One of the fun things about adopting a five year old is that we get to go back to grade school. And boy how things have changed since I was a kindergartner. We’re very fortunate to be living in a very progressive school district. It seems St. Louis Park is one of the only public schools that uses the International Baccalureate (IB) Programme curriculum in the primary years. (Who knew?)
IB uses inquiry, international focus and collaboration to develop knowledgeable, caring young people. All subject areas—language, math, art, social studies, science/technology and personal/social/physical education—are taught using these six themes: Who are we; where are we in place and time; how we express ourselves; how we organize ourselves; sharing the planet. For example, kindergartners will explore their subjects by asking questions like: what is it like? How does it work? How is it changing? How is it connected to other things? What are the points of view? What is our responsibility? How do we know? Everything is taught from a global viewpoint. Which will be really cool for Garrett/Connor because he really is from the other side of the world.
While touring the school, Bob and I noticed a giant world map posted in the hallway. The world as we knew it was printed upside down. Confused, we asked the principal what was up. (Or down for that matter.) Guess it would’ve helped if we had first read the title—“Who said everything has to face north”—before speaking. (Another “duh” moment for me.) It certainly opened up a new perspective for both of us.
Sure beats rote memorization.
9 comments:
It sounds like a great school. You are really lucky to have your boys enrolled in it. Thats funny about the map.
Sounds like a fun school! I thought perhaps the map was upside down because the students' bright futures could change the world as we know it, turn the world on edge...
I would like to be included on the blog readers list. Our email is jaimiegena@yahoo.com We adopted Berik in Astana one year ago and still enjoy following along. Our blog is www.berikjames.blogspot.com Sincerely, Gena Lloyd
Thank you for the invitation to your blog and greetings from NY, where we also enjoyed a small snow blizzard few days ago.
Is very smart of you to already look for a good school, before your child comes home.
Learning from the beginning "that not everything has to face north" is going to be a very helpful lesson for him.
Sometimes we do need to be reminded that there are so many different edges of our same little world, and this is how we learn that there is a little Socrates hidden in each of us :)
I can`t wait to hear good news from you.
Thanks for the invite, Karen. We are thankful and appreciative that we can continue to follow along. Our dossier hit the first ministry this week, so we are moving right along. The school sounds fantastic!
The further you can get away from curriculum organized around standardized tests, the better. The students I get at the university level are usually products of this system and they cannot think critically or write a simple essay. They can, however, memorize facts for standardized tests. Where that will get them, I don't know. I will step down off my soapbox now . . . you are doing a good thing for your son.
Sounds like a great school!
IB schools are fantastic! I'm a docent at our local zoo and give tours to school groups. The IB groups are noticably different in that they are inquisitive, curious and interested in more than just taking photos of the animals. It's a delight to be assigned a group from an IB school. Your are very lucky to have easy access to one.
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