The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) curriculum is designed to nurture a sense of inquiry and curiosity in students, and to encourage them to take an active role in their learning. To help facilitate this, the PYP has identified a set of essential agreements that are essential for creating a positive and productive learning environment.
Essential agreements are guiding principles that help establish expectations for behavior and conduct within a classroom or school community. They are designed to promote respect, responsibility, and cooperation among students, teachers, and staff. Essential agreements in the context of the PYP curriculum can include everything from how to treat classroom materials to how to engage in group discussions.
Here are some essential agreements that are particularly important in the context of the PYP curriculum:
1. Respectful behavior: One of the most important essential agreements in any classroom is that students should be expected to treat each other with respect. In the context of the PYP, this means that students should be expected to listen actively, share ideas, and engage in constructive feedback.
2. Responsibility for learning: Another key agreement in the PYP is that students should take responsibility for their own learning. This means being prepared for class, completing assignments on time, and taking an active role in classroom discussions.
3. Open-mindedness: The PYP curriculum emphasizes the importance of developing an open and curious mind, and essential agreements can help encourage that mindset. Agreeing to approach new ideas with an open mind, and to listen thoughtfully to the opinions of others, can help students develop a sense of curiosity and wonder about the world around them.
4. Collaboration: Collaboration is a key aspect of the PYP curriculum, and essential agreements can help foster a sense of cooperation and teamwork. Agreeing to work together, to share ideas, and to respect differing perspectives can help students develop important social and emotional skills.
5. Respect for the environment: Another important aspect of the PYP curriculum is the emphasis on environmental sustainability. Essential agreements can help highlight the importance of environmental stewardship and encourage students to take responsibility for their impact on the planet through simple acts like recycling or reducing waste.
Overall, essential agreements are an important tool for educators looking to create a positive and productive learning environment in the context of the PYP curriculum. By promoting respect, responsibility, and cooperation, essential agreements can help students develop the social and emotional skills they need to succeed both in the classroom and beyond.