Anyone have experience with International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme?

Yodajo

www.ibo.org/pyp/

Our school district is considering creating an International Baccalaureate Academy.  They're  asking if we have any interest and I've never heard of it.

I know its a longshot, but I thought I would ask if anyone here has any knowledge of it.

Jamaica_Bride

No, but it looks interesting.

Oh and I was going to ask you if you were drunk this morning- jus sayin )

Yodajo

Jamaica_Bride:

No, but it looks interesting.

Oh and I was going to ask you if you were drunk this morning- jus sayin )

What did I miss?  I must be because I'm lost! 

joy143dh

No, but quickly checking out the link, it sounds interesting.  At first impression, it looked a little too earthy-crunchy.  Although I really like their goals - to teach the children *how* to learn and educate the teachers on teaching the kids to enjoy learning.  I like that concept.   Like you, I would want to get references from parents whose kids have attended these schools before sending my DC to one. 

4Speedy

I know you are somewhere in Michigan--me too.  I have a friend who teaches 5th grade in Fenton.  This is the first year that the entire Fenton School district is IB certified.  If you want, I can ask her if she will let me give you her email so you can ask questions.  She's on maternity leave right now but is close to returning to work so she's a bit busy at the moment but she will get back to you.

We have 26 acres and the dividing line for the school district goes right through our property.  Unfortunately, the house/address is on the side of the line for the district that does not have IB schools.  In the other school district, only the high school and middle school is certified but they are working on getting some (not all) of the grade schools certified.  I am starting to make calls to appeal to have the district line moved so that we are in the district with the IB program.  I will move heaven and earth to get my kid into the better school district.  The IB program is one of the reasons why.

This is a great program and yes, I am very excited about it coming.

Yodajo

joy-those are my thoughts exactly.  They sent out a survey and I said I was very interested, but I wanted to learn more.  It also sounds like the program may not be open to everyone and that kids will have to pass an exam.  Different. 

meghans30

No first hand experience with the primary years, but a friend taught IB courses at her high school. In high school the courses are similar to AP (Advanced Placement) courses where kids take a test and can score out of a required college course such as English or Biology. The program is not as highly regarded as AP and my opinion was it is just a fancy title without any true traning for teachers, Just my .02, I wouldn't be jumping on the band wagon.

4Speedy

Yodajo--would you PM me and let me know what school district you are in?  I think you live sort of close to me--we might be talking about the same districts.  I do know many of the districts in Oakland county are working toward IB certification.  It's considered more desirable--the districts without will be considered "inferior" and ranked accordingly.  Not only could this become an issue of your child's education, but it's also turning out to be a matter of property values since your school ranking could go down if you don't have the IB program.

4Speedy

meghans30:

No first hand experience with the primary years, but a friend taught IB courses at her high school. In high school the courses are similar to AP (Advanced Placement) courses where kids take a test and can score out of a required college course such as English or Biology. The program is not as highly regarded as AP and my opinion was it is just a fancy title without any true traning for teachers, Just my .02, I wouldn't be jumping on the band wagon.

Nope--not true.  My friend is an IB teacher and she had to go through two years of training while the school was in the application process.  The school has to spend a boatload of money/time training teachers before they even know if the school will get certified.  From what I understand, it's about a 3 year process for a school to get certified and then there is a lot of ongoing training afterward, too.

meghans30

4Speedy:

meghans30:

No first hand experience with the primary years, but a friend taught IB courses at her high school. In high school the courses are similar to AP (Advanced Placement) courses where kids take a test and can score out of a required college course such as English or Biology. The program is not as highly regarded as AP and my opinion was it is just a fancy title without any true traning for teachers, Just my .02, I wouldn't be jumping on the band wagon.

Nope--not true.  My friend is an IB teacher and she had to go through two years of training while the school was in the application process.  The school has to spend a boatload of money/time training teachers before they even know if the school will get certified.  From what I understand, it's about a 3 year process for a school to get certified and then there is a lot of ongoing training afterward, too.

Just relating what I've heard through her - not personal experience and not relating to primary level. Maybe it is different where you are. She's in an inner city school with pretty low standards. They are the only school doing the IB program. Most other schools offer AP programs. I would be interested to hear how it works in the primary levels. I do not know any elementary schools in my area who have used this program.

BC&MM

I lurk mostly, but my friend's two children are in International Academy of Macomb, I think the name is. Her kids had to interview and test to get into the school. I think it is a little different from Advanced Placement, since the stuff they are being taught is something across the world, if I remember correctly, AP is not. I know they only accept so many kids per year and the option of scholarship after graduation is an average of $75k per student. This is a high school where kids are bused and are given laptops to do their homework.

BC&MM

Oh and they graduate with so many college credits already.

Yodajo

This is so interesting.  I thought for sure no one would answer this post.  I had no idea such a thing existed, but now that I do know, I am going to research it some more.  From what I have learned so far, it sounds like it would be a great opportunity if we are offered it.

Temp200154562509288

I student taught 3rd grade at an IB school. Although it was public the students had to apply to get in and they were chosen based on a lottery system. From what I remember the IB program has their own set of standards similiar to state standards but with a little more detail. In third grade they had special IB units which were much more inclusive than anything required by the state. The teachers also had to at least have their masters and pass the special program training. I was very impressed with everything, it's definitely something I would be excited about.

ans1999

Just my 2 cents on the program:

 I was in it in high school. We did both IB and AP classes. The IB classes and tests were MUCH harder. They garnered me 21 hours of college credit. I don't think the AP credits touched that. We also had to write a 20 page research paper and complete community service hours.

 My cousin is in the middle school program and loves it! It really keeps them engaged. It isn't fancy dancy. When they say they teach them to think, they encourage them to think critically about all info/positions. My experience with IB was nothing but great.

hopefulmom

I don't know anything about IB schools but the concept sounds really good.  Teaching kids to learn.  That seems to be the problem with a lot of kids...they don't know how to study, they don't know how to learn.

ans1999...not sure when you graduated...but even a few years ago my oldest DS had to write research papers longer than 20 pages and community service was required.  He was in a private school...but I think that is required in our regular public schools too.  Required to graduate, I mean.