Academia
Moderna

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program

An International Baccalaureate World School

Academia Moderna is an International Baccalaureate World School. We are authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Program. We have a commitment to a high quality, challenging, and international education.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS ⟶

The International Baccalaureate Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

The Primary Years Programme (PYP)

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.

The Learner Profile

The IB learner profile represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. These attributes lead students to become internationally minded individuals. At Academia Moderna students strive to be:

•Inquirers
•Knowledgeable
•Thinkers
•Communicators
•Principled
•Open-minded
•Caring
•Risk-takers
•Balanced
•Reflective

5 Essential Elements of the IB – PYP Curriculum

In the PYP a balance is sought between acquisition of essential knowledge and skills, development of conceptual understanding, demonstration of positive attitudes, and taking of responsible action.

1.) KNOWLEDGE

A structured inquiry approach to learning is the basis of the program. Academia Moderna’s curriculum follows the PYP framework and California Common Core State Standards. Teachers have strategically aligned this curriculum through the six through units of inquiry in the following transdisciplinary themes:

• Who We Are
• Where We Are in Place and Time
• How We Express Ourselves
• How We Organize Ourselves
• How the World Works

1.) KNOWLEDGE

• Who We Are
• Where We Are in Place and Time
• How We Express Ourselves
• How We Organize Ourselves
• How the World Works

2.) CONCEPTS

A set of eight concepts is used in PYP schools to guide inquires. These concepts and a question suggested by each one is:

• Form : What is it like?
• Function : How does it work?
• Causation : Why is it the way it is?
• Change : How is it changing?
• Connection : How is it connected to other things?
• Perspective : What are the points of view?
• Responsibility : What is our responsibility?
• Reflection : How do we know?

3.) SKILLS

Within their learning throughout the programme, students acquire and apply a set of skills that are valuable, not only in the units of inquiry but also for any teaching and learning that happens within and outside of the classroom. These transdisciplinary skills are:

• Social Skills
• Communication Skills
• Thinking Skills
• Research Skills
• Self-management Skills

4.) ATTITUDES

At Academia Moderna we focus on the development of personal attitudes toward people, the environment and learning that contribute to the well-being of the individual and of the group.

• Tolerance
• Empathy
• Commitment
• Appreciation
• Confidence
• Cooperation
• Creativity
• Curiosity
• Enthusiasm
• Independence
• Respect
• Integrity

5.) ACTION

The Action Cycle is an important component of the PYP. At Academia Moderna, we encourage students to act on what they are learning through the action cycle: Reflect, Choose, and Act. By reflecting on learning, students then can make a choice and take action.