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Confessions of a PYP Teacher.
The name says PYP. The heart says every teacher who has ever wanted to do better for the learners in front of them. Whether you work in an IB school or not, whether you teach kindergarten or high school, whether you are three weeks in or thirty years in, if you are trying to make a difference in your practice, this podcast was made for you.
Good teaching is not a framework. It is a disposition. And that belongs to everyone.
166 episodes. 17 series. All of it made with educators in mind.
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You do not have to be a PYP teacher to find something here. Pick the topic that is alive in your practice right now.
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Select a series above to browse by topic, or explore all 166 episodes on Buzzsprout.
Season 5 · Ep 166 · Apr 2026 · Well-Being Series
C166: Well-Being for All
As we close out the well-being series, we reflect on worry, fear, panic, anxiety, stress, burnout, boreout, and trauma. Because well-being in a PYP school has never been about getting it right all the time.
Listen now 12 minSeason 5 · Ep 165 · Apr 2026 · Well-Being Series
C165: Trauma
This one is heavy but important. Trauma-informed teaching asks us to look beyond behaviour and into the story underneath it. It is about making a safe space for our learners.
Listen now 15 minSeason 5 · Ep 164 · Mar 2026 · Well-Being Series
C164: Learner Boreout
Everything might look like it is working. The tasks are done, the room is lively. But when we look a little closer at our learners, something else might be happening.
Listen now 15 minSeason 5 · Ep 163 · Mar 2026 · Well-Being Series
C163: Teacher Boreout
If teachers burn out, do they also boreout? What is the fine line between the two? Is one more severe, more preventable? How can we swing back into the zone?
Listen now 28 minSeason 5 · Ep 162 · Jan 2026 · Well-Being Series
C162: Learner Burnout
What does neurodivergent burnout look like in a PYP classroom? And how easily can we miss it when everything on the surface appears to be working?
Listen now 26 minSeason 5 · Ep 161 · Dec 2025 · Well-Being Series
C161: Teacher Burnout
Fatigue is the silent pandemic of modern life. Repeated stressors, small or large, grind us down until one day we wake up unable to face them anymore. Let us talk about staying whole.
Listen now 27 min□ Inquiry — Episodes C1 to C6
The series that started it all. Six episodes unpacking what inquiry really means in a PYP classroom and how to bring it to life without overwhelm.
- C1 (Challenge): Teaching Requires a Purpose12 min
- C2 (Challenge): Defining our Focus in Inquiry14 min
- C3 (Challenge): Inquiry Takes Careful Planning14 min
- C4 (Challenge): Asking the Right Questions10 min
- C5 (Challenge): Guiding the Inquiry16 min
- C6 (Challenge): Evidencing the Inquiry16 min
✊ Agency — Episodes C7 to C13
What does it mean to hand learning back to the learner? Seven episodes exploring student and teacher agency from every angle.
- C7 (Challenge): Inquiry is a Process13 min
- C8: Agency Drives Inquiry11 min
- C9: Agency Requires our Unique Voice13 min
- C10: Agency Thrives When There is Choice13 min
- C11: Agency Deepens When We Take Ownership19 min
- C12: Agency Can Go Deeper with the SDGs10 min
- C13: Start Agency with 5 Easy Steps14 min
⚡ Action — Episodes C14 to C18
Action is at the heart of PYP. Five episodes unpacking what authentic, student-driven action looks and feels like across all age groups.
- C14: The Road Between Agency and Action11 min
- C15: Unlocking Action at its Highest Level17 min
- C16: Putting Action Together with the Golden Circle17 min
- C17: Taking Simple Actions Now15 min
- C18: Assessing Agency and Action9 min
□ Learner Profile — Episodes C19 to C26
Beyond posters and bulletin boards. Eight episodes on what it actually means to live the learner profile attributes every single day.
