Jenny Mosley, a former teacher and now a trainer and author, says that developing students’ social and emotional competencies through group activities supports the PYP’s aims of preparing students to participate in the world.
Recent research from the IB examined elements of social and emotional wellbeing in IB students aged 10-19, including engagement, perseverance, optimism, connectedness, happiness and satisfaction. Students scored highly, with Primary Years Programme (PYP) students reporting the highest scores, as well as their teachers. The research demonstrated the impact of positive well-being in schools, where students were proud of their work and could share and learn from others. Overall, IB World School leaders considered these factors to be intrinsically related to academic success.
“Students who feel valued and respected for their social, emotional, creative and academic qualities are at the heart of happy, calm and successful schools,” says Jenny. Her Quality Circle Time (QCT) system is a specially-structured session based around speaking, listening and negotiation, aimed at developing the whole child – a key aspect of the PYP.
