Primary Years Programme (IBPYP)
Kingston International School is the first school in Hong Kong authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Organization - Primary Years Programme. This programme was specially developed for children ages three to twelve years. It is an inquiry-based approach to learning that is truly international in its outlook.
The Primary Years Programme concentrates on developing the whole child and values a healthy body as well as a healthy mind.
The programme encourages students to be thinkers and problem solvers while nourishing the creative and caring aspects of their personalities. It is recognized internationally for its excellence and prepares students well for further studies either here in Hong Kong or overseas. Kingston International School incorporates the IBO philosophy into all aspects of school life.
The Transdisciplinary Nature of the Programme
At Kingston we acknowledge the importance of particular subject areas: language; mathematics; social studies; science; arts; personal, social and physical education.
The knowledge, concepts and skills that constitute each of these subject areas are documented in detailed frameworks—scope and sequences—that set out the overall expectations for each subject.
We also recognize that educating students in a set of isolated subject areas while necessary, is not sufficient. Of equal importance is the need to acquire skills in context, and to explore content that is relevant to students and transcends the boundaries of the traditional subjects. “To be truly educated, a student must also make connections across the disciplines, discover ways to integrate the separate subjects, and ultimately relate what they learn to life” (Boyer 1995: 82).
The programme defines transdisciplinary themes that identify areas of shared human experience and have meaning for individuals from different cultures and ethnicities. These themes are part of the common ground that unifies the learning in all IB World Schools offering the PYP. They provide the opportunity to incorporate both local and global issues in the knowledge component of the PYP written curriculum—what we want students to know about. There are six transdisciplinary themes in the PYP and kindergartens are required to cover four of these. Currently our Units of Inquiry are Who We Are, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works and Sharing the Planet. Through these transdisciplinary themes our students inquire into and learn about both locally and globally important issues. These units have been developed collaboratively by our team of English and Chinese staff to ensure that they meet the needs of young learners and are a means by which key attitudes, skills, concepts, knowledge and the Learner Profile are developed.
Bilingual Studies at Kingston
The goal of language learning at Kingston is to develop a child’s competence and confidence when communicating. This is why all our classes have one native speaking fully qualified English teacher and one native speaking fully qualified Putonghua teacher. The learning environment supports bilingual language learning by allowing the children extended and unhurried opportunities to observe, listen, respond, ask questions and participate in conversations that help make new experiences meaningful. This occurs simultaneously in both languages, as children are free to use both English and Putonghua at all times throughout their day. Circle Times each day provide more specific time to focus on each language separately.
Language at Kingston
Our aim for the 3 and 4 year old classes is to develop in children the desire to read and write. For children to become successful readers and writers they need to have a love of reading, of books, and of language. For children to learn to write they have to WANT to write. Children learn about reading and writing when they are speaking and listening. They learn about reading when they explore writing, and their oral language improves as they read and write. Every experience that the teachers and children are involved in within the classroom help to develop children’s reading and writing. Children in KIK become more competent and confident with expressing themselves in both languages. Children are encouraged to support their peers in their language learning by using both English and Putonghua in play situations. Rather than correcting a child’s language, teachers model the correct language and sentence structure, praising the child’s efforts and attempts as they do so. They also challenge and extend children’s verbal ability with an extensive range of more complex vocabulary. This especially occurs related to PYP Units of Inquiry.
WRITING
Teachers foster the development of pre-writing related skills such as fine motor skills, eye-hand co-ordination and concepts of orientations before children begin specific writing activities of Chinese characters in K4. Teachers observe each child so they are aware of each child’s individual readiness. For English, within the context of writing for real purposes, such as creating lists, signs or writing letters or messages, children learn about sounds, letters, words and sentences, and talk about what they have written. Teachers carefully observe the indicators of writing readiness and encourage the children into writing or pre-writing experiences according to their skills and interests.
READING
Reading - English
We aim for them to make meaning of what they are reading as they are ready. We don’t want children to only be recognising words by memorisation. This is why we do not send flashcards home of letters or words. Our goal is to develop reading skills by beginning to understand the connection between letters and their sounds, and later on with words. Activities such as these are much more beneficial for a child’s English reading development.
Children in all classes are exposed to phonics at Kingston. Once the children reach K4, there is a more concentrated focus on exposing the children to the connection between the letters and their sounds, and providing reading strategies when looking at text. Some children will be ready to implement these learning strategies in their reading and writing activities. Other children will be exposed to phonics but will not yet be ready to put it into practice. Remember, each child is an individual and children in the same class will be developing at different rates. A formal phonics program begins at KIS in Primary One when children are ready to put into practice the understandings they have gained through experimental reading and writing in KIK.
Reading - Chinese
Our goal is for all children to develop interest in reading and form positive reading habits. Our aim before the children move to Primary School is for them to recognise common words (with flashcards) and those that are related to the various units of inquiry. Teachers use words and sentences that can be easily understood by children, and then gradually increase the use of characters as appropriate. We also encourage children to accumulate the use of these characters and expand their recognition of vocabulary.
LISTENING and SPEAKING
Teachers at Kingston model the correct use of language and students are encouraged to make eye contact when communicating. During their time at school students have many opportunities to listen and speak – during play, dramatic play, unit work, general discussions and at Circle Time. Teachers allow children sufficient time to think and speak and use songs, rhymes and stories to familiarise children with new vocabulary. Through our Units of Inquiry students learn to listen and speak with purpose and understanding in a wide range of situations.
Mathematics at Kingston
Students at Kingston explore mathematical concepts during the four Units of Inquiry that are covered during the school year. Mathematics is taught in a way that allows the students to explore and learn through applying the concepts and skills to real world situations. There are many opportunities for hands on learning which encourages active participation and discussion between both teachers and students. During their time at Kingston students cover six strands of mathematics which are:
- Working Mathematically
- Number
- Chance and Data
- Pattern
- Measurement
- Shape and Space
When students move from the 3 year old classes to the 4 year old classes they continue to work on and extend their understanding and application of these mathematical skills and concepts.
Mathematics at
Social studies
Social Studies in our 3 and 4 year old classes is covered during the four Units of Inquiry covered during the year and the content is drawn from the five strands of our Social Studies scope and sequence. These strands focus on people, experiences, the environment, resources and how we interact with our environment.
Science
Arts and Personal, Social and Physical Education (PSPE)
To support the development of well rounded individuals students at
Arts – Music, Art and Drama
Through the integration of arts into our programme our students are able to freely express themselves visually or musically through a range of stimulating activities. Learning through the arts develops creativity, spontaneity, imagination, independence and confidence which are attributes that are valued in all facets of learning. Arts also allow our students to explore both their own and other cultures.
Physical Education
Physical Education at
School Facilities
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| Library | Music Room | Indoor Ball Room |
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| Classroom | Classroom | Children Centre |
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| Outdoor Activities | Outdoor Activities | Outdoor Activities |
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| Dramatic Room | Playgroup |