Your Child and the Primary Years Programme at Harare International School

What is the Primary Years Programme? It is the official curriculum framework and teaching methodology of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) developed to meet the needs of children in the Primary Years of schooling (Early Childhood – Grade 5).  It “focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and the world outside” and develops certain competencies and attitudes outlined in a learner profile (see last page).

The PYP combines the best research and practice with a wealth of knowledge and experience from international schools to create a significant, relevant, challenging and engaging educational framework for all children that encourages international-mindedness, a positive attitude to learning and reflects real life with meaningful, in-depth inquiries into real issues.

What is the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)?

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), founded in 1968, is a nonprofit educational foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. It provides three related programmes to approximately 2,000 authorized schools in 115 countries: its flagship pre-university Diploma Programme; the Middle Years Programme, created in 1992 for students aged 11-16 and the Primary Years Programme (1997) for children aged 3-12.  (see www.ibo.org )

 The IBO mission statement

The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
 

November 2002

How does the PYP operate?

At the heart of the Primary Years Programme Philosophy is a commitment to structured inquiry as the main way of learning. It is based on a constructivist view of learning. “Our beliefs, models or constructs are revisited and revised in the light of new experience and further learning”.  Each year from Kg-Grade 5 each student will be involved in 6 units of inquiry matching the following six universal organizing themes (Early Childhood students are engaged in 4 units each year):

• Who we are
• Where we are in place and time
• How we express ourselves
• How the world works
• How we organize ourselves
• Sharing the planet

Students explore universal ideas and subject areas through these themes into which are integrated trans-disciplinary skills in the following domains: thinking, social, communication, self-management, research

HIS has developed and resourced 44 units of inquiry to give students a well-rounded and developmental educational experience.  Each unit is carefully planned and students are encouraged to contribute their own curiosity to the development of each unit.  The units are transdisciplinary, spanning and integrating traditional subject areas where desirable.  They are connected to a set of key concepts that underpin the curriculum:

Form:                           What is it like?

Function:                      How does it wok?

Causation:                    Why is it like it is?

Change:                        How is it changing?

Connection:                  How is it connected to other things?

Perspective:                  What are the points of view?

Responsibility:              What is our responsibility?

Reflection:                    How do we know?

Will my child be taught traditional subjects in the PYP?

What is different about the PYP?

The goals of the PYP are consistent with the philosophy and goals of HIS in providing an international education. Its framework and emphasis on inquiry learning allows us to achieve these effectively.  It demands a true partnership between students, teachers and parents in the school community.

• Children are actively engaged in in-depth exploration of issues and themes of universal significance. 
• The curriculum is designed to develop students who reflect a learner profile of attitudes and learning which will allow them to participate to better advantage in the world they will enter as adults.
• The PYP classroom is student-centred, while teacher-directed.  Students are encouraged and developed to be active learners and critical thinkers. 
• Students are encouraged to initiate socially responsible action based on their learning.

 How will my child be assessed?

 All assessment of student work in the PYP is carried out by your child’s teachers.  There are no externally set examinations or externally moderated work.  Your child will be assessed in many ways.  There is a balance of school-based assessment including student/teacher/parent conferences, writing samples, structured observations and performance tasks, tests and formal assessments.  Most importantly, your child will be involved in developing the criteria of assessment with the teacher and will understand how he/she will be assessed before many assessments take place.  This partnership will engender a much greater understanding of assessment, develop better self-assessment, and raise personal achievement expectations.  This is part of the PYP goal to increase students’ awareness of their own learning. 

Why has HIS adopted the PYP?

• The PYP curriculum is a framework that fits the mission, philosophy and goals of our school. 
• The curriculum is based on sound knowledge and understanding about how children learn and how the brain works. 
• It allows us to have considerable flexibility in the choice of content and topics that our children will study as appropriate to our school.
• It engages our children in the kind of learning that they will continue throughout their lives.
• It connects our school to a wider international school network and an  internationally  respected educational organization, thus stimulating and facilitating continuous school improvement. 
• It allows for easier transfer of students to and from the ever-increasing number of schools offering PYP or similar programmes.

                                                                                How can I be involved and find out more?

PYP Learners strive to be:

Inquirers         Knowledgeable           Thinkers         Communicators          Principled

PYP (Primary Years Program) Calendar 2006-2007 (Feb, 2007)

PYP PROGRAMME OF INQUIRY in Thematic Categories, 2006-2007            (Feb, 2007)

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