What does it mean to be part of an international community? At the heart of the International Baccalaureate is the Learner Profile, ten attributes that define an internationally-minded human being. The qualities orignally conceived to teach for world peace are Caring, Principled, Balanced, Open-Minded, Reflective, Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Risk-Takers.

How do students demonstrate their learning? Action is a key component of the PYP and so teachers and parents are looking for student demonstrations of knowledge, skills, and attributes. If a child sets learning goals independently or inquires outside of school into a topic or helps a classmate, these are actions taken as a result of the learning. This makes learning authentic.

What is an inquirer? The AISA student profile is someone who has an unquenchable curiosity to know more. Knowledge is organized around six transdisciplinary themes: Who we are, Where we are in place and time, How we express ourselves, How the world works, How we organize ourselves and Sharing the planet. The aim of the program to create students who are independent in the cycle of learning.

We aim to provide genuine, meaningful literacy and math instruction that is connected to our units of inquiry. Literacy is taught through the Teachers College Reading and Writing Workshop framework to support student agency. Mathematics is taught conceptually and teachers use Engage NY as a resource to support inquiry-based instruction.

How do students prepare for lifeling learning? Just as the PYP uses transdisicplinary themes as an organizing principle for knowledge, skills are also taught across the disciplines. The five broad strands of skills are social, self-management, thinking, communication, and research. Acquisition of these skills results in a critical thinking, independent, life-long learner.