Student-initiated Action through the PYP
As an IB Primary Years Program (PYP) school, we are developing students who demonstrate increased agency - voice, choice and ownership – of their learning. This is turn supports students’ ability to take meaningful and intentional action. Taking action individually or with others helps students understand what it means to be responsible, reflective, internationally-minded learners who can make a positive change in their local and global communities. Action in the PYP is authentic, meaningful to, and initiated by students.
Some of the more common forms that student-initiated action can take include the following:
Participation
Examples:
+ getting involved in class, school and community projects
+ making appropriate choices and taking responsibility for personal learning and actions
+ contributing to discussions and learning experiences
Advocacy
Examples:
+ supporting peers in the classroom
+ sharing ideas with others (peers, learning teams, local or global community organizations, etc.)
+ advocating for others’ needs and ideas
+ taking on the role of a student representative at class, school, local community level and beyond
Social Justice
Examples:
+ exploring social issues from different perspectives
+ reflecting on the possible consequences of decisions and actions
+ volunteering in response to community needs
Social Entrepreneurship
Examples:
+ designing, planning and developing solutions to address issues
+ initiating and maintaining projects that have a positive impact on the learning community (for example, peer tutoring and mentoring, recycling systems, nature center stewardship, etc.)
+ connecting with businesses, organizations and other community partners to support local and global service projects
Lifestyle Choices
Examples:
+ making choices that contribute to personal, social and physical health and well-being
+ taking responsibility for interactions and relationships with others
+ reflecting on the impact of personal choices on local and global environments
At McGraw, we believe that taking action to make our community and world a better place is a natural outcome of an IB education. As stated in our school mission statement, we are “fostering internationally-minded, life-long learners who all thrive in and positively shape our global community”.