LINKING YOUR LIBRARY CURRICULUM TO THE IPC

As I mentioned in the Language Framework article, had I stayed on at the Netherlands Inter-community School (NIS), I would have linked our library curriculum to the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). Prior to my leaving, the initial steps were in place; below are some tips that could easily be implemented at any other IPC school.

Designing the Library Curriculum

Have your librarian sit down with the IPC program, your school language curriculum, and an existing library curriculum. Your librarian can split objectives, such as the following Primary 1 library skill, “to know how to look after a book," by appropriate IPC milepost – in this instance knowing how to look after a book could be placed in Milepost 1. While doing this, the librarian can add additional relevant learning goals from the IPC and language curriculum. I have uploaded a rough draft of what our school librarian came up with to give you an idea of what our new curriculum could have looked like.

LIBRARY CURRICULUM

Linking to the IPC

Once your new library curriculum is ready, your librarian will need open access to the school’s milepost routing and teacher planners ahead of time. With this information the librarian will be able to pre-plan class visits and ensure that resources pulled and library teaching time will link to what is happening in the classroom. For example, if the librarian sees that a class has an upcoming research project, they can pull resources on that topic and plan a lesson on research skills during library time.

Evaluating Students

Your school could choose to take things one step further and have the librarian comment on IPC learning goals/Library learning goals achieved during library time on school report cards.

Including Librarians

Include your librarian in staff meetings and teacher planning times. If they are aware of upcoming entry/exit points, ideas may spark and they may find ways to include the library in whatever is being planned.

Have you had success linking your library curriculum to the IPC? Are there any tips you would like to share?

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