Special features of the International Baccalaureate Program for children

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program offers children a balanced world of knowledge and skills for comprehensive development.

Since attending International school Saigon Pearl (ISSP), which teaches program according to the International Baccalaureate Program framework, at home, 7-year-old kid, Nguyen Thien An, from Ho Chi Minh City, often teaches her 2-year-old brother the songs he learned at school. Ms. Ngan (Baby An’s mother) is happy that her daughter can help take care of her younger brother.

“Two sisters sing, dance around the world. Sometimes, both of them quiz, learn to read, and understand the world through an interesting story. From a shy baby, now my daughter is confident and happy. It looks a lot better”, Ms. Ngan informed.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a comprehensive educational program, a high-value diploma, recognized by many countries. According to the IBO organization, the IB program has 4 levels including Primary Years Program (from 3-12 years old); the Middle Years Program for students in grades 6 to 10 (ages 11 to 16); Diploma Program for students aged 16 to 19.

ISSP, one of high quality international schools Ho Chi Minh City, is currently a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary School Program (IB PYP), which focuses on the comprehensive development of children. The program is not only encapsulated in the classroom, but also includes many methods to help children explore the outside world, thereby developing skills and cultivating social emotions.

Students study transdisciplinary education topics

During a class 3R session at International School Saigon Pearl (ISSP), Ms. Roisin places students in small groups. Each group will have different activities to cultivate different skills and knowledge, depending on the capacity of each child. Bao Nam and David learn geography together through games on Ipad, Thu Quynh, Katy and Masha solve English puzzles together.

The IB program is designed as a comprehensive educational program, focusing on each subject, working to improve reasoning, solving complex problems, and helping children develop physically and mentally. healthy, helping them develop not only while studying at school but also in the future.

The International Baccalaureate Primary School Program (IB PYP) consists of six transdisciplinary themes that give children the opportunity to experience a balanced curriculum.

Children will first know who we are. With this theme, students will learn about what makes people and the relationships people build. In addition, they understand the surrounding relationships such as family, society and culture as well as their rights and responsibilities.

The second topic where we are in space and time, students will be oriented about place and time, explore the history and migration of an object or event. The how we express ourselves will allow students to explore and express their ideas, feelings, culture, beliefs, values.

In understanding themselves, the fourth theme, children approach how the world works. Children have the opportunity to explore the natural world, laws, learn the interaction between the natural world and human society. Next, students learn about the interconnectedness of people-made systems and communities through the topic of how we organize.

Finally, share the planet – IB PYP’s sixth theme gives students the opportunity to develop their understanding of “sharing the planet”, in order to develop them into socially responsible citizens.

Multi-skill development for students

In the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP), the student is at the center of education. Children’s voices are heard and respected. Teachers create authentic learning experiences for their students.

Accordingly, at each age, there will be different lessons. Lessons are “personalized” to suit each student, helping to promote strengths, overcome weaknesses, and support comprehensive development. This helps students develop perfect skills, have the opportunity to become global citizens.

Mr. Lester Stephens, Principal of International School Saigon Pearl (ISSP) shared, finding a suitable environment for all-round development of children is one of the most important decisions of parents and is not easy. Pursuing the educational philosophy of inspiring students to build confidence in themselves, empowering each child to succeed.

At ISSP, education focuses on three main contents including academic success; cultivating a global vision; personality building. The school is committed to developing the minds and hearts of its students, and the focus of the International Baccalaureate Program is on developing the elements necessary for students to become inquirers, open-minded, knowledgeable, risk-takers, communicators, caring, balanced, principled, and reflective.

They will pursue educational principles that transcend intellectual development, succeeding in conventional learning. They respect themselves and the world around them, according to the maxim: “An educated student is a student who knows how to make connections with subjects, with things in life”.

Children will become curious and understanding people; inquirers, open-minded, knowledgeable, risk-takers, communicators, caring, balanced, principled, and reflective. These are 10 qualities that the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) assesses. Students will easily overcome challenges and succeed in the future if they are trained from an early age to be an elite global citizen.

Children develop creative and critical thinking

With the IB program, teachers are guides, providing students with knowledge for them to use. Students do not learn by taking notes, listening to the teacher’s lectures, but they will actively decide what they will learn, how they will learn. At that time, children will have more motivation to learn, make their own plans and learning paths, find appropriate ways to learn, and promote the development of critical thinking.

The IB program sets high educational standards and emphasizes creative, critical thinking. 4 aspects of the program focus on development including intellectual, emotional, personal, and soft skills to develop the ability to learn in an international environment.

Source: https://www.issp.edu.vn/international-schools-ho-chi-minh-city

vnexpress.net