Establishing Essential Agreements using The PYP Learner Profile and Attitudes

This is a cross-post with Spicewood's Technology Blog!

At the beginning of the year Spicewood teachers involve their students in setting up the "essential agreements", or rules, for their classes. By involving students in the process there is more engagement in the process and more accountability for them in their choices. We usually guide this process with the IB PYP Learner Profile attributes, and the attitudes.

Learner Profile attributes:	Attitudes:
Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reflective	Cooperation Tolerance Respect and Appreciation Curiosity Creativity Commitment Enthusiasm and Confidence Independence

Our new art teacher this year, Mrs. Raybourn, also used technology to engage students in the process and to model the specific value of each statement to the grade levels. She put the students comments into Wordle to show them the frequency that certain words or phrases were suggested. This helps kids see how they all feel about the agreements they are making, building a community of learners who agree upon the way things should be done!