- C19: Framing of the PYP20 min
- C20: Tackling Learner Profile Misconceptions16 min
- C21: Learner Profile First Steps18 min
- C22: Embedding the Learner Profile into the Learning Space16 min
- C23: A Time for Giving Thanks17 min
- C24: Embedding the Learner Profile into the Learning and Teaching22 min
- C25: Guiding Behavior with the Learner Profile21 min
- C26: Using the Learner Profile to Build School Culture10 min
□ International Mindedness — Episodes C27 to C31
What does it really mean to be internationally minded? Five episodes moving beyond surface-level cultural celebrations into genuine global citizenship.
- C27: Connecting the Learner Profile with International Mindedness18 min
- C28: Fostering International Mindedness Daily18 min
- C29: Connecting Agency with International Mindedness24 min
- C30: Creating an Internationally Minded School Mission14 min
- C31: Building Relationships with International Mindedness14 min
□ Application — Episodes C32 to C34
Three episodes putting the preceding concepts directly into classroom practice.
- C32 (Application): The Learner Profile15 min
- C33 (Application): International Mindedness12 min
- C34 (Application): Agency and Action19 min
□ Transdisciplinary — Episodes C35 to C45
One of the most powerful and most misunderstood concepts in PYP. Eleven episodes unpacking transdisciplinary learning in all its complexity and possibility.
- C35 (Intro): Transdisciplinary Learning 10118 min
- C36 (Challenge): How Transdisciplinary Looks and Feels7 min
- C37 (Intro): Understanding the Transdisciplinary Theme Descriptors14 min
- C38 (Challenge): Unpacking the Themes in the POI14 min
- C39 (Intro): Looking at Standards Differently13 min
- C40 (Challenge): Creating Transdisciplinary Connections with Standards13 min
- C41 (Intro): Connecting with Specialist Teachers14 min
- C42 (Challenge): Transdisciplinary Learning Across the School13 min
- C43 (Intro): Evaluating Transdisciplinary Learning10 min
- C44 (Challenge): Performing a SWOT Analysis6 min
- C45: Putting all the Pieces Together13 min
□ Approaches to Learning — Episodes C46 to C65
Twenty episodes devoted to the five ATL skill clusters: thinking, research, communication, social, and self-management. The most expansive series in the podcast.
- C46: Approaches to Learning Overview16 min
- C47: Understanding the ATL Structure20 min
- C48: Thinking Skills for Early Years (PK–K)16 min
- C49: Thinking Skills for Elementary (1–6)14 min
- C50: Thinking Skills for Specialist / Support16 min
- C51: Research Skills for Early Years (PK–K)14 min
- C52: Research Skills for Elementary (1–6)17 min
- C53: Research Skills for Specialists & Support16 min
- C54: Communication Skills for Early Years (PK–K)14 min
- C55: Communication Skills for Elementary (1–6)15 min
- C56: Communication Skills for Specialist & Support13 min
- C57: Juneteenth (Giving a Voice to the Voiceless)18 min
- C58: Social Skills for Early Years (PK–K)17 min
- C59: Social Skills for Elementary (1–6)15 min
- C60: Social Skills for Specialists & Support13 min
- C61: Self-Management Skills for Early Years (PK–K)19 min
- C62: Self-Management Skills for Homeroom (1–6); Specialist & Supporting15 min
- C63: Choosing Sub-Skills for our Units of Inquiry18 min
- C64: Split-Screen Teaching with ATLs and Learner Profile20 min
- C65: Using Split-Screen Teaching to Spark Learning Goals13 min
□ Identity — Episode C66
A standalone episode exploring identity as a lens for learning and a foundation for the whole child.
Browse all episodes on Buzzsprout ↗□ Learning Environment — Episodes C67 to C72
Space speaks. Six episodes on how the physical and emotional environment shapes what is possible for learners and teachers alike.
- C67: The Importance of Learning Space Design15 min
- C68: Designing for the Language Learner21 min
- C69: Designing for the Gifted Learner18 min
- C70: Designing for Learners with Disabilities11 min
- C71: Designing Other School Spaces17 min
- C72: The Relationship between the Learning Environment and Play16 min
□ Play and Playfulness — Episodes C73 to C76
Play is not a reward. It is how children make meaning. Four episodes on bringing genuine playfulness back into the learning space.
