Fifth Avenue Upper Elementary is an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) School. Through the IB Program, the Academy offers an inquiry based curriculum that empowers students to become responsible world citizens and reflective lifelong learners. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) focuses on the heart as well as the mind and addresses social, physical, emotional and cultural needs as well as academic ones. At the heart of the PYP is a commitment to structured inquiry as a vehicle for learning. Six transdisciplinary themes help teachers and children explore knowledge in the broadest sense of the word. Teachers and students use key questions that are concept based to structure the units of inquiry. They acquire and apply transdisciplinary skills while developing an understanding of these important concepts. The development of explicit attitudes and the expectation of socially responsible behavior are also essential elements  of the program.

Primary Years Programme at a glance  [from the I.B. website] 

 
What is the Primary Years Programme (PYP)?

It is a transdisciplinary programme of international education designed to foster the development of the whole child.  The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed for students aged 3 to 12. It focuses on the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic development.

 The PYP draws on research and best practice from a range of national systems with a wealth of knowledge and experience from international schools to create a relevant, engaging, challenging and significant educational framework for all children. Curriculum documents are published in English, French and Spanish but schools may offer the programme in other languages under certain conditions.

 The PYP is one of three programmes offered by the International Baccalaureate (IB).

The curriculum framework consists of five essential elements: concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes, action. The knowledge component is developed through inquiries into six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, supported and balanced by six subject areas.

The curriculum framework is further structured around three interrelated questions:

• What do we want to learn?  The written curriculum
• How best will we learn?  The taught curriculum
• How will we know what we have learned?  The assessed curriculum

 

How are students assessed?

Teachers assess students by selecting or designing methods of assessment appropriate to the learning outcomes they intend to capture.

 
Teachers also take into account the diverse, complicated and sophisticated ways that individual students use to develop and demonstrate their understanding.

The prime objective of assessing studentsí learning and performance is to give feedback to:

• students to encourage the start of lifelong learning
• teachers to support their reflection on what to teach and how to teach it
• parents to highlight their child's learning and development.