International Baccalaureate®
What is an IB Education?
Carpenter Elementary G.L.A.D. is an International Baccalaureate World School. The IB Primary Years Programme at Carpenter focuses on helping students discover the value of learning and become lifelong learners.
Cultivating observation skills, teaching to recognize patterns and transferring their knowledge to unfamiliar situations allow students to develop critical thinking skills and creativity. With a focus on purposeful play, hands-on learning, problem-solving and nurturing respect to create conscientious individuals, the IB program prepares students to achieve academic success in their educational careers and to become socially aware about the world around them.
How Do We Help Develop Students?
Parents who want the best possible education for their children choose this programme because it includes:
Rigorous Learning Objectives
Ensures breadth and depth of understanding through study in eight subject groups.
Student-Centered Learning
International Perspectives
Helps students appreciate their own culture and personal history, as well as the values and traditions
of others.
Multi-Lingual
Education
Every student in the program will have a language class.
Develop Learning Strategies
Students focus on approaches to learning with a critical lens and evaluate application of their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
What Does an IB Student Look Like?
At the core of all IB Programmes is the learner profile, 10 attributes fostered in students that promote their development as responsible members of their local, national, and global communities. IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers
knowledgeable
thinkers
Communicators
principled
open-minded
caring
risk-takers
balanced
reflective
Understanding the IB Primary Years Programme
A Student-Centered Approach
The Primary Year Progamme (PYP) encourages students to drive their own learning and see themselves as inquirers, problem solvers, and global citizens. It not only focuses on what students learn but how they learn. This approach includes five major categories of skills that students will develop:
- Communication
- Thinking
- Social Skills
- Self-Management
- Researching
Learning Through Inquiry
The IB programme is guided by six transdisciplinary themes, which are:
- Who we are
- Where we are in place and time
- How we express ourselves
- How the world works
- How we organize ourselves
- Sharing the planet
Students explore timeless key concepts rooted in transdisciplinary themes. They work collaboratively to question their learning, investigate problems, and create transformative change. Through innovative thinking and research, students cultivate an appreciation and joy for learning through exploration.
To learn more about the IB, visit www.ibo.org.
Programme News
The IB Middle Years Programme at Sussman MS is now taking applications!
5th grade families are invited to learn about the IB (International Baccalaureate) MYP (Middle Years Program) at Sussman Middle School.
Presenting to the School Board
On December 12, 2023, Carpenter Elementary School was invited to share its units of study in the IB programme with the Downey Unified School Board.
Inside the Classroom: Who We Are
Our second-grade students wrapped up their first unit of study “Who We Are” by dressing up as the heroes they studied in class or researched outside of class.
Instructional Program
Assessment Policy
The purpose of assessment is to inform teachers about students’ learning and guide instruction. This policy also outlines the tools used to assess student progress.
Download: English
School-wide Points of Inquiry
This matrix outlines the points of inquiry and how they are addressed for each grade level.
Download: English
Language Policy
This document covers our language learning philosophy, the role of the teacher, and how we will support students' language learning process.
Download: English