretation of the word. The concepts...
A Little Appreciation
Attitudes are one of the essential elements of the PYP program. In addition to knowledge, transdisciplinary (connections across all subjects) teaching and learning, and Approaches to Learning, the attitudes are a vital element in cultivating an internationally minded...
How the World Works: Election Day
Giving students a voice encourages ownership in their learning and school community. Our PYP Student Council provides students with a platform to take action and be involved in their school community. The purpose of electing Student Council Representatives and...
Technology’s Role in PYP
In an age of innovation, it becomes even more crucial that we give students frequent opportunities to engage with technology in our classrooms. At Spicewood, we work to seamlessly integrate technology into learning experiences to support student inquiry, giving them...
Chatting with our Counselor
The PYP program believes that in order to conduct purposeful inquiry and be well prepared for lifelong learning, students need to master a whole range of skills beyond those normally referred to as basic in a traditional classroom-- Approaches to Learning. These...
Approaches to Learning– Tools for Learning
Throughout all IB programs in RRisd, students develop skills that have relevance across the curriculum that help them "learn how to learn". These 21st century skills, or what we call Approaches to Learning, help students become better critical thinkers and problem...
Transdisciplinary Learning @ Spicewood
A common misconception about a PYP education is that there is a "PYP time" of day, dedicated to focusing on inquiry and student exploration. Conversely, the PYP curriculum framework provides the platform for inquiry based teaching and learning to occur throughout the...