- C73: The Importance of Play17 min
- C74: Play in the Early Years13 min
- C75: Engaging Play through a Conceptual Lesson Cycle24 min
- C76: Play versus Playfulness16 min
□ Design Thinking — Episodes C77 to C87
Eleven episodes exploring how design thinking can become a living practice in the PYP classroom, not just a unit add-on.
- C77: The Design Thinking Process25 min
- C78 (Intro): What Does it Mean to Empathize?24 min
- C79 (Challenge): Let's Empathize with the Four Agreements16 min
- C80 (Intro & Challenge): Define Your Problem with the Four Agreements24 min
- C81 (Intro): What Does it Mean to Ideate?20 min
- C82 (Challenge): Learning to Ideate with the 4A's from Pop-Up Studio24 min
- C83 (Overview): How Do We Create a Prototype?20 min
- C84 (Challenge): Creating a Prototype with the CME Model from Pop-Up Studio10 min
- C85 (Overview): How Do We Evolve Our Thinking?17 min
- C86 (Challenge): Evolving our Practice with POWR17 min
- C87: Using Design Thinking with our Learners12 min
□ Application — Episodes C88 to C90
Three episodes putting ATL, play, and the environment into direct classroom application.
- C88 (Application): Shaping Learning through the Environment12 min
- C89 (Application): Designing an Environment for Play13 min
- C90 (Application): Playing with the ATL12 min
□ Book Club — Episodes C91 to C100
Ten episodes working through The Power of Personal Inquiry together, section by section, idea by idea.
- C91 (Book Club): What and Why of Personal Inquiry (1.1–1.3)17 min
- C92 (Book Club): Why not PI, Sharing pictures of Practice, Setting your Own Goal (1.4–1.6)17 min
- C93 (Book Club): Creating a Culture for Personal Inquiry (2.1–2.5)23 min
- C94 (Book Club): Designing and Assessing our Inquiry Framework (2.6–2.8)19 min
- C95 (Book Club): Lighting the Spark of Personal Inquiry to Proposing, Pitching, and Planning (3.1–3.3)16 min
- C96 (Book Club): Supporting, Conferring, and Sustaining the Process (3.4–3.5)20 min
- C97 (Book Club): Documenting, Reflecting, Assessing, Sharing & Action (3.6–3.7)14 min
- C98 (Book Club): Managing Personal Inquiries (Section 4)8 min
- C99 (Book Club): Reflecting on the Process & Taking Action16 min
- C100 (Book Club): My Personal Inquiry Journey20 min
□ Local and Global Inquiry — Episodes C101 to C109
Nine episodes on connecting the classroom to the wider world, because our learners are not just local citizens. They are global ones.
- C101: The Properties of a Local Inquiry15 min
- C102: Going from a Content Standard to a Local Issue20 min
- C103: Finding Experts in our Local Community14 min
- C104: From Local to Global (Part 1)25 min
- C105: Going Local to Global (Part 2)17 min
- C106: The Story Behind Local and Global Inquiry15 min
- C107: The Commonality of the Human Experience14 min
- C108: Local and Global Inquiry for Specialist and Supporting Teachers21 min
- C109: Local and Global Inquiry in the Early Years26 min
□ Book Club — Episodes C110 to C114
Five episodes working through The Expert Effect, moving from laying the foundation to teaching others as experts.
- C110 (Book Club): Laying the Foundation for the Expert Effect17 min
- C111 (Book Club): Learning from Experts Near & Far (Pgs 29–58)16 min
- C112 (Book Club): Talking with Experts (Pgs 59–90)17 min
- C113 (Book Club): Students Become the Experts (Pgs 91–130)18 min
- C114 (Book Club): Teach Others as Experts (Pg 131–148)20 min
□ The PYP Classroom — Episodes C115 to C122
Eight episodes zooming into the everyday realities of the PYP classroom and what it actually looks and feels like when this all comes together.
