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“The International Baccalaureate means learning for life.” These words, spoken by a foreign International Baccalaureate (IB) teacher can now be seen in our very own school district, as Young Elementary School, located on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, will be the second public school in Jefferson County to offer the IB program, and the only elementary school in the state to offer the “Primary Years Programme” (PYP).
The PYP is an IB program aimed for students between the ages of 3 and 12. The program in meant to “focus on the development of the whole child as an inquirer”. Education, through written, taught, and assessed curriculum, focuses around six themes focusing on issues that are important to the development of the world, and have significant meaning to its people. These themes surround the six subject areas of language, social studies, mathematics, arts, science, and personal, social, and physical education.
Language and Social Studies merge to help illustrate the first theme, “Who We Are”. This theme helps to give children a sense of self-awareness. The PYP is designed to help children learn at a young age, who they are, and what their role is in the world. This theme helps children develop into better people both mentally and socially.
The second theme, “Where We Are in Place and Time”, is taught through the combination of Social Studies and Mathematics. This theme helps students to see how far we, as human beings, have come since our first days on the planet. It helps to give children appreciation of what they have, and helps them to realize how much they can do for the rest of the world.
“How We Express Ourselves”, the third theme, uses Arts and Mathematics to teach just that. Children learn how to express themselves in fun, creative, and intelligent ways. By doing this, children learn that everyone is unique. They learn to accept the uniqueness of others, and figure out ways they can use these talents in the future. This can help for future technological advancements, and social advancements.
Science and Arts are skillfully blended to teach the students “How the World Works”. Engineering is key and crucial to the development of the world. These students learn about the skills needed and used in careers such as engineering. Children in the PYP learn not only what an object is, but they learn about its function in the world, its purpose, and how to use it. This theme shows how children learn about every aspect of something. Learning from the inside-out, and the outside-in, gives students a better understanding, and a deeper education.
Science, along with Personal, Physical, and Social Education help to teach “How We Organize Ourselves”. This theme helps children learn about their own bodies and other organisms. By seeing the science of life, and how to improve it, students learn how to help with the growing problems of biodiversity and our ecosystem. Personal, Physical, and Social Education help kids not only learn about other people and animals, but how to interact and take care of them.
Finally, the instructors combine Language with Personal, Physical, and Social Education to help inform their students on “Sharing the Planet”. This theme is similar to the first and previous. Only in this theme, children once again learn language. Children learn about the cultures of other societies, and how to interact with people different from them.
Overall, these themes help to teach more than a typical classroom setting. Children in the PYP learn important lessons that can be used every day in life. Teachers constantly hear kids asking when they will you use this knowledge outside of school. These students don’t have the ability to ask that question. Every lesson involves using real-life experiences, helping the kids to better understand, and crave more of the knowledge.
PYP teachers and students focus on learning through concepts, skills, attitudes, and action. By incorporating these elements into the framework of their curriculum, students are given the opportunity to gain relevant knowledge of global significance, develop an understanding of concepts, acquire trans-disciplinary and disciplinary skills, develop attitudes that lead to international-mindedness, and take action from their learning.
Young Elementary is the second school with an IB program in Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), the seventh in the state, and the first with the PYP. JCPS currently lacks a middle school with an IB program, leaving many wondering what school will come next and how/when that advancement will happen.
Many questions remain in regards to Young Elementary and the future of the IB programs in Jefferson County Public Schools, but one thing that is certain, our school district is sure to see some big changes soon.
