Starting in K or Gr1
The LFSF iTrack welcomes its youngest students in K and Gr 1. As it is powered by the IB, the iTrack is designed to develop young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning in English and in French.
It provides an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum that builds conceptual understanding and reflects the best of educational research. It benefits from the demonstrated LFSF know-how in bilingual teaching.
Students learn about and use knowledge, concepts and skills from a variety of subjects to explore six transdisciplinary themes and begin to develop the attributes of the learner profile.
The approach
In line with the IB approach to teaching and learning, the curriculum for students in kindergarten through Grade 5 adopts a student-centered approach, emphasizing their active role and collaboration in the learning process. It encourages student initiative, empowering them to take ownership of their learning journey. By engaging in inquiry-based learning and reflecting on their progress, students develop knowledge, conceptual understanding and essential skills and attributes aligned with the Learner profile.
The learner
The Learner Profile represents a broad range of human dispositions, capacities and traits that encompass intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth.
When we talk about being internationally-minded, it means that we develop and show the qualities described in the Learner Profile. These qualities are important in all parts of elementary school. Everyone in the school community, including students, teachers, parents, and school leaders, has a responsibility to follow these qualities and work towards developing them.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEARNER PROFILE
Informed by the values described in the Learner Profile, the LFSF iTrack program:
- focuses on learners : the student-centered program promote healthy relationships, ethical responsibility and personal challenge
- develops effective approaches to learning and teaching : our program help students to develop the knowledge, dispositions and skills needed for both academic and personal success
- works within global contexts : our program increases understanding of languages and cultures, and explore globally significant ideas and issues
- explores significant content : our program offers a curriculum that is broad and balanced, conceptual and connected.
Learning and Teaching
Following the IB principles, the iTrack approach is designed to focus on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside.
It is a framework guided by six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, explored using knowledge and skills derived from six subject areas, as well as approaches to learning skills. The program provides the best preparation for students to engage in the iTrack program in Middle School.
The iTrack Program In Elementary school
The six subject areas in Elementary school are:
- language
- social studies
- mathematics
- arts
- science
- personal, social and physical education
The iTrack Program in Elementary School:
- acknowledges learner agency and the importance of self-efficacy to enable students to become partners in the learning process
- addresses students’ academic, social and emotional well-being
- encourages students to develop independence and to take responsibility for their own learning
- supports students’ efforts to gain understanding of the world and to function comfortably within it
- helps students establish personal values as a foundation upon which international mindedness will develop and flourish
- provides the opportunity to learn more than one language from the age of seven
Transdisciplinary learning
Transdisciplinary learning in the Elementary school years goes beyond individual subjects and extends to the connections and relevance it holds in the real world.
By exploring these six themes, students develop an appreciation for the interconnected nature of knowledge, conceptual understanding, skills, and personal attributes. They also gain the ability to reflect on the importance of their learning and take purposeful action within their community and beyond. This learning process empowers students to become proficient learners who are motivated to engage in lifelong learning, equipped with cognitive, emotional, and social tools.
Each theme is addressed each year by all students who work in a variety of ways - on their own and in groups. They develop an appreciation for the interconnected nature of knowledge, conceptual understanding, skills, and personal attributes. They also gain the ability to reflect on the importance of their learning and take purposeful action within their community and beyond. This learning process empowers students to become proficient learners who are motivated to engage in lifelong learning, equipped with cognitive, emotional, and social tools.
Since these ideas relate to the world beyond the school, students see their relevance and connect with it in an engaging and challenging way. Students who learn in this way understand their roles and responsibilities in the learning process.
These themes also help teachers to develop a programme of inquiries and investigations into important ideas, identified by their teachers, and requiring a high level of involvement on the part of the students.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2018
*LFSF is a Candidate School* for the IB programs pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that LFSF believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org