In our PYP1 classroom, learning is more than reading and writing—it’s an exploration of how the brain itself works. Mrs. Miller, our PYP1 teacher, has a special passion for helping young learners understand the science of learning, from growth mindset to neuroplasticity. 

She often reminds students that the brain is like a muscle: it grows stronger the more we practice, and it fires even more powerfully when we make mistakes. “There’s research that shows when you make a mistake—even if you don’t consciously realize it—your brain still responds,” Mrs. Miller explains. “That’s how new pathways are built.” 

To bring this concept to life for her students, Mrs. Miller uses a playful tool: Pig Latin. 

A Quirky Language with a Purpose 

Pig Latin isn’t a real language, but rather a coded way of speaking English that has been passed around playgrounds and classrooms for generations. Its exact origins aren’t clear, but it became popular in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries as a children’s game—a way to speak “secretly” with friends. 

The rules are simple: take the first consonant of a word, move it to the end, and add “-ay.” If the word starts with a vowel, you just add “-way” or “-yay” to the end. For example: 

Cat becomes Atcay. 

Pig becomes Igpay. 

Orange becomes Orangeway. 

While it might sound silly, Pig Latin is surprisingly effective as a learning exercise. 

Pig Latin in the Classroom 

Mrs. Miller introduces Pig Latin as a way to show her students how practice strengthens the brain. The first week, students simply learn to say their own names. By the second week, they can say the names of their classmates. 

“Each time, I point out how they’re getting better because their pathways are getting stronger,” she says. Within three weeks, Mrs. Miller can give her class simple instructions in Pig Latin. By the sixth week, she can run an entire lesson in it—and her students can follow along. 

For the children, it’s fun and a little quirky. For Mrs. Miller, it’s the perfect way to help them see how mistakes, persistence, and practice fuel growth. 

“Pig Latin is just one of my quirky things,” she laughs, “but it’s also a way for my students to truly experience how learning happens.” 

Igpay Atinlay akesmay earninglay unfay!