Erin originally hails from Australia where she earned both her Bachelor’s Degree in Primary Teaching/Arts and a Master’s Degree in Educational Studies (major in ICT/Digital Learning) from the University of Newcastle. Erin has been in primary education for more than 10 years with experience in international schools. Prior to moving to Singapore, Erin taught students in Japan, Germany and Australia.
With extensive experience in the Primary Years Programme and as an Enrichments Specialist, Erin is thrilled to be able to share her knowledge and expertise with students at the OWIS Nanyang Campus. Erin engages her students in learning experiences that challenge thinking, heighten curiosity, and open their minds. Erin strives to help each individual student create a positive mindset, fostering their ability to become lifelong learners and incredible human beings.
Traveling is one of Erin’s favourite pastimes. Her travels have taken Erin throughout Europe, America, and Asia. Erin also enjoys physical fitness, keeping up with the latest in technology, reading fantasy novels, playing with her cat Charlie. Time with family is also important to Erin. She and her engineer husband are proud parents to two children.
Learning stations in IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) classrooms are especially designed to provide students with interesting and individualised learning experiences. They provide your child with an opportunity to personalise their own learning experience and discover different ways of learning that appeal most to them as individuals. For instance, at One World International School, literacy, maths and research stations are some examples of learning stations that we set up in our primary classrooms.
These learning stations allow for differentiated and personalised instruction, as students are able to explore the stations at their own pace or in a small group setting. For the most part, your child will partake in self-guided learning at these stations, but teachers are available to guide them and offer support if needed. These learning stations are particularly impactful because they allow students to engage in experiential learning and interact with their learning materials from a different perspective.
What is a Learning Station?
A learning station is a physical location in the classroom that often focuses on a specific theme and requires students to solve a problem or answer a question using the materials available at that station. When setting up a learning station, teachers can design it to be used by one student at a time or by up to three students working together as a small group. For a learning station to be effective, it must include the following elements:
Different types of learning stations can be set up throughout the primary school years based on student needs and learning objectives. Many teachers find that learning stations are a good way to incorporate differentiated instruction into their lesson plans.
Benefits of Learning Stations
There are many advantages to incorporating learning stations into primary school classrooms. These are just a few of the benefits your child may realise:
Learning Stations at OWIS
The Primary School teachers at OWIS use learning stations in a variety of exciting and innovative ways. Some of the most popular types of learning stations at OWIS include:
By creating a variety of learning stations in our IB PYP classrooms, OWIS teachers allow students to enjoy different activities at the same time. Teachers understand that all students learn differently, and some benefit more from tactile learning, while others rely more heavily on visual cues or verbal lessons. With different learning stations available, your child will be able to make independent decisions and take ownership over their learning experience. Best of all, they get to have fun while doing it, all while having a trusted teacher available to guide them if they need it.
This personalised approach is an integral part of the OWIS IB PYP philosophy, and we believe that it helps our students grow and develop into lifelong learners. To learn more about our Primary School programme, schedule a virtual tour today.
Please note: All the images in this blog were taken in pre-Covid times.