Mr. Gonzales who is the principal at Borman Elementary school took the time to speak with us about “IB” or International Baccalaureate schools. He began the seminar by introducing what it meant to be an International Baccalaureate school, which is a universal educational program for students to help in the globalizing world, while encouraging students to become internationally minded. These types of schools are not only within the younger grade levels. Regardless of their zoning students who have attended an International Baccalaureate school is able to choose if they would rather attend the school they are zoned in or continue their education in a “IB” school within the higher level grades.
Prior to listening to Mr. Gonzales at the seminar we had slight knowledge about the extraneous process of becoming and maintaining the International Baccalaureate guidelines. Borman Elementary is currently still in the process of becoming this form of school. If the school continues at the same rate they should be certified at the end of next year.
The entire process is extremely expensive and time consuming. With this in mind the school has to make sure that every teacher within the school is on board to make this transformation. To become an “IB” school it could take up to three years to be completely certified and cost each teacher 850 dollars to receive the necessary training.
Unlike the traditional form of education the educators teach based upon themes or “IB” attitudes. Their lesson plans consist of planners that the teachers set time aside to plan together as a team. We found it extremely interesting that Mr. Gonzales stated that the only reason they have team leads is because they have to and he believes that everyone should work together in order to plan each lesson. Each planner is divided up into separate ideas or themes. These themes consist of “Who We Are”, “Where We Are in Place and Time”, “How We Express Ourselves”, “How the World Works”, “How We Organize Ourselves”, and “Sharing the Planet”. Each grade level is able to teach whatever planner they would like first in any given order.
When the teachers are teaching the lessons to their students it is encouraged to have their classrooms student-centered. The “IB” program rather have students be able to show what they have learned through actions rather than retelling through a paper and pencil. One way they are able to achieve this expectation is through the incorporation of their own e-portfolio. Each student receives their own portfolio online that they are able to access at any time. With this they are able to see what they have created from kindergarten all the way until 12th grade.
Mr. Gonzales was able to provide the entire Denton cadre with information that will be extremely useful in our future. We were able to learn about a different way of learning and teaching that many of us did not have any knowledge about. Even though this form of teaching is not solely limited throughout the United States. Countries throughout the world are practicing this form of learning and has proven to be beneficial to students in all academic learning styles. We could not thank the principal at Borman Elementary enough for discussing this form of information with the Denton Cadre.
Prior to listening to Mr. Gonzales at the seminar we had slight knowledge about the extraneous process of becoming and maintaining the International Baccalaureate guidelines. Borman Elementary is currently still in the process of becoming this form of school. If the school continues at the same rate they should be certified at the end of next year.
The entire process is extremely expensive and time consuming. With this in mind the school has to make sure that every teacher within the school is on board to make this transformation. To become an “IB” school it could take up to three years to be completely certified and cost each teacher 850 dollars to receive the necessary training.
Unlike the traditional form of education the educators teach based upon themes or “IB” attitudes. Their lesson plans consist of planners that the teachers set time aside to plan together as a team. We found it extremely interesting that Mr. Gonzales stated that the only reason they have team leads is because they have to and he believes that everyone should work together in order to plan each lesson. Each planner is divided up into separate ideas or themes. These themes consist of “Who We Are”, “Where We Are in Place and Time”, “How We Express Ourselves”, “How the World Works”, “How We Organize Ourselves”, and “Sharing the Planet”. Each grade level is able to teach whatever planner they would like first in any given order.
When the teachers are teaching the lessons to their students it is encouraged to have their classrooms student-centered. The “IB” program rather have students be able to show what they have learned through actions rather than retelling through a paper and pencil. One way they are able to achieve this expectation is through the incorporation of their own e-portfolio. Each student receives their own portfolio online that they are able to access at any time. With this they are able to see what they have created from kindergarten all the way until 12th grade.
Mr. Gonzales was able to provide the entire Denton cadre with information that will be extremely useful in our future. We were able to learn about a different way of learning and teaching that many of us did not have any knowledge about. Even though this form of teaching is not solely limited throughout the United States. Countries throughout the world are practicing this form of learning and has proven to be beneficial to students in all academic learning styles. We could not thank the principal at Borman Elementary enough for discussing this form of information with the Denton Cadre.