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| Overview: |
Reimagining Agency, Rigour, and Wellbeing in Upper Primary
In the upper years of primary school, the pressure of "readiness" and curriculum coverage often pushes play to the sidelines. This 4-part series invites educators to challenge that dichotomy. We will explore the intentionality behind a playful pedagogy-demonstrating that play is not a "break" from learning, but the very vehicle that drives deep conceptual understanding and student resilience.
Join [Your Name] as we examine how the strategic use of time, space, and materials can shift the classroom culture from one of compliance to one of inquiry. By looking through a lens of "The Playful Pivot," participants will learn to design experiences that lower student anxiety and raise academic standards. |
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| Workshop Goals: |
- Analyse the research-based link between playful mindsets and cognitive "readiness."
- Discover how to pivot standard curriculum into high-engagement, playful encounters.
- Explore the relationship between learner agency and social-emotional well-being in older children.
- Identify documentation strategies that capture rigorous thinking within playful moments.
- Design a coherent, long-term plan where play and academic outcomes are "dancing partners."
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| Weekly Breakdown: |
Week 1: The Foundation of Playful Inquiry
- The Mindset Shift: Redefining "play" for the 9-12 year old learner.
- The Science of Engagement: Understanding how a playful atmosphere unlocks the brain’s potential for complex tasks.
- Democratic Classrooms: The intersection of student agency, listening, and instructional design.
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Week 2: Designing the Playful Culture
- Rhythms and Flow: Moving away from rigid schedules toward intentional, responsive daily rituals.
- Environmental Cues: How physical space and materials can promote independence and "relaxed alertness."
- The Pivot in Practice: Early explorations of transforming "boring" curriculum markers into curious provocations.
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Week 3: The Pedagogy of Play (Deep Dives)
- Conceptual Connections: Moving beyond isolated lessons toward a coherent "bigger picture."
- Scaffolding the Struggle: Using playful metaphors and interactions to navigate the "Learning Pit" and build grit.
- Making the Abstract Concrete: Investigating how hands-on experiences anchor complex literacy and numeracy concepts.
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Week 4: Continuity, Agency, and Assessment
- Documenting the Invisible: Tools for capturing evidence of learning that traditional tests might miss.
- The Empowered Learner: Case studies in student autonomy, self-efficacy, and "lightbulb moments."
- The Road Map Ahead: Finalising your "Playful Manifesto" and sharing the value of this pedagogy with the wider school community.
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| About Kaccey Mayer |
A dedicated and internationally experienced PYP Primary and Early Years Teacher, Coordinator, and IBEN Workshop Leader with over a decade of IB curriculum expertise across Australia, Japan and Switzerland. Skilled in building and leading collaborative teams, supporting school-wide curriculum alignment, and guiding IB evaluations and program development.
Passionate about fostering inquiry-based, play-centred learning environments where every child’s unique interests drive teaching and learning. Committed to mentoring colleagues, facilitating professional development, and cultivating a culture of wonder and reflective practice in education. |
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| Dates & Timings |
January 14th, 21st, 28th & February 4th, 2027
Each Session is for 2 Hours
New York 3:00 am | London 08:00 am | Zurich 09:00 am | Dubai 12:00 pm
India 1:30 pm | Hong Kong 4:00 pm | Melbourne 7:00 pm
Note: This workshop will be recorded
Please click here to check your time for the workshop |
| Investment |
USD 400 Closing Date 10th January 2027
Includes: Certificate of Participation for 10 Professional Development Hours. |
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| Upcoming Workshops |
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| Curriculum Mapping for Modern Learning: Bundling Standards, Aligning Assessments, and Engaging Students and Faculty |
| How can we create a living breathing curriculum responsive to the learners in our care? How can we support a culture of collaboration between teachers to develop a pathway of engaging learning experiences both vertically and across the school year? |
 November 9th, 16th & 23rd, 2026 |
 USD 400 Closing Date 5th November 2026 |
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| Exploring The Power of Making Thinking Visible Practices |
| Over the past two decades, there has been an explosion of interest in how educators can build authentic cultures of thinking, nurture students as powerful learners, and foster deep, sustained engagement. |
| November 11th, 18th, 25th & December 2nd, 2026 |
| USD 500 Closing Date 1st November 2026 |
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| Help Students Grow as Writers by Individualizing Writing Instruction in Your Classroom |
| It’s not a secret: the children in your classroom differ in many ways from each other as writers. |
| February 16th, 18th, 23rd & 25th, 2027 |
| USD 450 Closing Date 16th February 2027 |
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