ATL Skills Playbooks
Skill-based activity ideas to help students become lifelong learners
Nadia Abdallah, Lisa McKeon Joassaint, Lenny Dutton, Anshu Sharma and Akriti Macker
2 min read
The ATL skills are interwoven throughout everything that we do in the IB continuum. Teachers are building skills both explicitly and implicitly at every opportunity, but designing meaningful learning experiences aligned with the long list of skill indicators is no easy feat! There are so many options and skill-based activities are not always at the forefront of the planning process.
This set of five ATL skills playbooks is designed to help you target specific skill indicators in your teaching and learning processes. The playbooks collate exciting ideas for skill-based activities that can be aligned with subjects or used independently for homeroom and other learning spaces.
How to use the playbooks
- Each playbook contains printable strategy or activity cards aligned with 50+ skill indicators within the five ATL skill clusters
- Cards are written in student-facing language and also link to templates, worksheets, and graphic organisers students can readily use
- Each card also indicates a learner profile attribute that can potentially be developed through the activity; educators may encourage students to reflect upon the same.
Communication skills playbook helps develop the ability to express one’s ideas clearly and in diverse ways, to listen to multiple perspectives and to collaborate with other individuals effectively.
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Research skills playbook helps develop the ability to critically evaluate and effectively use credible information and media.
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Social skills playbook helps develop the ability to collaborate with other individuals within a classroom setting and beyond.
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Self-management skills playbook helps develop the ability to reflect on one’s own progress and set goals to meet expectations.
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Thinking skills playbook helps develop the ability to think critically and creatively, and transfer knowledge across disciplines.
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Nadia Abdallah
Nadia Abdallah
Nadia Abdallah holds a B.A in English from Montclair State University, an M.A in Adult Education from the University of Phoenix and is currently working on a doctorate in TESOL Education at the University of Exeter. Nadia is also an IB workshop leader and examiner and a team visitor for the Council of International Schools (CIS). She has published articles regarding standardized testing and bilingual education, and is a firm believer in equal access to education.
With over 15 years of teaching and coaching experience, Nadia has held positions such as IB English teacher, IBMYP Coordinator and most recently, K-12 Director of Teaching and Learning, Chair of the CIS Committee, Head of the English Department (K-12) and MYP Principal.
Lisa McKeon Joassaint
Lisa McKeon Joassaint
Lisa has been teaching MYP Individuals and Societies since 2008. She has taught for 16 years in American and International schools in Haiti, Sri Lanka and currently teaches at the ACS Hillingdon International School, London. Trained as an intermediate/senior French and History teacher in Canada, Lisa is a secondary school Social Studies and DP History teacher and Head of Grade 10 currently. Shae has been an IB workshop leader since 2013, and has previously held several leadership positions including MYP Coordinator, ATL leader and Head of Department for her school. She enjoys working with curriculum across levels and the flexibility of the MYP.
Lenny Dutton
Lenny Dutton
Lenny is the MYP Coordinator at the International School of Stuttgart, Germany. She has worked in the UK, America and Germany, as an ATL Coordinator, Personal Project Coordinator, Librarian and MYP Design teacher. She has published two MYP Design books and regularly shares her work on excitededucator.com.
Anshu Sharma
Anshu Sharma
With over 14 years of experience across PYP, MYP & DP, Anshu currently serves as MYP Coordinator at Pathways School Noida, India. She strongly believes in the strength of student agency and is committed to building teacher efficacy as a leader. She is an approved NEASC visiting team member and has successfully led schools through the MYP authorization process.
Akriti Macker
Akriti Macker
Akriti Macker is an Associate Director, Learning and Engagement at Toddle. She completed her Masters in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College–Columbia University in 2015. She has worked as a curriculum expert and workshop leader for PBS, the Brooklyn Public Library and Callido Learning. She is fascinated by how students learn new concepts and adapt to the ways of the world. Akriti has also previously been a homeroom and a creative writing teacher in Tokyo and New York.
Disclaimer: This resource has been produced independently of and not endorsed by the IB. Toddle’s resources seek to encourage sharing of perspectives and innovative ideas for classroom teaching & learning. They are not intended to be replacements for official IB guides and publications. Views and opinions expressed by the authors of these resources are personal and should not be construed as official guidance by the IB. Please seek assistance from your school’s IB coordinator and/or refer to official IB documents before implementing ideas and strategies shared within these resources in your classroom.
