Being a risk-taker is one of the ten traits of an IB Learner that we seek to develop through our program. Over the past few weeks, our 6th – 8th graders have been practicing being a risk-taker through their rollerblading unit in PE class. Ms. Sagert had the exciting and innovative idea to incorporate a rollerblading unit into her course this year. Through a partnership with Skatetime, all of our IB students have been able to rent in-line skates and safety equipment and have been spending the last few weeks in PE class, first becoming comfortable on skates and learning to skate, then playing games while skating, with the ultimate goal of playing floor hockey. Through IB, we seek to offer our students experiences that they may not otherwise have, and rollerblading has been new to most of our students. But even with a lot of spills the first week, the kids have been determined and have gained a lot of confidence and had so much fun!
We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
Being a risk-taker is one of the ten traits of an IB Learner that we seek to develop through our program. Over the past few weeks, our 6th – 8th graders have been practicing being a risk-taker through their rollerblading unit in PE class. Ms. Sagert had the exciting and innovative idea to incorporate a rollerblading unit into her course this year. Through a partnership with Skatetime, all of our IB students have been able to rent in-line skates and safety equipment and have been spending the last few weeks in PE class, first becoming comfortable on skates and learning to skate, then playing games while skating, with the ultimate goal of playing floor hockey. Through IB, we seek to offer our students experiences that they may not otherwise have, and rollerblading has been new to most of our students. But even with a lot of spills the first week, the kids have been determined and have gained a lot of confidence and had so much fun!
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I had the privilege of observing our 8th grade students in their IB Language and Literature class last week. The class was wrapping up a unit on the Holocaust through a novel study of Friedrich and primary source documents and testimonials. Throughout the unit, students were challenged to think about how what they learned about the Holocaust impacted their understanding of themselves, the past, and the world today. The culminating project was to design a Holocaust memorial and write a corresponding artist's statement to explain the message they intended to communicate through their work of art. As I, along with the 7th grade class, toured the memorials and listened to the 8th graders explanations, I was blown away by the symbolism reflected in their memorials and their ability to articulate the profound meaning they had taken from the unit. This 8th grade unit, through the direction of Mrs. Prinzivalli, exemplifies IB education. Rather than simply learning about a moment in history, teachers challenge students to delve deeply, to understand why it matters and how it impacts their own belief systems. Our 8th graders are moving on study To Kill a Mockingbird through an integrated IB unit with Individuals and Societies (Humanities) to continue their exploration of how individual choices impact a community within a different context. This unit is developed in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves, a nonprofit dedicated to providing instructional supports to make learning relevant and meaningful for our students. Many thanks to our dedicated teachers, Mrs. Prinzivalli and Ms. Denten, who have been trained in the Facing History approach and have put countless hours into the development of these units. |
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