As many of you know Mitchell teachers, students, and staff have been on a journey over the last 3 years developing units of teaching and learning based on the IB curriculum and our state standards. The work has been both exciting and challenging and I am proud to be able to say that Mitchell is a fully authorized IB World School! We'll talk more about what IB looks like in the classroom, but I'd like to share a brief overview to help you better understand the work your child will be doing in 5th grade this year.
"The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect." This idea is represented by the above image.
Starting in the outer circle, the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) aims to develop international-mindedness in young people. Our curriculum is based on six transdisciplinary themes:
- Sharing the Planet
- Who We Are
- Where We Are in Place and Time
- How We Express Ourselves
- How We Organize Ourselves
- How the World Works
These units are written based on the Michigan Common Core, Science, and Social Studies Standards. They are transdisciplinary, meaning our classroom inquiry weaves together the work across all subject areas, reading, writing, science, social studies, arts, physical education, and some math.
Over the first few weeks of school we will be working together in the classroom to inquire into the Essential Elements of IB and how that will shape our work this year. In particular we will work to better understand the IB Learner Profile.