- C115: Creating a PYP Classroom Success Criteria20 min
- C116: How do we tickle our learner's brains through our teaching and classroom walls?14 min
- C117: How do we show the expectations of a school within the classroom?23 min
- C118: How are our walls interactive and transdisciplinary?31 min
- C119: What key and related concepts live here?27 min
- C120: How are we celebrating student voice through agency?15 min
- C121: How do we guide learning through differentiation?19 min
- C122: How do learners visually represent their unit of inquiry journey?12 min
□ Application — Episodes C123 to C127
Five episodes putting classroom practice into direct focus: ChatGPT, local and global inquiry, personal inquiry, lessons from The Expert Effect, and the full PYP journey.
- C123 (Application): Our Learning Journey with ChatGPT17 min
- C124 (Application): Using Personal Inquiry in our Practice12 min
- C125 (Application): Local and Global Inquiry in our Context19 min
- C126 (Application): Lessons from The Expert Effect14 min
- C127 (Application): Making our Classrooms reflect the PYP Journey15 min
□ Book Club — Episodes C128 to C137
Ten episodes working through Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond, page by page and practice by practice.
- C128 (Book Club): Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (Pg 1–13)24 min
- C129 (Book Club): From Pedagogy of Poverty to Ready for Rigor (Pgs 14–20)18 min
- C130 (Book Club): Understanding the Power of Cultural Roots (Pg 21–35)23 min
- C131 (Book Club): How Culture Effects the Brain (Pg 36–51)20 min
- C132 (Book Club): Becoming a Culturally Responsive Educator (Pg 52–60)24 min
- C133 (Book Club): Continuing to Become Aware of our Actions (Pg 59–69)25 min
- C134 (Book Club): Supporting Culturally Responsive Relationships with our Learners (Pg 72–87)20 min
- C135 (Book Club): Creating an Alliance with our Learners (Pg 88–107)26 min
- C136 (Book Club): Reshaping the Academic Mindset (Pg 108–120)33 min
- C137 (Book Club): Growing Brain Power, Yes Please! (Pg 122–151)18 min
□ Specialist and Supporting Teachers — Episodes C138 to C151
Fourteen episodes made for the PE teacher, the librarian, the inclusion specialist, and every educator who holds the school together from outside the homeroom. You belong in this conversation.
- C138: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Myths about our Roles20 min
- C139: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Honoring the Unique Role26 min
- C140: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Bringing about Agency36 min
- C141: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Agency 2.023 min
- C142: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Inspiring Inquiry27 min
- C143: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Inquiry 2.022 min
- C144: Specialist and Support Teachers (Challenge): Bring about Agency and Inquiry in our Thinking19 min
- C145: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Leaning into the Learner Profile12 min
- C146: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Learner Profile 2.08 min
- C147: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Seeking Ways to Show International Mindedness24 min
- C148: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: International Mindedness 2.018 min
- C149: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Understanding the Role of Conceptual Understanding16 min
- C150: Specialist and Supporting Teachers: Conceptual Understanding32 min
- C151: Specialist and Supporting Teachers (Challenge)17 min
□ Well-Being — Episodes C152 to C166
If you are exhausted, this is the series for you. Fifteen episodes on worry, fear, panic, anxiety, stress, burnout, boreout, and trauma, for teachers and learners alike. You are not alone in this, and you are not broken.
- C152: The Journey Towards Well-BeingEP 152
- C153: Don't Be a WorrywartEP 153
- C154: Facing Our FearsEP 154
- C155: Facing Our Fears (Part 2)EP 155
- C156: Let's Not Have a Panic AttackEP 156
- C157: Panic and Its Impact on LearningEP 157
- C158: Why Am I So Anxious?EP 158
- C159: Why Is Anxiety So Important?EP 159
- C160: Stress OverloadEP 160
- C161: Teacher BurnoutEP 161
- C162: Learner BurnoutEP 162
- C163: Teacher BoreoutEP 163
- C164: Learner BoreoutEP 164
- C165: TraumaEP 165
- C166: Well-Being for AllEP 166
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Every series in this podcast started as a question someone was sitting with. A PYP teacher in Singapore, a homeroom teacher in Brazil, a PE specialist in New Zealand. If something is on your mind, share it here. Your question might become the next conversation.
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Podcasts worth your time
A short list of podcasts that have shaped how I think about learning, teaching, and the bigger picture of education.